Accounting
General accountants examine financial records of municipal, county, state, and federal agencies for compliance with laws. They record transactions, such as receivable, payable, payroll, property into a general ledger. Corporate accountants set up and design accounting/bookkeeping systems and procedures, risk management programs, tax law and finance methods, record financial transactions, and analyze and evaluate financial records for businesses. Their duties include interpreting financial information and preparing reports for business executives and government regulatory agencies. Advancement includes senior accountant, controller, treasurer, and chief financial officer positions.
ACCTG 1 | Introduction to Financial AccountingUnits: 5Transfer: UC, CSU C-ID: Students must take ACCTG 1 and 2 to earn the equivalent of C-ID ACCT 110.
This course introduces the student to the sole proprietorship, partnership, and corporate forms of ownership. This course also familiarizes the student with recording, classifying and interpreting financial data for service and merchandising businesses. It includes a study of the journals, ledgers and financial statements used by these entities. Also covered are computerized accounting systems, internal control, ethics, cash, accounts and notes receivable, merchandise inventory, plant assets and intangible assets, liabilities, and equity accounts. Basic managerial accounting topics are also introduced. |
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ACCTG 2 | Corporate Financial and Managerial AccountingUnits: 5Transfer: UC, CSU C-ID: ACCT 120; Students must take ACCTG 1 and 2 to earn the equivalent of C-ID ACCT 110.
This course continues the study of introductory financial accounting principles begun in Accounting 1 and also covers introductory managerial accounting. The financial accounting portion of the course (2 units) covers the corporate form of business organization, bond financing, installment notes and other long-term liabilities, investments in debt and equity securities, international operations and the Statement of Cash Flows, corporate financial statement preparation and analysis and other GAAP and IFRS considerations. The managerial portion of the course (3 units) covers accounting concepts relevant to internal users rather than third party users of financial statements. Managerial accounting study includes full absorption and variable costing, cost accounting for job order and for mass produced goods (process costing), just-in-time, activity-based and total quality management approaches to costing manufacturing operations. Also studied are segment reporting, performance measurement, cost-volume-profit analysis, flexible budgeting, capital expenditure budgeting, standard costing, responsibility accounting, and decision making processes. Ethical issues surrounding these topics are also addressed. |
ACCTG 6 | Accounting ConsolidationsUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
This course begins with the study of business combinations and covers in depth the preparation of consolidated financial statements. This course also covers accounting for estates and trusts. ACCTG 6 and ACCTG 7 may be taken in either order, or concurrently. It is not necessary to take ACCTG 6 prior to taking ACCTG 7. |
ACCTG 7 | Advanced Accounting: Special TopicsUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
This course covers special accounting topics including accounting for foreign currency transactions, translation of foreign currency financial statements, accounting for partnerships, state and local governments, not-for-profit entities and accounting research. ACCTG 6 and ACCTG 7 may be taken in either order, or concurrently. It is not necessary to take ACCTG 6 prior to taking ACCTG 7. |
ACCTG 9 | Accounting EthicsUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
This course surveys professional ethics for the accounting profession in the context of ethical theory, the history of ethical thought, the nature of accounting, tax and auditing fiduciary responsibilities, the rules of accounting codes of conduct, financial statement representations and fraud, and the theoretical and practical application of ethical principles to business situations. Topics include ethical standards specific to the accounting profession, an examination of the balance between the competing interests of the accountant’s roles as management consultant and reporter of financial information to third parties, and the interests of businesses, government and professional regulatory agencies and the public. Reading, writing, analysis and discussion are core elements of the class. |
ACCTG 10A | Intermediate Accounting AUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
Basic pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board and their applications to accounting are covered in this course, along with cash, receivables, inventory, time value of money, and financial statements overview. |
ACCTG 10B | Intermediate Accounting BUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
This course includes study of the basic pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board and their applications to accounting. In this course, the following are covered in detail: revenue recognition, investments, land, buildings, equipment, intangible assets, current liabilities and contingencies, and long term liabilities. |
ACCTG 10C | Intermediate Accounting CUnits: 4Transfer: CSU
This course includes study of the pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board and other primary source GAAP and their applications to accounting for corporations. The following are covered in detail in this course: investments, earnings per share, financial statement analysis, revenue recognition, accounting for income taxes, pensions, leases, and full disclosure in financial reporting. |
ACCTG 11 | Cost AccountingUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
This course focuses on cost accounting theory with emphasis on job order and process cost accounting, accounting methods for material, labor, and factory overhead, and preparation of financial statements from cost data. Topics include cost management concepts, activity cost behavior, job order costing, process costing, budgeting, standard costing, cost/volume/profit analysis, and tactical decision-making. |
ACCTG 12 | AuditingUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
This course covers the role and responsibility of certified public accountants in the audit of financial statements. Emphasis will be placed on verification of balance sheets and internal control of accounting systems and accounting cycles. Topics include AICPA and PCAOB auditing standards, professional ethics, legal liability, internal control, audit sampling and audit reports. |
ACCTG 15 | Individual Income TaxesUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
Internal Revenue Service tax laws and regulations and accounting procedures are studied in this course to enable the tax professional to apply the information to completing federal individual income taxes. |
ACCTG 16 | Taxation of Corporations, Partnerships, Estates and TrustsUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
This course covers tax laws and the reporting requirements of the Internal Revenue Service as applied to corporations, partnerships, estates and trusts. |
ACCTG 17 | Income Tax Preparation (CTEC-Approved)Units: 4Transfer: CSU This comprehensive course is intended for individuals to enter the tax profession and enable them to prepare individual tax returns for the general public, including individual taxpayers who operate sole-proprietor businesses. At the completion of the course, students will be able to prepare most individual tax returns and Schedule C for small business returns. This tax course is a qualified course by the California Tax Education Council (CTEC) and fulfills the requirements to become a California Registered Tax Preparer (CRTP). In addition, this course may help you pass the IRS certification exam and participate in the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. |
ACCTG 19A | IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program – Tax PreparerUnits: 1Transfer: CSU
This course will allow students to prepare individual income tax returns to low-income individuals through the IRS VITA Program. Students will learn to use tax software to accurately prepare and file federal and state individual income tax returns within the scope of the VITA Program. Students will learn how to develop a system of quality control for tax returns and develop communication skills through interviews of taxpayers and explanations of tax return results. |
ACCTG 21 | Business BookkeepingUnits: 3Transfer: CSU This course surveys basic bookkeeping principles and practices and the use of records to help bookkeepers and business owners/managers better understand common business terms, transactions, and record keeping in small businesses. This course provides the student with the basic accounting concepts and procedures required for all businesses. Through lecture and problem solving, the student will learn to do a full set of books pertaining to a small business enterprise. Topics covered include analyzing and classifying business transactions, financial statements, worksheets and adjusting entries, bank reconciliations, payroll, specialized journals, and tax aspects of small businesses. |
ACCTG 22 | Advanced BookkeepingUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
This course is a continuation of ACCT 21, and this course extends the bookkeeping principles and practices to a merchandising enterprise. Through lecture and problem solving, students will learn how to account, manage and report merchandising activities for a small enterprise. Major topics covered are accruals and deferrals, financial statements and closing procedures, including specific topics in Accounts Receivable and Uncollectible Accounts, Notes Receivable and Payable, Inventory, and Property, Plant and Equipment and Partnership. |
ACCTG 23 | Payroll AccountingUnits: 3Transfer: CSU Students will learn the fundamental skills and basic principles of business payroll. The focus of the course is primarily in payroll and personnel record keeping, calculation of gross pay using various methods, calculation of Social Security and Medicare taxes, calculation of federal and state income taxes, calculation of federal and state unemployment taxes, journalizing and posting payroll entries, and completing various federal and state forms. |
ACCTG 31A | Excel for AccountingUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
This course entails the detailed application of accounting principles using Excel. Topics include creating professional worksheets, the use of formulas and functions, charts, data tables, basic macros, and other Excel features with an emphasis on accounting as a financial analysis tool. Students that complete this course will be prepared to take the Microsoft Office Specialist certification exam. This course uses Microsoft Office 365. |
ACCTG 31B | Advanced Excel for AccountingUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
This course includes the advanced application of Excel for accounting features. Topics include the use of complex Excel functions and formulas, advanced Charts, advanced database features, Consolidation, Data Validation, PivotTables and PivotCharts, an introduction to Visual Basic, Dashboards and Power BI, and other advanced Excel features with emphasis on accounting as a financial analysis tool. This class will prepare students for the Microsoft Office Expert certification exam. This course uses Microsoft Office 365 and Power BI. |
ACCTG 40A | Data Analytics for AccountingUnits: 3Transfer: CSU This course introduces students to data analytics for an accounting professional. This course will teach students how to answer accounting questions by accessing accounting data, extracting accounting data, visualizing the data and how to communicate the results with others. Students will learn the IMPACT model for structuring data analysis. The primary methods for extracting data will center on data requests using system reports, SQL and XBRL. The primary tools for analyzing the data will be Excel and Tableau. |
ACCTG 40B | Auditing AnalyticsUnits: 3Transfer: CSU This course introduces students to the basis of the modern audit and audit data analytics. Students will learn the impact of automation on the audit planning process. In addition, students will learn to assess different types of audit analytical procedures and determine what procedures should be used in the audit. Students will learn to execute their audit testing procedures and interpret the audit data results. Students will learn to identify key performance indicators, and they will create a dashboard to monitor business results. The primary methods for extracting data will center on data requests using system reports, SQL and XBRL. The primary tools for analyzing the data will be Excel and Tableau. |
ACCTG 45 | Individual Financial PlanningUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU
This course provides students with the tools to achieve their personal financial goals. It will help them make informed decisions related to spending, saving, borrowing, and investing by training them to apply quantitative reasoning concepts to solve problems. Topics covered include personal financial planning; money management; tax strategy; consumer credit; purchasing decisions; insurance; investing in stocks, bonds, and mutual funds; retirement; and estate planning. ACCTG 45 is the same class as BUS 45. Students may earn credit for one, but not for both. |
ACCTG 50 | ERP System: Introduction to AccountingUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
This course introduces an enterprise resource planning system such as SAP and how it is used as an accounting software to record the day-to-day business activities at major corporations. Through case studies and the review of major business processes, students will learn how SAP records the transaction including sales, distribution, invoices, cash receipts, purchases and payments. |
ACCTG 88A | Independent Studies in AccountingUnits: 1Transfer: CSU Please see “Independent Studies” section. |
ACCTG 88B | Independent Studies in AccountingUnits: 2Transfer: CSU Please see “Independent Studies” section. |
ACCTG 88C | Independent Studies in AccountingUnits: 3Transfer: CSU Please see “Independent Studies” section. |
ACCTG 90A | Accounting InternshipUnits: 1Transfer: CSU Please see “Internships” section. |
ACCTG 90B | Accounting InternshipUnits: 2Transfer: CSU Please see “Internships” section. |
Administration of Justice
Students prepare for careers in local, state and federal law enforcement; security; and courtroom operations. Our courses familiarize students with the American justice system, crime causes, the role of administration of justice practitioners, the role of law enforcement, evidence procedures, juvenile procedures, and criminal law. Students apply principles of the justice system; constitutional and procedural considerations affecting an arrest, and search and seizure; human relations; and concepts of criminal law.
