Associate Professors--Dempsey, Grove, White
Adjunct Faculty--Felton, Knox, Null, Roush
B.S. in Geology
B.A. in Science: Concentration in Meteorology
Minor in Geology
Minor in Meteorology
M.S. in Applied Geosciences
Students who are considering teaching geology at the high school level should consult a credential adviser in the College of Science and Engineering to plan their major, as specific courses outside the geology program are required. Students who plan to work in industry or continue to graduate school are urged to complete the Bachelor of Science in Geology.
The Bachelor of Science in Geology is designed for students wishing to continue to graduate school or planning to pursue a professional career in industry, government, or university teaching. The major provides students with a fundamental background in the physical sciences and many areas of geology necessary for an in-depth comprehension of the subject. Entry to the major presupposes prior course work equivalent to two years of high school algebra, one year of plane geometry, one-half year of trigonometry, and one year of physics and/or chemistry.
The Bachelor of Arts in Science: Concentration in Meteorology is designed for students with a general interest in the atmospheric sciences and for those pursuing careers such as science teaching, science writing, and broadcast meteorology. In consultation with the faculty, students may also complete additional course work beyond the minimum degree requirements to prepare for graduate study or professional employment in meteorology.
The undergraduate program in meteorology trains students in physical, dynamical and synoptic meteorology, with a special focus on air-sea interactions. Students are also exposed to other topics including: (1) synoptic and mesoscale forecasting problems specific to the West Coast; (2) the effects of oceans on climatic change; and (3) numerical models of mesoscale flow.
The Minor in Geology is designed for students with a general interest in geology and for those wishing to pursue a career in teaching or environmental interpretation. Courses prescribed in the minor presuppose a background in mathematics and chemistry/physics at the high school level.
The Minor in Meteorology is designed to provide a basic introduction to atmospheric science. Science majors who plan to teach at the high school or community college level will find that this program will allow them to investigate not only fundamental topics but also current developments in the field of air-sea interactions, forecasting, and climatic change.
The minor also serves those students who plan to apply the principles of basic science to environmental problems. Electives include physical oceanography and applied climatology; this course work, in combination with meteorology, allows students to adequately understand the basic physical constraints on the air-sea-land system.
The Master of Science in Applied Geosciences provides an advanced degree that prepares students for careers in private industry, government agencies, teaching in community colleges, or continuing postgraduate studies leading to a doctoral degree at another university. The graduate program also provides an opportunity for practicing geoscientists to update and upgrade their background in the field. There are no formal concentrations within the program, but most students choose to emphasize either Applied Geology or Applied Atmospheric Sciences. Courses available at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, an affiliate of SFSU, also enable students to choose an emphasis in Marine Science. Before beginning course work toward the M.S., students must elect a course of study in consultation with the graduate coordinator for either geology or meteorology.
A major focus of the graduate program involves interdisciplinary studies of the San Francisco Bay Area. Courses are offered in environmental geosciences, particularly focusing on sedimentology, stratigraphy, Quaternary geology, engineering geology, and applied meteorology with a coastal emphasis. Two of the core courses (GEOL/METR 700 and 701) prepare students for more advanced course work and thesis research. The third core course (GEOL/METR 702) is a multidisciplinary seminar that exposes students to current geoscientific problems applicable to the San Francisco Bay Area. Emphases are placed on a rigorous grounding in the sciences and on extensive laboratory and field work. The Geosciences Department includes faculty with expertise in geology, meteorology, and oceanography--fields that are critical to understanding many environmental problems, such as air and water contamination, coastal erosion, and global warming.
Graduates in geology or meteorology are currently working in a wide range of fields in the earth sciences. For the next decade, geologists will find the greatest opportunities in the broad areas of environmental/engineering geology, including such specializations as surface and groundwater hydrogeology, geotechnical studies aimed at locating and remediating toxic sites, earthquake and landslide hazard assessment, and site evaluation for urban planning or construction. There also continue to be positions available in petroleum geology and minerals exploration. Meteorologists will find opportunities in short- and long-range weather forecasting, air pollution assessment, and global climate change research. Recent job trends suggest that the strongest candidates, regardless of their area of specialization, will have a master's degree, several years of field experience, and an interdisciplinary background with strong chemistry, physics, mathematics, and computer skills. Geologists and meteorologists are employed by a large number of government agencies, including the U.S. Geological Survey, National Weather Service, Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, California Division of Mines and Geology, Bureau of Land Management, Army Corps of Engineers, and U.S. Forest Service. Many geologists and some meteorologists in the San Francisco Bay Area work for environmental consulting firms. The M.S. in Applied Geosciences trains students for teaching at community colleges or possibly high schools, and prepares others to continue into doctoral programs leading to careers in university teaching and research.
