Bachelor of Arts in Geology

The B.A. in Geology, General Geology Concentration is recommended for students planning a career in public service and education (e.g. government agencies, park rangers and K-12 science teaching), non-profit or non-governmental environmental organizations, or pre-environmental law. This Concentration has maximum elective flexibility to produce an experience tailored to the needs of the student.

The B.A. in Geology, Field and Applied Geology Concentration is recommended for students planning to become professional geologists employed by environmental and geo-technical firms, governmental agencies, oil and mining companies, and for those students planning to pursue a graduate degree in geology. Emphasizing field and applied geology courses, and experiential learning, this program is designed to permit students to meet existing requirements for Professional Licensing.

Geology majors must earn a grade of "C-" (1.7) or better in all required geology courses for those courses to satisfy the degree requirements for a B.A. degree in Geology. No more than 3 units of elective may be from supervision courses. At least 3 units of elective must be from GEOL courses. Students may not earn credit for both concentrations.

Requirements (69-75 units)

Total units required for graduation: 120

Requirements for the B.A. in Geology 

Lower-division requirements (22-25)
Choose one of the following courses, with laboratory4-5
Survey of General Chemistry
Survey of General Chemistry Laboratory
General Chemistry I
General Chemistry I Laboratory
Choose one from the following (fulfills GE category B4)3-4
Accelerated Preparation for Calculus
Modeling with Calculus
Calculus I
Choose one of the following courses, with laboratory4-5
Physics in the Modern World
and Physics in the Modern World Lab
Introduction to Physics I
and Introduction to Physics I Lab
General Physics I
and General Physics I Lab
Choose one of the following courses:3
Introductory Geology
Plate Tectonics: Key to Understanding Earthquakes, Volcanoes and Tsunami
Environmental Geology and Geological Hazards
Choose one of the following laboratories:1
Introductory Geology Laboratory
Environmental Geology and Geological Hazards Laboratory
GEOL 2000Interpreting Earth Systems History: Stories from an Ancient Planet4
GEOL 2500Geology of California3
Upper-division requirements (34)
GEOL 3100Introduction to Geologic Mapping3
GEOL 3200Mineralogy5
GEOL 3220Introduction to Geochemistry4
GEOL 3240Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology4
GEOL 3300Sedimentary Geology: Principles and Applications4
GEOL 3600Structural Geology4
GEOL 3700Groundwater Hydrology3
GEOL 3990Geological Research Design3
GEOL 4000Undergraduate Geological Research2
GEOL 4900Senior Seminar2
Concentration (13-16)
Students must satisfy the requirements of one of the concentrations listed below.13-16
Total Units69-75

Concentrations (13-16 units)

General Geology Concentration (13 units)

(Program Code GEOL)

Requirements (13)
A minimum of 13 units chosen from the following (no more than 3 units from supervision courses): 13
3100-level or above GEOL courses not previously used for the degree
2000-level and higher courses in MATH, BIOL, CHEM, or PHYS not previously used for the degree, up to 6 units
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and Cartography
GEOG 3710 Advanced Geographic Information Systems
Statistics with Applications
Watershed Hydrology and Management
Geomorphology
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
Total Units13

Field and Applied Geology Concentration (16 units)

(Program Code: GEFA)

Requirements (16)
GEOL 4100Engineering Geology4
Six units chosen from:6
Advanced Field Geology (2)
Advanced Field Geology (3)
Advanced Field Geology (4)
Advanced Field Geology (6)
Digital Mapping and GIS for Scientists (3)
A minimum of 6 units chosen from:6
Geomorphology (3)
Earth Resources (4)
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and Cartography
Field Methods in Hydrology (3)
Topics in Applied Geology (3)
Laboratory for Topics in Applied Geology (1)
Neotectonics and Seismic Hazard Analysis (4)
Environmental Hydrology (3)
Site Investigation, Siting, and Case Histories in Engineering Geology (4)
Total Units16