AD JUS 1 | Introduction to Administration of JusticeUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU C-ID: AJ 110. IGETC AREA 4 (Social & Behavioral Sciences) This course provides students with an overview of the characteristics of the criminal justice system in the United States. An emphasis is placed on examining the structure and functions of the police, courts and corrections. The following additional topics are explored: the origins of criminal law, theories of crime, the adjudication of a criminal case, measurement of crime, the evolution of the principles and approaches utilized by the justice system, the social impact of crime, sentencing policies and related subject areas. |
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AD JUS 2 | Concepts of Criminal LawUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU C-ID: AJ 120. This course examines the doctrines of criminal liability in the United States. It covers topics which include the sources of law, the elements of a crime, the classification of crime, the nature of credible evidence, the adversary system, criminal defenses and related subjects. The course utilizes case studies to ascertain and analyze the concepts of criminal law. It also provides a foundation for upper division criminal justice courses. |
AD JUS 3 | Legal Aspects of EvidenceUnits: 3Transfer: CSU C-ID: AJ 124. This course explores types of evidence and legal rules governing its admission and exclusion in a criminal court proceeding. A special emphasis is placed on examining the key rules pertaining to witness competency, privileged communications, confessions, hearsay statements and identification procedures. Case studies and judicial decisions interpreting the evidence rules are also included. |
AD JUS 5 | Criminal InvestigationUnits: 3Transfer: CSU C-ID: AJ 140. This course examines the basic principles, procedures and ethical challenges involved in criminal investigation. The topics covered include the organization of the investigative process, scientific analysis of physical evidence, crime scene management, documentation of evidence, interviews and interrogation, sources of information, surveillance, and the role of the investigator in the trial process. |
AD JUS 8 | Juvenile ProceduresUnits: 3Transfer: CSU C-ID: AJ 220. This course provides an overview of the development and organization of the juvenile justice system in the United States. The course explores topics such as the history of this system, the measurement of juvenile delinquency, California laws relating to delinquency and dependency, constitutional protections afforded through case decisions, juvenile court proceedings and related subject areas. |
AD JUS 11 | Introduction to ForensicsUnits: 3Transfer: CSU C-ID: AJ 150. This course provides students with an overview of the role of forensics in criminal investigations. This course explores topics such as crime scene analysis versus crime scene processing, examination of pattern evidence, principles of fingerprint identification,analysis of firearm and tool mark evidence, collection and preservation of DNA evidence,evaluation of questioned documents, and related subjects. |
AD JUS 67 | Community and the Justice SystemUnits: 3Transfer: CSU C-ID: AJ 160. This course analyzes the dynamic relationship between the justice system and the community in addressing crime. Special attention is focused on the challenges and prospects of administering justice within a diverse multicultural population as well as strategies for resolving conflict. Additional topics covered include the evolving nature of multiculturalism, demographics of interest communities, community policing, courts and the community, among others. |
American Sign Language
For noncredit American Sign Language courses, please see “Counseling-Adult Education.”
ASL 1 | American Sign Language 1Units: 5Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC Foreign Language (required for UC only) Satisfies Global Citizenship This is an introductory course of American Sign Language (ASL) with an emphasis on signing, receptive skills, signing parameters, the glossing system and numbers. This course provides a historical introduction, cultural awareness and cross-cultural adjustment skills. Non-verbal communication is emphasized. Homework assignments will include, but are not limited to, attendance and involvement at community events. |
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ASL 2 | American Sign Language 2Units: 5Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC AREA 3B (Arts and Humanities), Foreign Language (required for UC only) Satisfies Global Citizenship
*The advisory for this course is comparable to two years of high school American Sign Language. This course is a continuation of ASL 1. Instruction will include further studies of the elementary skills for the fundamentals of ASL: grammar, receptive, and expressive. There will also be extensive instruction on the Deaf Culture and Community, which will be presented in readings, videos and discussion in ASL. Non-verbal communication is emphasized. |
ASL 99 | Applied Learning in ASLUnits: 1Transfer: CSU
This course — taken in tandem with another course in the discipline — enables a student to apply course content in a meaningful and relevant way to a particular activity. In this hands-on course, students engage in applied learning through unpaid experiential activities organized by the student (in conjunction with SMC’s applied/service learning center) and approved by the instructor. Students will develop a customized reading list relevant to their particular activity, complete a minimum of 15 hours of volunteer work with that activity, and submit academically-sound written reports regarding the activity. By applying course material to their experience, students develop a deeper understanding of the discipline. |
Animation
The Animation program prepares students for careers in the entertainment industry through comprehensive, hands-on training. The program is designed to meet the industry’s need for creative professionals who excel in developing ideas and have the technical proficiency to execute them. Our instructors are experienced professionals who bring first-hand knowledge of industry practices to the classroom and work in close collaboration with industry advisors to keep up with trends and changing requirements. In addition, participating companies often provide guest speakers and student internships. We offer day, evening and weekend classes to provide educational opportunities to all students. In addition, select courses are offered online through Distance Education. Students who are interested in the Animation program are strongly encouraged to schedule an appointment with one of the counselors at the Center for Media and Design campus to develop an Educational Plan. This is to ensure that you are taking the necessary courses to meet your educational goals. To learn more, please visit smc.edu/designtech.
ANIM 1 | StorytellingUnits: 3Transfer: CSU Formerly ET 2. This introductory course prepares students to create effective stories for entertainment projects through an understanding of the fundamentals of storytelling and story structure. Covering a broad history of story from cave paintings to video games, the course will explore archetypal figures and motifs as well as the evolution of hero myth narratives. Emphasis will be placed on the social and cultural impact of modern storytelling. |
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ANIM 2 | 2D Animation FundamentalsUnits: 3Transfer: CSU Formerly ET 19. This introductory course provides a basic overview of the tools used in the creation of 2D digital animation. Through lectures and hands-on projects, students will learn the core principles of 2D animation and be introduced to 2D animation software. This course serves as a foundation for advanced courses in 2D and 3D animation. |
ANIM 3 | 3D FundamentalsUnits: 3Transfer: CSU Formerly ET 24. This introductory course provides a basic overview of the tools used in the creation of 3D digital animation. Topics covered include modeling, character rigging, animation, shading, lighting and rendering. This course emphasizes the fundamental concepts of 3D digital animation as well as an understanding of the software. In addition to completing weekly exercises, students will apply the skills they learn to create an individual project. This course uses Autodesk Maya. |
ANIM 3A | Introduction to 3D AnimationUnits: 2Transfer: CSU Formerly ET 24A. This course provides a basic introduction to 3D animation, and is intended for students to gain a general understanding of 3D software. ANIM 3A is not equivalent to ANIM 3, 3D Fundamentals. This courses uses Autodesk Maya. |
ANIM 4 | Digital StoryboardingUnits: 3Transfer: CSU Formerly ET 18. This introductory course explores the fundamentals of the storyboarding process used in the entertainment industry. Through the use of computer software and the digital drawing tablet, students will learn the basic principles of visual storytelling including techniques such as staging, composition and camera movement. The class will analyze and discuss the various applications of digital storyboarding for games, web, 2D and 3D animation, and visual effects. |
ANIM 5 | History of AnimationUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC AREA 3A (Arts) Formerly ET 61. This course will explore the history of animation through its earliest beginnings to the present. In addition to the chronological order of events, this course will look at the multi-faceted aspects of this relatively modern art form. The influences of economics and social/political pressures on the art form will be examined. Included will be the study of individual animators and studios, big and small; different art techniques, materials 2D and 3D. The class will also examine the principles of movement and how they apply to the zoetrope as well as the computer. |
ANIM 10 | Quick-Sketch and Rapid VisualizationUnits: 2Transfer: CSU Formerly ET 93. The major emphasis in this course will be the ability to draw clear, credible, and simplified representations of complex visual phenomena. These phenomena include the human figure at rest or in motion and the spatial environment for these figures and their actions. Students will use a variety of media, some of which will be applicable spontaneous reactions to action events. Skill development will include the ability to visualize and invent figures and environments from a variety of viewing angles and light conditions. |
ANIM 11 | Figure DrawingUnits: 2Transfer: CSU Formerly ET 89. Students completing this course will have a familiarity with all major issues involved in drawing and visualizing the figure as an animate, three-dimensional form, and will have developed perceptual and manual skills equal to the challenge of understanding the human body as a structure in space, in both static and dynamic modes. Comprehension of figure structure will be both anatomical and perspectival with special emphasis on developing a model of the human figure that can be easily visualized in the imagination and adapted for use in animation and related disciplines. |
ANIM 12 | Figure in MotionUnits: 3Transfer: CSU Formerly ET 92. This foundation course helps 2D and 3D animators to understand key poses and breakdown poses by drawing the figure in motion. Students will learn to visualize and render the figure three-dimensionally as it moves through space. Emphasis is placed on construction, volume, gestures and posing as the figure moves through a given action. |
ANIM 13 | Costumed Figure DrawingUnits: 2Transfer: CSU Formerly ET 96. Students who successfully complete this course will learn to both understand and predict the physical correlation between the figure and its costume, acquiring in the process knowledge of the structural topology of draping. Attention will be given to the planar surface structure (tonal and directional) of draped fabric in relation to linear perspective and light source. |
ANIM 14 | Animal DrawingUnits: 2Transfer: CSU Formerly ET 95. This course provides students with a working understanding of animal anatomy and movement and its comparison to human anatomy and movement. Students will develop skills in proportional and perspective analysis of animal forms. This class will teach students to sketch a variety of animals both from life and from other visualization techniques. |
ANIM 18 | Perspective DrawingUnits: 2Transfer: UC, CSU Formerly ET 91. This course focuses on the principles of three-dimensional drawing. Emphasis is placed on fundamental concepts such as diminution, foreshortening, convergence and shading. Concepts such as horizon lines, vanishing points, and picture planes will be covered. Perspective drawing methods will be applied to rendering interiors, exteriors, objects and figures. |
ANIM 19 | Color Theory and ApplicationUnits: 2Transfer: CSU Formerly ET 94. Students in this course will study the development of color perception, harmony, expression, visualization, and the application of color in traditional and digital imagery using a 2D, 3D, or 4D format through a series of problem-solving exercises and projects. |
ANIM 20 | Intermediate 2D AnimationUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
Formerly ET 19B. This course allows students to further their understanding and application of the core principles of animation including squash and stretch, anticipation, staging, overlapping action, arcs, timing, and exaggeration through lectures and hands-on projects. Students will also be introduced to the basics of lip-sync and character animation. |
ANIM 21 | Advanced 2D AnimationUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
Formerly ET 23. This advanced 2D animation course is an in-depth analysis of emotion and acting principles as applied to a digital character. Emphasis will be placed on creating convincing performance animation in which characters think, feel, and speak. |
ANIM 22 | 2D Digital ProductionUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
Formerly ET 75. This course covers the digital production pipeline for producing 2D animated short films, commercials, TV series, and feature-length films. Students will have hands-on experience with the following stages of digital production: scanning, timing, clean-up, ink and paint, background painting, sound design, camera movement and compositing. Asset management of digital files will also be covered. |
ANIM 23 | 2D Web AnimationUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
Formerly ET 34. This class focuses on all aspects of creating 2D animation for the web, giving special attention to characters and graphics. Students learn the tricks of controlling file size, special approaches for importing and creating animation, and all other production techniques needed for building complete web animation projects. This course uses Adobe Animate CC. |
ANIM 30 | Intermediate 3D AnimationUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
Formerly ET 24B. This course focuses on the core principles of animation as applied to 3D characters, covering techniques including posing, timing, weight, anticipation, squash and stretch, overlapping action, and staging. |
ANIM 31 | Advanced 3D AnimationUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
Formerly ET 24C. This course focuses on advanced principles of 3D character animation. Students will learn to create effective performance animation using the fundamentals of acting, staging and exaggeration. Advanced topics such as facial animation, lip-synch and motion capture will also be covered. This course uses Autodesk Maya. |
ANIM 32 | Digital PrevisualizationUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
Formerly ET 24D. In this course, digital previsualization will be covered through the process of using virtual cameras, characters and environments to visualize complex shots or sequences before final production begins. Students will use digital tools along with traditional filmmaking techniques to create compelling 3D cinematic sequences for entertainment projects. Topics covered include shot composition, camera rigging and movement, staging, timing, and editing. |
ANIM 35 | 3D ModelingUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
Formerly ET 25. This course provides an overview of the production process used to create digital assets for pre-rendered and real-time entertainment projects. Using industry-standard tools and methods, students will learn to create production-ready 3D models. Hard surface modeling and UV mapping workflows will be covered. Students will also learn the basic principles of 3D texture mapping as well as methods for optimizing models for 3D game engines. This course uses Autodesk Maya, Algorithmic Substance Painter and Unity. |