Students who have completed twelve units of required upper division Geoscience courses and have failed to maintain an overall grade point average of 2.0 (C) in the major will be disenrolled from the major. Any student who does not meet these standards will not be permitted to enroll in courses designed for the major.
Prospective majors should consult with the Department of Geosciences as early as possible in their university careers. It is particularly recommended that students meet with their adviser before selecting courses in the general education program in order to avoid unnecessary duplication. Students will be advised to complete the basic science requirements before taking upper division courses in geology and will also be advised on the correct sequence of courses in the geology program. All major courses must be taken for a letter grade since CR/NC is not applicable toward the degree. Students who are considering teaching geology or meteorology should see a credential adviser in Geoscinces before planning the major. Specific courses in competency assessment are required for the credential program.
Courses for these programs are listed in alphabetical sequence (consult Index for page references).
Units
CHEM 111 General Chemistry I 5
PHYS 111/112 General Physics I and Labor-
atory (3/1) or
PHYS 220/222 General Physics with Cal-
culus I and Laboratory (3/1) 4
MATH 220 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I 3
Electives in chemistry, physics, and mathema-
tics on advisement to be chosen from
CHEM 113/114, PHYS 121, 230, or 240,
or MATH 221 3
GEOL 110 Physical Geology 4
GEOL 115 Historical Geology 4
GEOL 420 Mineralogy 4
GEOL 425 Optical Mineralogy 2
GEOL 426 Petrography and Petrology 4
GEOL 430 Structural Geology 4
GEOL 440 Paleontology 4
GEOL 460 Stratigraphy 4
GEOL 695 Field Methods in Geology 2
Upper division electives in geology on advise-
ment chosen from courses numbered 400
or higher 5
Total 52
Units
GEOL 110 Physical Geology 4
GEOL 115 Historical Geology 4
MATH 220 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I 3
MATH 221 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II 3
MATH 222 Calculus and Analytic Geometry III 3
PHYS 220/222 General Physics with Calcu-
lus I and Laboratory (3/1) and
PHYS 240/242 General Physics with Cal-
culus III and Laboratory (3/1) or
PHYS 220/222 General Physics with Calcu-
lus I and Laboratory (3/1) and
PHYS 230/232 General Physics with Cal-
culus II and Laboratory (3/1) 8
CHEM 111 General Chemistry 5
CHEM 113/114 General Chemistry II and
Laboratory (3/2) 5
Total basic science requirements 35
GEOL 420 Mineralogy 4
GEOL 425 Optical Mineralogy 2
GEOL 426 Petrography and Petrology 4
GEOL 430 Structural Geology 4
GEOL 440 Paleontology 4
GEOL 460 Stratigraphy 4
GEOL 695 Field Methods in Geology 2
GEOL 696 Field Geology 5
GEOL 698 Senior Research and Thesis 2
Total geology requirements 31
GEOL 480 Geochemistry or
GEOL 485 Geophysics or
GEOL 535 Plate Tectonics 3
Additional upper division electives in geology
on advisement chosen from courses
numbered 400 or higher 9
Total geology electives requirement 12
Total for the major 78
Units
Mathematics 15
MATH 220 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I
MATH 221 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II
MATH 222 Calculus and Analytic Geometry III
MATH 223 Calculus and Analytic Geometry IV
One of the following on advisement:
MATH 245 Elementary Differential Equa-
tions and Linear Algebra
MATH 340 Introduction to Statistics
MATH 374 Advanced Calculus
METR 406 Fortran Programming for
Meteorologists
Physics 8
PHYS 220/222 General Physics with Calcu-
lus I and Laboratory (3/1)1
PHYS 230/232 General Physics with Calcu-
lus II and Laboratory (3/1)
Chemistry 8
CHEM 111 General Chemistry I with Labora-
tory (5)1
CHEM 113 General Chemistry II
Biology 5
BIOL 230 Introductory Biology I1
Earth Science 4
