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Certificate of Achievement
Environmental Technology

Environmental Technology refers to the skills and knowledge that allow a person to work in the environmental field in compliance with governmental regulations and at the same time protect human health and the environment. The ET Certificate is designed to either prepare students to enter the field or upgrade working individuals with technician-level skills.

Please contact the Student Success Team for this program if you have any questions.

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Sample Education Plan

This sample education plan for the 2023-2024 catalog year represents one possible pathway through the program. Each university (UC, CSU, private, and others) has their own transfer requirements; please see a counselor to create an education plan that is customized to meet your needs. Additional course descriptions may be found in the College Catalog.
CourseUnitsTypically Offered
1st Semester
Select one: MATH 130 / MATH 130H M4.0
MATH 130 - Statistics (4.0 units)

Prerequisite:Enrollment requires appropriate placement (based on high school GPA and/or other measures), or completion of a pre-statistics or an intermediate algebra course.
Advisory: ENGL 101; READ 101
Transfers to: UC (*crdit limit),CSU
(*Students will receive credit for only one of the following courses: MATH 130 or MATH 130H)

This course is designed for students majoring in business, social sciences, and life sciences. This course provides an overview of descriptive and inferential statistics. Students learn to read, interpret, and present data in a well-organized way via a study of frequency distributions, graphs, measures of central tendency and variability, correlation, and linear regression. While discussing inferential statistics, students learn to make generalizations about populations, including probability, sampling techniques, confidence intervals, and hypothesis tests.

MATH 130H - Statistics Honors (4.0 units)

Prerequisite:Enrollment requires appropriate placement (based on high school GPA and/or other measures), or completion of a pre-statistics or an intermediate algebra course. ENGL 101
Advisory: READ 101
Transfers to: UC (8credit limit), CSU
(*Students will receive credit for only one of the following courses: MATH 130 or MATH 130H)

This course is designed for students majoring in business, social sciences, and life sciences. This course provides an overview of descriptive and inferential statistics. Students learn to read, interpret, and present data in a well-organized way via a study of frequency distributions, graphs, measures of central tendency and variability, correlation, and linear regression. While discussing inferential statistics, students learn to make generalizations about populations, including probability, sampling techniques, confidence intervals, and hypothesis tests. This course is intended for students who meet Honors Program requirements.

BIOL 120 - Environmental BiologyM3.0
BIOL 120 - Environmental Biology (3.0 units)

Advisory:It is advised that students be able to engage in written composition at a college level, read college-level texts, and have a knowledge of elementary algebra concepts.
Transfers to: UC, CSU

In this course, students utilize basic biological concepts and an interdisciplinary approach to determine how to address environmental challenges. Topics may include ecosystem characteristics and functions, population dynamics, energy and material resource use, pollution, and alternative energy sources. Because the course takes up the social, political, and economic implications of environmental decisions, it is intended for students from many disciplines, including non-STEM disciplines. This course fulfills the general education requirement for life sciences majors.

BIOL 120L - Environmental Biology LaboratoryM1.0
BIOL 120L - Environmental Biology Laboratory (1.0 units)

Prerequisite/Corequisite: BIOL 120
Advisory:It is advised that students be able to engage in written composition at a college level, read college-level texts, and have a knowledge of elementary algebra concepts.
Transfers to: UC, CSU

This laboratory course complements the Environmental Biology lecture course and is designed for students interested in furthering their understanding of the environmental sciences. The scientific method is employed to investigate ecosystems and their functions, natural selection, population interactions, environmental toxicology, radiation exposure effects, soil and groundwater systems, water pollution, alternative energy systems, and environmental resistance. This is a required course for Environmental Science majors.

Total Semester Units:8.0 
2nd Semester
CHEM 110 - Chemistry for Allied Health MajorsM5.0
CHEM 110 - Chemistry for Allied Health Majors (5.0 units)

Prerequisite:Enrollment requires appropriate placement (based on high school GPA and/or other measures), or completion of an elementary algebra or pre-statistics course.
Advisory:It is advised that students be able to engage in written composition at a college level and read college-level texts.
Transfers to: UC, CSU
(* Students will receive credit for only one of the following courses: CHEM 110, CHEM 120)

This introductory course takes up the fundamental concepts of general, organic, and biological chemistry. Emphasis is placed on the relationship between chemistry and the health/medical sciences, so the course is especially appropriate for students who intend to pursue a career in nursing and other health-related professions, including kinesiology and psychology. Weekly laboratory activities require students to empirically verify concepts presented in lectures. No previous background in chemistry is required or expected of students enrolling in this course.

