The Associate in Arts in English for Transfer degree (AA-T in English) is a 60 unit program which provides students the lower division coursework required for transfer to a CSU institution for the major in English, Literature, or Creative Writing. Students must complete the following requirements: 1. 60 semester or 90 quarter CSU-transferable units 2. the California State University-General Education-Breadth pattern (CSU GE-Breadth); OR the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) pattern. 3. a minimum of 18 semester or 27 quarter units in the major or area of emphasis as determined by the community college district. 4. obtainment of a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0. 5. earn a grade of C (or P) or better in all courses required for the major or area of emphasis.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program a student will be able to:

🗸 Write focused, organized, well-developed essays that support clear thesis statements and demonstrate competence in standard English grammar and usage.
🗸 Analyze and evaluate academic essays and literature.
🗸 Write research papers that demonstrate the effective evaluation, integration, and MLA documentation of sources.
🗸 Formulate and communicate in writing positions on diverse issues.

The Associate in Arts in English (A.A. in English) is a program that provides students with the necessary coursework required for an associate's major in English and to transfer to a four-year university where students have the opportunity to complete a Bachelor’s or graduate degree in English. Students completing this degree will have a breadth of knowledge in composition and the study and analysis of literature. To obtain this degree, students must complete the 21 units in the major area and the additional units to meet the college graduation requirements. Students must obtain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 and earn a grade of C or better in all courses required for the major. Literature courses used to meet general education requirements cannot be used to satisfy major requirements.

Students planning to transfer to a B.A. program in English should select courses that apply toward both the college graduation requirements and the bachelor’s degree requirements of the four-year institution to which they intend to transfer. Students planning to undertake graduate study in English are advised to complete Intermediate Foreign Language 002A and 002B before transferring. Career Options: Advertising, Business, Civil Service, Editing, Information Systems, Insurance, Journalism, Law, Library Science, Management, Marketing Communications, Politics, Public Relations, Publishing, Research, Teaching, Technical Communications, and Writing. Note: Some career options require more than two years of college study.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program a student will be able to:

🗸 Write focused, organized, well-developed essays that support clear thesis statements and demonstrate competence in standard English grammar and usage.
🗸 Analyze and evaluate academic essays and literature.
🗸 Formulate and communicate in writing, positions on diverse issues.
🗸 Write research papers that demonstrate the effective evaluation, integration, and MLA documentation of sources.

The Associate in Arts in Economics for Transfer degree (AA-T in Economics) is a 60 unit program which provides students the lower division coursework required for transfer to a CSU institution for the major in Economics. Students must complete the following requirements: 1. 60 semester or 90 quarter CSU-transferable units; 2. The California State University-General Education-Breadth pattern (CSU GE-Breadth); OR the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) pattern; 3. A minimum of 18 semester or 27 quarter units in the major or area of emphasis as determined by the community college district; 4. Obtainment of a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0; 5. Earn a grade of C (or "P") or better in all courses required for the major or area of emphasis.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program a student will be able to:

🗸 Describe the major players and institutions that facilitate the market economy.
🗸 Explain how individuals and firms make choices under scarcity.
🗸 Analyze economic models as they apply to market economies and specific product and factor markets.
🗸 Describe the major players and institutions that facilitate the market economy.
🗸 Explain how individuals and firms make choices under scarcity.
🗸 Analyze economic models as they apply to market economies and specific product and factor markets.

The Associate of Arts degree provides students with the foundational knowledge of economic principles, models and concepts to analyze social issues and challenges, and to prepare students to transfer to a 4-year institution for a baccalaureate degree in Economics. The AA degree in Economics provides the student with critical thinking skills, and an economics framework for addressing social issues and problem solving.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program a student will be able to:

🗸 Explain how individuals and firms make choices under scarcity.
🗸 Describe the major players and institutions that facilitate the market economy.
🗸 Describe the major players and institutions that facilitate the market economy.
🗸 Explain how individuals and firms make choices under scarcity
🗸 Analyze economic models as they apply to market economies

The Communication Studies Associate of Arts degree provides students with the opportunity to build a variety of communication competencies that are essential to success in personal, academic, and professional environments. The Communication Studies Associate of Arts curriculum bridges theoretical concepts and lived experiences, creating a personalized and meaningful educational journey. The A.A. in Communication Studies is suitable preparation for a baccalaureate in Communication Studies, Speech Communication, or Communication. Students may also be prepared for entry level positions in related occupations.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program a student will be able to:

🗸 Identify and explain concepts, perspectives, methodologies, and theories of human communication.
🗸 Demonstrate effective communication and presentation skills in a variety of personal, academic, and professional settings.
🗸 Identify, analyze, and evaluate their own verbal and nonverbal messages, as well as those of others, in a variety of contexts.
🗸 Increase communication competency in personal, academic, and professional contexts.
🗸 Research, construct, interpret, and implement messages across multiple channels to inform, persuade, and engage a diverse audience.
🗸 Demonstrate the ability to understand and apply the various theoretical and pragmatic skills necessary to navigate social interactions within interpersonal, small group, public, cultural, workplace, and other contexts.
🗸 Analyze and explain how communication effects and creates gender, ethnic, cultural, and racial identities in self and others.

