California State University, Fresno

Geology - Degrees

You are in the official 2010-2011 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 120 units, including 49 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 (49 units)
Lower-division requirements EES 1, 2, 12, and 30 (12 units)
Upper-division requirements
EES 100, 101, 102, 104, 106, 107, 178, 199; two of the following: EES 105, 110, 122; one of the following: EES 114, 117, 118, 124 (34 units)
Upper-division geology elective (see Note 2) (6 units)

Additional requirements (22 units)
CHEM 1A, 1B; MATH 75; PHYS 2A, 2B

Remaining General Education requirements (45 units)*

Electives and remaining degree requirements (4 units)
Upper-division writing skills; (see Degree Requirements); may be used toward a minor

Total (120 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 EES 160 may be used to fulfill the upper-division elective requirement. EES 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 EES 3, 30, and 160.
No more than 1 unit of EES 3 will be permitted.
General Education and elective units may be used toward a double major or minor (see double major or departmental minor). Consult the appropriate department chair, program coordinator, or faculty adviser for further information.
Students planning to pursue graduate study in geology are strongly encouraged to take MATH 76 or EES 177.

Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements
Environmental Sciences Major

Lower-division core requirements (50-51 units)
Biology: BIOL 1A, 1B (9 units)
Chemistry: CHEM 1A, 1B (10 units)
Environmental Sciences: EES 4 (see note 1), 12 (7 units)
Earth Science: EES 1, 30 (6 units)
Mathematics: MATH 75 and select one: MATH 76, 101; PSYCH 42 (see note 2;) EES 177 (7-8 units)
Physics: PHYS 2A and 2B; or 4A (see note 3), 4AL, 4B, 4BL (8 units)
Social Science: PLSI 71 (3 units)

Upper-division requirements (24 units)
Biology: BIOL 101 (3 units)
Environmental Sciences: EES 108, 109, 199 (9 units)
Geology: EES 105, 186, and select one: EES 113, 117, 124 (9 units)
Social Science: PSYCH 173 or ECON 117 (see note4 ) (3 units)

Controlled electives (9 units)
Biology/Chemistry: CHEM 8 (3 units)
Earth Science: EES 102, 110, 113, 114, 117, 124 (6 units)

Remaining General Education requirements (36-39 units)

Electives (0-1 unit)

Total (120 units)

___________

Notes

(1) Requires G.E. Foundation B4 as prerequisite.

(2) PSYCH 42 is prerequisite for BIOL 101.

(3) Requires MATH 77 as prerequisite or may be taken concurrently.

(4) Prerequisite for ECON 117 waived for environmental sciences majors.

Advising Notes

Program satisfies 15 of the 51 required G.E. units if PSYCH 173 is taken.
Students interested in physical aspects of environmental sciences should take MATH 76 or EES 177 in addition to PSYCH 42.

Joint Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements
in Environmental Sciences

This special interdisciplinary program leads to a B. S. in Environmental Sciences jointly conferred by California State University, Fresno and the University of California at Riverside. Qualified students admitted into this program are concurrently registered at both universities and both universities have minimum residence requirements. 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 sciences, (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.

Student plans of study require approval by an assigned faculty adviser.

The program offers three degree options: (1) Earth Science (ES) option, (2) Life Science (LS) option, (3) Behavioral, Policy, and Health Sciences (BPHS) option. Environmental Policy, Environmental Study, and Socio-Behavioral Analysis are three emphases within the BPHS option.

