Program Requirements

The Climate, Water, and the Environment Subprogram requires 23-26 credit hours of courses in addition to the 9-10 credit hours of core courses required for all BS students in the School of Earth Sciences. Like all Earth Science BS Subprograms, Climate, Water, and the Environment requires the completion of an approved certificate, minor, or any second major. The Climate, Water, and the Environment Subprogram has a 50% overlap with the School of Earth Sciences' Hydrogeology and Marine Science Certificates, meaning that it is possible to earn one of these certificates with as little as two additional courses.

Sample 4-year curriculum

Preparation for the Major (27-29 units)

Note: Supporting science requirements will be changing in spring 2027. See updated requirements.

Supporting math and science (take all, 20 units):

• CHEM 1210: General Chemistry 1 (5 units)
• MATH 1151: Calculus 1
• MATH 1152: Calculus 2
• PHYS 1250: Physics 1 (5 units)

Choose 1 additional supporting science courses (4-5 units):

• BIO 1113: Energy Transfer and Development (4 units)
• BIO 1114: Biological Sciences: Form, Function, Diversity, and Ecology (4 units)
  • Recommended for Marine Science and Natural History Museum Curation Certificates
• CHEM 1220: General Chemistry 2 (5 units)
  • Recommended for Hydrogeology Certificate and the Climate, Water and Environment Subprogram
•  PHYS 1251: Physics 2 (5 units)

One introductory Earth Science course & lab (4 units)

• EARTHSC 1121: The Dynamic Earth (3 units)
• EARTHSC 1105: Geology of the National Parks (3 units)
• EARTHSC 1108: Gemstones (3 units)
• EARTHSC 1151: Natural Hazards (3 units)
• EARTHSC 2203: Environmental Geoscience (3 units, fulfills sustainability course requirement)
• ​​​​​​​EARTHSC 2205: The Planets (3 units)
• ​​​​​​​EARTHSC 2206: Principles of Oceanography (3 units, fulfills sustainability course requirement)

with:

• EARTHSC 1200: Introductory Earth Science Lab (1 unit)

Sustainability Course Requirement (3-4 units) 

• All Earth Science BS majors must take at least one approved sustainability course if not taken as preparation for the major.

Required for everyone in the Climate, Water, and the Environment Subprogram (3 units):

• EARTHSC 4450: Water, Ice, and Energy in the Earth System (3 units, spring)
  • Offered spring semesters

One course on Earth Materials (3-4 units):

• EARTHSC 4421: Earth Materials (3 units, lab component, autumn)
• EARTHSC 4502: Stratigraphy and Sedimentology (4 units, lab component, spring)
  • Requires EARTHSC 1122 or 2122.

Two climate classes (5-6 units including at least one EARTHSC course):

• EARTHSC 4911: Earth’s Climate: Past and Future (3 units, spring)
• EARTHSC 5206: Advanced Oceanography (3 units, autumn)
  • Requires Level 3 standing or above or instructor permission
• EARTHSC 5268: Soils and Climate Change (3 units, spring)
• EARTHSC 5650: Ice, Climate and Sea Level (4 units, lab component, autumn)
  • Requires EARTHSC 4450  or instructor permission
• GEOG 3900: Global Climate Change: Causes and Consequences (3 units)
• GEOG 3901H: Global Climate and Environmental Change (3 units)
• GEOG 5900: Climatology (3 units)

Two water classes (6-7 units including at least one EARTHSC course):

• EARTHSC 5651: Hydrogeology (4 units, lab, autumn)
• EARTHSC 5655: Land Surface Hydrology (3 units, spring)
• ENR 4285: Watershed Hydrology (3 units, lab component)
• EEOB 5420: Aquatic Ecosystems – Ecology of Inland Waters (4 units, autumn alternating years)
  • Requires EEOB 3410 or instructor permission
• ENR 3280: Water Quality Management (2 units)
• ENR 4260: Soil Resource Management (3 units)
  • Requires ENR 3000 or instructor permission
• EARTHSC 5718: Aquatic Geochemistry (3 units, spring)

Two environment classes (6 units including at least one EARTHSC course):

• EARTHSC 5160: Geomicrobiology (3 units, spring of odd-numbered years)
• EARTHSC 5242: Exploring the Natural History of The Bahamas (4 units, spring of even-numbered years)
• EARTHSC 5621: Introduction to Geochemistry (3 units, autumn)
  • Requires CHEM 1220 or above &  level 4 standing in EARTHSC or related field, or permission of instructor
• ENVENG 3200: Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering (3 units, autumn & spring)
• ENVENG 2100: Environmental Engineering Analytical Methods (3 units, spring)
  • Requires CHEM 1220 or 1250
• ENR 3000: Soil Science (3 units, autumn)
• EARTHSC 5203: Geo-Environment and Human Health (3 units, Not currently scheduled)
• EARTHSC 5656: Ecohydrology in a Changing Climate (3 units, Not currently scheduled)

Required for all Earth Sciences BS (7-10 units)

• EARTHSC 2000: Preparation for Thesis and Careers in Earth Sciences (1 unit, autumn)
• EARTHSC 2245: Introductory Data Analysis for Earth and Environmental Sciences (4 units, spring)
• EARTHSC 4999.01: Undergraduate Research for Thesis in Earth Sciences (1 unit, graded)

Applying for research distinction

If you choose to apply for research distinction, you must enroll in 1 unit of 4999.01 in the semester you plan to graduate and enroll in at least 3 units of 4999.02 anytime during your degree, which includes the semester you plan to graduate. Honors program students should enroll in 4999.01H and 4999.02H. Applications to apply for research distinction are due early in your penultimate semester. More information is available at the ASC advising website.