Bachelor of Science in Geology

Why You Should Get a Bachelor in Science in Geology?

The Bachelor of Science in geology consists of 48 units in geological science, at least 30 units in related fields, and 39 general education units.  Students are required to complete a total of 120 units for graduation.  Courses in related fields are in the disciplines of biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics and physics.  The geology and related-fields courses have been selected to prepare students for:

1. graduate studies in geology related subjects such as geochemistry, geophysics, or oceanography;
2. employment in one of the many areas of the geological sciences;
3. teaching in the geological sciences; and
4. an avocation in the geological sciences.

Geology Courses (36 units)

The following courses are required for the Bachelor of Science in Geology

• GEOL 101 Physical Geology (3),
  • OR GEOL 140 Earth's Atmosphere and Oceans (3)
  • OR GEOL 110T Topics in Earth Sciences (4)
• GEOL 101L Physical Geology Lab (1)
• GEOL 201 Earth History (3-4)
• GEOL 303A Mineralogy (4)
• GEOL 303B Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (4)
• GEOL 321 Sedimentation & Stratigraphy (4)
• GEOL 335 Hydrology and Surface Processes (3)
• GEOL 360 Structural Geology (4)
• GEOL 380 Geologic Field Techniques (3)
• GEOL 481A Geology Field Camp I (4)
• GEOL 498 Undergraduate Thesis (3)

Quantitative Geology Elective (3 units)

Choose one of the following:

• GEOL 406 Geochemistry (3)
• GEOL 456 Applied Geophysics (3)

Geology Elective Courses (8-9 units minimum)

Elective courses in geological sciences are chosen carefully in consultation with your advisor.  For graduation requirements, no more than 3 units from any combination: 

• GEOL 376
• GEOL 495
• GEOL 496L
• GEOL 499L

may be counted. 

In addition, 

• GEOL 310
• GEOL 420

may not be used to meet the requirements for graduation.

Courses in Related Fields (30 units minimum)

For graduation in geological sciences, a minimum of 9 courses (34-37 units) in related fields is required. Of these, 8 courses are specified: 

• Biology

  • BIOL 101 Elements of Biology (3) OR BIOL 171 Evolution and Biodiversity (5)

• Chemistry

  • CHEM 120A General Chemistry I (5)
  • CHEM 120B General Chemistry II (5) OR CHEM 125 General Chemistry for Engineers (3)

• Mathematics

  • MATH 150A Differential Calculus (4) and MATH 150B Integral Calculus (4)

OR

• MATH 130 Short Course in Calculus (4); and MATH 337 Intro to Experimental Design and Statistics (3) or MATH 338 Statistics Applied to the Natural Sciences (4)

• Physics

  • PHYS 225 & 225L Mechanics (3,1) OR PHYS 211 & 211L Elem. Physics (3,1)
  • PHYS 226 Electricity and Magnetism (3) OR PHYS 212 Elementary Physics (3)
  • optional: PHYS 226L Laboratory OR PHYS 212L Laboratory

One additional course in a related field may be required to meet the minimum unit requirement.  The course may be one of the following courses, or may be any course in a related field approved by an advisor.

• GEOG 312, 384, 481, 485
• MATH 250A, 250B, 338
• PHYS 226, 226L, 227, 227L, 310, 320, 330
• Science or engineering-based transferable extension certificate courses from other universities.

Undesignated Courses (up to 3 units)

An additional 3 units may be required to meet the 120 total units required for graduation. Courses are to be taken in geological sciences, related fields and/or careers-supported fields.  These courses are selected in consultation with an advisor and are dependent, in part, on high school and/or prior community college/university course work and career objectives.

Advising

Each student meets regularly with the undergraduate advisor to formulate his or her study plan and choose appropriate elective courses. 

Contacts

For more information about our program in Geology, please contact our undergraduate advisor, Dr. Nicole Bonuso (nbonuso@fullerton.edu), at (657) 278-3882.  You are also welcome to visit our department in Room 254, McCarthy Hall, or write to:

Undergraduate Advisor
Department of Geological Sciences
California State University, Fullerton
Fullerton, CA 92834-6850.

 

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