Bachelor of Earth Science and Policy at Pennsylvania State University
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    Bachelor of Earth Science and Policy at Pennsylvania State University

    Pennsylvania State University
    Pennsylvania State University
    United States of America
    United States of America, University Park
    University Rank:#82
    Bachelor of Earth Science and Policy at Pennsylvania State University

    The Earth Science and Policy at Pennsylvania State University is a Full Time Bachelor program offered across its Any Penn State Campus and University Park campuses in United States of America. The program is delivered on campus in English and can be completed in 4 years. Students develop academic knowledge and practical skills that prepare them for future careers in this field. The next available intake starts on June 1, 2027.

    About Bachelor of Earth Science and Policy

    The Earth Science and Policy program is designed to help train students to address big picture questions    like how to prepare for climate change and how to solve issues affecting communities, such as maintaining sources of clean water and reliable energy. The program is designed to help students develop a more detailed understanding of how scientists from a range of Earth science disciplines–including meteorology, geosciences, and geography–collaborate with government and industry representatives on legislation that can have an impact on local communities, the nation, and the world. The program is ideal for students who want to apply their knowledge of the sciences to help create solutions for pressing problems facing society.

    You Might Like This Program If...

    • You like to work as part of a team to create solutions.
    • You want to address important Earth science-related challenges such as climate change, clean energy, and water resources.
    • You are interested in how humans interact with the natural world.
    • You like to study about the Earth and its physical and chemical processes.
    • You would like to build a solid scientific background to engage in informed discussions about some of the world's most pressing concerns.

    Global climate change and environmental change on a more local scale present major challenges for our future. The solution to these problems requires people with a solid scientific understanding of natural earth/environmental systems, and also an understanding of  the  social, economic, and  political dimensions of  these problems. This major is intended to bridge the gap between the physical, natural sciences (the Earth sciences) and the social sciences, with the understanding that intelligent, effective solutions to environmental problems will require people who grasp the scientific and social dimensions of environmental problems. This major is intended to produce graduates who not only grasp these problems, but who can also apply a wide array of quantitative tools and fundamental principles to generate practical solutions.

    Students develop a sense of community through a set of common upper level courses and they gain practical experience through a mandatory internship course. A variety of options are offered to enable greater depth of study in aspects of science and policy related to water and land use, climate change, and energy; a general option is also available.

    This major will provide an excellent preparation for careers in environmental law, environmental consulting, and nonprofit organizations engaged in the science and policy of environmental issues. This major will also serve as a strong basis for postgraduate studies in environmental science and policy.

    Water and Land Use Option

    This option is intended to develop a focus on the role of water and land in environmental issues, encompassing scientific, economic, and policy dimensions of groundwater and surface water resources and of land use. The Water and Land Use option is appropriate both for students who intend to pursue postgraduate degrees and for students who want to enter the workforce.

    Climate Change Option

    This option is intended for students who want to focus on the science and policy related to climate change, including the scientific basis for identifying, understanding, and potentially mitigating climate change. The option also develops a basis for understanding the economic costs and risks related to climate change, as well as the political dimensions. This option is appropriate both for students who intend to pursue postgraduate degrees and for students who want to enter the work force.

    Energy Option

    This option is designed to provide a focus on aspects of Earth science and policy related to energy, including the origins of energy and mineral resources, the future of these resources, and the alternatives for meeting future needs. This option also provides a focus on the economics of energy systems and the political dimensions of the challenges related to our energy future. The Energy option is appropriate both for students who intend to pursue postgraduate degrees and for students who want to enter the work force.

    General Option

    This option is intended for students who desire a broad sampling of Earth science as it relates to policy or those who desire to design their own focus within Earth science in consultation with an academic adviser. The General option is appropriate both for students who intend to pursue postgraduate degrees and for students who want to enter the work force.

    • To produce graduates who can analyze, understand, and utilize data and model results relevant to the Earth and environmental sciences.
    • To produce graduates who can make decisions regarding environmental problems based on fundamental knowledge of the mathematics, science, geography, economics, and political science.
    • To produce graduates who possess a broad understanding of the impact of Earth system processes and resources on humans and the impact of human activities on Earth systems.
    • To produce graduates who can communicate the results of scientific inquiry through writing and speaking to an audience with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

    Disciplines

    Earth and Mineral Sciences

    Requirements and Admission Criteria for Bachelor of Earth Science and Policy at Pennsylvania State University

    Entry Requirements

    Penn State requires the submission of specific academic credentials to complete your application. Review the secondary and post-secondary requirements for your country below.

