Geology B.S.

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View information for the Department of Physics, Physical Sciences, and Geology , including Learning Objectives for the department and its programs.

View the degree program Roadmaps, which provide recommended advising maps to complete the degree program. Please consult your academic advisor as you develop your academic plan.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Geology is designed to provide the kind of comprehensive background required for students who wish to seek additional training in graduate and/or professional schools. A concentration in Applied Geology serves as professional preparation for employment as hydrologist, engineering geologist, and environmental geologist.

Program Learning Outcomes

Geology majors will be able to:

Demonstrate literacy in Earth’s processes.
Demonstrate understanding of geologic time, evolution/extinction, and Earth’s global processes (e.g., plate tectonics; climate change; interrelationships between the hydrosphere and the atmosphere).
Propose workable solutions to societal problems related to resource exploration and development, construction with the Earth, and environmental issues related to Earth processes.
Collect and interpret scientific data related to earth and paleobiological processes.
Apply concepts/techniques of chemistry, physics, biology, math, and computer science to solve geologic and paleobiological problems.
Formulate and test multiple hypotheses based on the scientific method.

Requirements

1. Complete the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements.

A student must comply with all University regulations and satisfy the following requirements:

Units and Residency (minimum of 120 units: 40 units of upper division coursework and 30 semester units at Stanislaus State. At least 24 of these 30 units must be earned in upper-division courses, at least 12 must be in the major, and at least 9 must be applicable to General Education-Breadth requirements)
Grade Point Average (minimum grade point average of 2.0 (C) or better)
General Education (minimum of 49 units)
Upper Division Writing Proficiency (minimum of 3 units)
- Writing Proficiency (WP) Course (may double count in the major)
United States Constitution and California State and Local Government (minimum of 3 units)
Multicultural Requirement (minimum of 3 units) (may double count with General Education requirements or in the major)

Subsequently all students must submit an application for graduation and receive approval from the major advisor, department chair, and Director of Academic Advising. For more information see the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements .

2. Complete the following prerequisites to the major:

(24 units)

a. Two semesters of a meaningful sequence of college mathematics. Preferred are:

MATH 1070 - College Algebra 3 unit(s) or
MATH 1072 - College Algebra with Support II
and
MATH 1080 - Trigonometry 3 unit(s)
or
MATH 1410 - Calculus I 4 unit(s) and
MATH 1420 - Calculus II 4 unit(s)
or
MATH 1100 - Precalculus 4 unit(s)
MATH 1500 - Finite Mathematics 3 unit(s)
or
MATH 1500 MATH 1500 - Finite Mathematics
MATH 1600 - Statistics 4 unit(s)
Other sequences will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

b.

CHEM 1100 - General Chemistry I 4 unit(s) and
CHEM 1102 - General Chemistry I Laboratory 1 unit(s)

c.

PHYS 2100 - Basic Physics I 4 unit(s) (includes laboratory)

d.

GEOL 2100 - Principles of Geology 3 unit(s)
GEOL 2102 - Principles of Geology Lab 1 unit(s)

e.

GEOL 2200 - History of Earth and Life 3 unit(s)
GEOL 2202 - History of Earth and Life Lab 1 unit(s)

3. Complete the major of not less than 51 units, as specified for the Bachelor of Science degree.

Some of these units can be counted toward completion of the Applied Geology concentration.

4. Completion of a minor or a concentration is not required.

The Major

(51 units)

1. Complete the following required courses:

(40 units)

GEOL 3250 - Mineralogy 4 unit(s)
GEOL 3810 - Hydrogeology 4 unit(s)
GEOL 4100 - Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology 4 unit(s)
GEOL 4350 - Geophysical Exploration 4 unit(s)
GEOL 4360 - Structural Geology 4 unit(s)
GEOL 4380 - Sedimentary Rocks and Depositional Environments unit(s)
GEOL 4390 - Paleontology and Stratigraphy 4 unit(s)
GEOL 4400 - Applied Geology 3 unit(s)
GEOL 4402 - Applied Geology Laboratory 1 unit(s)
GEOL 4500 - Field Geology (WP) 5 unit(s)
GEOL 4700 - Plate Tectonics 3 unit(s)

2. Select a minimum of 11 units from the following electives.

No more than two courses from list b. can be used to satisfy this requirement. Substitution of courses is permitted by approval of adviser.

a.

GEOL 3050 - Environmental Geology 4 unit(s)
GEOL 3060 - Planetary Science and Engineering 3 unit(s)
GEOL 3200 - Geochemistry 3 unit(s)
GEOL 3600 - Physical Oceanography 3 unit(s)
GEOL 4810 - Development and Management of Water Resources 4 unit(s)
GEOL 4900 - The Climate Crisis: Science and Solutions 3 unit(s)
CHEM 1110 - General Chemistry II 4 unit(s)
PHYS 2110 - Basic Physics II 4 unit(s)

b.

GEOL 2500 - Dinosaurs 3 unit(s)
GEOL 3500 - Earthquakes and Volcanoes 3 unit(s)
GEOG 4750 - Geographic Information Systems 3 unit(s)

Applied Geology Concentration

(11 units)

Students wishing to have the Applied Geology Concentration may do so by completing the following courses to satisfy the elective course requirements of the B.S. degree:

GEOL 3050 - Environmental Geology 4 unit(s)
GEOL 3200 - Geochemistry 3 unit(s)
GEOL 4810 - Development and Management of Water Resources 4 unit(s)
GEOG 4750 - Geographic Information Systems 3 unit(s)

Environmental Sciences Concentration

A Geology major may complete additional requirements in the sciences and mathematics to qualify for a concentration in Environmental Sciences. This program requires study in biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and physical sciences, along with an environmental seminar and investigation of an environmentally related problem. Further details are found in the Environmental Sciences section of this catalog.