ANIM 36 | 3D Texturing and RenderingUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
Formerly ET 26. This course provides an overview of the tools and methods used to texture, light and render 3D characters and environments for pre-rendered or real-time scenes. Areas covered include surface materials, UV mapping, texturing, scene lighting, and rendering for production or portfolio development. This course uses Adobe Photoshop, Allegorithmic Substance Painter, Autodesk Maya and Unity. |
ANIM 37 | 3D Character CreationUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
Formerly ET 25B. This course covers digital character creation techniques from basic design principles to advanced digital sculpting techniques. Students will explore the aesthetic and psychological aspects of design in order to create compelling and original character and creature concepts. Students will also learn the technical aspects of creating 3D character assets from basic stylized characters to high-end, realistic digital sculptures. This course uses Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk Maya, and Pixologic ZBrush. |
ANIM 38 | 3D Character RiggingUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
Formerly ET 25C. This course covers the technical aspects of creating effective animation controls for 3D characters. Using industry-standard tools and methods, students will develop intuitive and efficient character rigs. The use of deformers, constraints, expressions, scripts, utility nodes and kinematic controls will be covered. Students will also be introduced to advanced topics such as skinning, deformations, and facial rigging. This course uses Autodesk Maya. |
ANIM 40 | Character DesignUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
Formerly ET 21A. This course explores the process of designing compelling characters for entertainment projects. Students will learn how to develop characters in a variety of styles for 2D and 3D animation production. The course will emphasize the importance of self-expression in character design, and enable students to develop an effective personal style. |
ANIM 41 | Environment DesignUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
Formerly ET 21B. This course explores the process of designing compelling environments for entertainment projects. Students will develop strategies to understand, evaluate and create a variety of environments for 2D and 3D production. Topics covered include visual composition, perspective drawing, digital cinematography, and designing for interactive and virtual environments. |
ANIM 42 | Prop and Vehicle DesignUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
Formerly ET 21C. This course explores the process of designing compelling props and vehicles for entertainment projects. Students will learn how to visually develop concepts from initial sketches to final renderings of objects from the everyday mundane to the fantastic. Emphasis is placed on principles of three-dimensional drawing and the application of design research. |
ANIM 75 | Career DevelopmentUnits: 2Transfer: CSU Formerly ET 72. This course provides an overview of the strategies and techniques to develop a career within the entertainment industry, which includes jobs in the production of live action, animation, game, interactive, internet, visual effects, as well as performance and other entertainment fields. Students will learn to identify and research potential career paths in these various industries. They will develop personal marketing tools, such as resume, cover letter and other presentation materials (i.e. demo reels, personal websites, portfolios, etc.), that will help to brand and promote them into the industry. Networking skills and interviewing techniques will prepare them for any entry-level position in the entertainment industry. |
ANIM 80 | Visual Development StudioUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
Formerly ET 20. This course covers the creation of an individual visual development portfolio for transfer or entry-level employment in the animation industry. Students will visually develop an idea using the pre-production process established by the entertainment industry. Areas covered by this course include story development, writing, concept art, character and background development, storyboarding, layout, sound design, and timing. Students will create an individual story bible, a style guide and an animatic of their project. The course will also examine the differences in the design process for film, broadcast and video game production. |
ANIM 85 | Animation StudioUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
Formerly ET 30. This course covers the design and production of an individual portfolio for transfer or entry-level employment in the animation industry. Students may collaborate in small groups or work individually, but each student will be responsible for developing an effective portfolio from original content. Projects may focus on any aspect of 2D or 3D animation production. |
Anthropology
Anthropology is a diverse discipline involving the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences that examines various aspects of past and present-day humans. It consists of four fields: Archaeology, Cultural Anthropology, Linguistic Anthropology, and Physical Anthropology. Archaeology examines past human cultures through material culture. Cultural Anthropology focuses on sociocultural variation among humans. Linguistic Anthropology examines how language influences society and culture. Physical Anthropology studies the biological and behavioral aspects of humans within an evolutionary framework.
ANTHRO 1 | Biological AnthropologyUnits: 3Transfer: UC*, CSU IGETC AREA 5B (Biological Sciences, non-lab)
*Maximum credit allowed for ANTHRO 1 and ANTHRO 5 is one course (4 units). A survey of human biology, this course focuses on human origins and evolution by investigating the major aspects of biological anthropology including Mendelian and human genetics, primate and hominid evolutionary processes, contemporary human variability and facets of primate ethology and human behavior that make our species unique in the animal kingdom. |
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ANTHRO 2 | Cultural AnthropologyUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU C-ID: ANTH 120. IGETC AREA 4 (Social and Behavioral Sciences) Satisfies Global Citizenship
Cultural Anthropology is the study of human society and culture, analyzing both similarities and differences amongst cultural groups. This course will introduce students to important socio-cultural concepts used by cultural anthropologists including material culture, social organization, religion, kinship, ritual and symbolic systems, race, ethnicity, and language amongst others. Students will examine how cultural anthropologists understand the notion of culture in the study of human behavior in different regions of the world. The ethnographic method as a key methodology will be stressed throughout this course. |
ANTHRO 3 | World ArchaeologyUnits: 3Transfer: UC*, CSU IGETC AREA 4 (Social and Behavioral Sciences)
*Maximum UC credit allowed for ANTHRO 3 and ANTHRO 4 is one course (3 units). This course is an introduction to the archaeological record documenting the evolution of human culture from the earliest stone tool makers to the primary civilizations of the Old and New Worlds. Topics include hunter-gatherer adaptations, the invention and spread of agriculture, and the development of civilizations. Archaeological techniques and methods are introduced as the means for understanding these developments. |
ANTHRO 4 | Methods of ArchaeologyUnits: 3Transfer: UC*, CSU IGETC AREA 4 (Social and Behavioral Sciences) *Maximum UC credit allowed for ANTHRO 3 and ANTHRO 4 is one course (3 units). This is an introductory lecture class on the field and laboratory methods used by archaeologists to understand our past. Topics include the scientific method, archaeological research design, archaeological reconnaissance, excavation, relative and absolute dating techniques, analyses of archaeological remains, and Cultural Resource Management. |
ANTHRO 5 | Biological Anthropology with LabUnits: 4Transfer: UC*, CSU IGETC AREA 5B (Biological Sciences, + LAB)
*Maximum credit allowed for ANTHRO 1 and ANTHRO 5 is one course (4 units). A survey of human biology, this course focuses on human origins and evolution by investigating the major aspects of biological anthropology including Mendelian and human genetics, population genetics, primate and hominid evolutionary processes, contemporary human variability, and facets of primate ethology and human behavior that make our species unique in the animal kingdom. This course consists of three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory work weekly. The laboratory projects will parallel the lecture topics hence the lab projects will pertain to genetics, human variation, primate anatomy, human osteology, and analysis of hominid (human) and primate fossils. |
ANTHRO 7 | Introduction to Linguistic AnthropologyUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC AREA 4 (Social and Behavioral Sciences)
This course introduces the student to the place of language in society and how it varies in different cultures. The course explores how language changes in different segments of society, the relationship between dialects and social hierarchy, and language variations between genders. Students will learn to analyze linguistic expressions such as oral story-telling, poetry, and narratives from a cross-cultural perspective. Also students will discuss the role of language in issues related to nationalism. |
ANTHRO 9 | PaleoanthropologyUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC AREA 5B (Biological Science)
This course focuses on the evolutionary history of our species, Homo sapiens, through an examination of the paleontological record of primate and human origins. It examines the latest ideas on comparative primate and human paleobiology and places these developments within the conceptual framework of modern evolutionary theory. |
ANTHRO 10 | Forensic AnthropologyUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU
This course presents students with an overview of forensic anthropology, an applied subfield of physical anthropology. The focus of the class is on the analysis of human skeletal remains with medicolegal significance. Students are introduced to current techniques used in the analysis of human skeletal remains, medicolegal procedures, and the role of the forensic anthropologist in the investigative process. The topics covered in this course include bone biology, skeletal analysis methods, pathology and trauma recognition, crime scene investigation and individual identification techniques. |
ANTHRO 11 | Introduction to PrimatologyUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC AREA 5B (Biological Sciences, non-lab) This course will survey living nonhuman primates. We will explore the diversity of primates through the examination of their morphology, taxonomy, behavior and social organization within an evolutionary and ecological framework. The course will examine the history of the field, its development and modern theoretical studies. The course will also delve into primate conservation and the possible future directions of primatology research. |
ANTHRO 14 | Sex, Gender, and CultureUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC AREA 4 (Social and Behavioral Sciences) Satisfies Global Citizenship
This course presents a cross-cultural survey of the position of men and women within an anthropological framework. It assesses, in a comparative fashion, the biological basis of sexual differentiation and the cultural interpretation of these differences through “gender roles.” Comparative materials from tribal, non-western, non-industrial, and western cultures will be used to illustrate the variety of gender roles and expectations. The course focuses on cultural institutions as fundamental in creating, defining, and reinforcing gender roles. Economics, politics, the arts, ethnicity, race, religion, kinship, world view, language, and other issues which influence choices, opportunities and limitations tied to gender will be examined. |
ANTHRO 19 | The Culture of FoodUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC AREA 4 (Social and Behavioral Sciences) Satisfies Global Citizenship Food nourishes not only our bodies, but also our souls, and plays a critical role in the identity formation of individuals and groups of people in society. This course explores how different cultural systems throughout the world shape the production, distribution and consumption of food. This course utilizes a cross-cultural focus to investigate the social, cultural, and ecological aspects of food, food products, and food resources in a global, historical, and comparative perspective. |
ANTHRO 20 | Traditional Peoples and Cultures of AfricaUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC AREA 4 (Social and Behavioral Sciences)
This course is a survey of general traditional African subsistence modes, illustrated by specific examples of cultures practicing a particular mode of life. Traditional kinship, political development, economic systems, religions and the arts are studied in the context of culture areas and subsistence modes. The focus of the course is on societies before colonial penetration, but discussions of more recent issues are included when germane. The study of indigenous peoples is placed in the context of broader human socio-cultural behavior and its products, including material culture, social organization, religion, language, and other symbolic systems and discussion of the dynamics of culture, are included in this study. |
ANTHRO 21 | Peoples and Power in Latin AmericaUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC AREA 4 (Social and Behavioral Sciences) Satisfies Global Citizenship This course will introduce students to the historical and cultural use of power by peoples and cultures in Latin America. We will investigate the use of power of Latin American peoples and cultures who lived prior to contact with Europeans, in colonial and post-colonial culture in Latin America, as well as in contemporary Latin American society. The investigation of the power of the US/Mexican border and of globalization within Latin America will also be covered in this course. A cross-cultural perspective will be employed drawing from examples in Mexico and Central America, the Caribbean, South America, and from the influence of countries outside of Latin America including the United States, England, France, Portugal, Spain, China, and Japan. Power relations included in the notions of race, class, gender and sexuality, immigration and migration, and indigenism (amongst others), as they are practiced in Latin America, are explored throughout the semester. |
ANTHRO 22 | Magic, Religion, and WitchcraftUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC AREA 4 (Social and Behavioral Sciences) The purpose of this course is to explore in a cross-cultural context the nature of religion and the relationships of individuals and societies to supernatural forces and persons. The course will examine general patterns of religious behavior throughout the world, delineate different theories of religion and see how they apply in various cultures. By the end of the course, the student should be able to identify several definitions and theories of religion and to discuss their merits with regard to specific cases. |
ANTHRO 35S | Archaeological Field TechniquesUnits: 3Transfer: CSU This course introduces students to the basic techniques involved in archaeological fieldwork. Students will learn various methods of excavation and how they are tied to a research design. Lectures will supplement hands-on excavation by providing pertinent historical and theoretical background to the ongoing scientific research. |
ANTHRO 88A | Independent Studies in AnthropologyUnits: 1Transfer: CSU Please see “Independent Studies” section. |
ERTHSC 88A | Independent Studies in Earth ScienceUnits: 1Transfer: CSU Please see “Independent Studies” section. |
ERTHSC 88B | Independent Studies in Earth ScienceUnits: 2Transfer: CSU Please see “Independent Studies” section. |
Aquaculture
See also “Biological Sciences.”
