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.
Students 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: Geology B.S. - CSULB Catalog 2024-2025
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 - California Geology
- 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 - California Geology
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 - California Geology
- 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 CSULB 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.
- Students must double-count at least 9 units
- Students 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).
- Students 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.
- Students 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.
