General Science
Overview
Cosumnes River College's General Science program provides a broad study in the fields of biological and physical sciences. Talk with a counselor if you are interested in transferring to a four-year university in the sciences, as other programs may better prepare you for transfer.
Degrees Offered
- A.S. in General Science
- Dean Banafsheh Amini
- Phone (916) 691-7204
- Email aminib2@crc.losrios.edu
Associate Degree
A.S. in General Science
Areas of Study include:
• Biological Anthropology
• Astronomy
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Engineering
• Physical Geography
• Geology
• Physics
Eighteen (18) units of transfer-level course work in science are required. Two laboratory courses must be included: one in the physical sciences and one in the biological sciences. Courses may be selected from astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, physical geography, biological anthropology, and physics. The student, in consultation with a counselor, should choose science courses to meet their program, transfer, or general education requirements.
Students interested in transferring to a four-year university with a science major are encouraged to complete a science AS or AS-T degree, such as Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Geography, Geology, or Physics. This General Science degree may not include the major-level transfer courses needed for many science majors. Students are strongly recommended to see a counselor for guidance.
Catalog Date: August 1, 2026
Degree Requirements
| Course Code | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Life Science with Lab : | ||
| A minimum of 4 units from the following: | 4 | |
| ANTH 300 | Biological Anthropology (3) | |
| and ANTH 301 | Biological Anthropology Laboratory (1) | |
| ANTH 480 | Honors Biological Anthropology (3) | |
| and ANTH 482 | Honors Biological Anthropology Laboratory (1) | |
| BIOL C1001 | Introduction to Biology (3) | |
| and BIOL C1001L | Introduction to Biology Lab (1) | |
| BIOL 400 | Principles of Biology (5) | |
| BIOL 410 | Principles of Botany (5) | |
| BIOL 420 | Principles of Zoology (5) | |
| BIOL 430 | Anatomy and Physiology (5) | |
| BIOL 431 | Anatomy and Physiology (5) | |
| BIOL 440 | General Microbiology (4) | |
| Physical Science with Lab: | ||
| A minimum of 3 units from the following: | 3 | |
| ASTR C1001 | Introduction to Astronomy (3) | |
| and ASTR C1001L | Introduction to Astronomy Lab (1) | |
| CHEM 300 | Beginning Chemistry (4) | |
| CHEM 305 | Introduction to Chemistry (5) | |
| CHEM 306 | Introduction to Organic and Biological Chemistry (5) | |
| CHEM 309 | Integrated General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry (5) | |
| CHEM 400 | General Chemistry I (5) | |
| CHEM 401 | General Chemistry II (5) | |
| CHEM 420 | Organic Chemistry I (5) | |
| CHEM 421 | Organic Chemistry II (5) | |
| GEOG 300 | Physical Geography: Exploring Earth's Environmental Systems (3) | |
| and GEOG 301 | Physical Geography Laboratory (1) | |
| GEOL 300 | Physical Geology (3) | |
| and GEOL 301 | Physical Geology Laboratory (1) | |
| GEOL 305 | Earth Science (3) | |
| and GEOL 306 | Earth Science Laboratory (1) | |
| GEOL 310 | Historical Geology (3) | |
| and GEOL 311 | Historical Geology Laboratory (1) | |
| ENGR 304 | How Things Work (3) | |
| PHYS 350 | General Physics (4) | |
| PHYS 360 | General Physics (4) | |
| PHYS 370 | Introductory Physics - Mechanics and Thermodynamics (5) | |
| PHYS 380 | Introductory Physics - Electricity and Magnetism, Light and Modern Physics (5) | |
| PHYS 411 | Mechanics of Solids and Fluids (4) | |
| PHYS 421 | Electricity and Magnetism (4) | |
| PHYS 431 | Heat, Waves, Light and Modern Physics (4) | |
| Additional Science Courses : | ||
| A minimum of 11 units from the following: | 111 | |
| ANTH 300 | Biological Anthropology (3) | |
| ANTH 301 | Biological Anthropology Laboratory (1) | |
