Life & Physical Sciences
Message from the chair of the division
Dr. Elisa Atti
Welcome to the Science Division Website. The goal of this website is to provide you with information about the numerous science programs, the faculty, and the staff that run these programs. The Science Division houses thirteen science disciplines and currently has thirteen full-time faculty and over thirty adjuncts. West's science instructors are supported by two full-time and two half-time laboratory technicians; they are dedicated professionals who help our students reach their goals by providing quality instructions with a rigorous curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking and intellectual development.
The Division's instructional facilities are housed in the Math-Science Building (MSA and MSB). The MSA building houses numerous lecture rooms and laboratory classrooms for: Anatomy, Astronomy, Biology, Biotechnology, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Geology, Microbiology, Oceanography, Physics, and Physiology. All of our laboratories are equipped with state-of-the-art instruments and accessories.
We offer many certificate, degree and transfer courses and programs. Virtually all of our courses satisfy the IGETC and CSU requirements. Whether you are a science major or wish to be an engineer, doctor, nurse, occupational therapist, dental hygienist, physicians assistant or a pharmacist or are a non-science majors simply seeking to fulfill a GE requirement, Science Division courses are part of established road maps that will guide you to meet your educational goals. More information about the courses and programs available with the various science disciplines is provided in the Program and Course Sections of the college catalog.
Need a General Education (GE) science credit with a lab and don't know what to take?
The Science Division offers a variety of GE science courses with and without labs so be sure to check them out!
GE courses with labs
- BIOLOGY 003: Introduction to Biology - 4 units (lecture & lab)
- BIOLOGY 010: Natural History - 4 units (lecture & lab)
- GEOG 001: Physical Geography - 3 units (lecture only)
- take with GEOG 015: Physical Geography Laboratory - 1 unit
- GEOLOGY 001: Physical Geology - 3 units (lecture only)
- take with GEOLOGY 006: Physical Geology lab - 1 unit
- CHEM 051: Fundamentals of Chemistry - 5 units (lecture & lab)
GE courses without lab
- ENV SCI 001: Introduction to Environmental Science -3 units
- OCEANO 001: Introduction to Oceanography - 3 units
- GEOG 002: Cultural Elements of Geography - 3 units
- GEOG 007: World Regional Geography - 3 units
Sections are now open.
Enrollment Assistance
Having Trouble Enrolling Due to a Prerequisite?
...view the steps you should take
Programs Offered
Associate Degrees for Transfer (60 units)
- AST in Biology (Major Code: 0401.00): 35 major units; 31 to 33 GE units; 1 to 3 elective units
- AST in Geology (Major Code: 1914.00): 28 major units; 30 GE units; 2 elective units
- AST in Environmental Science (Major Code:0301.00): 42 major units; 18 GE units
- AST in Physics (Major Code: 1902.00): 30 major units; 37 GE units
- AAT in Geography (Major Code: 2206.00): 18 to 20 major units; 24 to 29 GE units; 11 to 18 elective units
Associate Degrees for UC Transfer (units vary)
- AS for UC Transfer in Chemistry (Major Code 1905.00): 53 major units; 16 to 21 IGETC units
- AS for UC Transfer in Physics (Major Code: 1902.00): 46 major units; 16 to 21 IGETC units
Associate Degrees (60 units)
- Associate of Arts in Chemistry (Major Code 1905.00)
- Associate of Arts in Geography (Major Code 2206.00)
- Associate of Arts in Climate Change & Environmental Studies (Major Code: 0302.00)
- Associate of Science in Engineering - Civil (Major Code: 0901.00)
- Associate of Science in Engineering - Electrical (Major Code: 0934.00)
- Associate of Science in Engineering - Mechanical (Major Code: 0901.00)
Ask your Science Faculty or Counselor for more information!!
DEGREE / CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS
Career
Science Division Courses
The Science Division offers courses that are divided into two disciplines: physical sciences and life sciences. In the life science discipline, students can take courses in areas such as biology, anatomy, physiology, and microbiology in preparation for a degree in biological sciences or a career in the health sciences. The physical science discipline includes courses such as chemistry, physics, geology, geography, and the earth sciences. Below is a list of all courses offered within the Science Division.
For more information about a particular discipline or course, simply click on the desired webpage link above.
- ANATOMY 001 - Human Anatomy (4 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
- MICRO 020 - General Microbiology (4 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
- PHYSIOL 001 - Human Physiology (4 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
- BIOLOGY 003 - Introduction to Biology (4 Units total - UC/CSU transferable)
- BIOLOGY 006 - General Biology I (5 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
- BIOLOGY 007 - General Biology II (5 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
- BIOLOGY 010 - Natural History (4 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
- BIOLOGY 110 - General Biology III - Genetic Analysis & Biotechnology (4 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
- ENV SCI 001 - Introduction to Environmental Science (3 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
- ENV SCI 002 - The Human Environment: Biological Processes (3 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
- CHEM 051 - Fundamentals of Chemistry I (5 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
- CHEM 056 - Chemistry for Non-Science Majors (4 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
- CHEM 060 - Introduction to General Chemistry (5 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
- CHEM 066 - Organic & Biochemistry for Allied Health (5 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
- CHEM 101 - General Chemistry I (5 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
- CHEM 102 - General Chemistry II (5 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
- CHEM 211 - Organic Chemistry for Science Majors I (5 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
- CHEM 212 - Organic Chemistry for Science Majors II (5 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
- CHEM 221 - Biochemistry for Science Majors II (5 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
- EARTH 001 - Earth Science (3 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
- EARTH 002 - Earth Science Laboratory (2 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
- GEOLOGY 001 - Physical Geology (3 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
- GEOLOGY 006 - Physical Geology Laboratory (2 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
- GEOG 001 - Physical Geography (3 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
- GEOG 002: Culture Elements of Geography (3 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
- GEOG 003: Introduction to Weather and Climate (3 Units - CSU transferable)
- GEOG 007 - World Regional Geography (3 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
- GEOG 015 - Physical Geography Laboratory (2 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
- OCEANO 001 - Introduction to Oceanography (3 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
- ASTRO 001 - Elementary Astronomy (3 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
- ASTRO 005 - Fundamentals of Astronomy Lab (1 Unit - UC/CSU transferable)
- PHYSICS 006 - General Physics I (4 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
- PHYSICS 007 - General Physics II (4 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
- PHYSICS 012 - Physics Fundamentals (3 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
- PHYSICS 037 - Physics for Engineers & Scientists I (5 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
- PHYSICS 038 - Physics for Engineers & Scientists II (5 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
- PHYSICS 039 - Physics for Engineers & Scientists III (5 Units - UC/CSU transferable)
New Certificate: Biotechnology
Interested in working in the biotech field and want to gain hands-on laboratory experience?
The Science Division is now offering a certificate program in biotechnology. Enroll now and earn a Biotechnology Lab Technician Certificate of Achievement in four semesters or less. For more information, contact Dr. Kareen Martin, @email
Climate Change & Environmental Studies
Interested in climate change? Ask about our new and exciting Climate Change and Environmental Studies Program. Contact Dr. Vered Mirmovitch, mirmovv@wlac.edu or Professor Dominic Merkle, merklda@wlac.edu for more details.
New Courses!
- BIOLOGY 010: Natural History (4 UNITS; GE CREDIT)
- GEOGRAPHY 007: World Regional Geography (3 UNITS; GE CREDIT)
New Degrees!
Associate in Arts for Transfer (AAT) degree in Geography (60 units; 18 to 20 major units; 24 to 29 GE units; 11 to 18 elective units). For more information, contact Dominic Merkle, merkleda@wlac.edu