Environmental Sciences Major

Lower-division core requirements (45-46 units)

Biology (9 units)
BIOL 1A, 1B

Chemistry (10 units)
For ES and BS options, CHEM 1A, 1B
For BPHS option, CHEM 3A, 8, 150

Earth and Environmental Sciences (8 units)
EES 1; UCR ENSC 1, 2

Mathematics (4 units)
For ES option, MATH 75
For LS and BPHS options, MATH 75 or 70

Physics (8 units)
For ES option, PHYS 4A, 4AL, 4B, 4BL
For LS and BPHS options, PHYS 2A, 2B

Statistics (3-4 units)
MATH 11 or PSYCH 42

Social Science (3 units)
One of ECON 40, ANTH 2, or UCR ENSC 174

Upper-division core requirements all options (10 units)
PHIL 120 or PLSI 157; EES 108, 109

Environmental Sciences Options (31-47 units)

--- Option in Earth Science (ES) (38-41 units) ---
MATH 76, 77; CHEM 8, EES 117 (14 units)
Three courses from the following two groups, at least one from the first group (9-12 units)
(1) CHEM 105, 108; MATH 81, PSYCH 144, 145; (2) BIOL 120, PH 160; EES 107, 108, 111; ECON 117; UCR ENSC 155, 172, 190

Select one of the three emphases (15 units)
(1) For Engineering Emphasis, UCR ENSC 127 and two other courses from Group A; one course from Group B; one course from Group C. (2) For Geology Emphasis, one course from Group A; three courses from Group B; one course from Group C. (3) For Soils Emphasis, UCR ENSC 127; two courses from Group B; two courses from Group C.
Group A: CE 140, 191T; PH 166T; UCR ENSC 127
Group B: EES 105, 114, 124
Group C: UCR ENSC/SWSC 104, UCR ENSC/SWSC 107

--- Option in Life Science (LS) (37-47 units) ---
(Emphases under this degree option are directed by advisers.)
Optional internship:
EES 190 (0-6 units)
BIOL 171, 172; CHEM 128A, 128B; UCR ENSC 172, 174; UCR BPSC 165 (24 units)
Two courses from each of the following two groups (13-17 units)
(1) BIOL 125, 130, 133.
(2) PSYCH 143, 144, 145; EES 105, 106, 107, 108

--- Option in Behavioral, Policy, and Health Sciences (BPHS) (31 units) ---
There are three available emphases that prepare students for careers in environmental law, environmental policy, environmental health, environmental analysis, urban-planning, or socio-environmental research. A minimum of 31 upper-division semester units is required, including internship and required courses.
Optional internship: EES 190 or PH 175 (0-6 units)

Emphasis in Environmental Policy
Required courses PHIL 118 or 127; PLSI 157 (if not taken as core requirement); one of: ECON 119 or 174; one approved course in Business Administration/ Law (12 units)
Electives: PHIL 118, 127, 157, PLSI 156T (approved topics only), 181; ECON 119, 174; CRP 135; GEOG 135; UCR ENSC/ECON 143A, 143B; UCR ENSC 170, 174 (13-19 units)

Emphasis in Environmental Health
Required courses: PH 109, 160, 161, 162A, 167, 168A, 168B (21 units)
Electives: PH 151, 162B, 170, 182; PLTH 102; PLANT 105; ECON 162; UCR ENSC/ENVE 144; UCR ENSC 155, 172; UCR ENSC/SWSC 176 (10 units)

Emphasis in Socio-behavioral Analysis
Required courses: PSYCH 143, 144, 145, 173 (15-16 units)
Electives: PLSI 156T (Approved topics only), BIOL 151, 152; GEOG 105, 106, 107, 108; SOC 163; ANTH 108; UCR ENSC/ENVE 144; UCR ENSC 155, 170, 172; UCR ENSC/SWSC 176; UCR ENSC/ECON 143A, 143B (15-16 units)

General Education requirements (51* units)

Total (130-149* units)

__________

* Of the 51 units required for General Education, up to 19 units may be satisfied by G.E. courses found in the lower-and upper-division core requirements. Please see your faculty adviser to assist you in developing a plan of study.

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 serves as a waiver program for the Single Subject Teaching Credential in Science. This waiver program is currently under review by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and until program approval is secured, the appropriate CSET exams will be required to establish subject matter competency. Please contact Mr. Jaime Arvizu, College of Science and Mathematics counselor, for advising and more information at 278-5173.

