Environmental Studies | Cascadia College

Environmental Studies

Degree:

Associate in Integrated Studies – DTA  Transfer Degrees (cascadia.edu)

Area of Interest:

Earth Sciences, Sustainability, and Environmental Studies

Program Length:

90 College-level Credits

Cost:

Review tuition, fees, and residency classifications

Review international rates

Modalities:

Coursework may be completed through a combination web enhanced (face-to-face), hybrid, and online modes, though not every course is offered in the same modality each quarter. Specific courses may be offered at certain times of the year. Consult the current Class Schedule.

Placement:

Many courses at Cascadia College have placement prerequisites for reading, writing, and math ability. The courses that you will place into determine how you progress through your pathway and how long your degree will take. There are a variety of ways to find your English and Math placement level.

Find your placement options

Math Notes:

You will need to consult with an academic advisor after placement to be sure to enroll in a course that is consistent with your planned course of study. 

You will take a college-level Math course. MATH& 146 Introduction to Statistics will help you learn about statistical inference and analysis through an interdisciplinary lens and help you work with data.

Contact:

If you have any questions about this pathway, contact: advising@cascadia.edu

Planning Your Courses: 

Advisors are here for you. Academic Advisors will help you develop the skills to make sound academic decisions. Through advising, Advisors will support you to make connections between academic interests, long-term goals, and career opportunities. Advisors help with educational planning, university transfer options, college application processes, and graduation requirements. You will have touchpoints with Advisors to ensure you are on track to success. Connect with the Advising, Career, and Transfer team!

The Annual Course Planning Guide show Cascadia’s tentative plan for classes and the quarters in which they are offered. It is intended for planning purposes only and should not be considered a guarantee of class offerings. Actual quarterly sections may be changed, added, or removed. Students should use the Searchable Quarterly Class Schedule to see up to date class offerings.

Courses:

0-30 credits

  • ENGL& 101 English Composition I 
  • ENGL& 102 Composition II 
  • ENVS&101 Introduction to Environmental Science 
  • CMST& 220 Public Speaking or CMST& 210 Interpersonal Communication 
  • COLL 101 College Strategies 
  • MATH& 146 Introduction to Statistics

30-60 credits

  • ENVS 120 Wetland Conservation
  • PHIL 243 Environmental Ethics and Sustainability
  • POLS&200 Introduction to Law
  • SOC 150 Social Inequality
  • SUPR 290 Career Pathways:Sustainable Practices
  • Natural Science Distribution Requirement (View Choice Classes)
  • Social Science Distribution Requirement (View Choice Classes)

60-90 credits

  • BIOL 120 Survey of the Kingdoms 
  • ENVS 210 Ecology of Puget Sound Bioregion 
  • POLS 206 State and Local Government 
  • Humanities Distribution Requirement (View Choice Classes) 
  • *Choose two Elective Distribution Requirement (View Choice Classes)  

*If not already completed, be sure to complete EDP requirements by taking a class numbered 150, an additional EDP class and an IL (View Choice Classes).

Choice Classes: Distribution and Elective Requirements - Explore and align your interests. 

The recommended choice classes listed below were thoughtfully chosen to help you gain the necessary skills in this pathway. You are welcome to choose other choice classes outside the recommended list, but consult with an academic advisor to be sure that the classes meet the specific requirements for this pathway.

150 Equity, Diversity, and Power (10 credits)

To meet the Equity, Diversity, and Power completion requirement, you must complete one 150-series EDP course,  and at least one additional EDP-designated course for a total of ten (10) credits. EDP courses in the 150-series ground students in the needed cognitive tools and background to critically analyze their position in our increasingly interconnected, complex, and diverse world so they can pursue further study and seek out their careers more intentionally. EDP designated courses may also apply toward Humanities, Social Science, Natural Science, or General Elective distribution requirements as indicated.

