Program: Geological Sciences, Emphasis in General Geology, B.S. - San Diego State University

May 06, 2025

2025-2026 University Catalog

(Major Code: 19141) (Academic Plan Code: 775324BSS)

All candidates for a degree in applied arts and sciences must complete the graduation requirements listed in the section of this catalog on “Graduation Requirements.” All required upper-division courses must be taken for letter grades only, not credit/no credit.

Courses to satisfy the requirement of 45 upper-division units in the major may be selected from upper-division Earth and Environmental Sciences courses (i.e., GEOL and ENV S) not explicitly excluded. Students may petition the department to include courses from other disciplines to complete the upper-division major requirement.

A minor is not required with this major.

Emphasis in Geology

Preparation for the Major

GEOL 100 - Planet Earth Units: 3
and
GEOL 101 - Dynamics of the Earth Laboratory Units: 1
or
OCEAN 100 - The Ocean Planet Units: 4
or
GEOL 104 - Earth Science Units: 3
and
GEOL 101 - Dynamics of the Earth Laboratory Units: 1
or
ENV S 100 - Environmental Sciences Units: 3
also listed as
SUSTN 100 - Environmental Sciences Units: 3
and
GEOL 101
GEOL 205 - Earth System History Units: 4
GEOL 210 - GIS and Remote Sensing in the Earth and Environmental Sciences Units: 3
BIOL 100 - General Biology Units: 3
CHEM 200 - General Chemistry Units: 5
MATH 124 - Calculus for the Life Sciences Units: 4
STAT 250 - Statistical Principles and Practices Units: 3
or
BIOL 215 - Biostatistics Units: 3
PHYS 180A - Fundamentals of Physics Units: 3
PHYS 182A - Physical Measurements Laboratory Units: 1

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement

Completing one of the approved upper division writing courses (W) with a grade of C (2.0) or better. See “Graduation Requirements ” section for a complete listing of requirements.

Major

A minimum of 45 upper-division units in approved courses to include

GEOL 300 - Data Analysis in the Earth and Environmental Sciences I Units: 3
GEOL 302 - Data Analysis in the Earth and Environmental Sciences II Units: 3
GEOL 310 - Geologic Inquiry and Problem Solving Units: 3
GEOL 315 - Geochemistry Units: 3
GEOL 323 - Mineralogy Units: 3
GEOL 324 - Petrology Units: 3
GEOL 336 - Sedimentology and Lithostratigraphy Units: 3
GEOL 406 - Structural Geology Units: 3
GEOL 407 - Geophysics Units: 3
GEOL 498A - Research Methods and Communication Units: 1
GEOL 502 - Advanced Field Topics Units: 1-2 (2 units of differing topics)
GEOL 508 - Advanced Field Geology Units: 3
GEOL 551 - Hydrogeology Units: 3
Nine additional upper-division elective units from Earth and Environmental Sciences (GEOL or ENV S) and upper-division units from other academic departments by EES approval.
Student may take up to three units of their upper-division major elective units from the following courses:
GEOL 301 - Geology of National Parks and Monuments Units: 3
GEOL 303 - Natural Disasters Units: 3
GEOL 305 - Water and the Environment Units: 3
OCEAN 320 - Oceans of Change Units: 3