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Geophysics
Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability
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  3. Undergraduate
  4. Geophysics
  5. Major: Bachelor of Science

Major: Bachelor of Science

Major
  • Geophysics opens in a new tab
Program Minimum Units
62 Units
University Minimum Units
180 Units
Interests
Ecology & Environment, Sustainability
Academic Areas
Earth & Energy, Natural Sciences, Sustainability

Overview

The undergraduate program in Geophysics exposes students to a broad spectrum of geophysics, including resource exploration, environmental geophysics, seismology, and tectonics. Students in the major obtain a solid foundation in mathematics, physics, and geology. They build upon that foundation with advanced coursework in geophysics to develop the in-depth knowledge they need to pursue advanced graduate study and professional careers in government or the private sector.

A primary focus of the Geophysics major, both as a primary and secondary major, is the senior research project. Students work closely with a faculty mentor to complete an original research paper that can result in published literature. For students pursuing Geophysics as a secondary major, the department encourages a multidisciplinary approach involving applying broad knowledge to better understand the Earth and its future.

Requirements

Core Program Requirements

Department Research Overview

Complete all of the following course(s):
GEOPHYS 101

Frontiers of Geophysical Research at Stanford

1 Units

An Introductory Course on Geophysical Observations

Complete any of the following course(s):
GEOPHYS 110

Introduction to the Foundations of Contemporary Geophysics

3 Units
or
GEOPHYS 115

Taking the Pulse of the Planet

3 Units
or
GEOPHYS 190

Near-Surface Geophysics: Imaging Groundwater Systems

4 Units
or
GEOPHYS 130

Introductory Seismology

3 Units

An Introductory Course on Geophysical Mecahnics and Dynamics

Complete any of the following course(s):
GEOPHYS 120

Geophysical Mechanics and Dynamics

3-5 Units
or
GEOPHYS 128

Modeling Earth

3-4 Units
or
GEOPHYS 148

Machine Learning and the Physical Sciences

3 Units

An Introductory Course on Geophysical Laboratory Methods

Complete any of the following course(s):
GEOPHYS 162

Laboratory Characterization of Properties of Rocks and Geomaterials

3-4 Units
or
GEOPHYS 139

Paleomagnetism

3 Units
or
PHYSICS 104

Introduction to Electronic Techniques for Physics Research Instrumentation 

4 Units

Geophysics Research Requirement

Complete 6 units of Geophysics 196.

Complete all of the following course(s):
GEOPHYS 196

Undergraduate Research in Geophysics

1-10 Units

Supporting Math and Computational Courses

Complete all of the following requirements:
Courses
Complete any of the following course(s):
CME 100

Vector Calculus for Engineers

5 Units
MATH 51

Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus, and Modern Applications

5 Units
and
MATH 52

Integral Calculus of Several Variables

5 Units
and
Courses
Complete all of the following course(s):
CME 102

Ordinary Differential Equations for Engineers

5 Units
or
MATH 53

Differential Equations with Linear Algebra, Fourier Methods, and Modern Applications

5 Units
CME 104

Linear Algebra and Partial Differential Equations for Engineers

5 Units
or
MATH 131P

Partial Differential Equations

4 Units
CME 108

Introduction to Scientific Computing with Machine Learning Applications

3 Units
or
PHYSICS 113

Computational Physics

4 Units
or
GEOPHYS 112

Exploring Geosciences with MATLAB

1-3 Units

Supporting Science Courses

Complete all of the following course(s):
PHYSICS 41

Mechanics

4 Units
or
PHYSICS 61

Mechanics and Special Relativity

4 Units
or
PHYSICS 41E

Mechanics, Concepts, Calculations, and Context

5 Units
PHYSICS 43

Electricity and Magnetism

4 Units
or
PHYSICS 81

Electricity and Magnetism Using Special Relativity and Vector Calculus

4 Units
PHYSICS 45

Light and Heat

4 Units
or
PHYSICS 71

Quantum and Thermal Physics

4 Units
EPS 1

Introduction to Geology

5 Units

Electives

Supporting Electives

Fifteen units of geophysics-relevant upper-level electives from the list below.

