Requirements

Earth and Oceanographic Science (EOS) Major

The major consists of ten courses.

Earth and Oceanographic Science Minor

The minor consists of five courses.

Additional Information and Department Policy

• First-year writing seminars do not count toward the major or minor requirements.
• Only one course numbered 1100–1999 in earth and oceanographic science may be counted toward the major requirements.
• Students may opt to begin the major with EOS 2005 Biogeochemistry: An Analysis of Global Change having previously taken BIOL 1102 Biological Principles II or BIOL 1109 Scientific Reasoning in Biology; or CHEM 1092 Introductory Chemistry and Quantitative Reasoning II, CHEM 1102 Introductory Chemistry II; or CHEM 1109 General Chemistry. Such students may substitute an intermediate EOS laboratory course (2000–2969) or research experience course (EOS 3115 Research in Mineral Science, or EOS 3515 Research in Oceanography: Topics in Paleoceanography) for introductory EOS (1100–1999).
• Independent studies do not count toward the major or minor requirements.
• All courses counted toward the major or minor must be completed with a C- or better.
• Courses taken to fulfill major or minor requirements must be taken for regular letter grades (not Credit/D/Fail).
• Normally, one course taken at another college or university may be counted toward the earth and oceanographic science major requirements with departmental approval.
• Courses taken at other institutions or study away programs may not be counted toward the EOS minor.
• Students coordinating their EOS major with environmental studies may only double-count two cross-listed courses.  Minors may double-count an unlimited number of cross-listed courses with another department or program. 

Postgraduate Study

Students planning postgraduate study in earth and oceanographic science should note that they might present a stronger application if they take additional courses in the department and in the contributing sciences: biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and physics. It is strongly advised that students consult with faculty on the design of their major and discuss the options of research projects through independent studies, fellowship-funded summer research, and honors projects.

Interdisciplinary Majors

The department does not explicitly participate in formal interdisciplinary programs. However, the Departments of Earth and Oceanographic Science and Physics have identified major and minor pathways for students interested in majoring in earth and oceanographic science with an interest in physics (earth and oceanographic science major/physics minor), and students interested in majoring in physics with an earth and oceanographic science application (physics major/earth and oceanographic science minor). Students interested in an earth and oceanographic science major/physics minor with a focus in the solid earth discipline would be best served by selecting their optional physics courses from:

Students interested in an earth and oceanographic science major/physics minor with a focus in the surface earth discipline would be best served by selecting their optional physics courses from:

Students interested in an earth and oceanographic science major/physics minor with a focus in the oceanography discipline would be best served by selecting their optional physics courses from: