Earth Sciences BS + Geosciences MS SF State Scholars Roadmap
The San Francisco State Scholars program provides undergraduate students with an accelerated pathway to a graduate degree. Students in this program pursue a bachelor’s and master’s degree simultaneously. This program allows students to earn graduate credit while in their junior and/or senior year, reducing the number of semesters required for completion of a master’s degree.
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 your Degree Planner and an advisor for further guidance.
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.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Units | |
| Select One (Major Science and Math Foundation): | 3-4 | |
| General Chemistry I | ||
| Chemistry for Energy and the Environment | ||
| MATH 226 | Calculus I (Major Science and Math Foundation, GE 2) 1 | 4 |
| Introduction to Earth Sciences 2 | 4 | |
| GE Area 1A: English Composition 3 | 3 | |
| Units | 14-15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Select One Set of Courses (Major Science and Math Foundation, GE 5A, GE 5C): | 4 | |
| General Physics I and General Physics I Laboratory |
||
| General Physics with Calculus I and General Physics with Calculus I Laboratory |
||
| Introduction to Earth Sciences 2 | 4 | |
| GE Area 1: English Communication - Take Two | 6 | |
| SF State Studies or University Elective | 3 | |
| Units | 17 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Select One (Introductory Methods): | 3 | |
| Techniques in Earth Sciences | ||
| Our Environment Through Data | ||
| GE Area 3: Arts and Humanities | 3 | |
| GE Area 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences 4 | 3 | |
| GE Area 5B: Biological Science | 3 | |
| SF State Studies or University Elective | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Introduction to Earth Sciences 2 | 4 | |
| GE Area 3: Arts and Humanities | 3 | |
| GE Area 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences 4 | 3 | |
| GE Area 6: Ethnic Studies | 3 | |
| SF State Studies or University Elective | 3 | |
| Units | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Summer Semester | ||
| SF State Studies or University Elective | 3 | |
| Units | 3 | |
| Fall Semester | ||
| Select One (Earth Systems): | 3-4 | |
| Atmosphere and Oceans in the Earth System | ||
| Earth's Climate System | ||
| ENV 500GW | Physical and Human Dimensions of Climate Change - GWAR (Introductory Methods) | 3 |
| Earth Science Elective 5 | 3-4 | |
| GE Area 5UD or 2UD: Upper-Division Sciences or Upper-Division Mathematical Concepts | 3 | |
| U.S. and California Government | 3 | |
| Units | 15-17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ERTH 500 | Earth and Life Through Time (Earth Systems) | 3 |
| Earth Science Elective 5 | 3-4 | |
| Techniques in Earth Science 6 | 3-4 | |
| GE Area 3UD: Upper-Division Arts or Humanities | 3 | |
| GE Area 4UD: Upper-Division Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Units | 15-17 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Summer Semester | ||
| SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Two | 6 | |
| Units | 6 | |
| Fall Semester | ||
| ERTH 442/GEOG 342 | Surface Water Hydrology (Earth Systems) | 4 |
| ERTH 700 | Graduate Seminar in Geosciences (Graduate Core) | 2 |
| Earth Science Elective - Take Two 5 | 6-8 | |
| Techniques in Earth Science 6 | 3-4 | |
| Units | 15-18 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Select One (Capstone): | 1-3 | |
| Earth Sciences Capstone Presentation | ||
| Capstone Seminar | ||
| Select One (Capstone): | 2-4 | |
| Senior Project | ||
| Undergraduate Research and Senior Thesis |
||
| Geographic Internship | ||
| ERTH 701 | Research Methods in Geosciences (Graduate Core) | 3 |
| Earth Science Elective 5 | 3-4 | |
| Graduate Elective (13 units) 7 | 3 | |
| Units | 12-17 | |
| Fifth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ERTH 702 | Quantitative Methods in Geosciences (Graduate Core) | 3 |
| ERTH 897 | Research Project (Graduate Core) | 3 |
| Graduate Elective (13 units) - Take Two 7 | 6 | |
| Units | 12 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ERTH 897 | Research Project (Graduate Core) | 3 |
| ERTH 898 | Master's Thesis (Graduate Core) | 3 |
| Graduate Elective (13 units) 7 | 4 | |
| Units | 10 | |
| Total Units | 150-163 | |
- 1
Students should use their Pathway/Category to determine the appropriate GE 2 course option. For directions on how to view your Pathway/Category, visit how to find your pathway. Questions? Contact Gator Smart Start.
- 2
Introduction to Earth Sciences (12 units)
A full list of courses that can fulfill this requirement can be found in the Degree Requirements.- 3
Students should use their Pathway/Category to determine the appropriate GE 1A course option. For directions on how to view your Pathway/Category, visit how to find your pathway. Questions? Contact Gator Smart Start.
- 4
First-time freshmen must take one lower-division Area 4 course that meets US History (USH).
- 5
Earth Science Electives (15 units minimum)
A full list of courses that can fulfill this requirement can be found in the Degree Requirements.- 6
Techniques in Earth Science (6-8 units)
A full list of courses that can fulfill this requirement can be found in the Degree Requirements.- 7
Graduate Elective Courses (13 units)
Upper-division or graduate elective courses on advisement.Elective units are chosen from courses offered by the Earth & Climate Sciences Department or other University departments, and must be selected by students in consultation with their faculty advisors. At least 6 units must be courses numbered 700 or higher, and 6 units must be courses offered in the Earth & Climate Sciences Department.
To help prepare for their careers, graduate students are strongly encouraged to serve as a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) for at least one semester. GTAs typically teach lab sections attached to lectures in introductory, general education courses in geology (ERTH 112, ERTH 210, ERTH 230), meteorology (ERTH 162), and oceanography (ERTH 172). To support their professional development in teaching, GTAs are strongly encouraged to enroll in a professional development course such as SCI 750 (2 units) before or during their service as a GTA, to learn about research-based best practices in teaching and learning. These courses count toward the 13-unit graduate elective unit requirement.