Environmental Science and Technology Foundational Skills Certificate

The Foundational Skills Certificate in Environmental Science and Technology is designed to provide opportunities to learn fundamental skills in the field of environmental sciences. Coursework is designed to provide students with the theoretical knowledge and the technical skills needed for entry-level employment in a variety of environmental fields; to improve chances of employability or job placement opportunities; to provide skills training that may result in wage progression; and/or prepare students for continued study leading to a more advanced certificate or degree.

7 annually

Occupational

A program of study in Environmental Science and Technology at Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) has been designed to address occupational and educational needs throughout California and the Lake Tahoe Basin. In 2000, Congress passed the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act to ensure the preservation of the lake's outstanding water quality and other environmental values. There is strong local interest in environmental education and career development in a variety of environmental fields. The Environmental Science and Technology (EST) program at LTCC provides the theoretical knowledge and technical skills necessary to prepare students for advanced coursework,degree attainment, and entry-level employment in the field of environmental sciences.

The Foundational Skills Certificate in Environmental Science and Technology introduces students to the environmental sciences and provides them with the technical skills needed to be competitive when applying for entry–level positions with local employers, such as the USDA Forest Service and the Tahoe Resource Conservation District (RCD). The new EST program and stackable certificates promote the use of scientific methods to identify issues, understand relationships, and solve problems. Students will evaluate environmental issues in local and global contexts. These program objectives are met by placing an emphasis on the integration of academic coursework and technical field skills, which provide students with an educational foundation and practical experience. LTCC offers a comprehensive curriculum of classroom and laboratory-based courses, field courses, and work experience/internship opportunities that focus on environmental issues, analysis, management, monitoring, and assessment. Through directed learning and hands-on experiences, students will learn to analyze environmental issues using appropriate technologies. The curriculum exposes students to different types of problem-solving strategies and analytical tools. Curriculum is designed to improve one’s chances of employability and job placement and provide additional skills training that may result in wage progression. This program of study will also help guide and prepare students for college-level coursework leading to an advanced degree in the Earth and Environmental Sciences.

A Foundational Skills Certificate will be awarded upon completion of a minimum of 13.5 - 17 units distributed as follows:

1.      All courses from the following (8.5):

EVS 101Environmental Science (4)
EVS 101L Environmental Science Lab (1)
GEG 134/CIS 135A ArcGIS Online (3.5)

2.      A minimum of5 units from the following (5 – 8.5):
BIO 113 Field Methods in Wildlife Ecology (4)

       EVS106 Environmental Field Methods (2.5)

EVS 110California Naturalist Program (4.5)
GEG 107 Water Quality Monitoring of Streams and Lakes (2.5)
GEG 135/CIS 135B ArcGIS Desktop (3.5)

EVS 110California Naturalist Program (4.5) Q3
GEG 107 Water Quality Monitoring of Streams and Lakes (2.5) Q2
GEG 135/CIS 135B ArcGIS Desktop (3.5) Q2