The Bachelor of Science in Earth and Space Sciences is designed for students interested in professional scientific careers, whether in the private sector, government agencies, NGOs, or academia. There are four ESS degree options:
- ESS degree: Option in Geology
- ESS degree: Option in Biology
- ESS degree: Option in Geoscience
- ESS degree: Option in Physics
Apply to Major in ESS
B.S. Requirements
To complete the B.S., students take the courses listed under one of the Option Areas (Geology, Biology, Geoscience or Physics). Note that core courses in math, physics, and earth-science fundamentals (ESS 211, 212, 213) are common to all the B.S. degree options (with some variations for the Physics option).
For more about the learning goals, related career paths, and required courses for each, select from the lists below.
ESS Option: Geology
- Student interests: Earth processes, rocks, plate tectonics, origin and evolution of the earth, mountain building
- Skills obtained through this option: Fieldwork, quantitative and numerical analysis, scientific literacy and communication, GIS, geologic mapping, laboratory skills
- Possible career paths related to this option: Mineral exploration, petroleum industry, resource extraction, licensed geologist, geologic mapping, consulting, graduate school, data science, K-12 teaching
Supporting Science (36-40 credits):
- CHEM 142
- MATH 124, 125
- Math 126
- PHYS 114/117 or 121
- PHYS 115/118 or 122
- Two of CHEM 152; AMATH 351 or MATH 207; MATH 208; PHYS 116/119 or 123; STAT 290, 311, or 390
ESS Required Courses (53-56 credits):
- ESS 211, 212, 213
- ESS 311, 312, 316
- One of ESS 439, 441, 455, 456, 463
- One of ESS 425, 426, 427, 447, 454, 457, 482
- One of ESS 400 or 401
- ESS 418
ESS Electives (10 credits):
- ESS courses numbered 402 to 488 (excluding ESS 418) or approved ESS 490 courses (see Time Schedule)
- ESS 313, 314 may also apply here
ESS Option: Biology
- Student interests: Ecosystems, paleontology, fossils, life on earth, extinction, geomicrobiology, astrobiology
- Skills obtained through this option: Fieldwork, quantitative and numerical analysis, scientific literacy and communication, GIS, laboratory skills
- Possible career paths related to this option: Graduate school, museum curation, paleontology remediation, water remediation, consulting, geomicrobiologist, data science, K-12 teaching
Supporting Science (44-45 credits):
- CHEM 142
- MATH 124, 125
- PHYS 114/117 or 121
- CHEM 152, 162
- BIOL 180, 200 or BIOL 240
- One of Math 126; PHYS 115/118 or 122; BIOL 220 or 240; STAT 290, 311, or 390
ESS Required Courses (37-46 credits):
- Three* of ESS 311, 312, 313, 314, 316
- One of ESS 400, 401,or ESS 449/BIOL 475. ESS 449/BIOL 475 may not be offered every year.
- ESS 418
*At least 3 credits of the upper-division electives for the ESS Biology B.S. must come from ESS-prefixed courses.
ESS Electives (12 credits):
- ESS courses numbered 402 to 488 (excluding ESS 418) or approved ESS 490 courses (see Time Schedule)
- ESS 311, 312, 313, 314, 316 not taken as a required course above
- Some coursework from BIOC 405, 406; BIOL 421, 427, 430, 432, 437, 438, 439, 441, 443, 447, 448, 452, 453, 470, or 471; or CHEM 436 may be allowed for this Option; contact ESS Advising to request updates to degree audit (DARS). Other BIOC, BIOL, or CHEM courses require approval of Associate Chair for Undergraduate Affairs. At least 3 credits must come from ESS-prefixed courses.
ESS Option: Geoscience
- Student interests: Landscapes, environment, climate, glaciers, groundwater
- Skills obtained through this option: Fieldwork, quantitative and numerical analysis, GIS, scientific literacy and communication, geologic mapping, laboratory skills
- Possible career paths related to this option: Consulting, graduate school, environmental planning, public land management, environmental policy, renewable resources, data science, K-12 teaching
Supporting Science (32-35 credits):
- CHEM 142
- MATH 124, 125
- PHYS 114/117 or 121
- One of MATH 126; STAT 290, 311, or 390; QSCI 381
- PHYS 115/118 or 122
- One of AMATH 351; MATH 207; MATH 208; CHEM 152; PHYS 116/119 or 123
ESS Required Courses (44-46 credits):
- One of ESS 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 230
- Two of ESS 311, 312, 313, 314, 316
- One of ESS 400 or 401
- ESS 418
ESS Electives (18 credits):
- ESS courses numbered 402 to 488 (excluding ESS 418) or approved ESS 490 courses (see Time Schedule)
- ESS 311, 312, 313, 314, 316 not taken as a required course above
ESS Option: Physics
- Student interests: Earthquakes, volcanoes, geomagnetism, space physics, plasma physics, lightning, quantitative processes, space and planets, balloons, fluids, ionosphere and magnetosphere, glaciers and ice sheets
- Skills obtained through this option: Data analysis, quantitative and numerical analysis, flight instrument design and fabrication, GIS, scientific literacy and communication, laboratory skills
- Possible career paths related to this option: NASA, government research labs, space propulsion, space industry, petroleum industry, resource extraction, geophysics exploration, graduate school, data science, K-12 teaching
Supporting Science (50-53 credits):
- CHEM 142
- MATH 124, 125
- PHYS 114/117 or 121
(Physics Option majors must take PHYS 121)
- MATH 126, 308, 224 or MATH 136, 224
- PHYS 122, 123, 227, 228, 321, 322
ESS Required Courses (29 credits):
- Three of ESS 205, 211, 212, 213
- Two* of ESS 311, 312, 313, 314, 316
- ESS 418
ESS Electives (15-18 credits):
- ESS courses numbered 400-488 or approved ESS 490 courses (see Time Schedule)
- ESS 311, 312, 313, 314, 316 not taken as a required course above
NOTE: The average grade in PHYS 121, 122, and 123 for students who successfully complete the ESS Physics BS is a 2.8. Students who have not earned a 2.8 in the introductory physics courses are not prohibited from declaring the ESS Physics BS, but are strongly encouraged to meet with ESS Advising to discuss whether another ESS degree option would meet their goals.
Grade Requirements
Minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA in all ESS-prefixed courses required. Grade requirements for students who declared the ESS major prior to Summer 2018 may differ; please see ESS Advising if you have any questions.