The Bachelor of Science in Geosciences

Total Course Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree: 120 units

See Bachelor's Degree Requirements in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 39 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.

A suggested Major Academic Plan (MAP) has been prepared to help students meet all graduation requirements within four years. You can view MAPs on the Major Academic Plans page or you can request a plan from your major advisor.

Courses in this program may complete more than one graduation requirement.

General Education Pathway Requirements: 48 units

See General Education in the University Catalog and the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education Pathway Requirements and course offerings.

This major has approved GE modification(s). See below for information on how to apply these modification(s).

• GEOS 300W is an approved major course substitution for Upper Division Scientific Inquiry & Quantitative Reasoning.

Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units

See Diversity Requirements in the University Catalog. Most courses taken to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education .

Upper-Division Writing Requirement:

Writing Across the Curriculum (Executive Memorandum 17-009) is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of four Writing (W) courses, two of which are designated by the major department. See Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning and Writing Requirements in the University Catalog for more details on the four courses.  The first of the major designated Writing (W) courses is listed below.

• Any upper-division Writing (W) course.

The second major-designated Writing course is the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GW) (Executive Order 665). Students must earn a C- or higher to receive GW credit. The GE Written Communication (A2) requirement must be completed before a student is permitted to register for a GW course.

Grading Requirement:

All courses taken to fulfill major course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as Credit/No Credit grading only.

Course Requirements for the Major: 58-66 units

Completion of the following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, is required of all candidates for this degree. Additional required courses, depending upon the selected option are outlined following the major core program requirements.

Major Core Program: 45-46 units

Lower-Division Requirements: 32-33 units

5 courses required:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Sustainable	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
CHEM 111	General Chemistry I		4.0	FS	GE
Prerequisites: GE Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning Ready; second-year high school algebra; one year high school chemistry. (One year of high school physics and one year of high school mathematics past Algebra II are recommended.) Principles of chemistry for students in science and engineering programs. Topics include atoms, molecules and ions, reactions, stoichiometry, the periodic table, bonding, chemical energy, gases, and solution chemistry. The laboratory sequence supports the above topics including both qualitative and quantitative experiments, analysis of data, and error propagation. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. This is an approved General Education course. (001816)
CHEM 112	General Chemistry II		4.0	FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 111 with a grade of C- or better. A continuation of CHEM 111. Topics include kinetics, equilibrium, acid-base chemistry, electrochemistry, chemical thermodynamics, coordination chemistry, and nuclear chemistry. The laboratory sequence supports the above topics including both qualitative and quantitative experiments, analysis of data, and error propagation. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. (001817)
GEOS 102	Physical Geology		3.0	FS	GE
Prerequisites: High school chemistry or physics is recommended; students with no previous science courses are advised to enroll in GEOS 101. No college credit for those who have passed GEOS 101. Physical and chemical processes in the earth, including origin and identification of rocks and minerals; earth's interior; movements and major features of the earth's crust; erosion and sedimentation; geological structures; topographic maps; mineral resources. 2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. This is an approved General Education course. (004069)
GEOS 110	Oceanography		3.0	FS	GE
Introduction to the ocean environment with a special emphasis on exploring the interactions between the geological, physical, chemical and biological processes. Topics include how ocean basins developed and changed over geological time scales and how the properties of seawater are linked and provide the foundation for marine life, motion, and climate. 2 hours lecture, 2 hours activity. This is an approved General Education course. (021716)
GEOS 203	Principles of Historical Geology		3.0	FA
Prerequisites: GEOS 101 or GEOS 102. Principles of historical geology as they relate to rock sequences and geologic maps. 2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. (004070)

2 courses selected from:

AND (Both the above and following course must be taken)

Or two of the following courses may be substituted for PHYS 202A and PHYS 202B.

1 course selected from:

1 course selected from:

Upper-Division Requirements: 13 units

4 courses required:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Sustainable	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
GEOS 300W	Earth System Science (W)		3.0	FS	GW  W
Prerequisites: GE Written Communication (A2) requirement; CHEM 107 or CHEM 111; PHYS 202A or PHYS 204A or PHYS 341. An intermediate treatment of astronomy, meteorology, and oceanography, with emphasis on climate change and its impacts. 3 hours discussion. This is an approved Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement course; a grade of C- or higher certifies writing proficiency for majors. This is an approved Writing Course. (004137)
GEOS 306	Mineralogy and Lithology		4.0	FA
Prerequisites: GEOS 101 or GEOS 102; CHEM 107 or CHEM 111 or equivalent; or faculty permission. Identification and origins of the more common minerals and rocks. 2 hours lecture, 6 hours laboratory. (004080)
GEOS 321	Introduction to Meteorology		3.0	FA
Prerequisite: GEOS 170. Survey of physical and dynamic meteorology. Topics covered include thermodynamics, radiation, clouds and precipitation formation, tropical and extratropical weather systems, forecasting, and climate change. 3 hours lecture. (004140)
GEOS 341	Teaching Practicum in Geological and Environmental Sciences		3.0	INQ
Prerequisite: GEOS 102 or SCED 342. This course provides students with classroom experience that utilizes a variety of interactive, engaging teaching styles that develop and reinforce skills and concepts through open-ended activities such as direct instruction, discourse, demonstrations, individual and cooperative learning explorations, peer instruction, and student-centered discussion. 9 hours supervision. (020329)

Major Option Course Requirements: 13-14 units

The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required dependent upon the option chosen. Students must select one of the following options for completion of the major course requirements.  Use the links below to jump to your chosen option.

