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Geological Sciences
Geological Sciences is the study of the earth: its origin and evolution, its composition, its structure, and its constantly changing character. Geologists study the chemical and physical properties of earth materials including minerals, rocks, fluids, and gases. They study the structure of the mobile outer shell of planet Earth, how ocean floors form and are destroyed, and how supercontinents assemble, fragment, and disperse. The history of the Earth includes the history of life from its first occurrence as single celled organisms during the Archean 4 to 2.5 billion years ago to the effects of present inhabitants, especially humans.
Many geologists are deeply involved with the consequences of human-related environmental problems, such as global warming, and natural hazards, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides and floods. At SDSU, the Department of Geological Sciences seeks to address these issues through studies in the laboratory, computer modeling, and through direct observations in the field. Faculty research covers the globe from as far as away as New Zealand to the geologically spectacular setting right here in California.
Students who are curious about planet Earth and its history, and who are challenged by problems that involve a broad knowledge of the Earth, should consider a major in geological sciences. Geological Sciences combine many important aspects of society, science, and mathematics – it is the study of the world we inhabit.
Program Overview
The department offers a major in geological sciences with a Bachelor of Science degree in applied arts and sciences. Students entering this program will choose one of the following emphases, depending on their specific interests: general geology, engineering geology, geochemistry, geophysics, hydrogeology, marine geology or paleontology. Each emphasis shares many course requirements in common, but has unique individual requirements appropriate to the particular discipline. Requirements for all emphases are listed in the General Catalog. A beginning student uncertain of future interests might best choose the general geology option.
Seven
options are offered within the framework of the Bachelor of Science degree.
These options are not degrees themselves, but are advising schedules that
allow the students to select the courses best suited to a particular subdiscipline.
There is a planned overlap in all options so that the basic courses for
a classical education in geology are taken by all students regardless
of the option selected. The options in general geology and hydrology are
the most popular. Most of our entering majors do not have firm career
goals and use the general geology option to guide them in planning their
undergraduate career. It allows them considerable latitude in selecting
courses and learning about all of the subdisciplines within the geological
sciences.
Special Features
- Facilities include laboratories, open to students, with major facilities in X-ray diffraction and fluorescence, geochronology, isotope geology, geophysics (including gravity, magnetics, magnetotellurics, and seismology), geochemistry, soils, hydrology, sedimentology, biomechanics, morphometrics, computing, and microscopy, as well as equipment for fieldwork, and for rock and specimen preparation.
- The Edwin C. Allison Center for Historical Science under the Department of Geological Sciences maintains a collection of fossils including vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants.
- Isotope Instrumentation Laboratory under the Department of Geological Sciences operates three mass spectrometers, two Nu Plasma multi-collector plasma ionization mass spectrometers, models 1700 and HR, and a Micromass Sector 54 thermal ionization mass spectrometer. The Nu 1700 is one of two large radius plasma ionization mass spectrometers in existence, and the only one located within the United States.
- The KECK Clean Room is a 2,000-square-foot modern laboratory complex considered to be one of the best equipped facilities worldwide. The laboratory is equipped for ultra-pure reagent preparation, micro-analytical procedures for separation of elements for radiogenic and tracer applications and determination of trace element abundances by isotope dilution. Supporting facilities include an optical petrology laboratory, rock preparation laboratory, and mineral separation facilities.
- The Immersive Visualization Center allows display and analysis of large data sets on a 3.2 megapixel curved display screen from Panoram Technologies (18 feet across). Powered by an SGI computer, the visualization center is unique in being optically connected via fiber optic services provided by Cox Communications, with another Panoram visualization center at Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), through networking facilities at the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC). Optical transport equipment by TeraBurst Networks connects the two visualization centers at about 16 times the general peak use of the entire Internet by SDSU at any one time, which allows the transmission of 3-D stereoscopic images between facilities. Applications in crisis management, oil exploration and development, remote sensing-GIS, manufacturing, life sciences, security, performing arts and sports are being run on the system.
Faculty Highlights
Soft-Rock Research Group (Climate-change, Paleobiology, Basin Analysis)
Using the rock and fossil record from the deep past to the modern, the Soft-Rock Research Group works on the cutting-edge of some of the critical issues facing society today: Global warming, species loss, and use and exploration of natural resources. Professors Schellenberg (paleoceanography, paleontology), Morrow (sedimentology, paleontology), Leighton (paleobiology), and Adjunct Faculty Schneider (paleoecology, sedimentology) comprise one of the strongest MS-level paleontology programs in the country; with many of our recent MS graduates continuing on for a Ph.D. at top universities.
The group’s interests cover a broad range of space and time: we have been funded to explore (1) the consequences of the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum, an excellent analogue for the present-day rapid global warming; (2) Devonian extra-terrestrial impacts that may have caused one of the major mass extinctions in the history of life; (3) identifying common traits of organisms that may enable some taxa to be more likely to survive mass extinction crises; and (4) the evolution of predation and its role in shaping ecosystems. Our research has been conducted all over the country from New York to Nevada, and through the Ocean Drilling Program, in many of the world’s oceans.
