Students who complete Geography courses will examine the spatial organization of physical features and human activities at a variety of spatial scales from local to global.  Students will be able to locate features on the surface of the earth, explain why they are located where they are, and describe how places are similar and/or different.  Students will also examine human interactions with the environment and describe how physical and cultural landscapes change through time.  Students completing physical geography courses will be able to describe the processes that drive earth’s climate, create landforms, and govern the distribution of plants and animals.  Students completing human geography will analyze and describe cultural phenomenon such as population, development, agriculture, language, and religion.

Geography is a dynamic discipline that is concerned with where things are located on the surface of the earth, why they are located where they are, and how places are similar and/or different. Geographers further examine our interaction with the environment and how physical and cultural landscapes change through time. There are two main branches of geography: physical geography, which focuses on the processes that drive the earth's climate, create landforms, and govern the distribution of plants and animals; and human geography, which focuses on cultural phenomenon such as, population, development, agriculture, language, and religion. Geography students are trained to examine the spatial organization of physical features and human activities at a variety of spatial scales from local to global. A background in geography is a necessity for careers involving business, economics, planning, education, history, international relations, cartography, conservation, GIS, demography, transportation, tourism, and others.

The Associate in Arts in Geography for Transfer (AA-T in Geography) is intended for students who plan to transfer and complete a bachelor's degree in Geography), or a "similar" major at a CSU campus. Each CSU campus determines which of the degrees it offers are “similar” and can be completed with the preparation included in the AA-T in  Geography within 60 units once a student transfers, so which majors are “similar” varies from CSU to CSU. For a current list of what majors (and what options or areas of emphasis within that major) have been designated as “similar” to this degree at each CSU campus, please refer to the CSU’s Associate Degree for Transfer Major and Campus Search website and seek guidance from a Moorpark College counselor. Students completing this degree are guaranteed admission to the CSU system, but not to a particular campus or major.

To earn an AA-T in Geography, students must:

1. Complete a minimum of 60 semester or 90 quarter units that are eligible for transfer to the California State University, including both of the following:

a.   The California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) requirements.

b.  The required coursework for the AA-T in Geography as listed in the Moorpark College catalog.

2.  Complete all courses in the major and the Cal-GETC with a grade of “C” or better or “Pass/Credit” if the course is taken on a "pass-no-pass" basis. Even though a “Pass/Credit" grade is allowed, it is highly recommended that students complete their major courses with a letter grade (A, B, or C). Note: the UC system allows a maximum of 14 semester (21 quarter) units of courses graded "Pass/Credit" toward the 60 transferable semester units required for transfer admission.

3.  Obtain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 in all CSU-transferable coursework. While a minimum GPA of 2.0 is required for admission, some transfer institutions and majors may require a higher GPA.  Please consult with a counselor for more information.

4.  Complete a minimum of 12 semester units within the Ventura County Community College District.

Students transferring to a CSU campus that does accept the AA-T in Geography will be required to complete no more than 60 units after transfer to earn a bachelor’s degree (unless the major is a designated “high-unit” major at a particular campus). This degree may not be the best option for students intending to transfer to a particular CSU campus or to a university or college that is not part of the CSU system.  Students should consult with a counselor to obtain more information on university admission and transfer requirements.

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to: 

• examine the spatial organization of physical features and phenomena and human activity at a variety of spatial scales from local to global.
• locate features of the surface of the earth, explain why they are located where they are, and describe how places are similar and/or different.
• examine human interactions with the environment and describe how physical and cultural landscapes change through time.
• describe the processes that drive the earth’s climate, create landforms, and govern the distribution of plants and animals.