• The Option in Physical Science Education
• The Option in Science Education with a Concentration in Geosciences

The Option in Physical Science Education: 13-14 units

This option provides students with a good foundation in each of the physical sciences so that they are prepared to pass the California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET) in Earth Science. Students who complete the program are also prepared to pass the General Science CSET, which will allow them to teach general science at the middle school level.

Lower-Division Requirements: 7-8 units

1 course required:

1 course selected from:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Sustainable	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
BIOL 162	Principles of Cellular and Molecular Biology		4.0	FS	GE
Prerequisites: CHEM 107 or CHEM 111; or department permission. Introduction to biological molecules, bioenergetics, cellular structure and function, elements of molecular biology and genetics, and mechanisms of macroevolution and systematics. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. This is an approved General Education course. Formerly BIOL 151. (001122)
SCED 102	Introduction to Living Systems		3.0	FS	GE
This course is also offered as BIOL 102. An integrated study of the nature and interactions of living things and their environments. This course is an introduction to the processes of evolution and speciation, ecology and ecosystem processes, cellular biology and organismal physiology. The course is primarily for students without a strong background in high school biology or chemistry. The course includes online content delivery, in-class discussion, and a hands-on activity session. 2 hours discussion, 2 hours activity. This is an approved General Education course. (020372)

Upper-Division Requirements: 6 units

2 courses required:

The Option in Science Education with a Concentration in Geosciences: 20 units

This option is an approved Subject Matter Preparation Program for Science with a Concentration in Geoscience. Thus it fulfills one of the requirements for admission into a single subject teaching credential program. See the Single Subject Matter Preparation Program in Science section which follows for more information.

Lower-Division Requirements: 8 units

2 courses required:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Sustainable	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
BIOL 161	Principles of Ecological, Evolutionary, and Organismal Biology		4.0	FS	GE
Introduction to evolutionary history and biological diversity, microbes and protists, invertebrates, vertebrates, and plants. Form and function of plants and animals. Ecological principles. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. This is an approved General Education course. Formerly BIOL 152. (001123)
BIOL 162	Principles of Cellular and Molecular Biology		4.0	FS	GE
Prerequisites: CHEM 107 or CHEM 111; or department permission. Introduction to biological molecules, bioenergetics, cellular structure and function, elements of molecular biology and genetics, and mechanisms of macroevolution and systematics. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. This is an approved General Education course. Formerly BIOL 151. (001122)

Upper-Division Requirements: 12 units

5 courses required:

Electives Requirement:

To complete the total units required for the bachelor's degree, select additional elective courses from the total University offerings. You should consult with an advisor regarding the selection of courses which will provide breadth to your University experience and possibly apply to a supportive second major or minor.

Advising Requirement:

Advising is mandatory for all majors in this degree program. Consult your undergraduate advisor for specific information.

Honors in the Major:

Honors in the Major is a program of independent work in your major. It requires 6 units of honors course work completed over two semesters.

The Honors in the Major program allows you to work closely with a faculty mentor in your area of interest on an original performance or research project. This year-long collaboration allows you to work in your field at a professional level and culminates in a public presentation of your work. Students sometimes take their projects beyond the University for submission in professional journals, presentation at conferences, or academic competition. Such experience is valuable for graduate school and professional life. Your honors work will be recognized at your graduation, on your permanent transcripts, and on your diploma. It is often accompanied by letters of commendation from your mentor in the department or the department chair.

Some common features of Honors in the Major program are:

• You must take 6 units of Honors in the Major course work. All 6 units are honors classes (marked by a suffix of H), and at least 3 of these units are independent study (399H, 499H, 599H) as specified by your department. You must complete each class with a minimum grade of B.
• You must have completed 9 units of upper-division course work or 21 overall units in your major before you can be admitted to Honors in the Major. Check the requirements for your major carefully, as there may be specific courses that must be included in these units.
• Your cumulative GPA should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
• Your GPA in your major should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
• Most students apply for or are invited to participate in Honors in the Major during the second semester of their junior year. Then they complete the 6 units of course work over the two semesters of their senior year.
• Your honors work culminates with a public presentation of your honors project.

While Honors in the Major is part of the Honors Program, each department administers its own program. Please contact your major department or major advisor to apply.