This is an archived copy of the 2019-2020 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.miracosta.edu.

Liberal Arts with an Area of Emphasis in Mathematics and Sciences

Contact Information

Dean: Michael Fino

Office: Building 4800, 760.795.6881

Full-Time Faculty

Joanne Benschop

Academic and Career Pathway: Math and Sciences

Associate in Arts Degree

Liberal Arts with an Area of Emphasis in Mathematics and Sciences

The science courses in this category examine the physical universe, its life forms, and its natural phenomena. These courses assist the student in developing an appreciation of the scientific method and encourage an understanding of the relationships between science and other human activities. The mathematics courses encourage the understanding of mathematical concepts through the development of quantitative reasoning skills. This area of emphasis provides students with lower-division preparation for a variety of majors within the scientific disciplines, including astronomy, biology, chemistry, and physics, as well as preparation for mathematics majors. Additionally, students may prepare for nursing, kinesiology, public health, and other health science majors. Many of the courses will assist students in prerequisite preparation for graduate programs within the health sciences. A point system using multi-criteria approved by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office is used to accept students into the RN program.

To earn this associate degree, students must fulfill the following requirements:

  • Complete a minimum of 60 degree-applicable units of credit (including major and general education courses).
  • Complete all courses required in the major with a “C” or “P” or better.
  • Complete a general education pattern of courses (see Associate Degrees).
  • Obtain a minimum GPA of 2.0.
  • Complete a minimum of 12 units in residence at MiraCosta College.

Program Student Learning Outcome Statement

  • Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to develop communication, critical thinking, and intellectual skills that effectively prepare him/her for lifelong learning and for advanced study in a wide range of majors at the university level.

Select a minimum of 18 units from the following courses. At least one course must be a mathematics course. Courses outside of the mathematics discipline that are approved for the quantitative reasoning requirement on Plans B and C may be used in lieu of a course with the MATH prefix.

ANTH 101Biological Anthropology3
or ANTH 101H Biological Anthropology (Honors)
ANTH 101LBiological Anthropology Laboratory1
or ANTH 101LH Biological Anthropology Lab (Honors)
ANTH 105Evolution of Human Behavior3
or ANTH 105H Evolution of Human Behavior (Honors)
ANTH 190Primate Behavior and Ecology3
or ANTH 190H Primate Behavior and Ecology (Honors)
ASTR 101Descriptive Astronomy3
ASTR 101LDescriptive Astronomy Laboratory1
ASTR 120Life in the Universe3
ASTR 201Introductory Astronomy3
BIO 102Introductory Biology: Ecology and Environmental Biology4
BIO 103Introductory Biology: Animal Diversity3
BIO 104Introductory Biology: Botany (Plant Life)4
BIO 105Introductory Biology: Biotechnology in Society3
BIO 106Introductory Biology: Infectious Diseases--A Global Concern3
BIO 107Introductory Biology: Marine Biology4
BIO 108Introductory Biology: Ecology of the Oceans3
BIO 110Introductory Biology: Preparation for Pre-Health Professions (Lecture/Lab)4
or BIO 111
111L
Introductory Biology: Preparation for Pre-Health Professions (Lecture)
and Introductory Biology: Preparation for Pre-Health Professions (Lab)
BIO 202Foundations of Biology: Evolution, Biodiversity, and Organismal Biology4
BIO 204Foundations of Biology: Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Genetics, and Molecular Biology4
or BIO 204H Foundations of Biology: Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Genetics, and Molecular Biology (Honors)
BIO 210Human Anatomy4
or BIO 210H Human Anatomy (Honors)
BIO 220Human Physiology4
BIO 230Introduction to Microbiology5
BTEC 180Biostatistics4
BUS 147Personal Finance3
BUS 204Business Statistics3
CHEM 103Chemistry and Society: For Non-Science Majors3
CHEM 103LChemistry and Society: For Non-Science Majors (Lab)1
CHEM 112Introductory General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry: For Allied Health Majors5
CHEM 115Introductory General Chemistry: For Allied Health Majors4
or CHEM 115H Introductory General Chemistry: For Allied Health Majors (Honors)
CHEM 116Introductory Organic and Biological Chemistry: For Allied Health Majors4
CHEM 140Preparation for General Chemistry: For Science Majors4
CHEM 150General Chemistry I: For Science Majors5
or CHEM 150H General Chemistry I: For Science Majors (Honors)
CHEM 151General Chemistry II: For Science Majors5
or CHEM 151H General Chemistry II: For Science Majors (Honors)
CHEM 210Organic Chemistry I: For Science Majors5
or CHEM 210H Organic Chemistry I: For Science Majors (Honors)
CHEM 211Organic Chemistry II: For Science Majors5
or CHEM 211H Organic Chemistry II: For Science Majors (Honors)
CSIT 123Introduction to Data Analytics3
EART 106Earth and Space Science3
GEOG 101Physical Geography3
GEOG 101LPhysical Geography Laboratory1
GEOL 101Physical Geology3
or GEOL 101H Physical Geology (Honors)
GEOL 101LPhysical Geology Laboratory1
HORT 115Soil Science3
HORT 116Plant Science4
MATH 102Math Fundamentals II: Mathematics for Life4
MATH 103Statistics4
MATH 105Concepts and Structures of Elementary Mathematics I3
MATH 106Concepts and Structures of Elementary Mathematics II3
MATH 112Mathematical Analysis3
MATH 115Calculus with Applications4
MATH 126Pre-Calculus I: College Algebra4
MATH 131Pre-Calculus II: Trigonometry and Analytic Geometry4
or MATH 131H Pre-Calculus II: Trigonometry and Analytic Geometry (Honors)
MATH 150Calculus and Analytic Geometry I5
or MATH 150H Calculus and Analytic Geometry (Honors)
MATH 155Calculus and Analytic Geometry II4
MATH 226Discrete Mathematics4
or MATH 226H Discrete Mathematics (Honors)
MATH 260Calculus and Analytic Geometry III4
or MATH 260H Calculus and Analytic Geometry III (Honors)
MATH 265Differential Equations4
MATH 270Linear Algebra4
or MATH 270H Linear Algebra (Honors)
NUTR 100Nutrition Today3
or NUTR 100H Nutrition Today (Honors)
OCEA 101Introduction to Oceanography3
or OCEA 101H Introduction to Oceanography (Honors)
OCEA 101LIntroductory Oceanography Laboratory1
PHSN 101Introduction to Physical Science: Physics, Chemistry, Earth Science, and Space Science3
PHSN 106Introduction to Physical Science: Physics and Chemistry3
PHSN 106LIntroduction to Physical Science: Physics and Chemistry (Lab)1
PHSN 108Introduction to Climate Change3
or PHSN 108H Introduction to Climate Change (Honors)
PHYS 111Introductory Physics I4
PHYS 112Introductory Physics II4
PHYS 151Principles of Physics I4
or PHYS 151H Principles of Physics I (Honors)
PHYS 152Principles of Physics II4
or PHYS 152H Principles of Physics II (Honors)
PHYS 253Principles of Physics III4
or PHYS 253H Principles of Physics III (Honors)
PHYS 280Introduction to Electronics3
PSYC 104Statistics for Behavioral Science4
or PSYC 104H Statistics for Behavioral Science (Honors)
PSYC 260Physiological Psychology3
SOC 125Introduction to Statistics in Sociology4