The prospect of diverse, interesting, and challenging career opportunities is one of the strongest reasons to consider majoring in Geological Sciences at San Diego State University. World population growth, diminishing non-renewable energy and manufacturing resources, and consequences of global warming have brought the geosciences to the forefront of societal concerns and public policy issues. Career options are wide ranging and include jobs in resource exploration and management, technical consulting, engineering, and environmental sciences, as well as K-12 and postsecondary education. There are a multitude of different jobs in the private sector as well as federal, state, and local governmental agencies.
Geological Sciences at SDSU is a strong and superbly equipped organization that provides students with the foundation for successful entry into geosciences careers across the board. Computer and analytical facilities compare favorably with top universities across the nation. Undergraduate major emphases in general geology, hydrology, paleontology and sedimentary geology, geochemistry, geophysics, marine geology, and geoscience education reflect the size and breadth of the Department. SDSU students not only study the Earth, they see a lot of it firsthand - from the Sierra Nevada to Baja California, from New Mexico to New Zealand.
A Masters degree is required in many cases to take full advantage of job opportunities and career advancement in the geosciences and SDSU has one of the most successful geoscience MS programs in the nation.
There are also many non-traditional career paths that can benefit from a University-level degree in the geosciences, including science journalism, popular fiction writing, public policy, and environmental or patent law, as well as others. Student interest and imagination in pursuing non-traditional career paths is supported in the SDSU program by flexibility in course requirements that cater to specific career goals.