    If you are a first year student applying to Penn State:

    Click Apply to start your Penn State application. Before starting, you can also review the Applying Online Worksheet for more details and helpful hints about the application.

    Your application work can be saved at each step of the process by clicking the Save and Continue button at the bottom of the page. This feature will allow you to move back and forth within the application or log off and return to complete your application at a later time.

    After completing your Academic History, you will need to provide your Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR). As you begin the SRAR process, a new window will open allowing you to complete your SRAR. SRAR will focus on your high school coursework. It is important that this step is a complete and accurate representation of your school record. Therefore, have a copy of your secondary school records available as you complete your SRAR. You will need to enter every class and every grade earned for the last three years, as well as those classes in progress.

    After completing your SRAR, you will be directed back to the Penn State application in order to complete the Program of Study portion of the application. Here, you will indicate your desired starting semester, your intended program of study, and your starting and ending campus. For further details on how to complete this portion based on your applicant type, please see the steps to apply for first-year students.

    After completing this section of the application, you will provide some additional information, an activities resume, and a personal statement. You will be able to paste in this information from other sources, but note that the formatting may not always paste in as intended.

    If you are a transfer student applying to Penn State:

    All international transfer students will be required to submit official high school transcripts in order to complete the application. International transfer students will not complete the Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR) for either their high school or college coursework.

    If you have accepted your offer of admission to Penn State:

    If you completed SRAR and are accepted to Penn State, please provide the following for grade verification:

    • Official transcript from years 9, 10, 11, and 12. If the transcript is issued in a language other than English, it must be accompanied by a separate line-by-line English translation.
    • Official copy of the Tawjihi, accompanied by a separate line-by-line English translation.

    English Requirements

    • IELTSMin 6.5
    • TOEFLMin 80

    Career Opportunities after Completing Bachelor of Earth Science and Policy

    An Earth Science and Policy degree can prepare you to work within a diverse set of industries or for further graduate study in many Earth science or policy-related fields.

    Earth Science and Policy graduates may find careers in local, state, or federal government; investigating the impact of new scientific findings on industry practices; conducting science advocacy for a variety of institutions; consulting on land and water use policies; investigating the application of environmental law; or educating the public on the science behind issues involving the Earth, the environment, and sustainability.

    MORE INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIAL CAREER OPTIONS FOR GRADUATES OF THE EARTH SCIENCE AND POLICY PROGRAM

    Opportunities for Graduate Studies

    The Earth Science and Policy program can prepare graduates for many fields of graduate school, such as environmental science, the Earth sciences, or policy. Some may be inclined to pursue Master of Business Administration, Master of Education, or Environmental Law degrees.

    MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATE STUDIES

    Professional Resources

    • Geosciences Club
    • Association for Women Geoscientists

    Tuition and Fee Information for Bachelor of Earth Science and Policy at Pennsylvania State University

    Application Fee 75

    How to Apply for Bachelor of Earth Science and Policy at Pennsylvania State University

    Step 1: Choose Your Application Method

    Apply through MyPennState

    The first step of the application process is to create a Penn State account, if you do not have one already. MyPennState is where future students can access the online application.

    If you are new to MyPennState, you will need to establish a Penn State User ID and password, which you will access during the MyPennState profile creation process. Once you have your log in information, you can sign in to begin work on your application.

    When creating the profile, please use the name that is on your passport. Because materials are filed alphabetically under the family name on the application, it is important that all correspondence and records consistently use the same name (family and given) and spelling. If this name does not match your academic records, please notify us of the difference. Please note: In the U.S., the family name is usually referred to as the last name, and the given name is referred to as the first name.

    Additionally, Penn State requires a current, valid email address, as that is our primary means of communication with international students. To ensure deliverability, please make Penn State (psu.edu) an eligible sender to the account.

    Applying through the Common App

    Applying to Penn State via the Common App is available to first-year (freshman) international students. If applying through the Common App, Penn State will create a MyPennState profile when the application is submitted and you will receive instructions on how to access your profile. If you intend to apply with the Common App, you do not need create a MyPennState profile prior to submitting your application.