AQUA 88B | Independent Studies in AquacultureUnits: 2Transfer: CSU Please see “Independent Studies” section. |
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Arabic
Most sections require the use of a computer with Internet access for class resources and/or to complete assignments.
ARABIC 1 | Elementary Arabic 1Units: 5Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC AREA 6A Foreign Language Satisfies Global Citizenship This course introduces basic vocabulary and the fundamentals of Modern Standard Arabic grammar, structure, pronunciation as well as reading, writing, and speaking. This course prepares students to understand spoken Arabic, to hold simple conversations, read, and write short descriptive compositions in Arabic. Aspects of contemporary Arabic culture and Arabic history are covered as well. |
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ARABIC 99 | Applied Learning in ArabicUnits: 1Transfer: CSU
This course — taken in tandem with another course in the discipline — enables a student to apply course content in a meaningful and relevant way to a particular activity. In this hands-on course, students engage in applied learning through unpaid experiential activities organized by the student (in conjunction with SMC’s applied/service learning center) and approved by the instructor. Students will develop a customized reading list relevant to their particular activity, complete a minimum of 15 hours of volunteer work with that activity, and submit academically-sound written reports regarding the activity. By applying course material to their experience, students develop a deeper understanding of the discipline. |
Architecture
See also “Interior Architectural Design.”
ARC 10 | Studio 1Units: 3Transfer: CSU Formerly INTARC 34B. An introduction to studio and design theory through exploration in concepts of space, form, function, materials and creative construction. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking and conceptualization as a basis for designing projects through sketching, model making, and other media. |
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ARC 11 | Design Communication 1Units: 3Transfer: CSU Formerly INTARC 29 and INTARC 28B. Three dimensional drawing for interior and architectural designers with an emphasis on simplified systems of linear perspective drawing and the fundamentals of quick sketching. Studies include an introduction to perspective and rendering of interior installations using size, scale, and shading to show depth and 3D form. This course uses Rhino software. |
ARC 20 | Studio 2: ArchitectureUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
A studio course which focuses on the development of context and precedent while designing spaces and architectural forms. Simple built environments are developed using design principles in context with spatial relationships, human interaction, and materiality. Emphasis is placed on the design process and human experience. Visual and oral presentations are used in the development of a course portfolio. |
ARC 21 | Design Communication 2Units: 3Transfer: CSU Formerly INTARC 28A and INTARC 35. This course develops the fundamentals of communicating ideas through the integration of computer graphics and traditional drawing. Emphasis is placed on developing skills in 2D drafting and architectural drawings. This course uses AutoCAD software. |
ARC 30 | Studio 3: ArchitectureUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
An architectural studio course which focuses on an understanding of how environment and building systems informs architectural concepts. This course explores questions of concept, sustainability, culture, and social responsibility within the context of buildings which are responsive to the environment and people utilizing them. Students will also give visual and oral presentations which are used in the development of a course portfolio. |
ARC 31 | Design Communication 3Units: 3Transfer: CSU Formerly INTARC 38. Develop advanced skills in two-dimensional and three-dimensional digital drafting and rendering for Interior and Architectural designers. |
ARC 32 | Construction Materials and MethodsUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
A comprehensive look at how a building is put together, the systems it contains, and the methods of construction for different building types and construction materials in context with code requirements and sustainability. |
ARC 40 | Studio 4: ArchitectureUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
An architectural studio course which provides a creative framework to explore the development of commercial and mixed-use buildings within an urban setting. Urban sites are analyzed in terms of community, culture, economics, and sustainability. Projects balance structural, environmental, social, and programmatic strategies. Visual and oral presentations are used in the development of a course portfolio. |
ARC 41 | Design Communication 4Units: 3Transfer: CSU
Formerly INTARC 70. This is a studio course in 3D Computer Rendering and Animation. It will cover advanced computer applications in a virtual interior with an emphasis on lighting, textures, and camera angles. Students will create walk-throughs and digital 3D visual representations of interior spaces. |
ARC 51 | Design Communication 5Units: 3Transfer: CSU Formerly INTARC 65. Digitally build and enhance images for professional presentations through the exploration of materials, light, color, texture, and shadows. Emphasis is placed on producing realistic images for professional interior and architectural design work. |
ARC 70 | PortfolioUnits: 1Transfer: CSU
A look at the importance of portfolios in the design field, the different types of portfolios, and how to create visually cohesive project pages. Students design and build a digital portfolio which can be used for transfer to a university, to apply for employment, or to showcase professional work. |
ARC 88A | Independent Studies in ArchitectureUnits: 1Transfer: CSU Please see “Independent Studies” section. |
ARC 88B | Independent Studies in ArchitectureUnits: 2Transfer: CSU Please see “Independent Studies” section. |
ARC 88C | Independent Studies in ArchitectureUnits: 3Transfer: CSU Please see “Independent Studies” section. |
ARC 90A | Architecture InternshipUnits: 1Transfer: CSU Please see “Internships” section. |
ARC 90B | Architecture InternshipUnits: 2Transfer: CSU Please see “Internships” section. |
ARC 90C | Architecture InternshipUnits: 3Transfer: CSU Please see “Internships” section. |
Art
Artists express their thoughts and feelings by creating fine art works that are primarily intended for aesthetic enjoyment. Related career titles include advertising artist or designer, art administrator, furniture designer, illustrator, courtroom sketcher, medical illustrator, animator and toy designer. Some organizations that typically employ art majors include: studios, museums, auction houses, art councils, educational institutions, hospitals, interior design departments, advertising agencies, and film and media production companies.
ART 10A | Design IUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU This is an introductory course in the theory and application of the elements of 2-D design. Assignments will focus on the following design principles: line, value, form, scale, light, logic, space, depth, texture, pattern, composition and color theory. This course is required for all art majors. |
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ART 10B | Design Theory & PracticeUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU This studio course focuses on research based design principles and their application in real world scenarios. Critical design thinking is considered in the context of the arts, mass media, social sciences, ecology, architecture, and interactive systems. |
ART 10C | Digital MediaUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU
This course is a continuation of the theory and application of the principles and elements of fine art and design on the computer. Introducing the basics of computer operation for digital imaging applications, scanner technologies, and learning how to apply visual design concepts with digital media. This course serves as preparation for further study in the computer arts by providing an overview of theoretical issues related to the use of computers in fine art disciplines. Studio projects focus on integrating visual design principles with digital imaging technology and personal expression. |
ART 13 | Form and Space: Introduction to 3D DesignUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU C-ID: ARTS 101. This course is an introduction to historical references, conceptual ideas, and hands on applications related to three-dimensional design. Students in this class will look at spatial composition, along with organizing principles and elements of design as they apply to space and form. Students are invited to experiment with new materials, cutting edge technology, and critical dialogues in order to develop their own visual vocabulary for creative expression. The class will have regular lectures, practices with work space organization for exhibitions, and a sense of play in the use of materials for non-representational three-dimensional studio projects. This course is spirited and experimental. |
ART 15 | LetteringUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
This course covers calligraphy, including hand-written letter forms and type faces, styles, proportion, lay-out and spacing as applied in personal correspondence, advertising, layout and brochures. |
ART 17A | 3D Jewelry Design IUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
This course explores jewelry design and silversmithing as an art form and includes both fabricating and lost-wax casting techniques. |
ART 17B | 3D Jewelry Design IIUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
This course is a continuation of jewelry fabrication and casting, emphasizing the expressive use of non-ferrous metal construction techniques including chain making, surface embellishments, alternative casting, and hollow container construction. |
ART 20A | Drawing I – Introduction to DrawingUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU C-ID: ARTS 110. This fundamental course is focused on representational drawing and composition using various black and white media. Introduction to principles, elements, and practices of drawing, employing a wide range of subject matter and drawing media. Focus on perceptually based drawing, observational skills, technical abilities, and creative responses to materials and subject matter. |
ART 20B | Drawing II – Drawing with ColorUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU
This course is a continuation of Art 20A with emphasis on color, the compositional aspects of drawing, advanced integration of basic drawing principles, and the development of individual expression. Exploration of artistic concepts, styles, and creative expression related to intermediate-level drawing, focusing on complex subject matter and concepts using a variety of drawing mediums, techniques, and methodologies. Students in this course will build on fundamental drawing skills to develop personalized approaches to content and materials in exercises covering multiple historical and contemporary approaches to drawing. |
ART 20C | Digital DrawingUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU
This course is designed for students who are interested in broadening their range of drawing options by integrating traditional fine art drawing skills with digital technologies. Focus will be on exploration of the principles of drawing in their simplest form: marks, lines, shapes, light, perspective, proportion and spatial relationships. Using a combination of vector based and digital imaging software applications combined with traditional hands-on techniques, students will create drawing projects on the computer, as well as maintain a notebook of hands-on sketches. This course is a continuation of the compositional theories and skills developed in fundamental drawing classes, with an emphasis on preparing students to build upon their digital skills and fine art concepts and to develop personal directions in drawing. |
ART 21A | Figure Drawing IUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU C-ID: ARTS 200.
