Director of undergraduate studies: Celli Hull; earth.yale.edu
The Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS) program, formerly Geology and Geophysics, prepares students for the application of scientific principles and methods to the understanding of the Earth system and other planets. Subjects range from the history of Earth and life to present-day environmental processes and climate change, the deep interiors of Earth and other planets, tectonic plates, oceans, atmospheres, climates, land surface, natural resources, and biota. The emphasis of the curriculum is on employing basic principles from the core sciences (physics, chemistry, and biology) to further an understanding of Earth's past and present, and addressing issues relating to its future. Students gain a broad background in the natural sciences, and select a specific track to focus their work on planetary or environmental phenomena of particular interest. The four B.S. tracks emphasize hands-on research experience in fieldwork, in laboratories, or in theoretical analyses and computer modeling. While some graduates continue on to research, consulting, or industrial careers in Earth, environmental, and planetary sciences, the major's broad scientific training prepares students for a wide variety of other paths, including medicine, law, public policy, and teaching. There is also a B.A. track, which is most suitable for students who wish to study Earth and Planetary Sciences as a second major, complementing other majors in, for example, mathematics, economics, physics, biology, or engineering, and who do so in preparation for a career in law, business, government, or environmental fields.
Prerequisites
With permission of the director of undergraduate studies (DUS), acceleration credits awarded at matriculation for high scores on national or international examinations (such as Advanced Placement subject tests) may be used to satisfy prerequisites, even if the student does not choose to accelerate. Higher-level courses may, with the permission of the DUS, be substituted for prerequisites and for specific required courses. For prerequisites specific for each track, see Requirements of the Major.
Requirements of the Major
The following course change requirements may, with DUS approval, be fulfilled by students who declared their major under previous requirements.
The following course change requirements for the Class of 2025 and subsequent classes apply for the B.S. degree and the B.A. degree as indicated.
B.S. degree programMajors in the B.S. program in Earth and Planetary Sciences choose from four tracks: Atmosphere, Ocean, and Climate; Environmental and Energy Geoscience; Paleontology and Geobiology; and Solid Earth Science. The tracks are suggested pathways to professional careers and major areas of research in earth and planetary sciences. Students may change tracks during their course of study with guidance from the DUS.
- The Atmosphere, Ocean, and Climate track provides a comprehensive understanding of the atmosphere-ocean-climate system. Topics range from past climate changes, including the ice ages, to present-day atmospheric and ocean circulation, to weather phenomena, to global warming projections. The prerequisites are CHEM 165 or CHEM 167; PHYS 180, 181 and PHYS 205L, 206L; ENAS 130 or equivalent; and mathematics through differential equations (MATH 120 or ENAS 151, and ENAS 194). The major requirements consist of at least eleven term courses, for at least eleven course credits, beyond the prerequisites, including either the senior essay or the senior thesis. To begin study of Earth processes, majors take an introductory course in EPS, selected from EPS 100; EPS 101; EPS 110 with 111L; or EPS 125 with 126L. EPS 100 and 101 do not require an accompanying lab. Five core courses, totaling five course credits, introduce students to Earth's climate system (EPS 140), meteorology (EPS 322), physical oceanography (EPS 335), fluid mechanics (MENG 361), and statistics or linear algebra (S&DS 230 or 238 or MATH 222). Other higher-level courses in EPS can be substituted with the permission of the DUS. Four electives are chosen from topics in the environment and in processes that govern the atmosphere, ocean, and land surface, physics, and statistics. A list of suggested electives is available from the office of the DUS or on the department website. At least one elective must be from EPS.
- The Environmental and Energy Geoscience track provides a scientific understanding of the natural and anthropogenic processes that shape the Earth-atmosphere-biosphere system, including energy and material flows among its components. It emphasizes comparative studies of past and current Earth processes to inform models of humankind's role within the environment's future. The prerequisites are broad and flexible and include CHEM 165 or CHEM 167 and mathematics through multivariate calculus (MATH 120 or ENAS 151). Depending on their area of focus, students may choose a prerequisite in physics (PHYS 170, 171; or PHYS 180, 181; or PHYS 200, 201), or they may choose cellular biology (BIOL 101 and 102, or MCDB 120) and evolutionary biology (BIOL 103 and 104, or E&EB 122, or EPS 125 and 126L). The major requirements consist of at least eleven term courses, for at least eleven course credits, beyond the prerequisites, including either the senior essay or the senior thesis. To begin study of the Earth system, majors take two introductory courses in EPS, selected from EPS 100; EPS 101; EPS 110 with 111L; EPS 125 with 126L; or EPS 140. Four core courses are chosen from Earth's surface processes (EPS 232), the microbiology of surface and near-surface environments (EPS 255), fossil fuels and energy transitions (EPS 274), renewable energies (EPS 275), geochemical principles (EPS 310), geology (EPS 210 or EPS 220 or EPS 312), meteorology (EPS 322), and satellite-based image analysis (EPS 362). Other higher-level courses in EPS can be substituted with the permission of the DUS. Four electives chosen from Earth & Planetary Sciences, Environmental Studies, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Engineering, or related fields provide a broad approach to scientific study of the environment. A list of suggested electives is available from the office of the DUS or on the department website. Electives may be chosen from the core courses, and at least two must be from EPS.