    Step 2: Access the Application and Review Important Dates

    While you can create a MyPennState profile at any time, the application for admission becomes available on the following dates:

    Fall/Summer Admission: August 1

    Spring Admission: June 1

    The application submission dates vary by applicant type and intended program of study. Some programs have specific deadlines or admissions requirements. Please refer to our Dates & Deadlines for more information about application deadlines, as well as our Admissions Requirements to review information about any additional materials required for your intended program of study.

    Step 3: Start Your Penn State Application

    If applying through MyPennState:

    Click Apply Online to start your Penn State application. 

    Your application work can be saved at each step of the process by clicking the "Save and Continue" button at the bottom of the page. This feature will allow you to move back and forth within the application or log off and return to complete your application at a later time.

    After completing your Academic History, you will need to provide your Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR), unless otherwise directed. You will be directed to enter information about your secondary school coursework. Please have a copy of your secondary school records as you complete SRAR. It is important that this step is a complete and accurate representation of your school record. You will need to enter every grade for every course you have taken in the last three years, as well as your current schedule of classes.

    Students educated in South Korea will not complete SRAR. The document requirements for South Korea can be found by reviewing our International Credential Requirements.

    After this section, you will be directed back to the Penn State application to complete the Program of Study portion. Here, you will indicate your desired starting semester, your intended program of study, and your starting and ending campus. For further details on how to complete this portion based on your applicant type, please see the steps to apply for either first-year students or transfer students.

    After this portion, you will provide some additional application information, an activities resume, and a personal statement. You will be able to paste in this information from other sources, but note that the formatting may not always paste in as intended.

    If applying through the Common App:

    Complete the Common App, which will then direct you to MyPennState to complete SRAR. Applicants using the Common App may feel that they provided their high school record via the Common App, but Penn State requires the completion of SRAR via MyPennState. We strongly encourage you to obtain an official copy of your high school transcript to ensure accurate entry of your coursework completed and grades earned. The SRAR will include all of your high school coursework from your last three years of work and your current year schedule. If your final year grades are available when you enter SRAR, you can enter them at that time.

    Step 4: Submit Your Application

    The application requires a nonrefundable application fee of $75 for international students. Be sure to complete the last step after Summary and Review, which finalizes payment of your fee, and be certain it is successfully submitted. Once the application is submitted, you can verify its completion by accessing your MyPennState profile.

    Step 5: Submit Required Application Materials

    In order to complete your Penn State application, we need the following materials:

    • Application
    • Secondary school record
    • Post-secondary school records (if applicable)
    • First-year applicants only: Official test scores: SAT (code #2660) or ACT (code #3656)

      Writing Component and Subject Tests

      Please note: The writing component of standardized tests (SAT or ACT) is not required. The writing component will not be used as part of our evaluation. If your test scores include the writing component, by all means, have those scores sent to Penn State. Additionally, we do not require SAT Subject Tests.

    • English language proficiency, if your native language is not English

    Please see the admissions requirements for international students to review the details about the required application materials. Some programs require additional items to complete your application. Please review our Admissions Requirements for those details.

    Penn State does not require letters of recommendation, nor are they used in a student’s evaluation (unless required for a specific program).

    Step 6: Check Your Application Status in MyPennState

    You can always check the status of your application in MyPennState. We will communicate with you via MyPennState and through a series of emails regarding the missing items for your application. When everything has arrived, you will see a status in MyPennState confirming the completion of your application.

    Please note: It is your responsibility to check on the status of your application and send us any missing materials.

    Step 7: Receive Your Admission Decision

    Once we have reached a decision regarding your application, we will update your status in MyPennState and provide a printable PDF of your decision letter. Review our Dates & Deadlines to see when you should expect your decision.

    If accepted, you can accept your offer of admission in MyPennState to begin the process of becoming a Penn State student. Visit our Accepted Students section to review the next steps in this process. Once you accept your offer of admission to Penn State, those students completing SRAR will submit their official records for validation purposes as soon as possible.

    Bachelor of Earth Science and Policy at Pennsylvania State University
    Pennsylvania State University
    Pennsylvania State University
    United States of America

    United States of America, University Park

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