This course focuses on study of the human figure through drawing utilizing observation, anatomy, and spatial structure. Beginning with proportions, volumes and gesture, drawing from the live model with class demonstrations the students will learn to identify the main landmarks of the body, the skeletal structure and the muscles of the human body. The lecture portion of the course will focus on Descriptive Anatomy directed toward artistic purposes and connected theoretical concepts, the studio portion of the course is focused toward the practical application of these notions and concepts making them directly relevant to the students that will start immediately applying them toward the practice of drawing the human figure. Various drawing techniques will also be practiced in the Studio portion of the course. |
ART 21B | Figure Drawing IIUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU
Drawing from the human figure is an enjoyable and powerful exploration into the cultural context of one’s own world. This course provides intermediate instruction in drawing the human figure from the live model for students building a portfolio of figure drawings. This course builds on ART 21A, and focuses on more in depth study of the human figure through drawing. A broader range of materials will be introduced, including the use of color with continued emphasis on observation, anatomy, and spatial structure. |
ART 21C | Figure Drawing for Portfolio DevelopmentUnits: 3Transfer: CSU The figure continues to be one of the most important and enduring subjects for art. This course provides advanced instruction in drawing the human figure from the live model for students building a portfolio of figure drawings. This course focuses on in-depth study of the human figure through drawing. A broad range of materials will be utilized, including the use of color with continued emphasis on observation, anatomy, and spatial structure. In order to help students build a portfolio of figure drawings for transfer or to help find work in one of the many fields that require figure drawing, this course moves beyond observation and emphasizes creative, conceptual, & theoretical development. |
ART 30A | Beginning Watercolor Painting IUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU
This is an introductory course to water media painting with emphasis on watercolor technique, composition, and formal theory. A spectrum of wash, glaze, and gouache techniques are explored using principles of color theory, composition, and space building concepts. |
ART 30B | Watercolor Painting IIUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU
In this advanced watercolor class students will further their knowledge and research about the principles, and practices of painting with watercolor. There is a focus on exploration of watercolor materials, perceptual skills and color theory, paint mixing and technique, as well as creative responses to materials and subject matter. |
ART 30C | Acrylic Painting TechniquesUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU
This course will focus on the basics of drawing and painting with Acrylics and Mixed Media. Acrylics are a fast drying medium that is ideally suited for the beginning art student interested in Commercial Arts as well as Fine Arts. Students will develop skills in conceptual and observational painting through still life and assignments geared toward illustration. Assignments are based on typical areas of concentration found in the field, including conceptual, decorative, surreal, editorial, design, narrative, portrait, realistic and on the practical aspect of a career in illustration. |
ART 31 | Beginning Oil PaintingUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU
This an introductory course in oil painting. This course will emphasize building a foundation for executing and understanding paintings with coursework focusing on the use and application of painting materials, composition, and theory. |
ART 32 | Intermediate PaintingUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU
This course is an intermediate course in painting with a variety of types of subject matter. This course will emphasize the further use of oil paint or acrylic. |
ART 33 | Figure PaintingUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU
This course will focus on painting the live model from direct observation. Students may work in oil or acrylic paint for the course. The course will also focus on understanding and developing pictorial strategies through composition and analysis. Over the course of the semester, each student produces two major figurative paintings and at least five smaller works. |
ART 34A | New GenresUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU This course is an interdisciplinary studio course that explores art practices and issues underlying contemporary fine art activity with an emphasis on the influence of modern and postmodern perspectives. The nature, origins, methods, and implications of various art movements and genre are examined and the dissolution of traditional boundaries between media categories are explored including installation, appropriation, semiotics, performance art, art and technology, and digital and/or video art. Using traditional and/or alternative media, students develop a personal visual language for the creation of content-oriented art works. Portfolio development for transfer is emphasized. |
ART 34B | Contemporary Art Theory and PracticeUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU
A studio course in which students further explore various options for postmodern art-making through studio practice, readings, and lecture/discussions. This course is structured to support each student in the development of a personal visual portfolio of artworks with an emphasis on the integration and application of formal visual concerns as well as content in their work. The nature, origins, methods and implications of various art methodologies and genres will be further examined and the dissolution of traditional boundaries between art media categories will be explored. |
ART 35 | Airbrush TechniquesUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
This course introduces the use of the airbrush in fine art, design and illustration, including exercises in freehand air painting, masks, and stencils. |
ART 40A | Sculpture FundamentalsUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU
This will be an introduction to the formal and spatial concepts, principles and techniques in sculpture. Various methods and mediums will be employed with attention to creative self-expression and historical context. |
ART 40B | Sculpture ExplorationsUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU
Students will continue to explore sculptural materials and techniques and how different materials can be used for various art problems. Focus will be on individual growth and direction, emphasizing aesthetic and conceptual considerations. |
ART 40C | Advanced SculptureUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU
This course offers the advanced sculpture student the opportunity to further explore materials, tools, processes and techniques in conjunction with their individual conceptual and theoretical framework. Students will develop greater strength and abilities in articulating and investigating the significance of their own work and the work of other artists. |
ART 41A | Figure Modeling Sculpture IUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU
Sculpting the human figure in clay is studied. Emphasis is on relief and full figure over an armature, using live models. |
ART 41B | Figure Modeling Sculpture IIUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU
This continuation of Art 41A utilizes problems in figure composition, individual interpretation of the figure, and exploration of various media. |
ART 43A | Glass Sculpture IUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU
This course explores form and function utilizing free blown and poured glass, glass construction and glass in combination with other materials, emphasizing design, construction techniques, and proficiency in the art of off-hand glassblowing. |
ART 43B | Glass Sculpture IIUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU
This course further explores form based on techniques acquired in Art 43A. Advanced techniques such as slumping, fusing, molds, surface decoration, and coloring are covered. |
ART 52A | Introduction to CeramicsUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU
This course is designed to teach students basic ceramic design, materials, terminology, and construction methods, with an emphasis on building ceramic forms by hand with pinch, coil, and slab techniques. The course introduces students to the history of ceramics in a variety of cultural contexts, from ancient to contemporary. Students will have the opportunity to develop unique sculptural and functional ceramic objects with a wide variety of construction and decoration techniques. |
ART 52B | Ceramics: Hand BuildingUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU
This is a ceramic design and construction course using basic hand building methods such as slab, coil, and molding combined with advanced building techniques. This course investigates traditional ways of hand building with contemporary concepts. Awareness of three-dimensional form, concept, and surface design are heightened by individual and group critiques. The students work towards a more individual statement by further experimentation with a variety of clay bodies, glazes, and firing techniques. |
ART 52C | Ceramics IIIUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU
This course emphasizes advanced concepts in wheel throwing and creating sculptural forms in a variety of methods. Students will gain increased knowledge of glaze and firing technology. |
ART 53A | Introduction to Wheel ThrowingUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU Students learn various forming techniques, with an emphasis on wheel throwing and the production of functional pottery forms. This course covers beginning problems of centering, throwing and shaping various functional and non-functional pottery. Students will be introduced to the process of glazing and basic firing techniques. Surface design techniques, such as stamping, carving, slip and oxide decoration, wax resist and glaze application methods are covered. |
ART 53B | Wheel Throwing Processes and TechniquesUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU This course in ceramics focuses on surface treatment and enhancement. Student will learn extensive use of decorative slips, engobes and oxide washes. This course develops use of the potter’s wheel with lessons on plates, bottles, lidded vessels, and goblets. Student will gain extensive knowledge on glaze composition and materials. |
ART 60 | Introduction to PrintmakingUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU
This is an introductory course in printmaking media and techniques including lino-cut, multi-block woodcut, and etching processes. |
ART 60B | Introduction to Digital PrintingUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU
An introduction to experimental digital print technologies through understanding the digital imaging process from color management to visual concept to final ink-on-paper. Advances the idea of innovative materials and techniques that explore combining both digital and traditional hands-on methods emphasizing individual creative problems. Class projects will be completed on Epson printers (1280, 2200, and 4000), including both dye-based and pigment-based inks with a variety of coated ink jet papers and uncoated fine art papers. Students working in all media are welcome to explore a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach to working in a digital image-making environment. A special emphasis on fine art portfolio development for transfer as well as documentation of art works related to contemporary art practice will be encouraged. Projects, discussions and critiques will focus on issues of intention, process, experimentation, and producing quality digital fine art prints. |
ART 61A | EtchingUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU
This course is an intensive study of etching techniques, using multicolor and black and white processes. Traditional methods of metal etching are also combined with computer generated images and non-toxic photographic techniques. |
ART 61B | Advanced EtchingUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU
This is an advanced course in creating multiple images in black and white and color. Traditional metal etching processes are combined with computer generated images, image transfers, and non-toxic photographic techniques. Emphasis is on multiple plate color images and book making. |
ART 62 | Serigraphy (Silkscreen)Units: 3Transfer: UC, CSU
This is an introductory studio course in screen printing techniques, including hand cut and painted stencil application as well as an introduction to photo stencil techniques. |
ART 63 | LithographyUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU
This course is a study of lithographic processes, past and current techniques, as well as black and white and multicolor processes. |
ART 74 | Introduction to Creative Coding and Generative ArtUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU This course provides an introduction to creative coding within the context of the visual arts. Students learn to read and write code for the development of visual, auditory, and interactive projects that employ computation as a medium for creative thinking. Lectures and readings survey the historical precedents and contemporary examples of programmatic approaches to art practice. |
ART 75 | Form and InformationUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU This course introduces fundamental concepts related to the design and fabrication of objects. Students utilize a combination of computational and mechanical tools to design, develop, refine, and construct physical forms. Through a combination of lectures, demonstrations, and hands on lab work, students develop the skills, toolsets, and experimental approaches needed for further study in the fields of sculpture, architecture, industrial design, 3D modeling, and contemporary multimedia studio art practice. In addition to lectures and readings on the historical and contemporary intersections of art and technology, topics of instruction include the safe operation of power tools, digital input and output paths, laser cutting, 3D printing, CNC routing and milling, and a survey of relevant 3D modeling software. |
ART 80 | Introduction to Exhibition & DisplayUnits: 3Transfer: CSU This course will be an overview of the field of exhibitions and display including Fine Art Galleries, Museums, and Cultural Institutions. Focus will be on understanding the various roles of exhibitions & display in contemporary society as well as the many ways to create and implement them. Students will be given an overview of exhibition planning & implementation including the creation of didactic materials, learning guides, and workshops in conjunction with the exhibitions. This will be a hands-on course, directly connected to, and correlated with exhibition and display at the college. |
ART 82 | Exhibition and Display ProductionUnits: 3Transfer: CSU This course introduces exhibition and display practices through hands-on experience in planning and installing exhibitions and display at Santa Monica College. This course will introduce the basic skills of exhibition production and display including: handling & preparing of art objects, planning and building out exhibition designs, and proper installation. The course will also introduce and explores jobs and careers in the field. Students will have the opportunity to directly participate in the creation of an exhibition and/or display at SMC. |
ART 84 | Exhibition & Display Implementation, Activation, and ManagementUnits: 3Transfer: CSU This course offers an opportunity to utilize an existing exhibition and display at the college and how to activate it and connect it to the communities it can serve. Students will develop an understanding of and responsibility for exhibition planning, research, operation, and management of exhibition spaces and introduces the creation of educational materials. There will also be opportunities to plan events and coordinate activities around the exhibition/display along with appropriate web content that can be accessed remotely. |
ARTS 88A | Independent Studies in the ArtsUnits: 1Transfer: CSU Please see “Independent Studies” section. |
ARTS 88B | Independent Studies in the ArtsUnits: 2Transfer: CSU Please see “Independent Studies” section. |
ARTS 88C | Independent Studies in the ArtsUnits: 3Transfer: CSU Please see “Independent Studies” section. |
ART 90A | InternshipUnits: 1Transfer: CSU Please see “Internships” section. |
ART 90B | InternshipUnits: 2Transfer: CSU Please see “Internships” section. |
Art History
Art History is the study of art created in the past by individuals from various cultures and parts of the world. It is the study of the historical development of art as social and intellectual phenomenon, the analysis of works of art and art conservation. Students study specific periods, cultures, styles and themes. The art historian seeks to interpret and understand works of art of many types, ranging from the monumental to small scale, by learning about artists’ lives and their societies. Students are prepared for a wide range of professional careers — in museums, galleries, auction houses or publishing, including antique dealer, art appraiser, art dealer, art restorer and museum curator.
