You are in the official 2001-2002 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Undergraduate Program
Geology Major. The bachelor's degree with a major in
geology consists of 125-133 units, including 44-45 units of geology.
For general degree requirements see Degree
Requirements. Students planning graduate study are advised
to meet the foreign language requirements of the institu tions
they plan to attend.
High School Preparation. Adequate high school preparation
for a major in geology will facilitate the progress of students
through our program. This preparation should include: algebra
(2 years), plane and solid geometry, trigonometry, chemistry,
physics or biology, and English (4 years).
Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements
Geology Major
Major requirements (44-45 units)
Lower-division requirements GEOL 1 or 15, 12 and 13 concurrently,
30 (10-11 units)
Upper-division requirements
GEOL 100, 101, 102, 104, 106, 107, 108A, 108B, two of the following:
GEOL 105, 110, 122 (28 units)
Upper-division geology electives (see Note 2) (6 units)
Additional requirements (29-30 units)
CHEM 1A, 1B; MATH 75; MATH 76 or GEOL 177 and one of MATH 77,
GEOL 180 or C SCI 101; PHYS 2A, 2B
Remaining General Education (45 units)*
Electives and remaining degree requirements (4-6 units)
(see Degree Requirements); may be
used toward a minor
Total (124 units)
* Of the 51 required General Education units, 6 units will be
satisfied by the following two courses in additional requirements:
3 units of CHEM 1A in G.E. Breadth B1 and 3 units of MATH 75 in
G.E. Foundation B4. Consult the department chair or faculty adviser
for details.
Advising Notes
- "Additional requirements" courses may be applied to satisfy requirements of General Education, or a minor, as appropriate. They also may be taken CR/NC (see Credit/No Credit Grading).
- No more than 1 unit of GEOL 160 may be used to fulfill the upper-division elective requirement. GEOL 154, 155, and 168 are not applicable toward geology major requirements.
- No General Education Integration course offered by the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences may be used to satisfy the General Education requirements for geology majors.
- CR/NC is not permitted in the geology major with the exception of GEOL 3, 30, and 160.
- No more than 1 unit of GEOL 3 will be permitted.
- General Education and elective units may be used toward a dual major or minor (see Dual Major or departmental minor). Consult the appropriate department chair, program coordinator, or faculty adviser for further information.
Geology Minor
The minor consists of 20 units of coursework approved by a
departmental faculty member and must include 6 upper-division
units in residence. Minimum GPA is 2.0.
Bachelor of Arts in Natural Sciences
Earth Science Option
The B.A. in Natural Sciences is designed primarily to meet the
needs of students interested in pursuing a teaching career in
the sciences at the secondary level. Students interested in satisfying
the waiver program in the natural sciences should consult an appropriate
adviser in their academic program. Contact either the Department
of Earth and Environmental Sciences or the Office of the Dean,
College of Natural Sciences.
The degree is also a suitable choice for students with a general
interest in earth science and interest in pursuing a career in
environmental science, law, medicine, dentistry, optometry, and
other areas for which the breadth of scientific coverage of this
degree is advantageous.
For a full description of the degree, including all of the emphases,
see the Natural Science Interdisciplinary
Courses section in this catalog. The B.A. in Natural Sciences
with the Earth Science Emphasis is as follows:
Core requirements (37-38 units)
Biology (see note 1) (12-13 units)
BIOSC 1A or BIOL 151, BIOSC 1B, BIOSC 130
Chemistry (10 units)
CHEM 1A, 1B
Geology (see note 1) (8 units)
GEOL 1 and 3 (or 15), GEOL 168
Natural Science (3 units)
N SCI 106
Physical Science (4 units)
P SCI 21
Earth Science Option (47 units)
CHEM 8 or P SCI 168 (3 units)
PHYS 2A, 2B2 (8 units)
MATH 70 or 75 (4units)
GEOL 12, 30, 100, 101, 102, 105, 106, 112, 155 (26 units)
Select two courses: GEOL 110, 114, 117, 124; GEOG 111 (6 units)
General Education (51 units)
Total (see notes 3,4) (126 units)
Advising Notes for the Natural Sciences Major
- BIOL 15 and GEOL 15 are part of the Humans and the Natural Environment. See the Natural Science Interdisciplinary Courses section in this catalog. GEOL 15 is equivalent to GEOL 1 and 3.
- Substitutions may be made with the permission of the appropriate department chair. PHYS 4A-B-C with labs 4AL, 4BL is recommended instead of PHYS 2A-B for those students well prepared for physics.
