Geology B.S. + Geology M.S.
Beach Expedited Degrees in Graduate Education (EDGE) programs merge existing baccalaureate and master's degree programs in similar disciplines into a single pathway. We will double count a specified number of units (no more than 12) in both programs so you can earn your graduate degree faster and with less cost! Learn more about Beach EDGE.
ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ in the Beach EDGE Geology Program will complete the requirements for both the B.S. in Geology and the M.S. in Geology. Beach EDGE students must double-count 9 units of M.S. electives towards both their B.S. and M.S. degrees.
Double-Counting of Courses
Beach EDGE students must double-count 9 units of M.S. electives towards both their B.S. and M.S. degrees and may double-count a maximum of 12 units of M.S. electives.
Advisor/Staff Contacts
Graduate Advisor: Dr. Alyssa Abbey, Alyssa.Abbey@csulb.edu
Undergraduate Advisor: Dr. Nate Onderdonk, Nate.Onderdonk@csulb.edu
Lower Division Requirements
Take one of the following (GEOL 102 recommended):
- ERTH 102 - Planet Earth (3 units)
- ERTH 110 - Natural Disasters (3 units)
Take all of the following:
- CHEM 111A - General Chemistry (5 units)
- CHEM 111B - General Chemistry (5 units)
- MATH 122 - Calculus I (4 units)
- MATH 123 - Calculus II (4 units)
- ERTH 104 - Planet Earth Lab (1 unit)
- ERTH 240 - Historical Geology (4 units)
- ERTH 250 - Introduction to Geologic Field Methods (3 units)
Take one of the following two-semester Physics sequences:
- Sequence 100A/100B:
- PHYS 100A - General Physics (4 units)
- PHYS 100B - General Physics (4 units)
- or Sequence 151/152:
- PHYS 151 - Mechanics and Heat (4 units)
- PHYS 152 - Electricity and Magnetism (4 units)
Upper Division Requirements
Take all of the following:
- ERTH 322 - Crystallography and Mineralogy (3 units)
- ERTH 350 - Spring Field Geology (2 units)
- ERTH 420 - Geologic Writing (3 units)
- ERTH 428 - Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology and Petrography (3 units)
- ERTH 433 - Structural Geology (4 units)
- ERTH 443 - Stratigraphy/Sedimentology (4 units)
- ERTH 450 - Summer Field Geology (4 units)
Take two of the following courses:
- ERTH 460 - Introduction to Geophysics (3 units)
- ERTH 461 - Introduction to Geochemistry (3 units)
- ERTH 474 - Physical Hydrology (3 units)
In addition, take 13 units of electives (normally from upper-division geology courses) approved in advance by the undergraduate advisor.
For official requirements, please see:
Electives that Double Count Towards the B.S. and M.S.
- ERTH 445 - Paleoclimatology
- ERTH 462 - Physics and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior
- ERTH 465 - Physical and Chemical Oceanography
- ERTH 410/510 - Biogeochemical Cycles
- ERTH 524 - Sedimentary Petrology
- ERTH 530 - Seminar in Structural Geology and Tectonics
- ERTH 531 - Tectonic Geomorphology
- ERTH 537 - ÃÛÌÒÓ°ÏñGeology
- ERTH 541 - Seminar on Mass Extinctions
- ERTH 543 - Seminar on Integrated Stratigraphy
- ERTH 554 - Environmental Geochemistry
- ERTH 555 - Stable Isotopes
- ERTH 574 - Physical Hydrology
- ERTH 577 - Hydrogeology
- GEOG 473 - Remote Sensing
- GEOG 481 - Geographic Information Science for Natural Sciences
Note other 400-level electives may be double counted with approval from research advisor and graduate advisor.
Required "Major" Courses
- ERTH 500 - Intro Grad Seminar
- ERTH 537 - ÃÛÌÒÓ°ÏñGeology
Required Research and Thesis Courses
- ERTH 695 - Directed Reading (2-4 units)
- ERTH 697 - Directed Research (2-3 units)
- ERTH 698 - Thesis (6 units)
70% Must Be 500-600 Level
70% of the units (e.g., 21/30) must be 500-600 level courses.
- ERTH 510 - Biogeochemical Cycles
- ERTH 524 - Sedimentary Petrology
- ERTH 530 - Seminar in Structural Geology and Tectonics
- ERTH 531 - Tectonic Geomorphology
- ERTH 537 - ÃÛÌÒÓ°ÏñGeology
- ERTH 541 - Seminar on Mass Extinctions
- ERTH 543 - Seminar on Integrated Stratigraphy
- ERTH 554 - Environmental Geochemistry
- ERTH 555 - Stable Isotopes
- ERTH 574 - Physical Hydrology
- ERTH 577 - Hydrogeology
- Some GEOG courses with advisor approval
30% May Be 300-400 Level
30% of the units may be 300, 400 (advisor approval required).
- ERTH 410 - Biogeochemical Cycles
- ERTH 445 - Paleoclimatology
- ERTH 462 - Physics and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior
- ERTH 465 - Physical and Chemical Oceanography
- GEOL 460 - Introduction to Geophysics
- GEOL 461 - Introduction to Geochemistry
- GEOL 474 - Physical Hydrology
Eligibility & Admissions
- Be a matriculated undergraduate student at ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ in one of the following degree options: Geology B.S., Earth System B.S. program, Environmental Science and Policy B.S.
- Have completed 60 units.
- Be enrolled in or completed 9 discipline-specific upper-division units in residence.
- Have a minimum GPA of 3.0.
- Have consent of faculty M.S. advisor.
- Follow the student application review and admissions procedures.
- ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ must double-count at least 9 units
- ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ must begin directed research (ERTH 496) on a clearly defined project with a faculty mentor in their junior year (or one year before completion of B.S. degree).
- ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ will advance to candidacy at the end of their undergraduate program (either May or December) depending on semester of course completion for the B.S. degree.
- ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ will need to conduct research during the summer or winter break after B.S. graduation to collect remaining data started in ERTH 496
- A contract between the Student and Thesis Advisor will be created at the start of the program that states expectations of each party and provides a timeline for thesis completion.
- Weekly meetings with Thesis Advisor will be required so progress can be monitored.
- Semester meeting with Graduate Advisor will be required so that key metrics are met.
Deadline to apply is October 15 or April 15.
