You are in the official 1998-99 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
Department of Geology
The School of Natural Sciences
FREDERIKA J.M. HARMSEN, Chair
EVANGELINA (VENGIE) BALLI, Department Administrative Assistant
McLane Hall, Room 284
(559) 278-3086
Faculty
Frederika J.M. Harmsen, Chair
Frederika J.M. Harmsen, Graduate Adviser
Jon C. Avent, Arthur H. Barabas, Bruce A. Blackerby, Roland H. Brady, Robert
D. Merrill, C. John Suen
Why study geology? What is it?
- Continents adrift and colliding
- Natural resources
- Energy resources and waste disposal
- Floods and landslides
- Construction siting and materials
- Fossils and evolution
- Surface and underground waters
- Volcanoes and earthquakes
- Mountain building and erosion
- 4.6 billion years of earth history
- Environmental education
The Department of Geology at California State University, Fresno offers
courses leading to the Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Geology,
as well as the Minor in Geology, which is especially well suited for primary
and secondary teachers.
Coursework and research emphasize field and laboratory investigations of
geologic problems. Our field orientation takes advantage of the university's
proximity to the Sierra Nevadas, the California Coast Ranges, coastal California,
and the desert provinces. This unique location gives faculty and students
access to an unparalleled geologic laboratory all within one to five hours
driving time from the university.
The department's close relationship with state agencies and the private
sector enables many students to pursue internships or part-time work in
geology while they complete their degrees.
The Bachelor of Science degree prepares students for employment in petroleum
geology, mineral exploration, land-use planning, environmental investigation,
hydrology, and engineering geology, or for teaching earth science or physical
science at the secondary level. The Master of Science program provides a
graduate degree for students who want to work in industry or government
on the professional level, for students who want to teach earth science
in junior college, or for students who wish to pursue further graduate study.
Our applied geology option specializes in engineering geology, hydrogeology
(physical or chemical) or exploration geology fields, which have the strongest
employment potential.
Students may also participate in coursework and research in marine geology
and oceanography offered through Moss Landing Marine Laboratories in Monterey
Bay. Consult the chairs of the Geology and Biology departments. See Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Biology
Department.
Facilities and Support
Department equipment includes:
- X-ray fluorescence spectrometer and X-ray diffractometer
- Polarizing microscopes for transmitted and reflected light petrography
- Cathode luminoscope for microscopic study of textures
- Heating-freezing stage for microscopic study of fluid inclusions
- Rock preparation laboratory, which includes crushing and mineral separation facilities, as well as diamond saws and lapping machines for preparing thin and polished sections
- Microcomputers and peripherals
- IBM and SUN engineering workstations
- Electronic mapping lab
- Field and laboratory equipment for water chemistry studies
- Field geophysical instruments: 12 channel seismograph, single channel seismograph DC resistivity meter, magnetometer/gradiometer, laptop computer
- Two four-wheel drive vehicles and three other field vehicles
Equipment available elsewhere on campus includes:
- Atomic absorption-flame emission spectrometers
- Ion and gas chromatographs
- Electron microscopes
- Mass and magnetic resonance spectrometers