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.

The B.A. in Natural Sciences with the Earth Science Emphasis is as follows:

Core requirements (36 units)
Biology (12 units)
BIOL 1A, 1B, 101

Chemistry (10 units)
CHEM 1A, 1B

Geology (7 units)
EES 1 and 168

Natural Science (3 units)
NSCI 106

Physical Science (4 units)
PSCI 21

Earth Science Option (43 units)
PHYS 2A, 2B (see note 1) (8 units)
MATH 75 (4 units)
EES 12, 30, 100, 101, 102, 105, 112, 155 (24 units)
Select two courses: EES 110, 114, 117, 124; GEOG 111 (6 units); EES 3 (1 unit)

General Education requirements (51 units)

Electives and remaining degree requirements (2 units)

Total (see notes 2,3) (120 units)

Advising Notes for the Natural Sciences Major

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), BIOL 1A (3 units), EES 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.

Graduate Program in Geology

The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences offers graduate courses and research leading to the Master of Science. The graduate courses and research areas are such that several different career goals can be met, including the following: (1) preparation for enrollment in a Ph.D. program in geology or a related field, (2) preparation for employment as a professional geoscientist with industry or government, and (3) advancement of knowledge of the earth sciences and teaching skills of secondary school and junior college teachers.

Graduate research opportunities are available in several fields, including but not restricted to hydrology/hydrogeology/hydrogeochemistry, stream restoration, geophysics, tectonics, engineering geology, geomorphology, structural geology, volcanology/igneous and metamorphic petrology, sedimentology/paleontology/stratigraphy, paleoclimatology and high temperature, and stable isotope geochemistry.

The graduate program also offers research opportunities in applied geology. This curriculum is usually interdisciplinary with an environmental focus, involving coursework in geology, civil engineering, chemistry, soil sciences, and other areas. Two applied geology emphases are offered: (1) engineering and environmental geology and (2) hydrogeology. 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.

Students are required to pass the writing component of EES 201. Please see the department's graduate program policy and graduate program coordinator for more information.

Master of Science Degree Requirements

The graduate program for the Master of Science in Geology assumes as its foundation 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. Students will select a thesis adviser to guide their research. The thesis adviser will also guide the selection of coursework in the program. For additional details regarding such requirements and procedures, please see the geology graduate program coordinator and the department's graduate program policy statement; 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.)

Course Requirements: Under the direction of his/her thesis adviser, and with approval by the department faculty, each student prepares and submits an individually designed program. Most coursework is elective in nature, in keeping with the department's philosophy that flexibility enables students to develop a path of study best suited to their goals. The course requirements are as follows:

EES 201 (Seminar in Geology) (3 units)
EES 299 (Thesis) (6 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 (21 units)

Total (30 units)

Students studying applied geology should take the following courses before or during their graduate experience: EES 114, 117, 124.

Modifications in the program of study may be made with approval of both the thesis adviser and graduate program coordinator.

Additional Requirements. A master's thesis is required. An oral defense of a thesis proposal is required, to ensure that students have selected a problem that is commendable to an M.S. thesis in the sciences and that the proposed methods of analysis are appropriate to the task. This defense normally will be scheduled as a culminating experience in EES 201, but also can be scheduled outside of EES 201 if necessary. An oral defense of the thesis is also required. The defense will include questions regarding the thesis and questions of a more general nature related to knowledge in the earth sciences. The thesis will be judged by the extent to which a student attempts to solve a scientific problem by employing methods appropriate to the task. The thesis must meet certain minimum standards, which include the following: thoughtful consideration of and reference to prior work in the field of study; a peripheral understanding of the broader scientific value or societal implications of the work, as appropriate; and a demonstration of originality and critical thinking. Graduate students of geology conducting research in a foreign country are expected to be proficient in the language in which source materials are published.

Earth and Environmental Sciences Courses