METR 401 Introductory Atmospheric Physics
History 3
CIS 500 Development of the Earth Sciences1
Meteorology 14
METR 401 Introductory Atmospheric
Physics (4)
METR 402 Introductory Atmospheric and
Oceanic Dynamics (4)
METR 403 Weather Forecasting and
Analysis (4)
Six additional units from the following, on
advisement:
METR 203 Basic Weather Chart Analysis (1)
METR 404 Air-Ocean Instruments (2)
METR 406 Fortran Programming for Meteor-
ologists
METR 415 California Weather Analysis
METR 420 Meteorology of the Oceans (4)
METR 480 Weather Satellite Photo Interpreta-
tion (2)
METR 502 Advanced Atmospheric and
Oceanic Dynamics (4)
METR 510 Introductory Cloud Physics (4)
METR 603 Weather Chart Discussion (1)
METR 695 Internship (1)
METR 697 Senior Project (1-3)
METR 698 Public Weather Forecasting (1-3)
METR 699 Special Study (1)
METR 703 Weather Chart (1)
METR 710 Advanced Topics in Atmospheric
and Oceanic Dynamics
METR 715 Advanced Seminar in Severe
Weathers
METR 780 Advanced Weather Satellite
Analysis Techniques
METR 798 Advanced Public Weather
Forecasting (1-3)
METR 896 Directed Reading in Meteor-
ology
PHYS 240/242 General Physics with
Calculus III and Laboratory (3/1)
Total for major 57
One course in chemistry or physics on advise-
ment 4-5
GEOL 110 Physical Geology 4
GEOL 115 Historical Geology 4
Upper division electives in geology on advise-
ment chosen from courses numbered 400
or higher 12
Total 24-25
Units
PHYS 220/222 General Physics with Calcu-
lus I and Laboratory (3/1) 4
METR 401 Introductory Atmospheric Physics 4
METR 402 Introductory Atmospheric and
Oceanic Dynamics 4
METR 403 Weather Forecasting and Analysis 4
Total 16
Units upon advisement from the following
course list and from meteorology courses
numbered 404 and higher 7-8
METR 203 Basic Weather Chart Analysis (2)
PHYS 240/242 General Physics with
Calculus III and Laboratory (3/1)
Total for minor 23-24
Applicants lacking the appropriate background (i.e., geoscience degree) may be admitted as conditionally classified graduate students. These students must complete additional course work that will not be counted toward the graduate requirements. Conditionally admitted students may take courses but cannot file a Graduate Approved Program until any deficiencies have been satisfied.
Level One:satisfied by passing the Graduate Essay Test (GET) administered by the university Testing Center, preferably before enrollment in the master's program, but no later than the end of the first semester of enrollment. If remedial work is necessary, the student will be expected to complete prescribed course(s) in English. Level Two:satisfied by completion of a written thesis (GEOL or METR 898).
GEOL/METR 700 Seminar in Applied
Geosciences 3
GEOL/METR 701 Research Methods in
Applied Geosciences 3
GEOL/METR 702 Quantitative Methods in
Applied Geosciences 3
GEOL 897 Research Project or
METR 897 Research Project 6
GEOL 898 Master's Thesis or
METR 898 Master's Thesis 3
Upper division or graduate elective courses on
advisement 12
Minimum total 30Elective units are chosen from courses offered by the Department of Geosciences or other university departments, and must be selected by students in consultation with their faculty advisers. At least six (6) of these units must be courses numbered 700 or higher, and at least six (6) must be courses offered in the Geosciences Department.
Students can receive their graduate degree when all course requirements are completed and the written thesis, including oral defense, has been approved by the thesis committee. Some students may choose, with their thesis advisers' approval, to complete research under the auspices of a local governmental agency, or geoscientific or environmental firm. Those who choose this option must still complete all the requirements for a thesis, but do so in the context of an internship relationship with an outside agency.