UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAM

Program Description

B.S. Degrees in Earth & Planetary Sciences

• Standard Major
• B.S. with concentration in Environmental Geology
• B.S. with concentration in Ocean Sciences
• B.S. with Concentration in Science Education
• B.S. with concentration in Planetary Sciences

B.A. Degree Combined Major in Earth & Planetary Sciences/Environmental Studies (under Department of Environmental Studies)

B.A. Degree Combined Major in Earth & Planetary Sciences/Anthropology

Minor in Earth & Planetary Sciences

Program Description

Earth & planetary sciences encompass a broad understanding of the origin and evolution of the Earth and its life forms. These endeavors have been unified by the theory of plate tectonics, which considers the Earth's surface to be broken into a number of interlocking plates. Plate movements result in ocean basin formation, mountain building, and plate translation along great faults such as the San Andreas, only 15 kilometers east of Santa Cruz. Most earthquakes and volcanic activity occur at modern plate boundaries. Energy, mineral and water resources, geologic hazards, pollution of natural waters, climate change and earthquake hazard reduction and prediction comprise some of the pressing societal concerns of the Earth & planetary sciences.

An academic degree in the Earth & planetary sciences present a broad range of opportunities. Students obtaining a good background in geology and related disciplines will be prepared for a wide variety of employment opportunities in teaching, research, government, consulting firms, and industrial institutions. On-campus research facilities include laboratories in seismology (the William Keck Laboratory and the Crustal Imaging Laboratory), paleomagnetism, high pressure and temperature mineral physics, isotope geochemistry, electron microscopy, and XRF, ICP and XRD spectrometers, coastal geology, earth system modeling, and surface processes (groundwater, geomorphology).

The activities of the first five laboratories listed above are coordinated by the Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics. UCSC faculty in Earth & planetary sciences and physics work jointly in research on tectonics, the interdisciplinary science about processes, composition, and structure of the dynamic Earth system. Research scientists associated with the Institute greatly intensify tectonic investigation, adding significantly to the intellectual and teaching resources available in Earth & planetary sciences at UCSC. The Earth & Planetary Sciences Department at Santa Cruz is also associated with the Institute of Marine Sciences, a group of physical, biological, and chemical oceanographers with a graduate program of their own. Students often have opportunities to engage in sea-going research aboard a coastal research vessel, or occasionally on the larger research vessels of the nearby U.S. Geological Survey, Monterey Bay Aquatic Research Institution (MBARI), or various oceanographic institutions.

Earth & planetary sciences instruction at UCSC encompasses geology, geochemistry, and geophysics, as applied to surficial and internal processes and to geological oceanography. All upper division electives build upon three Foundation Courses (see page 16). Faculty and research staff cover many Earth & planetary sciences sub-disciplines including: igneous petrology; trace element and isotope geochemistry; paleontology and paleoecology; mineral physics; geomorphology; hydrology; geologic hazards; plate tectonics; earthquake and global seismology; crustal seismology; paleomagnetism; paleoceanography; glaciology; planetary geology; and paleoclimatology and global climate modeling.

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Bachelor of Science Degree

The B.S. program is designed for students who intend to pursue a professional career in the Earth and planetary sciences and desire the best preparation possible.  To assure adequate preparation in the basic physical sciences and adequate breadth in the Earth and planetary sciences, the curriculum is structured so that students are well prepared for competition for graduate schools and can make flexible career decisions.  There are a total of 18 course requirements for the standard major, including nine preparation courses, four core Earth sciences courses and their associated laboratories, an optional 1-unit mentorship course, plus four upper-division electives.

Preparation for the Standard Major (9 courses)

• Chemistry 1A, 1B/M and 1C/N
• Mathematics 11A or 19A, 11B or 19B, and EART 111 or Mathematics 22 or 23A
• Physics 6A/L, 6B/M
• Physics 6C/N or Chemistry 108A/L or Chemistry 112A/L

Requirements for the Standard Major (8-9 courses)

• EART 5/L, 10/L or 20/L
• EART 110A/L, 110B/M, and 110C/N
• EART 190 (optional, 1 unit)
• (At least) four upper division elective courses
• Plus a Senior Comprehensive Requirement (see list at the end of this section).

