Bachelor of Science in Earth Systems

The B.S. in Earth Systems (EARTHSYS) requires the completion of at least 94 units that can be divided into three levels of courses. The student must complete a series of courses comprising a broad base of specialized study which includes the Earth Systems core, as well as track-specific requirements and electives. Finally, the student must carry out a senior-level research or internship project and participate in the senior seminar, as well as the writing in the major requirement.

REQUIRED CORE

Subject and Catalog Number	Units
EARTHSYS 10. Introduction to Earth Systems	4
EARTHSYS 111. Biogeosphere	4
EARTHSYS 112. Human Society and Environmental Change	4
EARTHSYS 210. Senior Seminar	3
EARTHSYS 260. Internship	9

REQUIRED FOUNDATION AND BREADTH COURSES

Biology (any one course below):

BIO 41. Genetics, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology	5
or BIO 43. Plant Biology, Evolution, and Ecology	5
or BIO 101. Ecology	3
or HUMBIO 2A,B. Genetics, Evolution and Ecology; Culture Evolution, and Society	10

Chemistry:

CHEM 31A. Chemical Principles I	4
CHEM 31B. Chemical Principles II	4
or CHEM 31X. Chemical Principles	4

Economics:

ECON 1A. Elementary Microeconomics

Geological and Environmental Sciences:

GES 1A, B, or C. Fundamentals of Geology	4-5
or EESS 2. Earth System History	3

Mathematics:

MATH 19. Calculus	3
MATH 20. Calculus	3
MATH 21. Calculus	4
or MATH 41. Calculus	5
MATH 42. Calculus	5
MATH 51. Linear Equations and Differential Calculus of Several Variables	5

Probability and Statistics (any one course below):

BIOHOPK 174H. Experimental Design and Probability	3
BIO 141. Biostatistics (Same as STATS 141)	4
ECON 102A. Introduction to Statistical Methods for Social Scientists	5
EESS 160. Statistical Methods for Earth and Environmental Sciences	4
EESS 161. Geostatistics	4
STATS 60. Introduction to Statistical Methods	5
STATS 110. Statistical Methods in Engineering and Physical Sciences	4
STATS 116. Theory of Probability	3-5

Physics:

PHYSICS 41. Mechanics

More extensive work in mathematics and physics may be expected for those planning graduate study. Graduate study in ecology and evolutionary biology and in economics requires familiarity with differential equations, linear algebra, and stochastic processes. Graduate study in geology, oceanography, and geophysics may require more physics and chemistry. Students should consult their adviser for recommendations beyond the requirements specified above.

TRACKS

ANTHROSPHERE

Additional foundation and breadth courses:

ECON 50. Economic Analysis	5
ECON 155. Environmental Economics and Policy	5

Choose one course in each of the three following sub-categories, total six required. At least one of the six must be a skills class marked with and asterisk (*).

Economics and Environmental Policy:

ECON 51. Economic Analysis II	5
ECON 102B. Introduction to Econometrics*	5
ECON 150. Economic Policy Analysis	5
ECON 154. Economics of Legal Rules and Institutions	5
EARTHSYS 147. Controlling Climate Change in the 21st Century	3
EARTHSYS 175. The California Coast: Science, Policy, and Law	3-4
MSE 197. Ethics and Public Policy	5
MSE 243. Energy and Environmental Policy Analysis	3
MSE 248. Economics of Natural Resources	3-4
MSE 294. Climate Policy Analysis	3

Social Entrepreneurship and the Environment:

MSE 245G. Finance 1 for Non-MBAs	3-5
MSE 280. Organizational Behavior: Evidence in Action	3-4
MSE 285. Negotiation	3
MSE 288. Creating Infectious Action	3-4
URBANST 132. Concepts and Analytical Skills for the Social Sector*	4
URBANST 133. Social Entrepreneurship Collaboratory	4

Sustainable Development:

ANTHRO 115A. Environmental Crises and State Collapse	3
ANTHRO 162. Indigenous Peoples and Environmental Problems	3-5
ANTHRO 343. Culture as Commodity	5
ANTHRO 349. Anthropology of Capitalism	5
ANTHRO 161. Human Behavioral Ecology	3-5
BIO 102. Demography: Health, Development, Environment	3
CEE 124. Sustainable Development Studio (must be taken for at least 3 units)	1-5
CEE 142A. Sustainable Development	3
EARTHSYS 180. Fundamentals of Sustainable Agriculture	3
ECON 52. Economic Analysis III*	5
ECON 106. World Food Economy*	5
ECON 118. The Economics of Development	5
HUMBIO 118. Theory of Environmental and Ecological Anthropology	5
MSE 264. Sustainable Product Development and Manufacturing	3
POLISCI 140. Political Economy of Development	5
POLISCI 143. Nongovernmental Organizations and Development in Poor Countries	5
URBANST 163. Land Use Control	4

