So you would like to be a Geoscience teacher!

Graduates of our program can teach Geosciences at the High School or Junior High School levels by:

1.      Completing the BS in Geology at CSUS

2.      Passing the CBEST and relevant CSET Geosciences subtests*

3.      Completing the CSUS Single Subject Credential Program

* For a General Geoscience credential, the applicant must pass CSET Subtests I (Code 118) and II (Code 119), which cover general science content, and Subtest III (Code 122) which covers the candidate’s area of concentration. A credential in this subject matter area authorizes teaching general and integrated science, and in the area of concentration (Geosciences). CSUS is in the process of preparing a DVD-based review of these subtests for use by its students.

Course work for the BS in Geology

Pre-requisites (24 units)

MATH 1070 College Algebra, 3 units

MATH 1080 Trigonometry, 3 units

CHEM 1100 Principles of Chemistry I w. lab, 5 units

PHYS 2100 Basic Physics I w. lab, 5 units

GEOL 2100 Principles of Geology w. lab, 4 units

GEOL 2200 History of Earth and Life w. lab, 4 units

Core courses (39 units)

GEOL 3250 Mineralogy, 4 units

GEOL 3700 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology, 4 units

GEOL 3810 Hydrogeology, 4 units

GEOL 4100 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology, 4 units

GEOL 4350 Geophysical Exploration, 4 units

GEOL 4360 Structural Geology, 4 units

GEOL 4380 Sedimentary Rocks and Depositional Environments, 4 units

GEOL 4390 Paleontology and Stratigraphy, 4 units

GEOL 4400 Applied Geology, 4 units

GEOL 4500 Field Geology, 4 units

GEOL 4700 Plate tectonics, 3 units

Recommended electives (a minimum of 12 units)

GEOL 2500 Dinosaurs, 3 units

GEOL 3050 Environmental Geology, 4 units

GEOL 3600 Physical Oceanography, 3 units

GEOL 3650 Geohazards, 4 units

GEOL 3500 Earthquakes and Volcanoes, 3 units

ASTR 2100 Descriptive Astronomy, 3 units

GEOG 3100 Climatology, 3 units

Is Geosciences Teaching For You?

Many Geoscience teachers love the outdoors, and are fascinated by the kaleidoscope of the natural world, and quite a few are into river rafting, hiking, swimming, biking, and frequently go camping with family and friends. Others are attracted to laboratory work, and enjoy collecting minerals and fossils for further classification and description with their students. Many have built good laboratories and specimen collections in their classrooms.

Geoscience teachers have a great reservoir of curiosity, like all good scientists do, so their class projects are never dull. They may involve cooperative projects with the US Geological Survey or the National Ocean and Atmosphere Administration—in which the students collect and make preliminary interpretations of scientific data—, wading into neighboring streams to measure water flows, participating in a fossil excavation expedition with the local college, or taking their students white-river rafting.

What does the Single Subject Credential Program in Geosciences prepare you for?

Please contact Dr. Horacio Ferriz (209-667-3466) or Dr. Marty Giaramita (209-667-3558), of the CSUS Geology Program, to discuss your plans. They will be very glad to invite you over and help you design a great educational program! You can also e-mail us at hferriz@geology.csustan.edu, or come visit us in our brand new Science builidng at the CSUS Turlock campus (Naraghi Hall of Science, Room 163)