Earth and Planetary Science is a highly interdisciplinary concentration employing principles from physics, chemistry, and biology to understand processes on and in the Earth and other planetary bodies. Concentrators can study Earth and planetary interiors, including the formation of rocks and minerals, movement of the Earth’s tectonic plates, and mountain building and volcanism. Other areas emphasize surface processes, such as coastal erosion, formation of water resources, and desertification. This concentration is a good choice for students who seek a broad scientific understanding of the processes that shape the physical world around us.

Both A.B. and Sc.B. degrees are offered, requiring 12 and 19 courses, respectively. These degrees build skills in critical thinking, data analysis and modeling, applying systems approaches to problem-solving, and written and oral communication. They prepare students for a wide variety of careers, including environmental consulting, academia, government agencies (e.g. NASA, NOAA, the EPA, and the USGS), non-governmental agencies (NGOs), technology companies, the climate solutions and sustainable energy sectors. DEEPS provides a highly collaborative learning environment that emphasizes process-oriented, hands-on approaches in the classroom, in labs, and on field trips. There are many opportunities for students to do paid research during the academic year or in the summer.

Students interested in this concentration may also wish to consider related concentrations: Earth, Climate and Biology, Geophysics and Climate Physics, and Geochemistry and Environmental Chemistry.

Students in Earth, Climate, and Biology apply principles from geology, biology, chemistry, and physics to understand how major components of the Earth, such as its atmosphere and oceans, interact with and sustain life in the past, present, and into the future. Many courses emphasize climate change, environmental quality, and biogeochemistry, so this concentration is a good match for students interested in studying the environment. Other areas emphasize Earth history, including climate change, extinction events, and using the Earth’s sedimentary record to investigate environmental change.

Both A.B. and Sc.B. degrees are offered, requiring 12 and 19 courses, respectively. These degrees build skills in critical thinking, data analysis, and modeling, applying systems approaches to problem-solving, and written and oral communication. They prepare students for a wide variety of careers, including environmental consulting, academia, government agencies (e.g. NASA, NOAA, the EPA, and the USGS), non-governmental agencies (NGOs), technology companies, and the climate solutions and sustainable energy sectors. DEEPS provides a highly collaborative learning environment that emphasizes process-oriented, hands-on approaches in the classroom, in labs, and on field trips. There are many opportunities for students to do paid research during the academic year or in the summer.

Students interested in this concentration may also wish to consider related concentrations: Geochemistry and Environmental Chemistry, Geophysics and Climate Physics, and Earth and Planetary Science.
 

Geochemistry and Environmental Chemistry offers two different emphases. Low-temperature geochemistry involves the study of chemical and biochemical processes on and near Earth’s surface, including land, oceans, and freshwater bodies, and how the geochemical record reflects climate conditions. High-temperature geochemistry includes the study of the formation and evolution of the Earth and other planets, magma formation and properties, volcanic activity, and metamorphism.  

Both A.B. and Sc.B. degrees are offered, requiring 12 and 19 courses, respectively. These degrees build skills in critical thinking, data analysis, and modeling, applying systems approaches to problem-solving, and written and oral communication. They prepare students for a wide variety of careers, including environmental consulting, academia, government agencies (e.g. NASA, NOAA, the EPA, and the USGS), non-governmental agencies (NGOs), technology companies, and the climate solutions and sustainable energysectors. DEEPS provides a highly collaborative learning environment that emphasizes process-oriented, hands-on approaches in the classroom, in labs, and on field trips. There are many opportunities for students to do paid research during the academic year or in the summer.

Students interested in this concentration may also wish to consider related concentrations: Earth, Climate and Biology, Geophysics and Climate Physics, and Earth and Planetary Science.

Geophysics and Climate Physics involves applying physics and mathematics to study processes that operate on and within the Earth and other planets, over short and long timescales. Geophysical approaches are fundamental for understanding how the oceans, atmosphere, and ice sheets respond to climate change, managing resources such as water and geothermal energy, mitigating natural hazards such as earthquakes and volcanoes, and understanding the dynamic processes that shape the surfaces and control the interiors of Earth and other planetary bodies. Geophysics spans both theoretical modeling of physical processes and the analysis of geophysical data (including remote sensing and machine learning) and typically involves computing, as well as lab experiments and fieldwork. 

Both A.B. and Sc.B. degrees are offered, requiring 12 and 19 courses, respectively. These degrees build skills in critical thinking, data analysis, and modeling, applying systems approaches to problem-solving, and written and oral communication. They prepare students for a wide variety of careers, including remote sensing, data science, and climate modeling, in settings such as environmental consulting, academia, government agencies (e.g. NASA, NOAA, the EPA, and the USGS), non-governmental agencies (NGOs), technology companies, and the climate solutions and sustainable energy sectors. DEEPS provides a highly collaborative learning environment that emphasizes process-oriented, hands-on approaches in the classroom, in labs, and on field trips. There are many opportunities for students to do paid research during the academic year or in the summer.

Students interested in this concentration may also wish to consider related concentrations: Earth, Climate and Biology, Geochemistry and Environmental Chemistry, and Earth and Planetary Science.