Bachelor of Arts - Geography

The Department of Earth Science offers degree programs in both Earth Science and Geography. Both programs feature a strong emphasis on understanding the natural world and human management of its natural resources. The department also offers minors in Earth Science and Geography and a certificate program in Geotechniques including GIS and Remote Sensing.

Students can take courses in environmental analysis, global change, field mapping, the urban environment, natural resources, and geological processes. Additional topics explored include resource consumption, environmental legislation, and landscape change. The department focus is on field activities and hands-on experiences. Many of their courses include field trips which provide opportunities for students to experience firsthand the topics covered in class. Field trip locations include Death Valley, Mojave National Preserve, Sequoia National Park, Vasquez Rocks, Yosemite National Park, Mt. San Jacinto, and numerous other California destinations. There have also been study abroad courses, such as in Bulgaria. The combination of classroom, field, and lab experiences enable students to find employment in diverse fields such as urban/regional planning, environmental monitoring and consulting, and natural resources management.