Physical Sciences

Physical Sciences

  • Degree Type Degree
  • Program outcomesTransfer
  • Area of StudyScience & Math
  • Total Credit Hours61

Develop the academic background needed for undergraduate and graduate degrees in the physical and life sciences with our associate degree in Physical Sciences. In our 61-credit program you can focus your studies on physics or chemistry while still taking classes in math, computer science and biology.

Our Physical Sciences curriculum prepares you to transfer to a four-year institution and major in such fields as chemistry or physics. It also provides a solid foundation for future studies in health sciences, medicine and chemical engineering.

Program outcomes
  • Prepare for and conduct scientific experiments;
  • Use and understand basic instrumentation;
  • Analyze and interpret scientific data;
  • Demonstrate an extensive problem-solving capability.
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Program Curriculum

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General Education Requirements

Course ID Title Credits
ENG 101 English Composition IW 3
ENG 102 English Composition IIW 3
Elective Technological Fluency 3
Elective Ethical Perspectives 3
Elective Aesthetic Sensibility 3
Elective Oral Communication 3
Elective Cultural Awareness and Diversity 3

Major Requirements

Course ID Title Credits
CHE 151  Principles of Chemistry I 4
CHE 152  Principles of Chemistry II 4
CHE 261 or Science Elective Organic Chemistry II or AST, BIO, CHE, GLG, MAT, or PHY Course 4
CHE 262 or Science Elective Organic Chemistry II or Science Elective 4
MAT 190 Calculus and Analytical Geometry I 4
MAT 201 Calculus and Analytical Geometry IIQ 4
PHY 151 Principles of Physics IS 4
PHY 152 Principles of Physics III 4

Electives

Course ID Title Credits
Electives Electives 8

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Full-time sample course schedule

Semester 1

Course ID Title Credits
ENG 101 English Composition I 3
MAT 190 Calculus and Analytical Geometry I1 4
CHE 151 Principles of Chemistry I 4
Elective2 Technological Fluency 3

Semester 2

Course ID Title Credits
ENG 102 English Composition II 3
MAT 201 Calculus and Analytical Geometry II3 4
CHE 152 Principles of Chemistry II 4
Elective4 Ethical Perspectives 3

Semester 3

Course ID Title Credits
PHY 151 Principles of Physics I 4
CHE 261 or Science Elective Organic Chemistry I or AST, BIO, CHE, GLG, MAT, PHY Elective 4
Elective Aesthetic Sensibility 3
Elective Elective4 4
Elective Oral Communication 3

Semester 4

Course ID Title Credits
PHY 152 Principles of Physics II 4
CHE 262 or Science Elective Organic Chemistry II or Science Elective 4
Elective Cultural Awareness and Diversity 3
Elective Elective5 4

Part-time sample course schedule

Semester 1

Course ID Title Credits
PHY 151 Principles of Physics I 4
MAT 190 Calculus and Analytical Geometry I1 4

Semester 2

Course ID Title Credits
PHY 152 Principles of Physics II 4
MAT 201 Calculus and Analytical Geometry II3 4

Semester 3

Course ID Title Credits
ENG 101 English Composition I 3
Elective2 Technological Fluency 3

Semester 4

Course ID Title Credits
ENG 102 English Composition II 3
CHE 151 Principles of Chemistry I 4

Semester 5

Course ID Title Credits
CHE 152 Principles of Chemistry II 4
Elective Elective4 4

Semester 6

Course ID Title Credits
Elective Oral Communication 3
Elective Aesthetic Sensibility 3

Semester 7

Course ID Title Credits
CHE 261 or Science Elective Organic Chemistry I or AST, BIO, CHE, GLG, MAT, PHY Elective 4
Elective Ethical Perspectives 3

Semester 8

Course ID Title Credits
CHE 262 or Science Elective Organic Chemistry II or Science Elective 4
Elective Cultural Awareness and Diversity 3

Semester 9

Course ID Title Credits
Elective Elective5 4

  • A Satisfies Aesthetic Sensibility
  • C Satisfies Cultural Awareness & Diversity
  • E Satisfies Ethical Perspectives
  • I Information Literacy is Reinforced
  • O Satisfies Oral Communication
  • Q Satisfies Quantitative Reasoning
  • S Satisfies Scientific Reasoning
  • T Satisfies Technological Fluency
  • W Satisfies Written Communication

1 MAT 190 is a co-requisite for PHY 151

2 A programming course is recommended; check with your advisor or transfer institution.

3 MAT 201 is a co-requisite for PHY 152.

4 Chemistry majors should take CHE 151, CHE 152, CHE 261, CHE 262, PHY 151 and PHY 152. Physics majors should take PHY 151, PHY 152, CHE 151 and CHE 152.

5 For Chemistry and Physics majors, MAT 202 Calculus III is recommended, but students should confer with their advisor to determine the math requirement at the transfer institution.

6 MAT 220 Linear Algebra or MAT 223 Differential Equations are recommended; students should work with their advisor to determine the math requirements at the transfer institution. Other suggested electives include BIO and GLG.