AHIS 1 | Western Art History IUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU C-ID: ARTH 110. IGETC AREA 3A (Arts) Satisfies Global Citizenship
Formerly ART 1. A survey of the chronological development of Western art from the Stone Age to the Gothic Period with emphasis on the cultural, political, and social factors that influenced this evolution. This includes: Near-Eastern, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Romanesque and Gothic art and architecture. |
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AHIS 2 | Western Art History IIUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU C-ID: ARTH 120. IGETC AREA 3A (Arts) Satisfies Global Citizenship
Formerly ART 2. This course is a survey of the chronological development of Western art from the Renaissance to the mid 19th Century with emphasis on the cultural, political, and social factors that influenced this evolution. This includes: Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassicism, Romanticism and Realism painting, sculpture and architecture. |
AHIS 3 | Global Art History Since 1860Units: 3Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC AREA 3A (Arts) Satisfies Global Citizenship
Formerly ART 8. A focused survey of the chronological development of art and architecture from Impressionism to the present day. This course will cover the major movements of modern and contemporary art while examining their historical, cultural and philosophical context. Specific attention will be given to art theory and its part in shaping conversations about art history and the contemporary. |
AHIS 5 | Latin American Art History 1Units: 3Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC AREA 3A (Art) Satisfies Global Citizenship
An introduction to the art, symbolism, and visual culture of Latin America, emphasizing, Mesoamerican and Andean civilizations from prehistory to the Spanish conquest. Using interdisciplinary methods, this course will reconstruct (to the degree that is possible), the meaning and function of the visual arts in multiple, interlocking economic, political and sacred spheres. Subjects include the representation of history, ritual, and cosmology as revealed in sculpture, hieroglyphs, painting, ceramics, and architectural design. The course will also consider the interaction of ancient Latin American art objects with the contemporary world including issues of looting, cultural heritage, and museum display. |
AHIS 6 | Latin American Art History 2Units: 3Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC AREA 3A (Art) Satisfies Global Citizenship
This course is an introductory survey of the art, architecture, and visual culture of Latin America from the colonial to the contemporary period. The course examines the introduction and adaption of European artistic models in the Americas as well as the transformation of American art as a result of the conquest, analyzing a variety of materials and media including urban planning, religious and secular architecture, painting, sculpture, manuscript drawings and prints from the colonial period (1492-1820). Students examine the role of Latin American artists in building independent nations in the 19th c. and engaging with issues of race, gender, new technologies, politics, and globalization in the 20th and 21st centuries. |
AHIS 11 | Art Appreciation: Introduction to Global Visual CultureUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC AREA 3A (Arts and Humanities) Satisfies Global Citizenship
Formerly ART 79. An introduction to artistic practices by exploring the myriad manifestations of visual culture in our world through a cross-cultural thematic approach. This course examines themes in art like Religion, Power, Reproduction and Sexuality, and traces them across cultures and time periods. Emphasis will be placed on learning the language of visual culture both in terms of the formal elements of design as well as the content of style and subject matter and finding connections and differences. Students will explore the various media of art from drawing, sculpture, fresco, oil, photography, motion pictures, architecture to contemporary advertising and design and investigate how various cultures have used specific media and themes. This course is designed to introduce Fine Art and Art History simultaneously providing a unique opportunity to explore these fields as well as to prepare students for a course of study in Fine Art and Art History. |
AHIS 15 | Mexican Art HistoryUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC AREA 3A (Arts) Formerly ART 9. This course covers the historical development of Mexican art from its pre-Columbian past to the present with a review of painting, sculpture, architecture, and their social, political, religious, and economic relevance. |
AHIS 17 | Arts of AsiaUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU C-ID: ARTH 130. IGETC AREA 3A (Arts) Satisfies Global Citizenship
Formerly ART 5. This course is a survey of the chronological development of Asian art from earliest times to modern times with emphasis on the cultural, political, and social factors which influenced this evolution. The course includes the art of India, China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Cambodia, and Indonesia. |
AHIS 18 | Introduction to African Art HistoryUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC AREA 3A (Arts) Satisfies Global Citizenship
An introduction to key themes in African art history through an examination of the role and function of African arts within their religious, political, social and economic contexts. The course will cover various art making practices including performance, sculpture, architecture, painting, photography, regalia and arts of the body. Considering the importance of broader art and architectural connections between Africa and other parts of the world, this course examines issues of colonialism, the global economy, Afrofuturism, questions of display, and current concerns with art appropriation and cultural patrimony. |
AHIS 21 | Architectural History: Ancient to 1850Units: 3Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC AREA 3A (Arts) Satisfies Global Citizenship Formerly ART 6. A survey of the chronological development of World architecture from prehistory to the Romanticism of the late 18th and early 19th Centuries. It includes art history and architecture with a worldwide introduction to the history of architecture. The contributions of technology, organizing methodology, intellectual thought, social conditions, and general artistic sensibilities will be addressed. This course will analyze key works to develop an understanding of specific relationships between the organization, configuration, and articulation of buildings and the historical, conceptual, and cultural arguments with which they are associated. |
AHIS 22 | Architectural History and Theory: 1850 to PresentUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC AREA 3A (Arts) Satisfies Global Citizenship Formerly ART 7. Through the use of lectures, slides, and field trips, architecture will be studied from the mid-19th Century social and industrial conditions to current sensibilities represented by various creative individuals, movements and buildings. Cross references will be made to ideas of other arts, sociopolitical theory, and society in general. |
AHIS 52 | History of PhotographyUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC AREA 3A (Arts and Humanities) Formerly ART 73. This is a historical survey of the evolving nature of photography from the early 1800’s to the present digital age. AHIS 52 is the same course as PHOTO 52. Students may receive credit for one, but not both. |
AHIS 71 | African American Art HistoryUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC: 3A (Arts) Satisfies Global Citizenship Formerly ART 71. This course surveys artworks made by African Americans in the United States and abroad. Students will explore visual and material culture from the inception of chattel slavery in the sixteenth-century to contemporary Black Art Movements including Reconstruction and the Harlem Renaissance. Additionally, the impact of political movements on artists and their work such as the Black Liberation Movement and #BlackLivesMatter. In addition, students will consider how artists have contended with issues of race, gender, and sexuality and will examine transnational artist networks in Latin America and Europe among other places. Course content includes cross-historical phenomena such as the AIDS crisis, Afrofuturism, and the history of the Black Panther. |
AHIS 72 | American Art HistoryUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC AREA 3A (Art) Satisfies Global Citizenship
Formerly ART 72. A survey of the chronological development of painting, sculpture, and architecture in the United States from its pre-colonial past to the end of World War II. The contributions and influences of a variety of ethnic groups to the diversity of art in the United States will be addressed. The artistic contribution of Native American, African Americans, Asian Americans, Chicano/Latino Americans and European Americans will be studied in the larger context of American society, history, and culture. |
AHIS 80 | History of Exhibition & DisplayUnits: 3Transfer: CSU This course will survey the history of exhibition, collecting & display across time and cultures, examining the various ways cultures have used visual art and imagery for public and private display. The course will survey visual culture beyond fine art and may include, fashion, design, merchandising, and knowledge production. Specific emphasis will be placed on the dynamics of power and placement and trace the roots of contemporary practices of exhibition and display, both in fine art and popular culture. |
AHIS 90A | Internship in Art HistoryUnits: 1Transfer: CSU Please see “Internships” section. |
Astronomy
Astronomers and astrophysicists study the contents of our universe, including planets, stars, galaxies, and even the universe in its entirety. They are essentially physicists who specialize in using the fundamental laws of nature and the techniques of mathematics to understand our place in the cosmos. Astronomers design and build telescopes and other scientific instruments to collect data from astronomical objects. They then apply the techniques of scientific data reduction and analysis to extract the information from the data collected. While many astronomers and astrophysicists end up in academia, their unique skills are in great demand in many other fields including, aerospace, engineering, computer science, software development, information technology, financial services, education, and public outreach.
ASTRON 1 | Stellar AstronomyUnits: 3Transfer: UC*, CSU IGETC AREA 5A (Physical Sciences, non-lab) *Maximum credit allowed for ASTRON 1 and ASTRON 3 is one course (4 units). This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the fascinating subject of astronomy with an emphasis on the study of the Sun and other stars. Topics covered include the motions of the sky, a survey of the history of astronomy from Kepler to Einstein, gravity, radiation and matter, astronomical instrumentation, the Sun, stars, star formation, stellar evolution, galaxies and cosmology. |
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ASTRON 2 | Planetary AstronomyUnits: 3Transfer: UC*, CSU IGETC AREA 5A (Physical Sciences, non-lab) *Maximum credit allowed for ASTRON 2 and ASTRON 4 is one course (4 units). This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the fascinating subject of astronomy with an emphasis on the study of the Earth and the other planets in the solar system. Topics covered include the motions of the sky, a survey of the history of astronomy from the Greeks to Einstein, phases of the moon, eclipses, gravity, the formation of the solar system, the Earth, Terrestrial and Jovian planets, their moons, asteroids, meteoroids, comets and a discussion of extrasolar planets around other stars. |
ASTRON 3 | Stellar Astronomy with LaboratoryUnits: 4Transfer: UC*, CSU IGETC AREA 5A (Physical Sciences, + LAB) *Maximum credit allowed for ASTRON 1 and ASTRON 3 is one course (4 units). This survey course covers the same material as Astronomy 1, but includes a laboratory section covering hands-on astronomical activities. The laboratory portion includes observations of the sky, computer simulations, the construction of simple astronomical instruments and analyzing publicly available astronomical data from the internet. |
ASTRON 4 | Planetary Astronomy with LaboratoryUnits: 4Transfer: UC*, CSU IGETC AREA 5A (Physical Sciences, + LAB) *Maximum credit allowed for ASTRON 2 and ASTRON 4 is one course (4 units). This is a 4-unit introductory level lab course with a similar curricular depth and breadth to its comparable 3-unit lecture course Astronomy 2. In the lab component, students begin by re-creating many historical, first-ever human discoveries and measurements that helped to develop the scientific method: the size of Earth, Moon, and Sun, their relative distances, the scale of planetary orbits, phases, diameters, densities, masses, surface features, atmospheres, and rates of rotation. The labs also engage students in basic observations of the sky, computer simulations, and analysis of archival data from public domain sky surveys and surface maps by robotic NASA rovers and orbiting probes. The course material is a single semester survey of the origin and evolution of planetary systems such as our own Solar System including the latest leading theories of planetary topography, atmospheres, interiors, moons, comets, asteroids, and aurorae produced by the interaction of planetary magnetism and particle outflows from the Sun. |
ASTRON 5 | Life in the UniverseUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC AREA 5A (Physical Sciences, non-lab) This course surveys the latest ideas concerning the origin and evolution of life on earth and discusses how these ideas are influencing our search for life on other planets in our solar system and elsewhere in the Universe. Topics covered include the chemical and biological basis of life, the search for life on Mars, extrasolar planets and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI). |
ASTRON 6 | ArchaeoastronomyUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC AREA 4 (Social and Behavioral Sciences) Satisfies Global Citizenship This course will stress naked-eye astronomy and the historical development of astronomical thought, from the stone age to modern times. Students will learn about celestial motions and how these motions have shaped various cultural views, and how cultural beliefs and values shaped interpretations of the phenomena seen. We will see how eclipses of the sun and moon helped mark important epochs of time, and how solar and lunar motions were used to help create calendars. The class will study the development of astronomy in western European cultures, American cultures (North America, Mesoamerica, and South America), and non-western cultures (Asia, Africa). |
ASTRON 7 | CosmologyUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC AREA 5A (Physical Sciences, non-lab) This course explores how our ideas surrounding the origin, evolution and future of the universe have developed from earliest times until present day. Topics discussed include creation mythology, gravity, matter and radiation, relativity, cosmic expansion and acceleration, the Big Bang, dark matter and dark energy, the cosmic microwave background, inflation and the multiverse. |
ASTRON 8 | Introduction to AstrophysicsUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC AREA 5A (Physical Sciences, non-lab)
A rigorous quantitative introduction to the physics of astronomy for prospective majors and mathematically-minded enthusiasts. The course employs graphing techniques, systems of equations, and geometric analysis to survey a wide range of astronomical phenomena including stellar evolution, planetary physics, and extragalactic cosmology. Emphasis will be placed upon deploying expedient methods of approximation to solve problems in emerging frontiers of research such as exoplanets, brown dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes, quasars, dark matter, and gamma-ray bursts. This curriculum provides an extraordinary opportunity for the motivated student to experience the thrill of applied math in the cosmic context of 21st century astrophysics. |
ASTRON 9 | Astrophysics with CalculusUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC AREA 5A (Physical Sciences, non-lab)
A robust calculus-based treatment of Astrophysics suited for science majors and mathematically-minded enthusiasts. The course makes use of methods in quantitative analysis including dynamical physics, differential and integral calculus, trigonometry and advanced graphing techniques to address a wide range of astronomical phenomena including stellar properties, interior structure, stellar evolution, variable stars, planetary atmospheres and gaseous nebulae, and the large-scale structure of the Universe. Emphasis will be placed on finding analytic solutions to problems in emerging areas of research such as exoplanetary systems, red giants, white dwarfs, supernovae, neutron stars, pulsars, black holes, the interstellar medium, dark matter, active galactic nuclei, gamma-ray bursts, dark energy and big bang nucleosynthesis. This curriculum provides a remarkable opportunity for the motivated student to experience the power of applying calculus-based physics to the frontiers of contemporary astrophysical problems. |
ASTRON 10 | Exploration of the Solar SystemUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC AREA 5A (Physical Sciences, non-lab)
This course provides a geologic and astronomic view of solar system exploration. Current knowledge of the geology of other planets, natural satellites and asteroids is discussed. Current studies in planetary science and how to access and utilize data collected from modern and historic planetary missions and Earth-based studies are also examined. ASTRON 10 is the same course as GEOL 10. Students may earn credit for one, but not both. |
Athletics
Please see listing under “Varsity Intercollegiate Athletics.”