| ANTH 480 | Honors Biological Anthropology (3) | |
| ANTH 482 | Honors Biological Anthropology Laboratory (1) | |
| ASTR C1001 | Introduction to Astronomy (3) | |
| ASTR C1001L | Introduction to Astronomy Lab (1) | |
| BIOL C1001 | Introduction to Biology (3) | |
| BIOL C1001L | Introduction to Biology Lab (1) | |
| BIOL 342 | The New Plagues: New and Ancient Infectious Diseases Threatening World Health (3) | |
| BIOL 350 | Environmental Biology (3) | |
| BIOL 352 | Conservation Biology (3) | |
| BIOL 400 | Principles of Biology (5) | |
| BIOL 410 | Principles of Botany (5) | |
| BIOL 420 | Principles of Zoology (5) | |
| BIOL 430 | Anatomy and Physiology (5) | |
| BIOL 431 | Anatomy and Physiology (5) | |
| BIOL 440 | General Microbiology (4) | |
| CHEM 300 | Beginning Chemistry (4) | |
| CHEM 305 | Introduction to Chemistry (5) | |
| CHEM 306 | Introduction to Organic and Biological Chemistry (5) | |
| CHEM 309 | Integrated General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry (5) | |
| CHEM 400 | General Chemistry I (5) | |
| CHEM 401 | General Chemistry II (5) | |
| CHEM 420 | Organic Chemistry I (5) | |
| CHEM 421 | Organic Chemistry II (5) | |
| ENGR 304 | How Things Work (3) | |
| GEOG 300 | Physical Geography: Exploring Earth's Environmental Systems (3) | |
| GEOG 301 | Physical Geography Laboratory (1) | |
| GEOG 305 | Global Climate Change (3) | |
| GEOG 306 | Weather and Climate (3) | |
| GEOL 300 | Physical Geology (3) | |
| GEOL 301 | Physical Geology Laboratory (1) | |
| GEOL 305 | Earth Science (3) | |
| GEOL 306 | Earth Science Laboratory (1) | |
| GEOL 310 | Historical Geology (3) | |
| GEOL 311 | Historical Geology Laboratory (1) | |
| GEOL 330 | Introduction to Oceanography (3) | |
| GEOL 390 | Field Studies in Geology (1 - 4) | |
| PHYS 310 | Conceptual Physics (3) | |
| PHYS 350 | General Physics (4) | |
| PHYS 360 | General Physics (4) | |
| PHYS 370 | Introductory Physics - Mechanics and Thermodynamics (5) | |
| PHYS 380 | Introductory Physics - Electricity and Magnetism, Light and Modern Physics (5) | |
| PHYS 411 | Mechanics of Solids and Fluids (4) | |
| PHYS 421 | Electricity and Magnetism (4) | |
| PHYS 431 | Heat, Waves, Light and Modern Physics (4) | |
| BIOL 302 | Concepts of Human Anatomy and Physiology (3) | |
| BIOL 349 | Applied Microbiology: Scientific Literacy through Practical Uses of Microbiology (3) | |
| Total Units: | 18 | |
1Courses used in A or B above will not count towards C, except units exceeding the 4 or 3 unit minimum in A and B. For example, a student completing the 5 unit CHEM 309 under B could apply 2 of those units towards C. A total of 18 science units is required.
The General Science Associate in Science (A.S.) degree may be obtained by completion of the required program, and either (a) the Local General Education Pattern or (b) the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC), plus sufficient electives for a total of at least 60 units. See CRC graduation requirements.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:
- explain the core perspectives of the scientific method and apply it to at least one scientific discipline. (PSLO 1)
- solve introductory problems of a conceptual and/or numerical nature of at least one scientific discipline. (PSLO 2)
- accurately apply the basic vocabulary and concepts of at least one scientific discipline verbally and in writing. (PSLO 3)
- recognize the use and misuse of scientific concepts in society, including politics and the media. (PSLO 4)
General Science (GENSCI) Courses
GENSCI 299 Experimental Offering in General Science
- Units:0.5 - 4
- Prerequisite:None.
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This is the experimental courses description.
GENSCI 499 Experimental Offering in General Science
- Units:0.5 - 4
- Prerequisite:None.
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This is the experimental courses description.
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