BIOSPHERE

Additional foundation and breadth courses:

BIO 41. Genetics, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology	5
BIO 43. Plant Biology, Evolution, and Ecology	5
CHEM 33. Structure and Reactivity	4

Biogeochemistry (choose one):

BIO 216. Terrestrial Biogeochemistry	3
EARTHSYS 189. Field Studies in Earth Systems	5
EESS 143. Marine Biogeochemistry	3-4
EESS 155. Science of Soils	4

Conservation Biology (choose one):

HUMBIO 112. Conservation Biology	4
BIOHOPK 173H. Marine Conservation Biology	3

Ecology (choose two):

BIO 101. Ecology	3
BIO 125. Ecosystems of California	3
BIO 136. Evolutionary Paleobiology	4
BIO 145. Behavioral Ecology	4
GES 123. Invertebrate Paleobiology	4

Ecosystems and Society (choose one):

ANTHRO 115A. Environmental Crises and State Collapse: Lessons from the Past	3
ANTHRO 162. Indigenous Peoples and Environmental Problems	3-5
ANTHRO 165. Parks and Peoples: The Benefits and Costs of Protected Area Conservation	5
ANTHRO 166. Political Ecology of Tropical Land Use	3-5
EARTHSYS 165. Promoting Behavior Change	4
EARTHSYS 180. Fundamentals of Sustainable Agriculture	3
HUMBIO 114. Environmental Change and Emerging Infectious Diseases	3-5
HUMBIO 118. Theory of Ecological and Environmental Anthropology	5

ENERGY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Additional foundation and breadth courses:

PHYSICS 43. Electricity and Magnetism	4
PHYSICS 45. Light and Heat	4

Energy Resources and Technology:

CEE 176A. Energy Efficient Buildings	3-4
CEE 176B. Electric Power: Renewables and Efficiency	3-4
EARTHSYS 101. Energy and the Environment	3
Choose one of the following:
EARTHSYS 102. Renewable Energy Sources and Greener Energy Processes	3
or EARTHSYS 103. Energy Resources	4-5

Energy Fundamentals:

ENGR 30. Engineering Thermodynamics

Energy Policy (Choose one):

EARTHSYS 147. Controlling Climate Change in the 21st Century	3
MSE 243. Energy and Environmental Policy Analysis	3
MSE 294. Climate Policy Analysis	3
MSE 295. Energy Policy Analysis	3

LAND SYSTEMS

Additional foundation and breadth courses:

EARTHSYS 144. Fundamentals of GIS	4
PHYSICS 45. Light and Heat	4

Choose six courses, with at least one from each grouping:

Land:

BIO 125. Ecosystems of California	3
BIO 144. Conservation Biology	3-4
EARTHSYS 180. Fundamentals of Sustainable Agriculture	3
EARTHSYS 189. Field Studies in Earth Systems	5
ECON 106. World Food Economy	5
EESS 155. Science of Soils	4
HISTORY 254. Popular Culture and American Nature	5

Water:

CEE 101B. Mechanics of Fluids	4
CEE 166A. Watersheds and Wetlands	3
CEE 166B. Floods and Droughts, Dams and Aqueducts	3
CEE 171. Environmental Planning Methods	3
CEE 265D. Water and Sanitation in Developing Countries	3
EARTHSYS 104. The Water Course	3
GES 130. Soil Physics and Hydrology	3

Urban:

CEE 115. Goals and Methods of Sustainable Building Projects	3
CEE 124. Sustainable Development Studio	3-5
CEE 176A. Energy Efficient Buildings	3-4
URBANST 110. Introduction to Urban Studies	4
URBANST 113. Introduction to Urban Design	5
URBANST 163. Land Use Control	4
URBANST 165. Sustainable Urban and Regional Transportation Planning	4-5

OCEANS

Additional foundation and breadth courses:

GES 8. The Oceans: An Introduction to the Marine Environment	3
PHYSICS 45. Light and Heat	4

Physics of the Sea:

CEE 164. Introduction to Physical Oceanography

Biological Oceanography (choose one):

BIOHOPK 163H. Oceanic Biology	4
EESS 143. Marine Biogeochemistry	3-4

Remote Sensing of the Ocean (choose one):

EESS 141. Remote Sensing of the Ocean	4
EARTHSYS 144. Fundamentals of Geographic Information Science (GIS)	4

Additional Requirement (choose one):

One quarter Stanford@SEA (EARTHSYS 323)
One quarter abroad at the Stanford in Australia Program
One quarter at the Hopkins Marine Station

EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE TRACK

Tailored interdisciplinary course of study constructed under the guidance of program directors and the faculty adviser. See Associate Director of Academics for additional information.

