Contact for more information
Please contact Dr. Horacio Ferriz (209-667-3487) or Dr. Marty Giaramita (209-667-3558), of the Stanislaus State Geology Program, to discuss your plans. They will be very glad to invite you over and help you design a great educational program! You can also e-mail us at hferriz@csustan.edu, or come visit us in Naraghi Hall of Science, Room 163.
Graduates of our program can teach Geosciences at the High School or Junior High School levels by:
- Completing the BS in Geology at Stanislaus State (preferably with a minor in Physics or Chemistry)
- Passing the CBEST and relevant CSET Geosciences subtests* (plus Physics or Chemistry)
- Completing the Stanislaus State Single Subject Credential Program
* For a General Geoscience credential, the applicant must pass CSET Subtests I (Code 118) and II (Code 119), which cover general science content, and Subtest III (Code 122) which covers the candidate’s area of concentration. A credential in this subject matter area authorizes teaching general and integrated science, and in the area of concentration (Geosciences). Stanislaus State is in the process of preparing a DVD-based review of these subtests for use by its students.
Pre-requisites (24 units)
- MATH 1070 College Algebra, 3 units
- MATH 1080 Trigonometry, 3 units
- CHEM 1100 Principles of Chemistry I w. lab, 5 units
- PHYS 2100 Basic Physics I w. lab, 5 units
- GEOL 2100 Principles of Geology w. lab, 4 units
- GEOL 2200 History of Earth and Life w. lab, 4 units
Core courses (39 units)
- GEOL 3250 Mineralogy, 4 units
- GEOL 3700 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology, 4 units
- GEOL 3810 Hydrogeology, 4 units
- GEOL 4100 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology, 4 units
- GEOL 4350 Geophysical Exploration, 4 units
- GEOL 4360 Structural Geology, 4 units
- GEOL 4380 Sedimentary Rocks and Depositional Environments, 4 units
- GEOL 4390 Paleontology and Stratigraphy, 4 units
- GEOL 4400 Applied Geology, 4 units
- GEOL 4500 Field Geology, 4 units
- GEOL 4700 Plate tectonics, 3 units
Recommended electives (a minimum of 12 units)
- GEOL 2500 Dinosaurs, 3 units
- GEOL 3200 Geochemistry, 3 units
- GEOL 3050 Environmental Geology, 4 units
- GEOL 3600 Physical Oceanography, 3 units
- GEOL 3500 Earthquakes and Volcanoes, 3 units
- ASTR 2100 Descriptive Astronomy, 3 units
- GEOG 3100 Climatology, 3 units
Many Geoscience teachers love the outdoors, and are fascinated by the kaleidoscope of the natural world, and quite a few are into river rafting, hiking, swimming, biking, and frequently go camping with family and friends. Others are attracted to laboratory work, and enjoy collecting minerals and fossils for further classification and description with their students. Many have built good laboratories and specimen collections in their classrooms.
Geoscience teachers have a great reservoir of curiosity, like all good scientists do, so their class projects are never dull. They may involve cooperative projects with the US Geological Survey or the National Ocean and Atmosphere Administration—in which the students collect and make preliminary interpretations of scientific data—, wading into neighboring streams to measure water flows, participating in a fossil excavation expedition with the local college, or taking their students white-river rafting.
Geoscience teachers at Stanislaus State obtain a BS degree in Geology, complete the Single Subject Credential Program, and are then prepared to teach at the Junior and High School levels in the areas of Geology, Oceanography, Atmospheric Science, and Environmental Studies. Since many Geosiences teachers love sports and the outdoors, it is not uncommon for them to become coaches of athletic teams, or leaders of hiking and adventuring teams. Some spend their summer leading educational programs in National and State parks, or join summer research programs in leading universities or at sea.
Updated: July 12, 2023