Choose one:

  • CMST 150 Multicultural Communication
  • GS 150 Globalization, Culture and Identity
  • HIST 150 Cultural Diversity and Challenges in United States History    
  • HUMAN 150 Introduction to Cultural Studies
  • SOC 150 Social Inequality

Choose one additional course designated in EDP in any distribution area, view choice classes below or check the current class schedule for additional EDP designated courses.

Integrated Learning (5 credits)

You will include an Integrated Learning Experience in your course selections. This requirement can be satisfied through the completion of learning communities, linked classes, classes containing formal community-based learning, classes taken as part of an academic study abroad program, or classes with an academic internship. Through Learning Communities (LC) or other Integrated Learning Experiences (IL), you will demonstrate abilities to integrate skills, concepts, information, and analytical and methodological frameworks from two or more areas of inquiry in a purposeful project or experience.

For more information on Integrated Learning and current learning community offerings please follow this link.

Humanities:

Completion of a minimum of 15 credits from at least 2 different disciplines with a maximum of 10 credits from 1 discipline.  No more than 5 credits from those courses designated as performance/skills, applied theory or lecture/studio courses. Only 5 credits of world language at the 100 level may be included.

Recommended:

  • CMST& 101 Introduction to Communication 
  • CMST& 220 Public Speaking 
  • CMST& 210 Interpersonal Communication 
  • ENGL& 236 Creative Writing I

Social Sciences:

Completion of a minimum of 15 credits from at least 2 different disciplines with a maximum of 10 credits from 1 discipline.

Recommended:

  • ECON& 201 Microeconomics 
  • BUS& 101 Introduction to Business 
  • ANTH& 104 World Prehistory 
  • ANTH& 206 Cultural Anthropology 
  • POLS& 204 Comparative Government

Natural Sciences:

Completion of a minimum of 15 credits from at least 2 different disciplines with a maximum of 10 credits from 1 discipline, including at least 5 credits of a LAB course. At least 10 credits required in physical, earth and/or biological sciences. Only 5 credits of Mathematics may be used.

Lab Science Recommended:

  • ATMS 101 The Science of Weather  
  • OCEAN& 101 Introduction to Oceanography with Lab 
  • GEOL& 101 Introduction to Physical Geology

Non-Lab Science Recommended:

  • ENVS 120 Wetland Conservation

Program Elective Credits

  • Elective credits may be selected from any of the distribution requirements.

Transfer Opportunities: 

The Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA) associate degree is designed to transfer to most Bachelor of Arts degrees at all four-year colleges and universities in Washington state. The DTA is sometimes called an Associate in Arts or an Associate in Arts and Sciences.

DTA degrees provide students:

  • Priority consideration in the admissions for most humanities and social science majors at public universities in Washington ahead of students without a degree.
  • Completion of lower division general education requirements.
  • Credit for all courses completed within the DTA up to and in some cases beyond 90 credits.
  • Opportunity to explore several fields of study through the category of up to 30 credits of elective courses.

Opportunity to complete prerequisites for a future major.

Local Transfer Opportunities:

Cascadia College'sBachelor of Applied Science in Sustainable Practices provides a pathway to careers in the green industry.  Graduates will learn the skills necessary to plan and implement sustainability approaches to how we live and work by managing complex projects for government agencies, companies and non-profit organizations, environmental water, energy, and agriculture industries, construction management firms, and educational institutions.

University of Washington, Bothell

University of Washington, Seattle

View Cascadia’s Transfer Agreements for details of our partnerships with other colleges and universities.

University admissions requirements may vary – consult with the Career and Transfer Center for transfer assistance to plan your career and future educational goals.

Career Possibilities

Conservationist, Environmental Consultant/Analyst, Educator, Natural Resource Specialist 

You can learn more about career possibilities related to your interests in this pathway through O*Net Online.  O*Net Online shares information about related careers, salary, skills related to the industry and more.

Connect with Cascadia’s Career and Transfer Center for assistance as you go through the process of planning career and future educational goals.

Some job opportunities may also exist in business corporations, non-profits, and Tribal Enterprises.

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