UPPER-DIVISION ELECTIVES

Two to three additional courses at the 100-level or above are required. Electives allow students to personalize their curriculum by pursuing higher-level courses offered in their focus area, or by incorporating new academic perspectives. Each must be a minimum of three units and approved by an adviser. The following courses are suggested but not required; this is not an exhaustive list.

ANTHROSPHERE TRACK

CEE 171. Environmental Planning Methods	4
CEE 266A. Watersheds and Wetlands	3
CEE 266B. Floods and Droughts, Dams and Aqueducts	3
CEE 266C. Water Resources and Water Hazards Field Trips	2
ECON 158. Antitrust and Regulation	5
ECON 165. International Economics	5
MS&E 241. Economic Analysis	3-4
PUBLPOL 103B. Ethics and Public Policy	5
GSBGEN 339. Environmental Entrepreneurship	4

BIOSPHERE TRACK

BIO 139. Biology of Birds	3
BIO 175. Tropical Ecology and Conservation	5
BIO 215. Biochemical Evolution	3
BIO 216. Terrestrial Biogeochemistry	3
BIOHOPK 161H. Invertebrate Zoology	5
BIOHOPK 163H. Oceanic Biology	4
BIOHOPK 164H. Marine Botany	4
CEE 274E. Pathogens in the Environment	3
EARTHSYS 147. Controlling Climate Change in the 21st Century	3

ENERGY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TRACK

CEE 156. Building Systems	4
ECON 158. Antitrust and Regulation	5
EE 293A. Fundamentals of Energy Processes	3
EE 293B. Fundamentals of Energy Processes	3
ENERGY120. Fundamentals of Petroleum Engineering	3
ENERGY269. Geothermal Reservoir Engineering	3
GES 115. Engineering Geology Practice	3
ME 131A. Heat Transfer	3
MSE 248. Economics of Natural Resources	3-4

LAND SYSTEMS TRACK

CEE 173A. Energy Resources	4-5
CEE 175A. California Coast: Science, Policy, and Law	3-4
GES 112. Mapping the Geological Environment	3
GES 115. Engineering Geology Practice	3
GES 131. Environmental Earth Sciences II: Fluvial Systems and Landscape Evolution	3
URBANST 132. Concepts and Analytic Skills for the Social Sector	4

OCEANS TRACK

BIOHOPK 161H. Invertebrate Zoology	5
BIOHOPK 164H. Marine Botany	4
EARTHSYS 175. The California Coast: Science, Policy, and Law	3-4

SUMMARY OF COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND UNITS

Earth Systems Introduction and Core	12
Required allied courses	41-62

TRACKS

Anthrosphere	19-30
Biosphere	15-22
Energy Science and Technology	18-22
Land Systems	18-29
Oceans	10-12
Upper-division electives	6-15
Senior research or internship	9
Senior seminar	3
Total units (depending on track, electives)	94-126

HONORS PROGRAM

The honors program in Earth Systems provides students with an opportunity to pursue individual research within a specific area or between areas of Earth Systems, through a year-long mentored research project with an Earth Systems-affiliated faculty member that culminates in a written thesis.

To be admitted to the honors program, applicants must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.4 in Earth Systems course work. Potential honors students should complete the EARTHSYS 111 and EARTHSYS 112 sequence by the end of the junior year. Qualified students apply in Spring Quarter of the junior year, or the fourth quarter before graduation, by submitting a detailed research proposal and a brief statement of support from a faculty research adviser. Students who elect to do an honors thesis should begin planning no later than Winter Quarter of the junior year.

A maximum of 9 units is awarded for thesis research through EARTHSYS 199. Those 9 units may not substitute for any other required parts of the Earth Systems curriculum. All theses are evaluated for acceptance by the thesis faculty adviser and one additional member of the Earth Systems Committee of the Whole.

Honors students are encouraged to present their research through the School of Earth Sciences Annual Research Review, which highlights undergraduate and graduate research in the school during the annual visit of the School of Earth Sciences external Advisory Board. Faculty advisers are encouraged to sponsor presentation of student research results at professional society meetings.

Students interested in a group-oriented, interdisciplinary honors experience should investigate the Goldman Interschool Honors Program in Environmental Science, Technology, and Policy, a program of the School of Earth Sciences. More information on Goldman may be obtained by phoning (650) 725-2745.

Explore Degrees Archive, 2010-11

Explore Courses

Alphabetical Index

Bulletin Archive