Earth Sciences

Overview

The Earth Sciences BSc program offered at San Francisco State University provides students with a foundation in mathematics, physics, and chemistry; a broad background in the Earth Sciences; an understanding of how Earth’s systems are linked; depth of knowledge in one of three areas of Earth sciences; and strong quantitative, communication, and field skills. The B.S. degree is excellent preparation for professional employment and/or graduate study in one of the Earth sciences. 

Students in the B.S. take a common core of classes and choose one of three areas of emphasis, where they get in-depth training in an area of specialization: Geology; Hydrology; or Ocean, Weather, and Climate. The Geology emphasis provides fundamental skills and knowledge applied to understand processes in the solid Earth, and extensive experience conducting investigations in the field (that is, outdoors). The Hydrology emphasis draws from a broader range of Earth sciences to understand and solve environmental problems of water in Earth’s systems and provides extensive hands-on lab and field work. In the Ocean, Weather, and Climate emphasis, students learn to describe the structure and behavior of the oceans and atmosphere and to apply concepts of mathematics, physics, and chemistry to understand and solve problems about how physical processes in the ocean and atmosphere create weather and climate and how climate can change.

Career paths

Earth science investigations lead to better understanding of fundamental Earth processes and help solve problems arising from environmental contamination or mismanagement; natural hazards such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, severe storms, and global change; demand for new sources of useful Earth materials; and many others. Earth scientists use sophisticated instrumentation to collect and analyze data, and recent advances have provided new views of Earth, from the internal layers of the solid earth, from the ocean floor, and from both the lower and upper atmosphere, which are leading to improved understanding of our planet. Increasingly scarce energy, mineral, and water resources, and increasing environmental impacts of human activities (both global and local), present challenges that create demand for Earth science expertise. Because of increased demand and projected retirements, a shortage of geoscientists is projected in the near future.

Graduates in Earth Sciences may pursue a wide range of careers in the Earth sciences and related fields. For the next decade, geologists will find the greatest opportunities in the broad areas of environmental and engineering geology; for example, surface and groundwater hydrology studies aimed at characterizing water resources and remediating toxic sites, assessing earthquake and landslide hazards, developing restoration plans for river and coastal environments, and evaluating sites for urban planning or construction. There are also many positions available in the petroleum and mineral exploration industries. A shortage of certified high school and middle school science teachers has placed qualified teachers in high demand. Ocean, weather & climate students will find opportunities in air pollution assessment, global climate change research, and climate change risk assessment, adaptation, and mitigation, with government agencies that work on climate change and coastal management, or consulting firms specializing in coastal dynamics, ocean observations, and alternative energy, for example. Recent job trends suggest that the strongest candidates, regardless of the area of specialization, will have a master’s degree, several years of experience, and an interdisciplinary background with strong chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer, and communication and collaboration skills. Earth scientists in the San Francisco Bay Area are employed by a relatively high concentration of government agencies, academic institutions, and private firms. In addition to preparing students for advanced work as professionals, the M.S. in Geosciences is excellent preparation for a community college or high school teaching career or entry into a doctoral program leading to a career in university teaching and/or research.