- The Paleontology and Geobiology track focuses on the fossil record of life and evolution, geochemical imprints of life, and interactions between life and Earth. Topics range from morphology, function, relationships, and biogeography of the fossils themselves, through the contexts of fossil finds in terms of stratigraphy, sediment geochemistry, paleoecology, paleoclimate, and geomorphology, to analysis of the larger causes of paleontological, geobiological, and evolutionary patterns. Integrative approaches are emphasized that link fossil evidence with the physical and chemical evolution of Earth. The prerequisites are college-level biology (BIOL 101–104, or MCDB 120 and E&EB 122), CHEM 165 or CHEM 167, and mathematics through multivariate calculus (MATH 120 or ENAS 151). The major requirements consist of at least twelve term courses, for at least eleven and a half course credits, beyond the prerequisites, including either the senior essay or the senior thesis. Students take one of EPS 100; EPS 101; or EPS 110 with 111L, to gain geological and environmental context, and they also take EPS 125 and 126L as an introduction to the fossil record and evolution. Four core courses are chosen from topics in four of the following areas: in sedimentary processes (EPS 232 or EPS 355), the study of evolution (E&EB 225), vertebrates and vertebrate paleontology (EPS 270 or EPS 325 or EPS 375), invertebrate paleontology (EPS 313), paleoecology (EPS 345), microbiology in past and present environments (EPS 255), Earth's carbon cycle and climate (EPS 310 or 402), and statistical data analysis as applied to the life sciences (S&DS 101 or equivalent). Other higher-level courses in EPS can be substituted with the permission of the DUS. Four electives selected from Earth and Planetary Sciences, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, and related fields offer students flexibility in pursuing their specific interests. A list of suggested electives is available from the office of the DUS or on the department website. At least four of the twelve term courses should be upper level (200 or above) paleontology courses and at least one elective must be from EPS.
- The Solid Earth Science track emphasizes an integrated geological, geochemical, and geophysical approach to the study of processes operating within Earth and their manifestations on the surface. It includes the structure, dynamics, and kinetics of Earth's interior and their impacts on our environment both in the long term (e.g., the evolution of the land surface) and in the short term (e.g., the causes of natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions). Students acquire a fundamental understanding of the solid Earth system, both as it exists today and as it has evolved over geologic time scales. The prerequisites are CHEM 165 or CHEM 167, physics (PHYS 170, 171; or PHYS 180, 181; or PHYS 200, 201), and mathematics through multivariate calculus (MATH 120 or ENAS 151). The major requirements consist of at least eleven courses, for at least eleven course credits, beyond the prerequisites, including either the senior essay or the senior thesis. To begin study of the Earth system, majors take two introductory courses in EPS, selected from EPS 100; EPS 101; EPS 110 with 111L; EPS 125 with 126L; or EPS 140. The core of the track consists of four courses chosen from topics in mountain building and global tectonics (EPS 210 or EPS 212 or EPS 350), rocks and minerals (EPS 220), sedimentary rocks and processes (EPS 232), isotope geochemistry (EPS 310), and structural geology (EPS 312). Other higher-level courses in EPS can be substituted with the permission of the DUS. Students also select four electives in geology, geochemistry, geophysics, or related topics. A list of suggested electives is available from the office of the DUS or on the department website. Electives may be chosen from core courses, and at least two must be from EPS.
B.A. degree programThe B.A. degree in Earth and Planetary Sciences requires fewer upper-level courses than the B.S. degree. It may be more appropriate for students who plan to fulfill the requirements of two majors, who study Earth and Planetary Sciences in preparation for a career in law, business, government, or environmental fields, or who decide to pursue a science major only after the first year. The prerequisites include mathematics (MATH 115), biology (BIOL 101 and 102, or MCDB 120, or EPS 255), or physics (PHYS 170, 171; or PHYS 180, 181; or PHYS 200,