Major: Bachelor of Science

The Earth Systems Program is an interdisciplinary environmental science major. Students learn about and independently investigate complex environmental problems caused by human activities in conjunction with natural changes in the Earth system. Earth Systems majors become skilled in those areas of natural science, social science, and policy needed to tackle the world’s most pressing social-environmental problems, becoming part of a generation of scientists, professionals, and citizens who approach and solve problems systematically and interdisciplinarily.

For students to effectively contribute to solutions for such problems, their training and understanding must be broad and deep. To this end, Earth Systems students take fundamental courses in ecology, calculus, chemistry, geology, physics, economics, policy, statistics, and environmental justice. After completing breadth training, they concentrate on advanced work in one of eight focus areas: biology, energy, environmental economics and policy, environmental social sciences, environmental geosciences, land systems, sustainable food and agriculture, or oceanography and climate. Subplans are designed to support focus and rigor but include flexibility for specialization. Examples of specialized foci have included but are not limited to environment and human health, sustainable agriculture, energy economics, sustainable development, business and the environment, and marine policy. Along with formal course requirements, Earth Systems students complete a 1-unit (270-hour) internship. The internship provides a hands-on academic experience working on a supervised field, laboratory, government, or private sector project.