Earth Sciences BS + Earth and Environmental Sciences 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, ESCA, 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 (ESCA) | ||
| 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 | |
| US 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 |
| Earth Science Elective - Take Two 5 | 6-8 | |
| Techniques in Earth Science 6 | 3-4 | |
| Select One (Graduate Core): | 3 | |
| Scope and Method in Environmental Research | ||
| Research Methods in Geosciences | ||
| Units | 16-19 | |
| 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 | ||
| Select One (Graduate Core): | 3 | |
| Quantitative Methods in Geosciences | ||
| Statistics for Environmental Analysis | ||
| Earth Science Elective 5 | 3-4 | |
| Graduate Technique Course 7 | 3-4 | |
| Units | 12-18 | |
| Fifth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ERTH 795 | Selected Topics in the Geosciences (Graduate Seminar) | 3 |
| Graduate Topical Course 8 | 3-4 | |
| Graduate Elective - Take Two 9 | 6 | |
| Units | 12-13 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| GEOG 810 | Seminar in Physical Geography (Graduate Seminar) | 3 |
| Graduate Elective 9 | 3 | |
| Select One (Culminating Experience): | 3 | |
| Master's Thesis | ||
| Master's Thesis | ||
| Units | 9 | |
| Total Units | 150-165 | |
- 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 Technique Course (3-4 units)
A full list of courses that can fulfill this requirement can be found in the Degree Requirements.- 8
Graduate Topical Course (3-4 units)
Select a course from a range of ERTH and GEOG upper-division or paired courses on advisement.- 9
Graduate Electives (9 units)
A full list of courses that can fulfill this requirement can be found in the Degree Requirements.