What is geology?
Are you curious about earthquakes and lava flows, about fossils and deep time, about what builds the mountains and why some stones are used as gems and others as road pavement?
Geology is the study of how the earth works. Geologists decipher the forces that shape the earth. And by reconstructing the past, they can predict the future. Geologists roam the planet on paths of exploration and discovery. California is a natural geological laboratory. With its high mountains and stark deserts, its beach bluffs and network of fault lines, Southern California is one of the best places in the world to study geology. And at CSUSB, the San Andreas fault is literally out our back door.
Geologists are curious about the planet. When will the next earthquake happen? Where can we find new valuable resources? How do we protect our groundwater? Why do animals become extinct? What makes the continents move? For geologists, the earth is a natural laboratory to observe natural processes in action. In its quest to understand the earth, geology, integrates with many other disciplines - biology, computer science, geography, chemistry, mathematics and physics.
Zzyzx field study affords students chance to examine geology A-Z. Appreciating the value of firsthand learning, the CSUSB Department of Geological Sciences helped students expand their knowledge during a seven-day visit to the Desert Studies Center in Zzyzx. Such experiences outside the classroom helps prepare graduates for the future.
If you are interested in changing your major to geology, visit the Office of the Registrar's Change of Major page.
