Computer Science and Geology, BS

The Computer Science and Geology, BS degree offered by the Department of Computer Science and Department of Geology , prepares students with foundational knowledge and skills for careers in the geosciences that are at the forefront of technological innovation. It features a computing-based, scientific curriculum to prepare students to manage geoscience data, mitigate natural hazards, and apply artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data analytics to geoscience topics. The program also prepares students for entry to graduate programs in a wide variety of fields such as geology, geophysics, environmental science, computer science and data analytics. The interdisciplinary coursework provides students with strong computing, analytical, and scientific skills to understand and solve complex problems at the intersection of science and society.

Program Learning Outcomes

Program Roadmaps

The 4-Year Roadmap is available online. Roadmaps should be used in consultation with the catalog and your advisor to identify additional requirements for completing the major (for example, course grade minimums). Associate Degrees (ADT) Pathways are also available online.

Major-Specific Graduation Requirements

A grade of “C-” or better is required for courses being used to meet any requirement in any minor or major offered by the Department of Computer Science , including Major Preparation courses. The following courses must be completed with a “C-” or better: CS 46A , CS 46B , CS 116A , CS 122 , CS 131 , CS 133 , CS 146 , CS 156 , CS 157A , CS 171 , MATH 30 , MATH 31 , MATH 39 , MATH 42 , MATH 161A , PHYS 2B , PHYS 50 , and PHYS 51 . The following course must be completed with a “C” or better: GEOL 134 .

1. Complete the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

Students must satisfy the specific degree requirements for their undergraduate major and fulfill the following University degree requirements:

Academic (program total units with an average 2.0 GPA - “C” or better)
General Education (GE) (34 Lower Division + 9 Upper Division)
American Institutions (AI) (0-6 units) (may be satisfied in GE Areas 3B, 4, UD 3, UD 4)
Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) (3 units)
Physical Education (PE) (0-2 units)
Units in Residence (30 units, including 24 upper division and 12 in major)
Upper Division Units (40 units, including 12 upper div in major for BA, 18 upper div in major for BS)
Undergraduate Policies & Procedures
Apply for Graduation
Information about the Commencement Ceremony and Conferral of the Degree

Exceptions for University Graduation Requirements including exemptions and waivers, are approved for specific majors and on a case-by-case evaluation only.

Summary of Degree Units

Core Lower Division GE: 18 (10 units may be satisfied by major coursework: Areas 2, 5A, 5B, 5C)

6 required units of American Institutions/US123 may be satisfied by selecting applicable GE courses in Areas 3B and/or 4

Upper Division GE: 6 (3 units may be satisfied by UD 3)

Physical Education: 2

GWAR / WID: 3 (Recommended: CS 100W )

Major Preparation: 37-38

Major Requirements: 47-48

Total: 120

2. Major Preparation (37-38 units)

GEOL 1 - General Geology 4 unit(s) (GE Area 5A+5C)
GEOL 7 - Earth, Time and Life 4 unit(s) (GE Area 5A+5C)
GEOL 8 - The Age of the Dinosaurs 3 unit(s) (GE Area 5B) or PHYS 2B - Fundamentals of Physics 4 unit(s) (GE Area 5A + 5C) or PHYS 51 - General Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism 4 unit(s) (GE Area 5A + 5C)
GEOL 28 - Geology Outdoors 1 unit(s)
MATH 30 - Calculus I 3 unit(s) (GE Area 2)
MATH 31 - Calculus II 4 unit(s) (GE Area 2)
MATH 39 - Linear Algebra I 3 unit(s)
MATH 42 - Discrete Mathematics 3 unit(s)
MATH 161A - Applied Probability and Statistics I 3 unit(s)
CHEM 1A - General Chemistry 5 unit(s) (GE Area 5A+5C)
PHYS 2A - Fundamentals of Physics 4 unit(s) (GE Area 5A+5C) or
PHYS 50 - General Physics I: Mechanics
4 unit(s) (GE Area 5A+5C)

3. Major Requirements (47-48 units)

Lower Division (11 units)

CS 46A - Introduction to Programming 4 unit(s)
CS 46B - Introduction to Data Structures 4 unit(s)
CS 122 - Advanced Programming with Python 3 unit(s)

Upper Division (34 units)

GEOL 125 - Structural Geology 4 unit(s)
GEOL 137 - Introduction to GPS/GIS for Geologic Applications 4 unit(s)
GEOL 140 - Principles of Engineering Geology 4 unit(s)
GEOL 147 - Introduction to Applied Geophysics 4 unit(s)
CS 131 - Processing Big Data - Tools and Techniques 3 unit(s)
CS 146 - Data Structures and Algorithms 3 unit(s)
CS 156 - Introduction to Artificial Intelligence 3 unit(s)
CS 157A - Introduction to Database Management Systems 3 unit(s)
CS 171 - Introduction to Machine Learning 3 unit(s)
PHIL 134 - Computers, Ethics and Society 3 unit(s) (GE UD Area 3 / Formerly Area V)

Major Electives (2-3 units)

Choose from the following:

PHYS 51 - General Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism 4 unit(s) (GE Area 5A + 5C)
GEOL 120 - Fundamentals of Mineralogy 3 unit(s)
GEOL 129C - Digital Geologic Field Mapping 2 unit(s)
GEOL 134 - Geomorphology 4 unit(s)
GEOL 135 - Geochemistry 4 unit(s)
GEOL 143 - Active Tectonics 4 unit(s)
GEOL 174 - Hazardous Materials 3 unit(s)
GEOL 180 - Individual Studies 1-3 unit(s)
CS 22A - Python for Everyone 3 unit(s) (Requires department consent)
CS 49C - Programming in C 3 unit(s) (Requires department consent)
CS 49J - Programming in Java 3 unit(s) (Requires department consent) (*Can only receive credit toward degree for CS 49C or CS 49J )
CS 116A - Introduction to Computer Graphics 3 unit(s) (Previous experience in C required)
CS 133 - Introduction to Data Visualization 3 unit(s)

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