Bachelor of Arts in Earth Scie - San Francisco S

San Francisco State University's Bachelor of Arts in Earth Sciences equips students with a deep understanding of Earth systems, preparing them for careers in science education, environmental management, and graduate study. Emphasizing interdisciplinary skills, the program empowers students to analyze Earth processes, communicate scientific concepts, and explore solutions for environmental challenges. With personalized course selection, strong advising support, and flexible options for transfer students, the program offers a tailored and comprehensive educational experience.

Program Outline

The program emphasizes a strong foundation in basic physical sciences, mathematics, and Earth sciences, enabling students to analyze and address interdisciplinary environmental challenges.

Objectives:

The program's objectives are to equip students with the ability to:

Conceptualize fundamental processes within the Earth's physical system: This includes understanding spatial relationships, temporal changes, and the interactions between land, air, and water.
Engage in geoscientific investigation: Students will learn to locate, read, interpret, and evaluate Earth science information from various sources, assessing its credibility and relevance.
Analyze the relationship between Earth processes and human actions: The program focuses on understanding the impact of human activities on the Earth's systems and exploring sustainable practices for a healthy planet.
Communicate Earth science concepts effectively: Students will develop strong written and oral communication skills to effectively convey their knowledge to diverse audiences.

Careers:

The program prepares students for a variety of career paths, including:

High school and middle school science teaching: Students can pursue careers in education, sharing their knowledge of Earth sciences with future generations.
Technical support in environmental fields: Graduates can contribute to environmental engineering, monitoring, protection, resource management, hazardous materials remediation, and computer mapping.
Technical support in governmental agencies: The program prepares students to assist city, county, state, and other agencies involved in land use planning.
Graduate studies in environmental fields: Students can further their education in fields like resource management, environmental policy, and environmental law.
Science writing and editing: Graduates can utilize their expertise to contribute to publications, reports, and educational materials.
Interpretation in natural science settings: Students can work in park systems, nature centers, museums, and other locations where they can share their knowledge of natural history and engage the public.

Other:

Flexibility: The program offers flexibility for students to tailor their studies to their specific interests within the Earth sciences.
Advising: Prospective majors are encouraged to consult with a departmental advisor to discuss graduation requirements and plan a personalized course of study.
Teaching Preparation: Students interested in teaching Earth sciences in high school or middle school should consult with the geosciences single-subject subject-matter advisor.
Complementary Studies: The B.A.
Transfer Students: Students with an Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) in Geology are guaranteed B.A.
Credit for Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or College-Level Examination Program Courses: Units are transferred only upon submission of official score reports to SF State, and credit is based on the academic year of the exam.
STEM Students: Students in STEM disciplines often defer some lower-division GE courses until after transfer to focus on major-specific preparation.
Transferring from Institutions Other Than CCCs or CSUs: The program provides specific instructions for students transferring from non-California institutions, including information about satisfying SF State's General Education requirements.