Geology Degree

The geology degree program at American River College will help students gain knowledge in the earth sciences, including the behavior of solids, liquids, and gases that compromise the earth, as well as the forces that act upon it. Students who graduate the geology degree program may follow a career path in paleontology, stratigraphy, geological mapping, and more. Courses include instruction in historical geology, geomorphology, and sedimentology, the chemistry of rocks and soils, mineralogy, petrology, geostatistics, volcanology, glaciology, and geophysical principles. Get more details below including other California colleges that offer geology degrees.

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American River College

30 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA

American River College (ARC) is a two-year public college that is part of the Los Rios Community College District in the five-county region of Sacramento, California.  The other community colleges in this district include Cosumnes River College, Folsom Lake College and Sacramento City College.  ARC grants occupational certificates and technical education as well as associate's degrees.  There are also online classes and e-services available.  ARC offers excellent post-secondary education to students seeking to transfer to four-year institutions.

Known for its innovative programs, ARC is also one of the largest community colleges in California.  It transfers a significant number of students to UC Davis and California State University - Sacramento.

History

In 1942, Sacramento's Grant Union Junior College was opened to train civilians for service in World War II.  It grew as a technical college and the name was changed in 1945, and again in 1955, when it became American River Junior College District.  In 1965, the college was renamed American River College (ARC) and became part of the Los Rios Community College District. 

ARC began providing training for Sacramento police, sheriff, fire personnel, and the basic police academy at the Sacramento Regional Public Safety Training Center.

Academics

American River College follows the semester system, offering a fall, spring and summer semester.

In addition to running the Sacramento Regional Public Safety Training Center, ARC offers numerous programs of study on its main campus.

ARC Programs of Study:

• Behavioral & Social Sciences
• Computer Science & Information Technology
• English
• Fine & Applied Arts
• Health & Education
• Humanities
• Mathematics
• Physical Education & Athletics
• Science & Engineering
• Technical Education

Student Life

American River College serves a large and diverse student body, and offers many student programs and support services including:

• Accelerated College Education (ACE)
• CalWORKS (California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids)
• Career Center
• Child Development Centers
• Cooperative Agencies Resources Education (CARE)
• Counseling Center
• Disabled Students Programs and Services
• English as a Second Language (ESL) Center
• EOPS (Extended Opportunity Programs and Services)
• Foster and Kinship Care Education - Independent Living Program
• Four Directions College Success Program (FDCSP)
• Honors Program
• Journey
• Learning Communities
• Learning Disabilities (LD) Program
• Learning Resource Center (LRC)
• Library
• Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement Program (MESA)
• Math Multimedia Learning Center (MMLC)
• Partnership to Assure College Entry (PACE)
• Puente Program
• Reading Across Disciplines (RAD)
• Reading Center
• Re-entry and Veterans Information Center
• Science Skills Center
• Tutorial Center
• Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC)

There are many ARC campus events and recreational activities available to ARC students that include theatre and music performances, sports events, career fairs and workshops, as well as "College Hour," which offers a calendar of various talks, panels and discussions of timely issues.

Traditions

The "stately" oak tree is the college's official symbol and the beaver its official mascot (nicknamed "Igor" for "eager-beaver".)

Athletics

The American River College's Beaver Teams are active in many intercollegiate athletics including:

Men's Sports:

• Basketball
• Cross Country
• Football
• Soccer
• Water Polo
• Baseball
• Golf
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Track & Field

 Women's Sports:

• Basketball
• Cross Country
• Golf
• Soccer
• Volleyball
• Water Polo
• Softball
• Swimming
• Track & Field
• Tennis

Satellite Campuses

American River College has several Off-Campus Centers offering classes around the Sacramento metro area that include:

• Ethan Way Center
• Mather Center
• McClellan Center
• Natomas Center
• San Juan Center
• Twin Rivers Pre-Apprenticeship Training Center

Community Life

American River College's Community and Diversity Center Initiative (CDCI) was established to provide bridges between its students and the community. The CDCI offers resources for opportunities to meet other students and community members to build a support network.  Its mission is to help students and community expand and grow with "cross-cultural understanding, awareness and responsiveness."

Career Options for Graduates

Natural Sciences Managers

Description

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, natural sciences managers employment is expected to grow at a rate of 3.3% from 2014 to 2024

Salary & Wages

• Oakland-Hayward-Berkeley, CA Metropolitan Division
  • Average Hourly Rate: $74.96
  • Average Annual Salary: $155910
• San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco, CA Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 1
  • Average Hourly Rate: $96.35
  • Average Annual Salary: $200400

Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers

Description

Study the composition, structure, and other physical aspects of the Earth. May use geological, physics, and mathematics knowledge in exploration for oil, gas, minerals, or underground water; or in waste disposal, land reclamation, or other environmental problems. May study the Earth's internal composition, atmospheres, oceans, and its magnetic, electrical, and gravitational forces. Includes mineralogists, crystallographers, paleontologists, stratigraphers, geodesists, and seismologists.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers employment is expected to grow at a rate of 10.5% from 2014 to 2024

Salary & Wages

• Oakland-Hayward-Berkeley, CA Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 430
• San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco, CA Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 520
  • Average Hourly Rate: $53.83
  • Average Annual Salary: $111970

Hydrologists

Description

Research the distribution, circulation, and physical properties of underground and surface waters; and study the form and intensity of precipitation, its rate of infiltration into the soil, movement through the earth, and its return to the ocean and atmosphere.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, hydrologists employment is expected to grow at a rate of 6.9% from 2014 to 2024

Salary & Wages

• Oakland-Hayward-Berkeley, CA Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 40
  • Average Hourly Rate: $59.12
  • Average Annual Salary: $122960
• San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco, CA Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 60
  • Average Hourly Rate: $52.00
  • Average Annual Salary: $108160

Source: Job descriptions, estimated salary and wages, and projected job growth are taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).