ET 150 - Hazardous Waste Management ApplicationsM4.0
ET 150 - Hazardous Waste Management Applications (4.0 units)

Advisory:It is advised that students be able to engage in written composition at a college level, read college-level texts, and have knowledge of elementary algebra concepts.
Transfers to: CSU

This course is designed to provide students working in or seeking employment in the environmental field with an overview of hazardous waste management and regulations. The course explains the hazardous waste regulatory framework and helps students develop research skills in the hazardous waste area. Emphasis is placed on the following topics: universal waste, generator compliance, site investigation and remediation, permitting, enforcement, liability, and storm water discharge. The course also provides opportunities for the hands-on application of regulations. These applications include preparing a hazardous waste manifest, labeling and storing containers, sampling and analysis, and preparing a Phase I environmental site assessment (ESA).

ET 110 - Hazardous Waste Generation/Reduction/TreatmentM3.0
ET 110 - Hazardous Waste Generation/Reduction/Treatment (3.0 units)

Advisory:It is advised that students be able to engage in written composition at a college level, read college-level texts, and have knowledge of elementary algebra concepts.
Transfers to: CSU

This course is designed to educate students working in or seeking employment in the hazardous waste management field, with an overview of industrial processes and their generation of waste streams. Selected industries include electroplating, metal finishing, printed circuit board production, oil refining, chemical production, steel production, general manufacturing, printing and graphic reproduction, agriculture, and consumer services.

Total Semester Units:12.0 
3rd Semester
ENGL 101 - College Composition and ResearchM3.5
ENGL 101 - College Composition and Research (3.5 units)

Prerequisite:Enrollment requires appropriate placement (based on high school GPA and/or other measures), or eligibility for college composition.
Transfers to:UC, CSU

This composition course enables students to generate logical, coherent essays that incorporate sources necessary for academic and professional success. Students become proficient in researching, evaluating, and incorporating sources, and in learning critical reading and thinking skills through expository and persuasive reading selections before applying these skills to creating original documented essays. The writing workshop component of the course is designed to assist students with improving and refining their writing and language skills: Students complete writing workshop activities that enhance their ability to compose logical, well-supported arguments that exhibit grammatical fluency and correct citation styles. Students meet with composition instructors through individual or small group conferences that address students’ specific writing concerns. This course is designed for students who wish to fulfill the General Education requirement for Written Communication.

ET 130 - Health Effects of Environmental Hazardous MaterialsM3.0
ET 130 - Health Effects of Environmental Hazardous Materials (3.0 units)

Advisory:It is advised that students be able to engage in written composition at a college level, read college-level texts, and have knowledge of elementary algebra concepts.
Transfers to: CSU

This course is designed to educate students working in or seeking employment in areas that include health and safety responsibilities. The course provides an overview of how to identify and evaluate the hazards of chemical, physical, and biological agents that can be encountered in industrial operations, as well as waste disposal and remediation sites.

Total Semester Units:6.5 
4th Semester
ET 200 - Hazardous Materials Management ApplicationsM4.0
ET 200 - Hazardous Materials Management Applications (4.0 units)

Advisory:It is advised that students be able to engage in written composition at a college level, read college-level texts, and have knowledge of elementary algebra concepts.
Transfers to: CSU

This course is designed to provide students working or seeking employment in the hazardous materials management field with a general overview of the requirements and applications of federal, state, and local laws and regulations relating to hazardous materials. The course will emphasize compliance with Department of Transportation (DOT), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Hazard Communication, Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) Title III Community Right-to-Know, underground tank, asbestos, Proposition 65, and air toxics regulations.

ET 230 - Safety and Emergency ResponseM4.0
ET 230 - Safety and Emergency Response (4.0 units)

Advisory:It is advised that students be able to engage in written composition at a college level, read college-level texts, and have knowledge of elementary algebra concepts.
Transfers to: CSU

This course is designed to provide students working or seeking employment in the environmental technology field with hands-on instruction in safety and emergency response to chemical and physical exposures at hazardous waste sites. Topics include hazard identification, emergency response planning, proper use and selection of personal protective equipment (PPE), site control and evaluation, handling drums and containers, field sampling and air monitoring, proper use of instruments, confined spaces, and emergency response including field exercises in the use of air-purifying respirators (APR) and self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBA). This course satisfies the requirements for 40-hour Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) training under Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Standard 1910.120 and confined space entry training under OSHA Standard 1910.146.

Total Semester Units:8.0 
Total Units for Environmental Technology COA program 34.5 
Notes:
AP exams and courses taken outside of Rio Hondo College may fulfill general education and/or major requirements. Please check with a counselor.
Legend:
M Major course; course may also meet a general education requirement
Advising Sheet:
Click or tap here to open the program's advising sheet.

Program Learning Outcomes

1

Students will identify the types of environmental, health, and safety hazards that may be encountered in the environmental field.


About RHC

Rio Hondo College, serving the communities of El Monte, Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, South El Monte, and Whittier for over 50 years.

Contact

Rio Hondo College
3600 Workman Mill Road
Whittier, CA 90601

Phone: (562) 692-0921
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