You are in the official 2004-2005 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 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 (25-26 units)
CHEM 1A, 1B; MATH 75; MATH 76 or GEOL 177; PHYS 2A, 2B
Remaining General Education requirements (45 units)*
Electives and remaining degree requirements (4-6 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 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 double major or minor (see double major or departmental minor). Consult the appropriate department chair, program coordinator, or faculty adviser for further information.
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)
BIOSC 1A or BIOL 15, 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)
GEOL 1 or 15; 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 (11 units)
PHIL 120 or PLSI 157; ENSC 100A*, 100B*
Environmental Sciences Options (31-46 units)
--- Option in Earth Science (ES) (38-41 units) ---
MATH 76, 77; CHEM 8, GEOL 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) MICRO 140, HS 160; GEOG
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, 170, 191T; HS 166T; UCR ENSC 127
Group B: GEOL 114, 124, 105, 116
Group C: UCR ENSC/SWSC 104, UCR ENSC/SWSC 107
--- Option in Life Science (LS) (39-46 units) ---
(Emphases under this degree option are directed by advisers.)
Optional internship:
ENSC 190* (0-6 units)
ECOL 151, 152; CHEM 128A, 128B; UCR ENSC 172, 174; UCR BPSC 165 (24 units)
Two courses from each of the following two groups (15-16 units)
(1) BOT 144; ECOL 162, 171, 172; ZOOL 150, 141.
(2) PSYCH 143, 144, 145; GEOG 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: ENSC 190* or HS 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, 161, or 174; one approved course in Business Administration/
Law (12 units)
Electives: PHIL 118, 127, 157, PLSI 156T (approved topics only), 181; ECON
119, 161, 174; CRP 135; GEOG 135; UCR ENSC/ECON 143A, 143B; UCR ENSC 170,
174 (13-19 units)
Emphasis in Environmental Health
Required courses: HS 109, 147, 160, 161, 162, 167, 168 (21 units)
Electives: HS 148, 151, 165, 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; ECON 161; 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)
__________
* Course approval pending. See adviser for course alternatives.
** 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 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. For more information, please contact David Andrews,
B.A. Natural Science Degree Coordinator and Science Credential Adviser at
(559) 278-2412. The B.A. in Natural Sciences with the Earth Science Emphasis
is as follows:
Core requirements (37 units)
Biology (12 units)
BIOSC 1A, 1B, 130
Chemistry (10 units)
CHEM 1A, 1B
Geology (8 units)
GEOL 1 and 3 (or 15) (see advising note 1 below), 168
Natural Science (3 units)
NSCI 106
Physical Science (4 units)
PSCI 21
Earth Science Option (44 units)
CHEM 8 or PSCI 168 (3 units)
PHYS 2A, 2B2 (8 units)
MATH 70 or 75 (4units)
GEOL 12, 30, 100, 101, 102, 105, 112, 155 (23 units)
Select two courses: GEOL 110, 114, 117, 124; GEOG 111 (6 units)
General Education requirements (51 units)
Total (see notes 3,4) (120 units)
Advising Notes for the Natural Sciences Major
- GEOL 15 is 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.
Graduate Program in Geology
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.
Students are required to pass the writing component of GEOL 201. Please
see the graduate program coordinator for more information.
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