SJSU Geology Field Camp

Summer Field Geology (Geol 129B-4 units) will include a 24 day field module followed by a 6 day online/virtual module.

Please contact Ryan Portner for permission codes and details.


The San José State University Geology Department offers a field-based mapping course every year. The course is split into two sessions: a spring session and a summer session. The spring session (129A), or a similar introductory field mapping course, is required in order to register for the summer session. The summer session is a 4-credit, 30-day course (129B). The summer courses, in conjunction with the spring introductory field course, will satisfy the department field camp requirement and professional licensure in Geology in the future.

2023 Summer Field Camp (129B) will be led by Ryan Portner and run from May 28th through June 26th. Students will travel to Eastern Nevada on May 28th and return to San Jose on June 20th. The last 6 days of the course will run online via zoom where the final day of the course completes on June 26th. There is a course fee of $1600 for 129B (separate from tuition).

Transportation to-and-from field sites will be provided by the Geology department. Students are strongly encouraged to apply for authorization to operate a state vehicle if they have not already done so; please contact Leslie Blum in the Geology Department Office for instructions on getting authorized.

Please review the SJSU Summer Registration Webpage for general information regarding Summer Session. For current information, please sign up for the University's Summer Session Newsletter.

Want to know what being a student at SJSU Geology Field Camp is like? Check out our Insider's Look webpage for more!

Field Camp Forms:

Driving Directions to the Kalamazoo camp [pdf]

Film © 2017 Lindsey Huffman