Earth and Environmental Science

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Content Objectives of the Earth and Environmental Science Major

Completing the Earth and Environmental Science major gives students a broad understanding of the Earth works and how humans interact with their physical environment.  At completion of the program, graduates know the basic physical and chemical processes that operate in and on the planet and understand how direct and indirect methods are used to examine and understand the structure, composition and dynamics of Earth.  Graduates appreciate how humans and ecosystems interact with the dynamic Earth, and have an in-depth knowledge of the atmosphere and climate change, the rock cycle, natural hazards and the hydrologic and biogeochemical cycles.  Additionally, they understand the scale of properties and process of environmental change both time and space.

Skill Set Objectives of the Earth and Environmental Science Major

While completing the Earth and Environmental Science major, students acquire a broad range of skills in mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology and data analysis. Students can determine the environmental or geologic processes that have led to the current state of environmental change. Graduates can use the basic equipment of a geologic or environmental science laboratory or outdoor campaign.  Graduates are able to analyze scientific literature, interpret scientific data, understand the scientific process and conduct a research project. They know which basic statistical and graphical tests should be used, how to perform them, and how to communicate the results to varying audiences.  Graduates have the skills and knowledge to achieve admission to graduate school, professional degree programs, or gain employment.

Revised Curriculum/Course Requirements

  • EESC1000 Earth Systems Science

One course and associated labs in two out of the three disciplines

Physics (1.5 CU):

  • PHYS0101 General Physics: Mechanics, Heat and Sound (lab included) (1.5 CU)
  • PHYS0102 General Physics: Electromagnetism, Optics, and Modern Physics (lab included) (1.5 CU)
  • PHYS0150 Principles of Physics I: Mechanics and Wave Motion (lab included) (1.5 CU)
  • PHYS0151 Principles of Physics II: Electromagnetism and Radiation (lab included) (1.5 CU)
  • PHYS0170 Honors Physics I: Mechanics and Wave Motion (lab included) (1.5 CU)
  • PHYS0171 Honors Physics II: Electromagnetism and Radiation (lab included) (1.5 CU)

Chemistry (1.5 CU):

  • CHEM1011 Intro to General Chemistry I (1 CU) and CHEM1101 General Chemistry Lab I (0.5 CU)
  • CHEM1012 General Chemistry I (1 CU) and CHEM1101 General Chemistry Lab I (0.5 CU)
  • CHEM1021 Intro to General Chemistry II (1 CU) and CHEM1102 General Chemistry Lab II (0.5 CU)
  • CHEM1022 General Chemistry II (1 CU) and CHEM1102 General Chemistry Lab II (0.5 CU). Total (1.5 CU)

Biology (1.5 CU):

  • BIOL1101 Intro to Biology A lecture (lab included) (1.5 CU) 
  • BIOL1102 Intro to Biology B lecture (lab included) (1.5 CU)
  • BIOL1121 The Molecular Biology of Life (1 CU) and BIOL1123 Intro Molecular Biology Lab (0.5 CU)
  • MATH1400 Calculus, Part I (1 CU)
  • MATH1410: Calculus Part II (1 CU)
  • MATH1510 Calculus, Part II with Probability and Matrices (1 CU)
  • MATH2400 Calculus, Part III (1 CU)
  • MATH2410 Calculus, Part IV (1 CU)
  • STAT1110 Introductory Statistics (1 CU)
  • BIOL4510: Statistics for Biologists (1 CU)
  • ESE3010: Engineering Probability (1 CU)
  • ANTH5454: Quantitative Analysis of Anthropological Data (1 CU)
Experiential - 1 CU
  • EESC2983 Study Abroad (via XCAT)
  • EESC3003 Penn in the Alps
  • EESC3600 Earth’s Surface
  • ENVS1615 Urban Environments: Speaking About Lead in West Philadelphia
  • ENVS1650 The Role of Water in Urban Sustainability and Resiliency
  • ENVS1665 Air Pollution: Sources & Effects in Urban Environments
  • ENVS3103 Penn Global Seminar: Case Studies in Environmental Sustainability
  • ENVS5404 Wetlands
  • BIOL4600 Field Botany
  • BIOL4615 Freshwater Ecology
Deep Time - 1 CU
  • EESC2500 Earth and Life through Geologic Time
  • EESC1500 Paleontology
  • ANTH 0030 Human Origins, Evolution and Diversity
  • BIOL 2410 Evolutionary Biology
Climate Science - 1 CU
  • EESC2300 Global Climate Change
  • EESC3300 Glaciers, Ice and Climate
  • EESC4336 Ocean and Atmosphere Dynamics
Spatial Analysis - 1 CU
  • EESC5706 Modelling Geographic Objects
  • ENVS3700 GIS: Mapping Places and Analysis of Spaces
  • ENVS4700 Remote Sensing
  • URBS 3300 GIS Applications in Social Science
  • EESC1060 Natural Disturbances and Disasters
  • EESC2500 Earth and Life through Geologic Time
  • EESC2100 Earth Materials
  • EESC2300 Global Climate Change
  • EESC2500 Paleontology
  • EESC2800 Earth’s Interior
  • EESC2983 Study Abroad
  • EESC2999 Independent Study
  • EESC3600 Earth’s Surface
  • EESC4336 Ocean and Atmosphere Dynamics
  • EESC3300 Glaciers, Ice and Climate
  • EESC3003 Penn in the Alps
  • EESC4991 Topics in Earth Science
  • EESC4300 Earth’s Weather
  • EESC4700 Remote Sensing
  • EESC4660 Soil Science
  • EESC4200 Geochemistry
  • EESC4800 Geophysics
  • EESC4400 Biogeochemistry
  • EESC4440 Geomicrobiology
  • EESC4320 Atmospheric Chemistry
  • EESC4630 Intro to Hydrology
  • EESC4360 Environmental Fluid Dynamics
  • EESC5706 Modelling Geographic Objects
  • ENVS1000 Introduction to Environmental Science
  • ENVS1615 Urban Environments: Speaking About Lead in West Philadelphia
  • ENVS1650 The Role of Water in Urban Sustainability and Resiliency
  • ENVS1665 Air Pollution: Sources & Effects in Urban Environments
  • ENVS3100 Environmental Case Studies
  • ENVS3103 Penn Global Seminar: Case Studies in Environmental Sustainability
  • ENVS3700 GIS Mapping Places and Analyzing Spaces
  • ENVS4250 Our Water Planet
  • ENVS5404 Wetlands
  • BIOL1604 Humans & the Environment
  • BIOL2410 Evolution
  • BIOL 2610 Ecology: from individuals to ecosystems
  • BIOL3625 Marine Biology
  • BIOL3430 Vertebrate Biology
  • BIOL4600 Field Botany
  • BIOL4410 Advanced Evolution
  • BIOL4615 Freshwater Ecology
  • BIOL4623 Plant Ecology
  • EAS3010 Climate Policy and Technology
  • EAS4010 Energy and Its Impacts: Technology, Environment, Economics, Sustainability
  • EAS4020 Renewable Energy and Its Impacts: Technology, Environment, Economics, Sustainability
  • EAS4030 Energy Systems and Policy
  • PHYS0016 Energy, Oil, Global Warming

Students selecting the honors option must complete a senior thesis, a two semester senior thesis course with a grade of B+ or higher, and earn a minimum GPA of 3.25 in the major.  

  • EESC4997 Senior Thesis (2 CU)