Earn at least 15 units in the following course(s):
GEOPHYS 104

The Water Course

4 Units
GEOPHYS 108

Tectonics Field Trip

1-3 Units
GEOPHYS 110

Introduction to the Foundations of Contemporary Geophysics

3 Units
GEOPHYS 112

Exploring Geosciences with MATLAB

1-3 Units
GEOPHYS 115

Taking the Pulse of the Planet

3 Units
GEOPHYS 119

Planetary Surface Processes: Shaping the Landscape of the Solar System

4 Units
GEOPHYS 120

Geophysical Mechanics and Dynamics

3-5 Units
GEOPHYS 124

Introduction to Planetary Science

3-4 Units
GEOPHYS 127

Fundamentals of Atmospheric and Climate Dynamics

3 Units
GEOPHYS 128

Modeling Earth

3-4 Units
GEOPHYS 130

Introductory Seismology

3 Units
GEOPHYS 133

Physics of Ice

3 Units
GEOPHYS 139

Paleomagnetism

3 Units
GEOPHYS 141

Remote Sensing of the Oceans

3-4 Units
GEOPHYS 162

Laboratory Characterization of Properties of Rocks and Geomaterials

3-4 Units
GEOPHYS 165

Ice Penetrating Radar

3-4 Units
GEOPHYS 181

Fluids and Flow in the Earth: Computational Methods

3 Units
GEOPHYS 190

Near-Surface Geophysics: Imaging Groundwater Systems

4 Units
GEOPHYS 205

Stand up: Impactful Presentation and Public Speaking

2-3 Units
GEOPHYS 214

Tectonics Field Trip

1-3 Units
GEOPHYS 234

Tropical Atmosphere and Climate

3 Units
GEOPHYS 236

An Introduction to Quantitative X-ray Microanalysis

3 Units
GEOPHYS 238

Waves in Solids and Fluids

3 Units
GEOPHYS 243

Planetary Geophysics: Theory, Observational Techniques and Data Analysis

3 Units
GEOPHYS 245

Computational Earth System Analysis

3 Units
GEOPHYS 256

Experimental Earth and Planetary System Analysis

4 Units
GEOPHYS 250

Fiber Sensing for a Sustainable Planet

3 Units
GEOPHYS 258J

Introduction to Radar Remote Sensing

3-4 Units
GEOPHYS 260G

Imaging with Incomplete Information

3-4 Units
GEOPHYS 262

Rock Physics

3 Units
GEOPHYS 265

Imaging Radar and Applications

3 Units
GEOPHYS 280

3-D Seismic Imaging

2-3 Units
GEOPHYS 281

Geophysical Inverse Problems

3 Units
GEOPHYS 287

Earthquake Seismology

3 Units
GEOPHYS 288

Crustal Deformation

3-5 Units
EPS 3

Earth and Planetary Processes and Mechanics

3 Units
EPS 6

Introduction to Data Science for Geoscience

3 Units
EPS 101

Earth Materials: Introduction to Mineralogy

5 Units
EPS 102

Introduction to Sedimentology and Stratigraphy

5 Units
EPS 164

Geochemical Thermodynamics

3-4 Units
ESS 246B

Atmosphere, Ocean, and Climate Dynamics: the Ocean Circulation

3 Units
ESS 220

Physical Hydrogeology

4 Units
ESS 221

Contaminant Hydrogeology and Reactive Transport

3 Units
ESS 224

Remote Sensing of Hydrology

3 Units
ESS 246A

Atmosphere, Ocean, and Climate Dynamics: The Atmospheric Circulation

3 Units
ESS 363F

Geophysical Fluid Dynamics

3 Units
ENERGY 141

Seismic Reservoir Characterization

3-4 Units

Writing in the Major (WIM)

Writing in the Major (WIM)

Complete all of the following course(s):
GEOPHYS 199

Senior Seminar: Issues in Earth Sciences

3 Units

Capstone

Courses

Complete any of the following course(s):
GEOPHYS 197

Senior Thesis in Geophysics

3-5 Units
GEOPHYS 198

Honors Program

1-3 Units

Honors

Optional
Students may choose to pursue department honors by completing a program of special advanced work, such as an honors thesis, in addition to their major requirements.

Honors

Geophysics Honors Program

The department offers a program leading to a BS degree in Geophysics with honors. The honors program is open to students with a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.5 in all courses required for the Geophysics major and a minimum of 3.0 in all university coursework. The guidelines are:

  1. Select a research project, either theoretical, field, or experimental, that has the approval of an advisor.

  2. Submit a proposal to the department, which decides on its suitability as an honors project. Qualified students intending to pursue honors are encouraged to apply to the program during winter quarter of their junior year.

  3. The advisor assigns course credit for the project within the framework of the GEOPHYS 198 Honors Program.

  4. Whether a given independent study project merits an award of honors is made jointly by the department and the student’s advisor. This decision is based on the quality of the honors work and the student’s other work in Earth Sciences.

  5. The work done in the honors program cannot be used as a substitute for regularly required courses.

Complete all of the following course(s):
GEOPHYS 198

Honors Program

1-3 Units