Undergraduate Course Listing

This is a listing of the courses offered at the undergraduate level by the SJSU geology department.  General Education classes are typically offered each semester.  Major classes are typically offered annually or biennially.

Please see our 2.5 year provisional schedule [pdf] for a tentative list of courses to be taught by semester. This document is subject to change. 

Please see the official course listing on the SJSU Catalog.

• GEOL 001: General Geology
  Examination of geological processes and materials, including volcanoes, earthquakes, rock formation, oceans, streams, and plate tectonics and their importance to society.
• GEOL 002: Geology for Engineers
  This course provides a foundational introduction to geology as applied to civil engineering. The course focuses on learning and applying knowledge of geologic processes to civil engineering works, decision making, and evaluating the suitability of areas for urban infrastructure based upon geologic evidence and reasoning. 
  
  
• GEOL 003: Planet Earth
  Origins and processes of Earth's interconnected physical and chemical systems, including aspects of astronomy, geology, meteorology, and oceanography. Students will learn of the impacts of these systems on humans, and of humans on the systems.
  
  
• GEOL 004L: Earth Systems Lab
  Hands-on investigations, measurements, and analysis of Earth's materials, processes, and hazards. Supplements general lecture courses in Geology.
  
  
• GEOL 005: Human Development and the Natural World
  Introductory course examining the role of the natural world on the physiological, social, and psychological development of human beings within the context of the environmental, social, and academic community system.
  
  
• GEOL 006: Geology of California
  California's geology, illustrating physical processes, landscapes, geologic history, and resources. Additional emphasis is given to California's seismic, volcanic, landslide and flooding hazards, and their impact on society.
  
  
• GEOL 007: Earth, Time, and Life
  Earth's geosphere: processes that act on it and materials that comprise it; how rocks and fossils are used to interpret the history of Earth's geosphere, atmosphere, oceans, and life forms.
  
  
• GEOL 008: The Age of Dinosaurs
  Scientific overview of the Mesozoic Era, or "age of dinosaurs." The course will focus on the evolution of dinosaurs and other contemporaneous life forms. Focus will also be given to the mass extinction events that mark the beginning and end of the Mesozoic.
  
  
• GEOL 009: Earth Disasters
  Exploration of natural disasters related to earth processes, including earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, tsunamis, flooding, climate change, and their impacts on society.
  
  
• GEOL 028: Geology Outdoors
  Hands-on introduction to geology in a variety of field settings. Develop your observational skills at several of California's spectacular geologic attractions. Includes one-day field trips, a multi-day field trip, and short written reports.
  
  
• GEOL 103: Earth Systems and the Environment
   Fundamental earth/space science concepts; emphasis on active learning and guided inquiry. Recommended for students preparing for multiple subject credential.
  
  
• GEOL 104: Earth Science Teacher Enhancement
  A thematic approach to the study of regionally significant topics, including earthquakes, landslides and volcanoes. Development of hands-on classroom activities. Normally offered through University Continuing Education.
  
  
• GEOL 105: General Oceanography  
  Scientific examination of the impact of oceans on global society, and human impacts on the oceans via classroom discussions, computer exercises, and field trips.
  
  
• GEOL 107: Prehistoric Life
  Integrated interdisciplinary examination of the fossil record, including information from the fields of paleontology, genetics, and cosmology that aids in the understanding of organic evolution and periodic mass extinctions.
  
  
• GEOL 111: Geology and the Environment
  The effect of Earth processes on humans and their structures. Environmental problems related to earthquakes, landslides, minerals, energy, water, and urban growth.
  
  
• GEOL 112: Hazards and Risks of Earthquakes and Volcanoes
  How, where, and why earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.  Analysis of hazards posed by earthquakes and volcanoes.  Risks incurred by humankind due to the these hazards.  Minimizing risk; economic, social and political problems associated with earthquakes.
  
  
• GEOL 120: Fundamentals of Mineralogy
  Laboratory course designed to give students basic skills for identifying minerals and basic understanding of geologic processes that form minerals. Emphasis is on hand specimen and microscope identification.
  
