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Geology

The Department of Geology provides a variety of courses and degree programs designed to increase students' understanding of the Earth, to continue their education toward advanced degrees in the Earth sciences, and to obtain meaningful career employment.

The BS curriculum in Geology offers a program with depth in all aspects of geology. It is the curriculum traditionally required for admission to graduate programs in geology or geophysics. Graduates are employed as entry-level geologists and technicians in engineering, geophysical, and geological firms, or local and state government agencies.

The department's research areas include sedimentology, applied geophysics and geochemistry, structural geology, mineralogy, petrology, tectonics, geomorphology, marine geology, paleontology, hydrogeology, engineering and environmental geology, and marine geochemistry.

There is a strong emphasis in field work. A six-week summer field and research program is held at places such as the Sierra Nevada, the California deserts, and eastern Nevada mountains.

The U.S. Geological Survey, the single largest employer of geologists, has a Menlo Park division approximately 30 miles from San José, at which some SJSU students hold part-time jobs.

BS - Geology

B.S. - Geology offers a program with depth in all aspects of geology. It is the curriculum traditionally required for admission to graduate programs in geology or geophysics. Graduates are employed as entry-level geologists and technicians in engineering, geophysical, and geological firms, or local and state government agencies.

Supporting courses required:

MATH 030 Calculus I
(with grade of "C-" or better)
CHEM 1A and CHEM 1B General Chemistry
Sequence must be complete
PHYS 002A Fundamentals of Physics
AND
PHYS 002B Fundamentals of Physics
OR
PHYS 050 General Physics/Mechanics
AND
PHYS 051 General Physics/Electricity and Magnetism
OR
PHYS 050 General Physics/Mechanics
AND
PHYS 052 General Physics/Heat and Light

Additional requirement:

GEOL 003 Planet Earth
GEOL 004L Planet Earth Laboratory
GEOL 007 Earth, Time and Life
GEOL 028 Geology Outdoors

Elective:

MATH 031 Calculus II
Note: Math 31 is recommended for graduate school or technical careers.

All students must satisfy the following prerequisite (or equivalent) prior to registering for the WST and 100W courses at SJSU {Academic Senate policy S05-8}:

ENGL 001B Composition 2
A "C" or better is required in English 1B (a "C-" is not acceptable).
or
Second Semester English Composition Equivalent Course
A course articulated to SJSU's English 1B is recommended, however any course approved for the IGETC second semester composition area would be accepted to meet this requirement (a grade of "C" or better is required).