Automotive Technology
Provides students with hands-on training on vehicle technologies. Students apply basic diagnostic techniques, maintenance procedures, and repair skills to automotive, electrical, braking and suspension, and steering systems. Prepares students for essential positions in today’s automotive maintenance shop operations.
AUTO 40 | Automotive Maintenance and OperationUnits: 3 C-ID: AUTO 110 X. This is an introductory course which explores the maintenance, diagnosis, operation and safety of the modern automobile. It also covers tools, equipment and safe working practices in the automobile industry. Students are also familiarized with career opportunities in the field. |
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AUTO 41 | Automotive Manual Transmissions and Drive Train SystemsUnits: 3Transfer: CSU This course examines the fundamental operations and repairs of the automatic manual transmissions and drive train systems. Students will also learn about shop safety and environmental concerns regarding proper oil disposal, related tools and special equipment, and relevant automotive repair industry terms and practices. |
AUTO 42 | Automatic Transmissions and TransaxlesUnits: 3Transfer: CSU This is a course which covers the principles, operation, diagnosis, service and repair of automotive transmissions and transaxles. Additional topics include shop safety, environmental concerns and a review of the automotive industry terms and conventions. |
AUTO 43 | Automotive Heating, Ventilation and Air ConditioningUnits: 3Transfer: CSU This is a course which covers the theory, diagnosis, service and repair of automotive, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. Other topics include related environmental concerns as well as an overview of relevant regulations and consumer protections. |
AUTO 44 | Introduction to Hybrid and Electric Vehicle TechnologyUnits: 3Transfer: CSU C-ID: ALTF 100 X. This is an introductory course which examines the use of hybrid and electric battery power for automobiles. This course also examines the safety procedures for working with high voltage and the overall design and operation of hybrid and electric vehicles. This is a practical hands-on course where students will participate in lab activities relating to shop safety procedures and the diagnosis, maintenance and service of electric powered vehicles. |
AUTO 45 | Automotive Braking SystemsUnits: 3 This is a theoretical and practical course in automotive braking systems. It includes operating principles, component description, diagnosis, service, and repair. |
AUTO 46 | Automotive Electrical SystemsUnits: 3
This course covers basic electricity and automotive electrical systems such as battery, starting, charging, and electronic ignition. Test equipment and computer systems will also be covered. |
AUTO 47 | Suspension and SteeringUnits: 3 This course covers the principles, operation, diagnosis, service and repair of automotive suspension, steering systems, and four-wheel suspension alignment. Topics include the two types of steering systems that are widely used in today’s consumer vehicles: rack-and-pinion steering, and “recirculating ball” or “worm gear” steering, also known as conventional. This course prepares students for entry-level positions or advanced training in automotive suspension and steering systems. |
AUTO 50 | Emerging and Alternative Auto TechnologyUnits: 3 Students will gain an understanding of the current state of vehicle technology in the U.S. In addition, they will study the impact of alternative fuels, hybrid-electric drives, and other technology emerging in the transportation marketplace. Emissions, fuel economy benefits and regulations, and safety and service requirements will be examined. The interaction of issues such as economic viability, energy independence, the regulatory environment, infrastructure, and the consumer environment will be examined from the standpoint of the ability of each technology to solve transportation-related energy and air pollution problems. The global impact of the automobile will be studied. |
AUTO 90A | Automotive InternshipUnits: 1
Students must arrange an approved internship prior to enrolling in this Class. F-1 students must see the Immigration Coordinator at the International Education Center before enrolling. The internship program is designed to provide the advanced student with on-site, practical experience in the automotive field. Learning objectives and exit internship evaluation are required. |
Bicycle Maintenance – Noncredit
BCYCLE 901 | Bicycle Maintenance Level 1Units: 0 This course provides a basic understanding of bicycle maintenance and adjustments and techniques to fix most common problems. Topics include technical and mechanical skill development, tool selection and use, drive-train systems, wheel and hub systems, brake systems, suspensions, handlebar and stem assemblies. Career pathways in the bicycle industry at the local, national and international levels will be explored. |
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BCYCLE 902 | Bicycle Maintenance Level 2Units: 0 This course provides a foundation for those who wish to pursue a career in the bicycle industry including owning their own shops, working at a local bicycle shop, starting their own bicycle-related business, or finding employment in the bicycle industry. Topics in shop operations include customer service, sales, inventory management, customer segment focus, computer system selection, cash flow projections, establishing and developing vendor relationships, insurance, service ticket writing, pricing, and labor rates. |
Biological Sciences
See also “Aquaculture.” Coursework and study in the biological sciences provides a foundation for future employment in many of the fastest growing and emerging STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields today. Students of biology are at the front lines of many of the most critical questions our society is facing in the 21st century and beyond, including addressing climate change, the biodiversity crisis, resource management and population growth, emerging/infectious diseases and public health. Students of biology become lab technicians, nurses, genetic counselors, physicians, environmental scientists, landscape architects, state and national park rangers, researchers in agriculture, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, teachers and college professors. Logic and critical thinking skills developed as a student of biology are applicable to nearly every field and every discipline and provide a foundation for making informed personal, business and public policy decisions. Students must be present for the first session of biological science classes to be assured of admission to limited laboratory spaces. Students who wish to enroll in a Life Sciences course must demonstrate that they have met the prerequisites for the course prior to enrollment. Continuing students must complete prerequisite courses with a C or better. If currently enrolled in a prerequisite course at SMC at the time of enrollment, students will be admitted to subsequent courses based upon midterm placement results, but will be dropped if the prerequisite course is not completed with a C or better. Students who have successfully completed one or more prerequisite courses (earning a grade of C- or better in both the lecture and lab courses and an average of C (2.0) or better overall) at another institution may be able to verify having met the prerequisites by submitting a transcript and course description and course syllabus for the prerequisite courses.
ANATMY 1 | General Human AnatomyUnits: 4Transfer: UC, CSU C-ID: BIOL 110B. IGETC AREA 5B (Biological Sciences, + LAB)
This course is an intensive study of the gross and microscopic structure of the human body including the four major types of tissue and their subgroups, and the following organ systems: integumentary, skeletal, muscular, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive, endocrine, nervous, and sensory. Functions of the organ systems are included at the introductory level to prepare students for a course in Human Physiology. Laboratory assignments develop the skills of observation, investigation, identification, discovery and dissection. The use of actual specimens, including cat dissection and observation of a human cadaver, is emphasized to assure that students learn the relative structure, functions, textures and variations in tissues not incorporated in models. Supplemental materials such as models, photographs, charts, videotapes, and digitized images are also provided. This course is required for students preparing for many Allied Health professions including, but not limited to, Nursing, Respiratory Therapy, Physical Therapy, Physical Education and Kinesiology Training, and Physician’s Assistant and is a prerequisite for Human Physiology 3. |
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ANATMY 2 | Advanced Human AnatomyUnits: 4Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC AREA 5B (Biological Sciences, + LAB)
This course emphasizes developmental, comparative and gross anatomy as applied to various disciplines such as clinical medicine, anthropology, art, illustration, kinesiology, and pathology in order to demonstrate practical and professional applications of anatomy. The laboratory experience includes individualized instruction in (virtual for online) dissection of the human body. Students prepare seminars on specific anatomy topics for presentation to faculty and other students. Guest lecturers and field trips may be included. |
BIOL 2 | Human BiologyUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC AREA 5B (Biological Sciences non-lab)
This survey course explores the principles of biology using humans as examples. It includes introductions to the scientific method, cell biology, heredity, evolution, human ecology, behavior, and the major concepts of structure, function and pathology of most organ systems. The course may serve as an introduction to the future study of biology, including anatomy and physiology, or stand by itself as a non-lab life science course for general education students. |
BIOL 3 | Fundamentals of BiologyUnits: 4Transfer: UC*, CSU IGETC AREA 5B (Biological Sciences, + LAB)
*No UC credit given for BIOL 3 if taken after BIOL 21, 22 or 23. This general biology course is for transfer students who are not biology majors. Topics include basic molecular and cellular biology, genetics, the anatomy and physiology of plants, animals and humans, the diversity of life, evolution, and ecology. Current environmental issues and new developments in biological science are discussed. Laboratory experiences are integrated and stress scientific methodology and thinking. Credit is allowed for either BIOL 3 or BOTANY 1, but not both. |
BIOL 9 | Environmental BiologyUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC AREA 5B (Biological Sciences, non-lab) Satisfies Global Citizenship
This survey course covers ecological principles including ecosystem structure and function, population dynamics and the interdependence of living organisms. Current environmental issues and controversies such as global warming, biodiversity and species extinction, habitat destruction, food and energy resources and pollution will be explored. Strategies for sustainable living will be emphasized. |
BIOL 10 | Applied Ecology and Conservation BiologyUnits: 4Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC AREA 5B (Biological Sciences, + LAB) Satisfies Global Citizenship This course introduces students to basic concepts of environmental biology through the study of evolution, ecology, and conservation biology. The course is designed for both major and non-major environmental science students. It is intended both as preparation for upper division Environmental Science classes, but also as general education for all students interested in a more in-depth understanding of current biological and environmental issues. By the end of the course, students should be able to use scientifically sound information to critically analyze complex environmental issues from around the world. Students will gather and analyze basic research data and apply the scientific method to conservation-related projects. Laboratory and field experiments are integrated and stress scientific methodology and thinking. |
BIOL 15 | Marine Biology with LaboratoryUnits: 4Transfer: UC*, CSU IGETC AREA 5B (Biological Sciences, + LAB) Satisfies Global Citizenship
*Total of four units credit for BIOL 15 and BIOL 15N is transferable. This survey course of marine organisms and their relationships to their environment emphasizes intertidal and offshore life forms. Included is an investigation of behavior, ecology, morphological and physiological adaptations and environmental relationship to humans. This course is three hours each of lecture and laboratory work. |
BIOL 15N | Marine Biology (Non-Laboratory)Units: 3Transfer: UC*, CSU IGETC AREA 5B (Biological Sciences, non-lab)
*Total of four units credit for BIOL 15 and BIOL 15N is transferable. This survey course of marine organisms and their relationships to their environment emphasizes intertidal and offshore life forms. Included are investigation of behavior, ecology, morphological and physiological adaptations and environmental relationship to humans. This course includes three hours of lecture per week. |
BIOL 21 | Cell Biology and EvolutionUnits: 4Transfer: UC*, CSU IGETC AREA 5B (Biological Science, + Lab)
*No UC credit for BIOL 3, BOTANY 1 or ZOOL 5 if taken after BIOL 21, 22 or 23. This is the first course of a three-course lecture and laboratory sequence for Biology majors, including Biology 21, 22, and 23. It describes how scientists approach the scientific method to generate scientific knowledge; studies the history, evidence, and mechanisms of evolution; identifies the chemistry of four classes of macromolecules; elucidates the cell principle including cell structure, function, and physiology; describes general energy metabolism; and illustrates the processes of growth and reproduction through mitosis, meiosis, development, and life cycles. Students are required to perform at least two experiments that require data collection, computer-based data management and graphing, and scientific analysis and interpretation of data. The course is designed to meet the needs of students transferring to upper division biology study. |