- This total assumes that students in this option will maximize the 12 units required for the major that also may be applied to fulfill General Education requirements as follows: CHEM 1A (3 units), BIOSC 1A or BIOL 15 (3 units), GEOL 168 (3 units), and MATH 75 (3 units). Consult your major adviser for details.
- Students should be sure to take sufficient upper-division units in their General Education courses and electives to satisfy the graduation requirements of 40 upper-division units and Upper-division Writing Skills.
B.S. in Environmental Sciences*
This special interdisciplinary program leads to a B.S. in Environmental Sciences jointly conferred by California State University, Fresno and UC Riverside. Qualified students admitted into this program are concurrently registered at both universities but pay student fees only to the campus where they are in residence. There are minimum residence requirements by both universities. Students can take courses at both campuses in person or through distance learning. The B.S. in Environmental Sciences has three degree options: (1) earth science, (2) life science, and (3) behavioral, policy, and health sciences. The curriculum is designed to provide an interdisciplinary education in life, physical, or social sciences directed towards the understanding and the solution of today's environmental problems. For further information call Dr. John Suen, Earth and Environmental Sciences Department, (559) 278-7888 or (559) 278-3086.
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* Approval pending. The B.S. in Environmental Sciences is jointly
conferred with UC Riverside.
Graduate Program
The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences offers graduate
courses of instruction and research leading to the Master of Science
degree. The graduate courses are designed to meet the needs of
individuals with several different career goals. Accordingly,
the objectives of the program are as follows: (1) to prepare students
for enrollment in Ph.D. programs in geology and related sciences,
(2) to prepare students for employment as professional geoscientists
with industry or government, and (3) to further the content knowledge
and teaching skills of secondary school and junior college teachers
in the earth sciences.
Graduate studies offered in traditional geology include sedimentary
geology (paleoecology, diagenesis, depositional environments,
basin analysis, stratigraphy); structural geology and field mapping;
petrology (plutonic, volcanic, sedimentary, metamorphic, and mineralized
and hydrothermally altered rocks); and geochemistry.
In addition to classical geology, the graduate program offers
studies in applied geology. The curriculum is usually interdisciplinary
with an environmental focus, involving coursework in geology,
civil engineering, chemistry, soil sciences, and other areas.
Three applied geology emphases are offered: (1) engineering and
geotechnical geology, (2) hydrogeology (physical or chemical options),
and (3) ore deposits. Students of applied geology are encouraged
to undertake theses involving support and supervision by professionals
in private and public sectors.
University requirements are met through satisfactory completion
of core courses and specialty courses in the curriculum emphasis.
Core courses. All students in the graduate program are
required to complete the following core courses:
GEOL 201 Seminar in Geology (3 units)
GEOL 299 Thesis (6 units)
In addition, students studying applied geology should take
the following courses before or during their graduate experience:
GEOL 114 Engineering Geology (3 units)
GEOL 117 Hydrogeology (3 units)
GEOL 124 Geochemistry (3 units)
All other students not in applied geology must complete GEOL 201
and one of the following three courses: GEOL 114, GEOL 117, or
GEOL 124.
Master of Science Degree Requirements
The graduate program for the Master of Science degree in Geology
is based on the equivalent of the undergraduate major in geology
at California State University, Fresno. Two-thirds of the 30 units
required for the degree must be in geology, and at least 21 of
the 30 units must be 200-series courses. For specific requirements
consult the geology graduate program coordinator; for general
requirements see Division
of Graduate Studies. (See also Admission
to Graduate Standing, Advancement
to Candidacy, Program
Requirements, and Criteria
for Thesis and Project.)
Under the direction of his/her graduate faculty adviser, each
student prepares and submits an individually designed program
within the following framework: courses including at least 21
units in 200-series.
Specific requirements (see below) (20 units)
Approved upper-division or graduate course electives in geology
or related fields such as biology, chemistry, physics, engineering,
and mathematics. Electives determined in consultation with graduate
adviser (10 units)
Approved electives in geology or related fields (0-6 units)
Total (30 units)
Specific Requirements. Students in applied geology should
follow the curriculum specified for each of the three emphases.
Modifications may be made with approval of the graduate faculty
adviser. GEOL 299 (6 units total). An oral presentation of thesis
is required. Graduate students of geology doing a thesis on a
foreign country must be proficient in the language in which source
materials are published.
Earth and Environmental Sciences Courses