EES Programs

Department of Earth and Environmental Science

Undergraduate Program

The Department of Earth and Environmental Science offers undergraduate majors in both Earth Science and Environmental Studies. Each of these majors has a set of tracks or concentrations that allow students to tailor their major to their career goals and interests. Click on a Major or Concentration box to learn more about the focus and requirements.

Department Majors

Earth Science

Objectives for Earth Science Majors

Geology, Paleobiology and Environmental Science Tracks

This major is for students who want an in-depth understanding of the various physical, chemical, and geologic processes that work within our planet and on its surface. By studying all fields of natural science and taking specialized courses in Earth Science students gain the skills needed to scientifically study and reconstruct Earth's history from the beginning of the solar system to historic times. Students gain hands-on experience in analyzing fossils, rocks, minerals, maps, aerial photographs, and satellite images in the laboratory and on field trips. Earth Science students understand the geologic and environmental processes associated with natural resources (e.g. oil, minerals, hydrologic), soil formation, natural hazards (e.g. earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunami and landslides), coastal and earth surface processes and the detection and control of anthropogenic pollution, among other things. Graduates go on to apply their skills to academic research and a broad range of careers, including environmental and geologic consulting, resource management, and engineering. The Paleobiology and Environmental Science tracks are also options for Pre-Med students.

Earth Science Content Objectives

While each track has a particular focus, the major gives students a broad understanding of Earth Science. At completion of the program, graduates know the basic physical and chemical processes that operate in and on the planet and understand how direct and indirect methods are used to examine and understand the structure, composition and dynamics of Earth. Graduates appreciate how humans and ecosystems interact with the dynamic Earth, and have an in-depth knowledge of the atmosphere and climate change, the rock cycle, natural hazards and the hydrologic and biogeochemical cycles. Additionally, they understand how to measure and use the structure, sequence and properties of rocks, sediments, and fossils to reconstruct events in Earth's history and identify potential natural hazards or earth resources.

Skill Set Objectives

While completing the Earth Science major, students acquire a broad range of skills in Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics or Biology, and comprehend how these fields apply to Earth Science. They can determine the environmental and/or geologic events that have led to the structures and features an unfamiliar location and can use the basic tools needed to analyze a field site or geologic region. Graduates are familiar with the basic equipment of a geologic and/or environmental science laboratory; they understand how to use the equipment and how to analyze the resulting data. Graduates are also able to critically analyze scientific literature, interpret scientific data, understand the scientific process and conduct a basic research project. They understand how to model a geographic, environmental or geologic system and have the skills needed to collect, manage, and analyze a complex data set. They know which basic statistical and graphical tests should be used and how to perform them to interpret the results, and apply the results to solve a question. Graduates are also able to communicate complex information in written and oral form and make a clear and compelling presentation in front of both technical and non-technical audiences. Graduates have the skills and knowledge to achieve admission to graduate school, professional degree programs, or gain employment.

Environmental Studies Major

Objectives for Environmental Studies Majors

With concentrations in

Environmental Policy and Application, Global Environmental System, Environmental History and Regional Studies, and Sustainability and Environmental Management

The program in Environmental Studies is designed to provide students with the skills to understand and address contemporary environmental issues. The major integrates studies in the natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, policy and management in order to study complex issues of the environment and humans’ interaction with the environment.

Students take a series of core courses and a set of specialized courses in a concentration. Core courses cover environmental and earth science, data analysis, economics and policy, and provide students with the skills and breadth of understanding they need for purposeful study in a concentration. Subsequently, the concentrations allow students to develop in-depth and specialized knowledge in a subfield of environmental studies that will help them meet their career goals. Graduates of the program are trained for professions that are directly and indirectly involved with problems of environmental quality and management. Due to the interdisciplinary approach of the program, graduates go on to work in a variety of fields. Some recent graduates have gone on to Medical or Law School while others have taken positions in environmental consulting, “green” finance, government and politics, education, scientific research, environmental magazines, the Park Service and the Peace Corps. Others have remained in academics to pursue Masters and/or PhD degrees.

Environmental Studies Content Objectives

Upon graduation, Environmental Studies graduates understand how humans and ecosystems interact with the dynamic Earth. They understand the basic physical and chemical processes and are knowledgeable about the atmosphere and climate change, the rock cycle, natural hazards, and the earth’s hydrologic and biogeochemical cycles. Environmental Studies graduates also have knowledge and basic skills in environmental economics, environmental health, sustainability, renewable resources, and environmental management. In addition, they have an in-depth understanding of the human-environment interconnection, knowledge of international and domestic environmental issues, and are well-versed in environmental policies and how these policies are set and changed.

Skill Set Objectives

Graduates are able to contribute to society and effectively work on challenging problems that face humanity (e.g., climate change, renewable resources). They are able to critically analyze scientific literature, interpret scientific data, understand the scientific process, and conduct a basic research project. Graduates can also develop basic models of geographic, environmental or geologic systems. Graduates can collect and manage a complex data set. They can also manipulate environmental data with computer software. They know which basic statistical and graphical tests should be used and how to perform them to interpret the results, and apply the results to solve a question. Graduates are able to communicate complex information in written and oral form, and make a clear and compelling presentation in front of both technical and non-technical audiences. They also have the skills and knowledge to achieve admission to graduate school, professional degree programs, or gain employment. More about the Environmental Studies major.....