The Associate in Arts in Communication Studies for Transfer degree (AA‐T in Communication Studies) is a 60 unit program, which provides students the lower division coursework required for seamless transfer to a CSU institution for the major in Communication Studies. Students must complete the following requirements: 1. 60 semester or 90 quarter CSU-transferable units; 2. The California State University-General Education-‐Breadth pattern (CSU GE-Breadth); OR the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) pattern; 3. A minimum of 18 semester or 27 quarter units in the major or area of emphasis as determined by the community college district; 4. Obtainment of a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0; 5. Earn a grade of C (or P) or better in all courses required for the major or area of emphasis.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program a student will be able to:

🗸 Demonstrate effective communication skills in a variety of settings.
🗸 Identify and explain concepts and theories of human communication.
🗸 Report an increase in communication competency.

The Associate in Arts in Elementary Teacher Education for Transfer degree (AA-T in Elementary Teacher Education) is a 60 unit program which provides students the lower division coursework required for transfer to a CSU institution for the major in Elementary Teacher Education for the goal of becoming an elementary school teacher. Students must complete the following requirements: 1. 60 semester or 90 quarter CSU-transferable units; 2. the California State University-General Education-Breadth pattern (CSU GE-Breadth); OR the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) pattern; 3. a minimum of 18 semester or 27 quarter units in the major or area of emphasis as determined by the community college district; 4. obtainment of a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0; 5. earn a grade of C or better in all courses required for the major or area of emphasis.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program a student will be able to:

🗸 Demonstrate professional skills with children, families, and colleagues in the elementary school setting.
🗸 Utilize child development theories to design developmentally appropriate curriculum for school-age children.

The Associate of Science in Chemistry for UC Transfer Pathway (AS-UCTP in Chemistry) is a program that provides students the lower division coursework required for transfer to a UC institution for the major in Chemistry for a goal of a baccalaureate degree. Students must complete the following requirements: 1. 70-74 semester or 105-111 quarter UC-transferable units. 2. Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) pattern which is a minimum of 16 semester or 24 quarter units. 3. A minimum of 54 semester or 81 quarter units in the major or area of emphasis. 4. Obtainment of a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.5.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program a student will be able to:

🗸 Use physical and chemical concepts as well as mathematical skills to solve chemistry problems that demonstrate critical thinking and scientific inquiry.
🗸 Perform hypothesis driven laboratory experiments using appropriate instruments and basic software, such as spreadsheets and graphing programs, as well as analyze and interpret data and identify sources of error to form appropriate conclusions.
🗸 Provide technical information in a clear and concise manner to demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills for chemical and physical concepts, results of laboratory experiments, and articles in the scientific literature.

The Associate in Science in Biological Sciences (AS in Biological Sciences) supports students wishing to transfer into academic pathways that include a variety of biological based degrees, ranging from health sciences and physiology to cell biology, zoology and field biology. This program is designed for students interested in acquiring a solid foundation in basic biology, evolutionary theory, and the scientific method. The Biological Sciences Program is transfer-oriented and prepares students to enter four-year baccalaureate majors at the university level. Students have the opportunity to develop an understanding of basic principles of biology such as, cell theory, genetics, evolution by natural selection, patterns of forms and function, conversion of matter and energy in biological systems, and current issues related to health and the environment. Those who major in biological sciences can transfer to a four-year university where students have the opportunity to complete a Bachelor’s Degree in a variety of biology specific disciplines, such as Botany, Kinesiology, Molecular Biology, Zoology, Marine Biology, Environmental Sciences, Microbiology, Neurobiology, General Biology, and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.

The Biological Sciences support a wide array of transfer majors. Students should consult counselors at both West Valley College and their transfer institutions to determine the Biological Sciences A.S. course pathway most suitable for the degree they seek. Career options for Associate in Science in Biological Sciences degree (AS in Biological Sciences) include but are not limited to: Medical assistant, Pharmaceutical and medical sales, Agricultural and food science technician, Biological technician, Forest and conservation technician, Research assistant, Plant science technician, Docent. Career options for Bachelors in Science degrees in Biological Sciences (BS in Biological Sciences) include but are not limited to: Optometrist, Dentist, Veterinarian, Pharmacist, Physician Assistant, Doctor, Biological Technician, Podiatrist, Occupational Therapist, Wildlife Biologist/Conservationist, Bioinformatic Scientist, Cell and Molecular Biologist, Marine Biologist, Environmental Scientist, Geneticist/Genetic Counselor, Pharmaceutical Developer, Educator, Forensic Scientist.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program a student will be able to:

🗸 Demonstrate critical thinking and observational skills by applying knowledge of biological principles and concepts to a novel problem.
🗸 Demonstrate knowledge of the scientific method by applying to a laboratory problem.
🗸 Demonstrate proper use of laboratory equipment, techniques and/or technology commonly employed in the field of biology.

The Associate in Arts in Art History for Transfer Degree (AA-T in Art History) is a 60 unit program which is designed to provide lower-division education to students planning to transfer to a CSU institution in pursuit of a baccalaureate degree in Art History or an emphasis in Art History. Students must complete the following ADT requirements: 1. 60 semester or 90 quarter CSU-transferable units 2. the California State University-General Education-Breadth pattern (CSU GE-Breadth); OR the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) pattern. 3. a minimum of 18 semester or 27 quarter units in the major or area of emphasis as determined by the community college district. 4. obtainment of a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0. 5. earn a grade of C or P or better in all courses required for the major or area of emphasis.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program a student will be able to:

🗸 Attribute selected unknown works of art to the artist, culture, country, and/or style, giving the reasons for attribution.
🗸 Respond to works of art on both intellectual and emotional levels.
🗸 Recognize and analyze iconography specific to non-western cultures.