Associate in Arts Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with Areas of Emphasis

Associate in Arts with Area of Emphasis

The Interdisciplinary Studies major is designed for students pursuing broad areas of study and exploration in any of the areas of emphasis described below. Option 1 enables students to complete the requirements for the Associates Degree, while option 2 enables students to complete the requirements for the Associates degree and transfer admission requirements to the California State University, University of California, or private and out-of-state universities.

Important: Completion of the CSU or UC patterns does not guarantee admission to any of these institutions. Consult with a counselor for further information.

Option 1: Cañada College Pattern

Provides an opportunity to earn an Associate in Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, which covers a broad area of study and is intended for students who may not be planning to transfer to a four-year university. (replaces former Liberal Arts major)

A. Complete Basic Competencies, including 2 units of physical activity, and Specific Areas (A, B, C, D, E) of the General Education requirements for the AA/AS degree (23 units)

B. Complete 18 units in one of the following Areas of Emphasis
1) Arts and Humanities
2) Natural Science and Mathematics
3) Social and Behavioral Sciences

C. Select 19 degree-applicable units in consultation with a counselor to fulfill lower-division preparation and/or electives and complete the required 60 transferable and degree-applicable units for an Associate Degree.

Option 2: Transfer Pattern: California State University, University of California, or private and out-of-state university.

Intended for students who are planning to transfer to a four-year university. Courses should be chosen carefully in consultation with a counselor. (replaces former University Studies major)

A. Choose a General Education Pattern
Complete 39 units of the CSU GE requirements (a C or better grade is required in Areas A1, A2, A3 and B4)
OR
Complete 37 units of the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) for UC or CSU (all courses must be completed with a C or better grade)

B. Complete 18 units from one of the following Areas of Emphasis:
1) Arts and Humanities
2) Natural Science and Mathematics
3) Social and Behavioral Sciences

C. Remaining 3 to 5 units should be chosen in consultation with a counselor to fulfill Associate Degree competency and specific area requirements and lower-division preparation and/or electives for a total of 60 transferable, degree-applicable units for an Associate Degree.

Associate in Arts - Interdisciplinary Studies with Emphasis in ARTS AND HUMANITIES

Students earning this AA degree analyze and evaluate the ways in which people from different cultures have expressed themselves through the Arts and Humanities.
The degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with emphasis in Arts and Humanities requires a minimum of 18 units of coursework.

I. Arts:
Select 9 units, courses must be selected from at least 2 disciplines:
ART 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 201, 204, 214, 301
DRAM 101, 140, 142, 143, 151, 152
LIT. 142, 143, 441, 442
MUS. 100, 115, 202, 240, 250

II. Humanities
Select 9 units, courses must be selected from at least 2 disciplines:
DRAM 142, 143, 151, 152
ENGL 110, 161, 164
HIST 100, 101, 104, 106, 201, 202, 242, 243, 245, 246, 247, 451, 452, 455
LIT. 101, 111, 142, 143, 151, 152, 200, 205, 231, 232, 233, 251, 252, 266, 301, 370, 371, 372, 373, 375, 441, 442, 445
PHIL 100, 160, 190, 240, 246, 300, 320
SPAN 120, 121, 122, 130, 131, 132, 140, 150, 152, 161, 162
SPCH 111

Associate in Arts - Interdisciplinary Studies with Emphasis in NATURAL SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS

The Natural Science and Mathematics are a gateway to a very large number of occupations, many of which require specific coursework for transfer and/or admission to professional schools. In general, careers in the natural sciences require strong computational, communication and analytical thinking skills.

The degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with emphasis in Natural Science and Mathematics prepares students for further study and employment as life and physical scientists, health practitioners, engineers and science technicians.

The degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with emphasis in Natural Science and Mathematics requires a minimum of 18 units of coursework to include introductory courses, completion of at least one course in mathematics and additional advanced courses.

At least one introductory OR advanced course MUST have a laboratory experience included (* courses) or a laboratory course must be taken (# courses).

I. Introductory Science Courses: (Select a minimum of 9 units)

1. Biology: a student may choose up to 2 of the following courses to meet this requirement:
   BIOL 110*, 130, 132*, 310
2. Chemistry: a student may choose 1 of the following courses to meet this requirement:
   CHEM 192*, 210*, 410*
3. Physics: a student may choose 1 of the following courses to meet this requirement:
   PHYS 210*, 250*
4. Other sciences: a student may choose up to 3 of the following courses to meet this requirement:
   ANTH 125
   ASTR 100 & 101#
   ENGR 100*
   GEOG 100
   GEOL 100* & 101#
   HSCI 100
   METE 100
   OCEN 100 & 101#

II. Mathematics Competency: (3 units)
MATH 125, 130, 140, 200, 222, 241, 251

III. Advanced Courses: (6 units)
BIOL 225*, 230*, 240*, 250*, 260*
CHEM 220*, 234 & 237#
MATH 242, 252, 253
PHYS 220*, 260*, 270*

Associate in Arts - Interdisciplinary Studies with Emphasis in SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

The Social and Behavioral Sciences are a cluster of disciplines that analyze basic dimensions of the human world through the application of systematic methods. Social scientists study an array of topics and deploy a multitude of theories and research methods collecting and analyzing data from participant observations, group interviews, surveys, historical documents, laboratory experiments, and more. Students who earn an AA in the Social and Behavioral Sciences analyze and evaluate the social world from the perspectives of anthropology, economics, history, philosophy, political science, psychology, and sociology.

The degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with emphasis in Social and Behavioral Sciences prepares students for a variety of careers related to education, law, social work, business, politics, and human services.

Select 18 units from Social and Behavioral Sciences. Courses must be selected from at least 4 disciplines
ANTH 110, 200, 360
ECON 100, 102, 230
GEOG 110
HIST 100, 101, 104, 106, 201, 202
PHIL 100, 160, 190, 240, 300,
PLSC 130, 150, 210, 310
PSYC 100, 106, 110, 200, 205, 300, 340, 410
SOCI 100, 105, 141, 205

Page updated 6/14/10