You are in the official 1998-99 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
Department of Geology
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, 76, and one of Math 77, Geol 180 or C Sci 101; Phys
2A, 2B
General Education* (45 units)
Electives and remaining degree requirements (7-11 units)
(see Degree Requirements); may be used toward
a minor
Total (125-131 units)
* Of the 51 required General Education units, 6 are satisfied by Chem 1A,
1B (Division 1) and Math 75 (CORE) if intermediate algebra was completed
in high school (see General Education). Consult
the Geology Department or your 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 course used to satisfy General Education CAPSTONE requirements may be used to satisfy geology major requirements.
- 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
A Minor in Geology consists of 20 units of coursework approved by a departmental
faculty member and must include 6 upper-division units.
Bachelor of Arts in Natural Sciences
Earth Science Emphasis
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 Geology
or the Office of the Dean, School 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 (45-46 units)
Biology (12-13 units)
BioSc 1A or Biol 15 (see note 1), BioSc 1B and 130
Chemistry (10 units)
Chem 1A, 1B
Geology (5 units)
Geol 1 and 3 (or 15) (see note 1)
Natural Science (3 units)
N Sci 106
Physics (8 units)
Phys 2A, 2B (see note 2)
Physical Science (4 units)
P Sci 21
Select one course below (3 units)
Chem 8 or or P Sci 168
Earth Science Emphasis (33 units)
(see note 3)
Geol 2, 12, 30, 100, 101, 102, 105, 106, 155 (27 units)
Plus 6 units from the following: Geol 110, 114, 117, 124; Geog 111 (6 units)
Additional requirements (4 units)
Math 75 , 76
General Education (42 units)
(see note 4)
6-unit CAPSTONE requirement to be met by Geol/Geog 168
Electives and remaining degree requirements (0 units)
(see note 5)
(see Degree Requirements)
Total (124-125 units)
Advising Notes
- Biol 15 and Geol 15 are part of the Man/Woman and the Natural Environment Cluster. 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, 4B, and 4C (with labs) is recommended instead of Phys 2A and 2B for those students well prepared for physics.
- Consult your faculty adviser regarding the selection of your elective units to have this emphasis used as the Science Waiver Program.
- This figure takes into account that 9 units in the major and additional requirements may also be applied to satisfy General Education requirements as follows: CORE, Quantitative Reasoning - Math 75 (3 units); BREADTH, Division 1 - Chem 1A or Geol 1 or 15 or Phys 2A (3 units); and Division 2 - BioSc 1A or Biol 15 (3 units). Consult your major academic adviser for details. (See General Education.)
- Students should be sure to take sufficient upper-division units in their General Education courses and electives to satisfy the university requirement of 40 upper-division units for graduation.
Graduate Program
The Department of Geology 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 (2-4 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.