Isotope Geochemistry
The isotope geochemistry program conducts undergraduate and graduate student research and training for understanding the Earth and its history through the use of isotope and trace element geochemical tools. The program’s research objectives are diverse and cover a large range of topics, including mantle geochemistry and dynamics, and stable isotope research. Within the discipline of mantle geochemistry, faculty are studying (1) oceanic ridge and island volcanism with ongoing research in the Lau Back-arc Basin, Hawaiian Islands, Iceland, and Réunion Island; and (2) continental flood basalt volcanism within the Snake River Plain (Yellowstone Hotspot Province), the Catoctin Flood Basalt Province, the CAMP Flood Basalt Province, and the High lava plains of central and eastern Oregon. Stable isotope research at SDSU includes exploring the use of Molybdenum as a tracer for distinguishing anoxic from oxic sedimentation, and the use of Iron isotopes as a tracer for indicating the presence of life in extreme environments.
The laboratory facilities for the isotope geology program are operated under the direction of Dr. Barry Hanan, and are used by both he and Dr. Aaron Pietruszka to train students in isotope geochemistry.
Hydrogeology
Hydrology encompasses the study of freshwater flow and quality. Numerous career opportunities exist for hydrogeologists in environmental consulting firms, government and regulatory agencies. Undergraduate and graduate students working with Dr. Thorbjarnarson study groundwater flow, surface water-groundwater interactions and water quality in local watersheds. Projects generally combine field, laboratory and computer modeling work. Past student projects include studies of the impacts of groundwater flow on salinities in the Tijuana Estuary, effects of fluctuating groundwater levels on riparian wetlands in watersheds of Camp Pendleton, spatial variability of streambed permeabilities in several San Diego county streams, and nitrate contamination in Rainbow Creek.
Tectonics, Structure, and Petrology
The Tectonics, Structure, and Petrology Research Group include Professors Kimbrough and Girty and lecturer Dr. Camp. These faculty study various aspects of how volcano-tectonic provinces like magmatic arcs and flood basalts evolve through time, and the effects of various plate configurations in their growth and history. Both Drs. Girty and Kimbrough utilize sediment provenance analysis to tackle paleotectonic and paleogeographic problems. Their efforts are rooted in both field and laboratory investigations. Dr. Girty focuses on the petrology and chemistry of clastic sediments while Dr. Kimbrough makes use of laser ablation ICP-MS analysis of detrital zircon. The results of such work allows these researchers to identify the ages and types of rock that supplied sediment to ancient river systems, lakes, and marine settings, and thus reconstruct the wearing down of ancient mountain belts that had developed along convergent and transform plate boundaries.
Dr. Camp’s work focuses on the tectonic and magmatic evolution of volcanic terrains, with a current emphasis on the genesis of flood basalts and related rocks in the Pacific Northwest. He uses field mapping supported by major- and trace-element geochemistry to help unravel the stratigraphic detail and magmatic history of the back-arc region behind the southern Cascades arc. A more regional goal of these studies is to determine whether magmatism in the inland Pacific Northwest is more consistent with a model of back-arc extension or mantle-plume emplacement.
Earthquake Geoscience and Applied Geoscience
The Earthquake Geoscience and Applied Geoscience Research Group combines tools from field geology, land- and space-based geophysics, and computational sciences to investigate natural hazards and map resources. Professor Rockwell (neotectonics and paleoseismology) uses field observations to study the long-term (thousands of years) behavior and earthquake potential of fault systems. Professors Olsen and Day (earthquake dynamics, strong motion seismology, and high-performance computing) study the physics of ground shaking using computer models that integrate geological and geophysical observations to predict fault behavior during an earthquake.
Dr. Mellors (seismology and synthetic aperture radar imaging) combines seismological observations with satellite-based geodesy and remote sensing to study the deformation of the earth by active faulting and other processes. Professor Jiracek (applied geophysics, electromagnetic methods) images the earth’s interior, using electromagnetic methods to understand earth structure and solid-fluid interactions in active regions, as well as mapping the distribution of mineral and energy resources. The group conducts field-based research all over the world, with recent work including projects in the U.S., Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, New Zealand, Mexico, Turkey, Argentina, Panama, Portugal, India, Nepal, and elsewhere.
Career Opportunities
Many geological scientists are employed to find ways to clean up the environment and keep it safe. Others will focus on exploration for valuable minerals (such as copper and gold), energy sources (such as coal, oil, and natural gas), or drinking water supplies. The employment outlook is favorable, particularly with engineering and toxic waste disposal firms, as public school teachers, and with energy companies.
A geology graduate may be employed as one of the following professionals: hydrologist, geophysicist, geochemist, environmental scientist, oceanographer, teacher, research technician, geological surveyor, paleontologist, energy and resource explorer, and resource planner.
Geologists are primarily employed by private corporations, including environmental, engineering, petroleum, mining, construction, and quarry companies; government agencies, such as the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Bureau of Mines, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the California Department of Conservation, and regional planning offices; and students with graduate degrees are sought for teaching positions in secondary schools, community colleges and universities.
To further explore career options in this field, visit the Career Services Web site for more information.
General Catalog
You can view more complete information regarding the Geological Sciences program in the General Catalog. All students are responsible for reading and knowing the information pertinent to their areas of study available in the General Catalog. It contains requirements for all academic majors, course descriptions, policies, and regulations governing progress at the University. Catalogs are distributed at all Academic Orientation programs. To order a catalog, call (619) 594-7535.
Contact Information
Mailing address:
Geological
Sciences Department
College of Sciences
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-1020
Email: department.office@geology.sdsu.edu
Telephone: (619) 594-5586
Fax: (619) 594-4372
Office location: GMCS, Room 237
Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M.