Geosciences Technician

Each Geosciences Technician AS specialization infuses technical skills needed to enter the workforce while including enough flexibility to move toward a specific geoscience expertise that a technician could need to support other science professionals. For example, the Geologic Technician can develop a hydrologic or hazards focus with significant field experience while developing reporting skills representative of a characterized field site. The Weather Technician could center classes upon geospatial aspects of weather or atmospheric/climatologic monitoring with the intention of forecasting and/or modeling possible outcomes given a set of atmospheric conditions. The Coastal Marine Science Technician (“CMS Tech”) has options to consider habitat quality and geospatial relationships between watersheds and coastal environments. Further, the CMS Tech gathers experience in quantitative habitat evaluation, including data collection, analysis, and data interpretation.

This degree plan places a field emphasis around classes that provide the background necessary to apply basic scientific principles centered on the geological sciences. Classes support modern geologic theory and its application to field problems as well as lab experiences that produce a foundation for successful fieldwork. The degree core requires at least one chemistry course and a transfer-level math course, while at least one physics course is recommended for the degree, as well.

Program learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this degree, the student should be able to:

1. Describe the fundamental materials of the Earth, inclusive of their origins and processes that manipulate them both within the Earth and upon Earth’s surface.
2. Explain the various scales used to study life from cellular, to species, to community and ecosystem levels, describing the importance of such scales in understanding interrelationships among organisms and the physical world.
3. Solve basic mathematical problems involving algebraic and geometric evaluations.
4. Describe qualities of atoms and molecules noting what makes them chemically reactive by stoichiometrically illustrating products and likely reactants.
5. Spatially relate different aspects of Earth, depending on emphasis, such as rock and soil maps, weather and forecast maps or habitat maps, to provide an analysis of local to regional interactions.
6. Compile a report on a field investigation that includes inventory, measured factors/qualities, graphics that support analysis of data, and interpretations supported by data and analysis.

Note

In addition to the courses above, there are specific Social Science and Ethnic Studies GE courses that can further support this degree emphasis. See Earth Science Department faculty or a counselor.

Note

In addition to the courses above, there are specific Social Science courses that can further support this degree emphasis. See Earth Science Department faculty or a counselor.

Note

In addition to the courses above, there are specific Humanities and Social Science courses that can further support this degree emphasis. See Earth Science Department faculty or a counselor.