Bachelor of Science in Geography with Concentration in Resources and Sustainability

at California State University - East Bay USA

The Department of Statistics and Biostatistics offers graduate study leading to the degree Master of Science in Biostatistics. The program is designed to serve the needs of students with varying backgrounds in Statistics, Biological Sciences, Public Health, Computer Science, Mathematics and other sciences. The program includes curriculum designed to prepare students to work in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. All students are expected to master a wide variety of applied statistical and probabilistic techniques and the theoretical foundations on which these techniques rest. They are expected to be familiar with recent developments and to be able to use the statistical literature to learn new techniques and theories throughout their professional careers. In addition to the general requirements stated elsewhere in this catalog, a student must satisfy the departmental requirements stated in the following paragraphs.

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry provides a strong education in chemistry and biochemistry that prepares its students to function and thrive in our society. The department attempts to increase the problem solving and critical thinking skills of all students. Non-science students learn about the scientific and chemical aspects of everyday life that allow them to understand issues related to the environment, energy production, disease prevention, and nutrition. Students of the sciences learn the fundamentals of chemistry that control the interactions of elements and molecules. Building on an understanding of mathematics, physics, and biology, biochemistry majors receive a background in the major disciplines of chemistry including inorganic, analytical, organic, and physical, and take in-depth coursework in biochemistry. Students learn the protocols and techniques for working safely with chemicals and biochemicals. The department recognizes the importance of the pursuit of new knowledge in the development of skilled scientists and productive members of society, and encourages its students to participate in research projects and cooperative educational opportunities.

The Bachelor of Science degree, major in Biochemistry, is designed to prepare students for entrance into graduate programs of biochemistry and professional health-related programs such as pharmacy, dentistry or medicine. In addition, students completing this program are prepared to secure employment in the areas of biochemistry, biotechnology and related fields. This program is intended for students desiring the highest degree of technical proficiency in this specialized area at the undergraduate level.

The Education Specialist Credential program prepares individuals to teach and provide services to children and young adults with disabilities from kindergarten through age 22. The CSU East Bay program includes authorizations to teach and provide services for children and young adults with mild/moderate or extensive support needs including those who are English learners. While completing the requirements for the Education Specialist credential, candidates will concurrently complete the requirements for the M.S. Special Education program.

The program includes foundational coursework in educational psychology, special education law, policy and program design, instruction and assessment working with diverse populations, teaching English language learners, and teaching students with disabilities; a full complement of discipline-based methods courses; and three semesters of fieldwork and student teaching in a range of service delivery models and programs in the bay area.

The program is a full-time, two-year cohort-based program. Candidates begin with full-time enrollment in June and supervised fieldwork experiences begin in the spring semester of the first year and continue fall and spring semesters of the second year of the program. The fieldwork experience begins with three full days a week during the first year and increases to four, and then five full days, full-time teaching during the second year. The program only accepts candidates without a general education credential for the Summer Term admissions starting in June. 

The Liberal Studies Major aims to provide a rich liberal art educational experience through selected courses from a wide range of academic disciplines, while at the same time allowing students to select a field for in-depth study of their own interest.  The broad-based, interdisciplinary nature of Liberal Studies provides a solid well-rounded undergraduate educational experience, integrating knowledge from arts and humanities, social science, and natural sciences, with analytical and communication skills well suited for many careers and professions.

The major consists of a common core and a choice from seven concentrations, designed to meet diverse student interests and needs not only for school teaching, but also for leadership in government, non-profit organizations, and business, and for graduate education in law, counseling, social work and services, public affairs and administration, and educational leadership.

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry provides a strong education in chemistry and biochemistry that prepares its students to function and thrive in society. The department attempts to increase the problem solving and critical thinking skills of all students. Non-science students learn about the scientific and chemical aspects of everyday life that allow them to understand issues related to the environment, energy production, disease prevention, and nutrition. Students of the sciences learn the fundamentals of chemistry that control the interactions of elements and molecules. Building on an understanding of mathematics, physics, and biology, biochemistry majors receive a background in the major disciplines of chemistry including inorganic, analytical, organic, and physical, and take in-depth coursework in biochemistry. Students learn the protocols and techniques for working safely with chemicals and biochemicals. The department recognizes the importance of the pursuit of new knowledge in the development of skilled scientists and productive members of society, and encourages its students to participate in research projects and cooperative educational opportunities.

The Biochemistry, B.A. degree prepares students for employment in biochemistry, biotechnology and related fields. It can also serve as preparation for professional health-related programs such as pharmacy or medicine. The Biochemistry, B.A.: Chemistry Education Concentration is designed for students interested in teaching chemistry at the high school level but also prepares graduates to work as biochemists in industry or government. This program prepares students to enter a single subject credential program.

