Geology is the study of the earth and of life and the natural processes occurring on the planet through time. Students learn about the causes of processes such as earthquakes, volcanoes, the formation of mountains, the effect of erosion and deposition, and the formation of rocks and minerals and their uses. Coursework combined with observations on field trips provide Cal State East Bay students with an understanding of natural processes and the human impact on the environment.<br><br>The undergraduate degree programs consist of required courses plus electives designed to meet the needs of students with objectives including employment at the Bachelor's degree level, preparation for a secondary school teaching credential, and graduate study in Geology. The Geology, B.S. program is the primary professional degree program in Geology offered by the department, and serves as preparation for employment in the field, usually in a technical capacity. The Geology, B.A. program offers the student a greater degree of flexibility and may be more appropriate for those who do not necessarily plan to become professional geologists or pursue graduate study. (Note: Students may be allowed to change from the Geology, B.A. to the Geology, B.S. program or vice versa.) Students wishing to do independent geological work professionally should plan on graduate study, see the Environmental Geosciences, M.S. in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences.<br><br>The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences offers undergraduate study leading to the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Geology, focusing on developing strong foundational knowledge and a broad set of field and laboratory skills in the Earth sciences.<br><br>The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) program is designed to prepare students for:<br>Entry-level employment as geologists and environmental scientists in government (city, county, regional, state, and federal) and private consulting firms (environmental, engineering, and geotechnical firms, mining and oil companies, etc.).<br>Graduate study in environmental science, geology, geochemistry and geophysics.<br>The undergraduate Geology programs emphasize field and laboratory training. Many opportunities for field and laboratory research exist throughout northern California and elsewhere. The B.S. and B.A. programs in Geology reflect departmental expertise by focusing on near-surface processes and hazards and resources. They concentrate on issues of regional and local importance to our community. Rigorous coursework is augmented by embedded and sequential field experiences that integrate classroom concepts in natural laboratories. Seminars and topical courses address diverse subjects, for example: geochemical evolution of groundwater, natural tracers of geologic processes, tectonic geomorphology, earthquake hazards, bay area tectonics, near-surface geophysics, and modern depositional environments. The Department of earth and Enviornomental Sciences maintains strong connections with East Bay Regional Parks, the California Environmental Protection Agency, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, NASA Ames, the U.S. Geological Survey in Menlo Park, and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.