Bachelor of Arts in Earth Sciences Roadmap
120 Total Units Required
Minimum Number of Units in the Major: 49
This roadmap is a suggested plan of study and does not replace meeting with an advisor. Please note that students may need to adjust the actual sequence of courses based on course availability. Please consult an advisor in your major program for further guidance.
| First Semester | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 115 | General Chemistry I (Major Science and Math Foundation) | 4 |
| ENG 114 | Writing the First Year: Finding Your Voice (A2) 1 | 3 |
| Select One (Major Science and Math Foundation): | 3-4 | |
| Quantitative Methods in Earth Sciences | ||
| Calculus I (B4) 2 | ||
| GE Area A 3 | 3 | |
| Select One: | 3 | |
| Units | 16-17 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Select One Set of Courses (Major Science and Math Foundation): | 4 | |
| General Physics I and General Physics I Laboratory (B1, B3) |
||
| General Physics with Calculus I and General Physics with Calculus I Laboratory (B1, B3) |
||
| GE Area A | 3 | |
| GE Area B: Life Science (B2) | 3 | |
| GE Area E | 3 | |
| SF State Studies or University Elective 4 | 3 | |
| Units | 16 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| ERTH 400 | Earth Systems I (Major Earth Sciences Foundation) | 3 |
| Science and Math Foundation Elective 5 | 3 | |
| GE Area C - Take Two | 6 | |
| GE Area D | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| ERTH 205 | Techniques in Earth Sciences (Major Earth Sciences Foundation) | 2 |
| GE Area C | 3 | |
| GE Area D | 3 | |
| SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Two 4 | 6 | |
| Units | 14 | |
| Fifth Semester | ||
| Earth Sciences Elective (19 units) - Take Two 6 | 6 | |
| GE Area F ± | 3 | |
| GE Area UD-B: Upper-Division Physical and/or Life Sciences | 3 | |
| U.S. and California Government | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Sixth Semester | ||
| ERTH 500 | Earth Systems II (Major Earth Sciences Foundation) | 3 |
| Earth Sciences Elective (19 units) - Take One 6 | 3 | |
| GE Area UD-C: Upper-Division Arts and/or Humanities | 3 | |
| SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Two 4 | 6 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Seventh Semester | ||
| ERTH 600GW | Earth's Climate History - GWAR | 3 |
| Earth Sciences Elective (19 units) - Take Two 6 | 6 | |
| GE Area UD-D: Upper-Division Social Sciences | 3 | |
| SF State Studies or University Elective 4 | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Eighth Semester | ||
| ERTH 690 & ERTH 695 |
Earth Sciences Capstone Presentation and Senior Project (Culminating Experience) |
4 |
| Earth Sciences Elective (19 units) - Take One 6 | 4 | |
| SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Two 4 | 6 | |
| Units | 14 | |
| Total Units | 120-121 | |
- 1
ENG 114 can only be taken if you complete Directed Self-Placement (DSP) and select ENG 114; if you choose ENG 104/ENG 105 through DSP you will satisfy A2 upon successful completion of ENG 105 in the second semester; multilingual students may be advised into alternative English courses.
- 2
To determine the best B4 course option, students should complete the online advising activity at mathadvising.sfsu.edu. Questions? Contact Gator Smart Start.
- 3
To avoid taking additional units, it is recommended that you meet the SF State Studies (AERM, GP, ES, SJ) requirements within your GE or major.
- 4
Complementary Studies
Students in all Bachelor of Arts programs at SF State must complete at least 12 units of Complementary Studies, comprising coursework with a prefix outside of the primary prefix for the major. For the B.A. program in Earth Sciences, that prefix is ERTH. Students who complete the Earth Sciences BA program will have met the Complementary Studies requirement automatically by completing the mathematics, physics, and chemistry coursework required for the degree.
Transfer students who have earned AA-T or AS-T degrees and are pursuing a similar B.A. degree at SF State are required to fulfill Complementary Studies requirements for their major only if these courses are included in the minimum units required for the major.
- 5
Chemistry, physics, or mathematics elective (may not be a course designed primarily to satisfy a General Education requirement.)
- 6
Earth Sciences Electives (19 Units)
- Select at least 19 units of Earth & Climate Sciences (ERTH) or closely related coursework, with a coherent theme approved by a Department of Earth & Climate Sciences advisor.
- At least 15 elective units must come from upper-division coursework. At least 11 elective units must come from ERTH courses.
- No more than four of the 19 elective units can come from courses designed primarily to satisfy General Education requirements (such as 100 and 300 level ERTH courses).
- ±
Given catalog rights, fall 2023 transfer students do not need to complete an Area F course.