The Department of Criminal Justice offers an undergraduate degree designed for the development of knowledge and understanding of practices, criminological theory, and concepts of the criminal justice system. Through the examination of crime prevention, forensic science and investigation, corrections and community-based programs, equity and diversity, and impact of victimization students will be provided with a general understanding of the issues facing the criminal and juvenile justice systems. This major will prepare students to be leaders for positive change in the community along with careers in law enforcement, corrections, victim advocacy, law, and community-based programs.

Many local, state, federal and private agencies employ Cal State East Bay criminal justice graduates. Senior majors may qualify for internship placement in criminal justice agencies throughout the Bay Area.

Local level agencies include municipal police departments, county sheriffs’ offices, probation departments, halfway and pre-release houses, group homes, crisis centers, juvenile halls, welfare fraud units, computer crime analysis, and retail and industrial security agencies. State level agencies include: the Highway Patrol, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Department of Motor Vehicles, and Departments of Justice, Fish and Game, and Forestry. Federal level agencies include the Border Patrol; F.B.I.; Secret Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Internal Revenue Service; National Park Service; Customs; Postal Inspection Service; and Federal Prisons.

Geology is the study of the earth and of life and the natural processes occurring on the planet through time. Students learn about the causes of processes such as earthquakes, volcanoes, the formation of mountains, the effect of erosion and deposition, and the formation of rocks and minerals and their uses. Coursework combined with observations on field trips provide Cal State East Bay students with an understanding of natural processes and the human impact on the environment.

The undergraduate degree programs consist of required courses plus electives designed to meet the needs of students with objectives including employment at the Bachelor’s degree level, preparation for a secondary school teaching credential, and graduate study in Geology. The Geology, B.S. program is the primary professional degree program in Geology offered by the department, and serves as preparation for employment in the field, usually in a technical capacity.

The Art Department emphasizes study in our Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) Program. This is a professional degree that offers students the opportunity to develop greater expertise through comprehensive and intensive study in a specific area of art or design - a program that leads to successful careers in the visual art and design industries. Students who intend to pursue graduate studies or advanced skills for a professional career typically choose the B.F.A degree.

The B.F.A. professional concentrations require 70 units of study in the Department to complete the major.  There is no application procedure to enter the Bachelor of Fine Arts program beyond declaring as a B.F.A. student with a specific concentration.  The concentrations are listed below under major requirements.

3D Art & Design Concentration
The 3D Art and Design concentration combines the fabrication skill sets of sculpture and industrial design with digital 3D modeling to enable students to create work at the growing overlap of design and fine arts. Increasingly sculptors need to use state of the art 3D printers and modeling software, and designers need to prototype their ideas in clay or welded steel. The emphasis is on carefully aligning form and concept through agile use of a variety of media and creating objects that speak clearly to their chosen audience, from the fine art gallery to the commercial production line.

This degree program, offered through the Department of Biological Sciences and the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, provides the opportunity for students to acquire a practical and theoretical education in the marine sciences to prepare them for careers as marine specialists, scientists, and teachers. The program at Moss Landing provides interdepartmental work and a field facility for advanced study in the marine sciences which cannot be duplicated on the Cal State East Bay campus.

Program Learning Outcomes
Students graduating with an M.S.in Marine Science from Cal State East Bay will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of fundamental concepts in a particular category of oceanography and marine science and
  • be able to synthesize and integrate across all of these fields, yet achieve a depth of understanding in the student’s individual specialty or field of study (MLML specialties include Physical Oceanography, Biological Oceanography, Chemical Oceanography, Geological Oceanography, Marine Phycology, Marine Ichthyology, Marine Turtle, Bird and Mammal Ecology, and Marine Invertebrate Zoology.)
• Demonstrate the ability to critically analyze scientific research, whether the student’s own research, or that performed by others.
• Pose relevant scientific hypotheses or questions that may then serve to guide thesis research.
• Demonstrate proficiency in the design and implementation of experiments or data collection methodologies to address specific hypotheses/questions.
• Master the skills and tools of data collection and analysis (including analytical and statistical techniques as appropriate) specific to the student’s scientific field of study.
• Demonstrate the ability to place ones own research within the larger context of relevant field of scientific study and to clearly identify the implications of this research for that field.
• Demonstrate proficiency in oral and written communication by being able to present research clearly and concisely. This includes thoughtful and thorough oral and written presentation of their thesis and their responses to questions. 

The Master of Science in Business Analytics (M.S.B.A.) provides students with a balanced and broad set of knowledge and skills in data analytics. This degree offers an in-depth study of advanced information technology used in business analytics. It also provides a comprehensive presentation of quantitative methods and software for business analytics, and develops students’ knowledge and skills in applying analytics to solve business problems.