BIOL 22 | Genetics and Molecular BiologyUnits: 4Transfer: UC*, CSU IGETC AREA 5B (Biological Science, + Lab)
*No UC credit for BIOL 3, BOTANY 1 or ZOOL 5 if taken after BIOL 21, 22 or 23. This is the second course of a three-course lecture and laboratory sequence for Biology Majors, Biology 21, 22 and 23. It focuses on the structure, function and transmission of genes from the perspectives of genetics and molecular biology. A strong foundation in genetics and its relationship to molecular biology is developed through problem solving. Students perform experiments that require data analysis and demonstrate interpretations in laboratory reports. Application of Internet databases for bioinformatics is used to show relationships between DNA and protein sequences. The course is designed to meet the needs of students transferring to upper division biology study. It is strongly recommended that students also enroll in Chemistry 21 which is required for transfer. Any online section of BIOL 22 will be taught as a hybrid with all lab meetings scheduled for in-person learning on the SMC campus. |
BIOL 23 | Organismal and Environmental BiologyUnits: 5Transfer: UC*, CSU IGETC AREA 5B (Biological Sciences, + LAB)
*No UC credit for BIOL 3, BOTANY 1 or ZOOL 5 if taken after BIOL 21, 22 or 23. This is the third of a three-course lecture and laboratory sequence for biology majors. Organisms at and above the cellular level of organization are examined, with plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates receiving equal attention. Topics emphasized include morphology, physiology, systematics, ecology, evolution, and behavior. Additionally, each student must complete a term project which includes lab or fieldwork and library research. Transfer credit is limited if students enroll in other overlapping Biology courses or Zoology 5. |
BIOL 30 | Fundamentals of Biotechnology 1Units: 5Transfer: CSU This course will introduce students to the broad spectrum of the biotechnology field and workforce, with content that will be accessible and appropriate to students and professionals from diverse disciplines. This course is designed to prepare students to enter the growing biotechnology workforce or to transfer. Students that complete this course will be eligible to take the Los Angeles Regional Bioscience/Biotechnology Industry-Valued Credential. Topics explored in this course include basic molecular and cellular biology, introductory genetics, biomanufacturing, microbiology, agriculture & bioremediation, chemistry, environmental health & safety, quality assurance & regulation, business, ethics, and biotechnology company structure. These concepts are explored by means of class discussions and projects, reading assignments, and lab activities. The course is intended as preparation for the intermediate and advanced biotechnology skills and methods courses as well as internships. By the end of the course, students should be able to describe the general structure and operating practices for a biotechnology company, demonstrate knowledge of fundamental biotechnology concepts in a molecular biology context, and express understanding of biotechnology applications and ethical practices. |
BIOL 45V | Natural History and Marine Biology of BelizeUnits: 1Transfer: CSU
Formerly known as British Honduras, and located 350 miles south of Cancun, Belize is famous for its natural wonders including the second largest Great Barrier Reef in the world. This course presents an opportunity to study firsthand the plant and animal forms of the land and under the sea of this tranquil corner of the Caribbean Basin. Students will analyze the tropical flora, fauna, ecology history and culture of the area including visits to Mayan archaeological sites. On-site lectures will be held in the field, on the shoreline, on the river cruise, and during snorkeling dives. Introductory lectures and a final evaluation meeting will take place on the Santa Monica College campus. |
BIOL 46A | Field Studies in Natural HistoryUnits: 3Transfer: CSU
See Schedule of Classes for current offerings This series of courses is designed to combine classroom and laboratory studies with actual field studies in biology. Students will be introduced to the flora and fauna of particular habitats, biomes, or ecological communities and the ecological relationships of these areas using a field biology approach. Identification of unknown organisms and use of standard field sampling techniques are emphasized. Courses in this series allow students to study and visit such diverse areas as Belize, China, Tahiti, the Amazon, and the Galapagos Islands, and specific habitat-types such as California Deserts, California Mountain ranges, and wetlands of Southern California. |
BIOL 46G | Natural History and Marine Biology of Costa RicaUnits: 1Transfer: CSU
This course presents an opportunity to study firsthand the plant and animal forms of Costa Rica. Students will analyze the neotropical fauna and flora, biogeography, and the ecology of Costa Rica, including Central America’s Cenozoic geology, volcanism, tropical rainforest canopies, and the history and impact of human inhabitation. Near shore and offshore marine ecosystems will be included in the course. Introductory lectures and a final evaluation meeting will take place on the SMC campus. |
BIOL 88A | Independent Studies in Biological SciencesUnits: 1Transfer: CSU Please see “Independent Studies” section. |
BIOL 88B | Independent Studies in Biological SciencesUnits: 2Transfer: CSU Please see “Independent Studies” section. |
BIOL 88C | Independent Studies in Biological SciencesUnits: 3Transfer: CSU Please see “Independent Studies” section. |
BIOL 90A | Life Science InternshipUnits: 1Transfer: CSU Please see “Internships” section. |
BIOL 90B | Life Science InternshipUnits: 2Transfer: CSU Please see “Internships” section. |
BIOL 94C | Cell and Molecular Biology Research MethodsUnits: 2Transfer: UC, CSU
This course utilizes techniques of biochemistry and cellular and molecular biology to explore the actions of cellular proteins participating in pathways that are critical to the functioning of living organisms. Students examine the roles of a single vital protein or pathway. Through a survey of the scientific literature, students formulate hypotheses and determine appropriate methods for testing predictions. Students collect data, apply statistical methods, engage in comprehensive data interpretation, utilize computer-aided computational analyses of protein structure and searches of bioinformatics databases to evaluate experimental results, and generate new hypotheses. Comparisons between the normal function of the protein or pathway and the possible outcomes of dysfunctions are emphasized. Students report their findings in the format of a scientific journal article. |
BOTANY 1 | General BotanyUnits: 4Transfer: UC*, CSU IGETC AREA 5B (Biological Sciences, + LAB)
*No UC credit for BOTANY 1 if taken after BIOL 21, 22 or 23 and no credit for BIOL 4 if taken after ZOOL 5 or BOTANY 1. This course provides an overview of photosynthetic organisms (the Plant Kingdom, photosynthetic Monerans and Protistans) and Fungi. Flowering plants are emphasized. Topics covered include a survey of botanical life forms, taxonomy, the structure, development and function of cells, stems, roots leaves, flowers, and seeds; chemistry, photosynthesis, respiration, plant physiology, Mendelian and molecular genetics, genetic engineering, evolution, and ecology. Scientific thinking skills will be developed in laboratory exercises. One or more labs are field trips to local natural areas or Plant society meetings. Credit is allowed for either BIOL 3 or BOTANY 1, but not both. |
BOTANY 3 | Field BotanyUnits: 4Transfer: CSU
This introduction to the life habits, interrelationships, and classification of both native and introduced plants. Provides practice in identifying species by means of keys, manuals, and charts. Emphasis is on the field study of southern California plant communities, both terrestrial and marine. Other geographic regions may be explored. Field trips are taken to any combination of botanical gardens, parks, nurseries and a number of natural settings, including nature reserves, as well as state and national parks. It is designed to be of special interest to future teachers and recreational leaders, as well as to majors in botany, general agriculture, landscape architecture, forestry, and wildlife management. |
MCRBIO 1 | Fundamentals of MicrobiologyUnits: 5Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC AREA 5B (Biological Sciences, + LAB)
This course involves study of several types of microorganisms with emphasis on bacteria. Principles of microbiology, metabolism, genetics, immunology, and medical and nonmedical applications are considered. The laboratory includes aseptic transfer techniques, cultural characteristics, methods of microscopy, and analytical techniques for identifying microbial organisms. The course content is related to both general and clinical applications including recent molecular biological and serological techniques. |
NUTR 1 | Introduction to Nutrition ScienceUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU C-ID: NUTR 110.
Human nutrition, integrating anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and psychology, is studied in relation to wellness and degenerative disease prevention. Scientific information and principles provide the foundation for evaluating current concepts in nutrition for practical application in daily living. |
NUTR 3 | Introduction to the Dietetics ProfessionUnits: 1Transfer: CSU This course explores the fields of Dietetics and Nutrition, including trends, future projections, and employment opportunities. The course offers an overview of the dietetics profession including career options, professional development, continuing education, code of ethics, state and national standards of scope and practice, professional values, creativity, Academy of Nutrition and Science position papers and evidence-based references and resources. Additionally, each student will be guided through the process of creating a resume, the processes of building a portfolio and networking through the district dietetic association and contribute to the nutritional status of the community. Service learning may be used in this course. |
NUTR 4 | Healthy Lifestyle: Food and FitnessUnits: 3Transfer: CSU This course will help individuals to develop knowledge of how to eat healthy for fitness, health and sport. Nutrition and physical assessments will guide the development of these life style skills. The dangers of disordered eating and body dysmorphia will be discussed. Individuals will learn how to evaluate the latest weight loss, fitness and dietary supplement fads. |
NUTR 7 | Food and Culture in AmericaUnits: 3Transfer: UC, CSU IGETC AREA 4 (Social and Behavioral Sciences) Satisfies Global Citizenship
The evolution of American food culture is examined from a historical, contemporary, economic, political and scientific survey of ethnic groups in America, including Native Americans, European Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Latinos. Immigration, enculturation, acculturation, religion, food availability, food preference, food behavior, food preparation, food beliefs and food-related gender roles are considered. These factors are compared and contrasted across the ethnic groups and regions in America. The impact of “Americanization” on ethnic cuisines and impact of ethnic cuisines on the American economy are explored. Current research on the health- and nutrition-related implications of ethnic groups’ food choices/practices is reviewed. Engendering cultural sensitivity and competency is at the core of this course. |
NUTR 8 | Principles of Food with LabUnits: 3Transfer: CSU C-ID: NUTR 120. Application of food science principles with emphasis on ingredient function and interaction, food preparation techniques, sensory evaluation standards, food safety and sanitation, and nutrient composition of food. |
NUTR 88A | Independent Studies in NutritionUnits: 1Transfer: CSU Please see “Independent Studies” section. |
NUTR 88B | Independent Studies in NutritionUnits: 2Transfer: CSU Please see “Independent Studies” section. |
NUTR 90A | Internship in NutritionUnits: 1 Please see “Internships” section. |
NUTR 90B | Internship in NutritionUnits: 2Transfer: CSU Please see “Internships” section. |
NUTR 90C | Internship in NutritionUnits: 3Transfer: CSU Please see “Internships” section. |
NUTR 90D | Internship in NutritionUnits: 4Transfer: CSU Please see “Internships” section. |
PHYS 3 | Human PhysiologyUnits: 4Transfer: UC, CSU C-ID: BIOL 120 B. IGETC AREA 5B (Biological Sciences, + LAB)
This rigorous course provides a basic understanding of physiological mechanisms with a focus on the human body. Basic concepts of cellular physiology, including: molecular control; mechanisms of gene expression; ligand-binding site interactions; energy and cellular metabolism; membrane transport; membrane and action potentials; and cellular communication, including signal transduction, will be integrated within the concept of homeostasis involving the following body systems: nervous, sensory, endocrine, muscle, skeletal, cardiovascular, lymphatic, immune, respiratory, renal, digestive, reproductive, and integumentary. The course content includes both general and clinical applications and is intended to prepare students for advanced courses in Allied Health and Medical professions including Nursing, Physical Therapy, Respiratory Therapy, Physician’s Assistant, Pharmacy, and Exercise Science/Kinesiology Training. |
ZOOL 5 | Introductory ZoologyUnits: 4Transfer: UC*, CSU IGETC AREA 5B (Biological Sciences, + LAB)
*No UC credit for ZOOL 5 if taken after BIOL 21, 22 or 23 and no credit for BIOL 4 if taken after ZOOL 5 or BOTANY 1. This general zoology course deals with the major animal groups from protists through vertebrates. Consideration is given to animal form, function, natural history, and behavior. Comparisons are made between groups and are used to stress the principles of evolution, classification, morphology, cell biology, organ system function, genetics, and ecology. Critical and scientific thinking skills are illustrated and developed. |