  
• GEOL 122: Petrology
  Identification of minerals and rocks in hand sample and under the microscope. Processes of formation, description, and classification of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.
  
  
• GEOL 124: Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
  Study of the origin and description of sediment and sedimentary rocks; study of the formation, sequence, and correlation of stratified rocks.
  
  
• GEOL 125: Structural Geology
  Recognition, interpretation, and representation of structures of the Earth's crust. Analysis of basic principles of rock deformation.
  
  
• GEOL 127: Tectonics
  Description of large-scale features of the Earth's crust and upper mantle and the processes which formed them. Emphasis on plate tectonics and its implications for the evolution of North America.
  
  
• GEOL 129A: Spring Field Geology
  Field methods, field mapping and interpretation of geologic and tectonic history. Students stay at camp sites that vary from year to year.
  
  
• GEOL 129B: Advanced Field Geology
  Geologic field mapping and interpretation of geologic and tectonic history. Students stay at camp sites that vary from year to year.
  
  
• GEOL 129C: Intermediate Field Geology
  Intermediate level field methods, field mapping and interpretation of geologic and tectonic history. Students stay at camp sites that vary from year to year. 
  
  
• GEOL 130: Marine Geology
  Introduction to the geology of continental margins and ocean basins. Discussions focus on crustal structures and the effect of plate tectonics and oceanographic processes on modern marine sedimentation.
  
  
• GEOL 134: Geomorphology
  Earth's surficial processes and landforms; effects of tectonics, climate, geology, and further landscape evolution. Landform interpretation using maps, surface water hydrology, and other applications.
  
  
• GEOL 135: Geochemistry
  Application of geochemical and thermodynamic principles to solution of geologic problems. Topics include: equilibrium-disequilibrium reactions, major and trace element behavior, isotope systematics, and modern analytical methods.
  
  
• GEOL 137: Intro to GPS/GIS for Geologic Applications
  Introduction to digital geologic mapping and analysis using Google Earth and ArcGIS.
  
  
• GEOL 138: Hydrogeology
  Geological principles of the occurrence, accumulation, and migration of water; groundwater as a manageable resource; groundwater geochemistry and contaminant transport.
  
  
• GEOL 140: Principles of Engineering Geology
  Qualitative and quantitative analysis of geologic factors influencing site selection, development and use; methods of data collection, interpretation, and presentations.
  
  
• GEOL 142: Paleontology
  Study of the major groups of invertebrate and Invertebrate fossils and their use in geology, paleoecology, and macroevolution.
  
  
• GEOL 143: Active Tectonics
  This course will introduce students to the interdisciplinary field of Active Tectonics. The aim of the course is to provide students with a comprehensive and quantitative understanding of the tectonic and surficial processes that shape the Earth's surface.
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• Geol 145: Earth System Science
  Exploration of the interconnected systems and processes that have driven Earth's evolution over time and continue to function today. Capstone course that includes course projects ad labs.
  
  
• GEOL 147: Introduction to Applied Geophysics
  Introduction to modern geophysical techniques with emphasis and environmental applications. Field techniques and case histories.
  
  
• GEOL 168A: Global Climate Change I
  Scientific and social scientific approaches to the process and effects of global climate change: Climate changes in the Earth's past, interactions between climate and life, anthropogenic climate change, socioeconomic contexts of environmental effects, cultural influences on climate change mitigation strategies.
  
  
• GEOL 168B: Global Climate Change II
  Scientific and social scientific approaches to the process and effects of global climate change: Climate changes in the Earth's past, interactions between climate and life, anthropogenic climate change, socioeconomic contexts of environmental effects, cultural influences on climate change mitigation strategies.
  
  
• GEOL 174: Hazardous Materials
  Review of current methods and procedures for management of hazardous materials and hazardous wastes; analysis of contaminated systems and remedial actions.
  
  
• GEOL 180: Individual Studies
  Advanced lab or field work. 
  
  
• GEOL 184: Directed Reading  
  Reading of books, journals and papers chosen to fill gaps in training. Evaluation through weekly reports and conference.