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Programs & Degrees

Associate in Science, Emphasis in Astronomy

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Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

  • Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
  • The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
  • Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
  • Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

A list of additional requirements for this pathway map
Awareness Areas
  • In addition to the requirements identified in the sequence below, students must complete the following awareness areas if not otherwise met by other program requirements:
    • Cultural [C] and
    • Global [G] or Historical [H]
  • Students are strongly encouraged to visit with an academic advisor to ensure completion of all graduation requirements.

Note: Because you are viewing this pathway map on a mobile device, some columns below have been hidden. To view all columns, please rotate your device or view this page on a device with a larger screen.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AST111 Introduction to Solar System Astronomy Critical course Gateway course SQ 4
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3
MAT220 or
MAT221		 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I or Calculus with Analytic Geometry I MA or MA 4–5
SB Social-Behavioral Sciences SB 3
FYE101 or
FYE103		 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success 1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AST112 Introduction to Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology Critical course Gateway course SQ 4
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3
MAT230 or
MAT231		 Calculus with Analytic Geometry II or Calculus with Analytic Geometry II MA or MA 4–5
PHY121 University Physics I: Mechanics SQ 4
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment L 0–3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
PHY131 University Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism SQ 4
MAT240 or
MAT241		 Calculus with Analytic Geometry III or Calculus with Analytic Geometry III MA or MA 4–5
COM100 or
COM110 or
COM230		 Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Small Group Communication SB or SB or SB 3
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design Any approved general education courses in the Humanities, Arts and Design [HU] area with the Global [G] or Historical [H] designation. HU, C, [G or H] 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
MAT276 or
MAT277		 Modern Differential Equations or Modern Differential Equations MA or MA 3–4
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design Any approved general education courses in the Humanities, Arts and Design [HU] area with the Literacy and Critical Inquiry [L] designation. HU, L 3
L Literacy & Critical Inquiry Any approved general education courses in the Humanities, Arts and Design [HU] area with the Literacy and Critical Inquiry [L] designation. L, HU 0–3

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

A list of additional requirements for this pathway map
Awareness Areas
  • In addition to the requirements identified in the sequence below, students must complete the following awareness areas if not otherwise met by other program requirements:
    • Cultural [C] and
    • Global [G] or Historical [H]
  • Students are strongly encouraged to visit with an academic advisor to ensure completion of all graduation requirements.

Note: Because you are viewing this pathway map on a mobile device, some columns below have been hidden. To view all columns, please rotate your device or view this page on a device with a larger screen.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AST111 Introduction to Solar System Astronomy Critical course Gateway course SQ 4
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3
FYE101 or
FYE103		 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success 1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3
MAT220 or
MAT221		 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I or Calculus with Analytic Geometry I MA or MA 4–5
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment L 0–3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
PHY121 University Physics I: Mechanics SQ 4
COM100 or
COM110 or
COM230		 Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Small Group Communication SB or SB or SB 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AST112 Introduction to Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology Critical course Gateway course SQ 4
MAT230 or
MAT231		 Calculus with Analytic Geometry II or Calculus with Analytic Geometry II MA or MA 4–5

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
PHY131 University Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism SQ 4
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design Any approved general education courses in the Humanities, Arts and Design [HU] area with the Global [G] or Historical [H] designation. HU, C, [G or H] 3

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
MAT240 or
MAT241		 Calculus with Analytic Geometry III or Calculus with Analytic Geometry III MA or MA 4–5
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design Any approved general education courses in the Humanities, Arts and Design [HU] area with the Literacy and Critical Inquiry [L] designation. HU, L 3
L Literacy & Critical Inquiry Any approved general education courses in the Humanities, Arts and Design [HU] area with the Literacy and Critical Inquiry [L] designation. L, HU 0–3

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
MAT276 or
MAT277		 Modern Differential Equations or Modern Differential Equations MA or MA 3–4
SB Social-Behavioral Sciences SB 3

Course Area Key

Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

  • C = Cultural Diversity in the US
  • FYC = First Year Composition
  • HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
  • L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
  • MA = Mathematics
  • SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
  • SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative