San Diego State University - San Diego, California

Department of Geological Sciences

Welcome to the Department of Geological Sciences at San Diego State University. We are a group of 38 active faculty, lecturers, support personnel, and most importantly over 100 enthusiastic and talented undergraduate and graduate students. The department offers a major in geological sciences with a Bachelor of Science or Master of Science degree. Students entering this program can choose one of the following emphases, depending on their specific interests: general geology, engineering geology, geochemistry, geophysics, hydrogeology, marine geology or paleontology. San Diego State University is an academically rich, urban university that provides endless possibilities for students. SDSU is a place to challenge yourself, to take your education into your own hands and carve out your future. We will help to make your undergraduate education more meaningful and personal, fostering closer interaction with faculty members and fellow students. Learning does not just take place in the classroom, but also by the opportunities that arise with involvement elsewhere on campus, in the laboratory, in field research, and in the local community.

The Department of Geological Sciences at San Diego State University has always been known for its strong field-oriented undergraduate and graduate programs. Industry has favored the SDSU department of Geological Sciences because of its practical, application-oriented education. Students educated in Geological Sciences at SDSU work at all levels locally, nationally, and internationally in such diverse areas as petroleum exploration, environmental remediation, and K-12 teaching.

As the Geological Sciences have evolved from a discipline dominated by field-mapping and qualitative interpretation into the quantitative, rigorous, and predictive science it is today, SDSU has been in the forefront. The science curriculum is enhanced by research, an important part of the mission of the SDSU Department of Geological Sciences. Much of the funding supports undergraduate and graduate students, all of whom are required to complete a thesis as part of their degree, adding a emphasis on research and scientific inquiry at all levels of the curriculum.

Source: Department Website June 2010