Students are free to take more than the minimum number of upper division elective courses and to combine additional courses from the general list of offerings to fit individual needs. They might optionally select from one of these suggested groupings:

Earth Surface Processes:  107, 109/L*, 116*, 119*, 120/L*, 128, 140/L*, 142*, 146*, 148*, 163
Emphasizes understanding the fluxes of energy, water, mass, and chemicals within and across Earth’s surface, and the relations to climatic and tectonic forcing processes.

Earth System Sciences:  100/L, 101/L, 102, 107, 109/L*, 116*, 119*, 120/L*, 121, 125, 128, 140/L*, 148*, OCEA 102
Focuses on terrestrial, marine and atmospheric processes and their relations through time.  May include paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental dynamics, global change issues, and surface geological processes such as weathering, erosion and hydrology.

Earthquake and Faulting Studies:  109/L*, 117/L*, 119*, 150/L*, 162, 168*, 172
Focuses on crustal deformation and faulting processes, and related phenomena such as plate motions, earthquakes and stress in the lithosphere.

Geologic Hazards:  104, 105, 107, 109/L*, 116*, 140/L*, 142*, 146*
Focuses on Earth processes that impact society, including earthquakes, volcanoes, coastal erosion, and landslides.

Geology:  109/L*, 117/L*, 120/L*, 130/L*, 140/L*, 150/L*
Emphasizes a traditional broad background with field skills, rock genesis and interpretation, and structural relations.

Geophysics:  117/L*, 119*, 150/L*, 162, 160, 168*, 172
Develops breadth in geophysical techniques, composition and structure of the Earth’s deep interior and gravitational and magnetic fields.

Marine Geophysics:  107, 117/L*, 146*, 150/L*, 152*, 168*
Emphasizes a breadth of geological and geophysical background for continuing study of the processes involved in the growth, evolution, and destruction of the ocean floor and margins.

Water Resources: 105,109/L*,116*,119*,121,140/L*,142, 146*,148*,ETOX 144,OCEA 120

Focuses on water resources quality and quantity, and relations between climate and water in and on the crust.

Two of the four upper-division electives must involve significant laboratory or field data acquisition/analysis and should be drawn from the courses above indicated with an * .

Students preparing themselves for more quantitative aspects of Earth & planetary sciences or other disciplines should also consider taking the more rigorous series of math and physics courses (Math 19A, 19B, 23A-B and Physics 5A/L, 5B/M and 5C/N).

Senior Comprehensive Requirement for the B.S. (three options)

Students complete one of the following three options:

1)  Satisfactory completion of courses 188A and 188B (Senior Field Internship). Prerequisites include:  courses 109/L, 110A/L and 110B/M.  (120/L, 130/L, 140/L, 150/L also provide excellent preparation but are not required.) Enrollment is limited and per instructor approval only.   Applications for participation in this spring/summer program are due the previous December.  Fulfills the “W” (writing intensive) general education requirement.

2)  Satisfactory completion of a senior thesis.  The senior thesis must include a significant element of independent research or original work, and can only be undertaken after agreement is obtained from a faculty member to supervise it.  Independent study course 195 (Thesis Research) is recommended and required to fulfill the “W” general education requirement.

3)  Exemplary performance, including a major written report, in a graduate level course.
Permission from the instructor, including a code for enrollment, is required.

Options #2 and #3 require submittal of a form (which may be obtained at the Undergraduate Program Staff Advisor's Office) to the supervising faculty person for approval/signature.

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Earth & Planetary Sciences Major with Concentration in Environmental Geology (B.S.)

The environmental geology concentration is designed to provide quantitative preparation for career pathways involving interdisciplinary study of the environment with a geological emphasis. Additional biology and environmental studies courses are required for this concentration along with other distributions of upper division requirements and electives.

Required Lower-Division Preparation (11 courses)

• Earth & Planetary Sciences 20/L (recommended), or 5/L or 10/L
• Environmental Studies 25
• BIOL 20A
• BIOE 20B and 20C
• Chemistry 1A, 1B/M and 1C/N
• Mathematics 11Aor 19A and 11B or 19B
• Physics 6A/L and 6B/M

Required Upper-Division Work (9-10 courses)

• EART 110A/L, 110B/M, BIOE 107
• EART 190 (optional)
• At least four of the following Earth sciences courses:  100/L, 101/L, 102, 104, 105, 107, 109/L, 110C/N, 111, 116, 120/L, 121, 128, 140/L, 142, 146, 148, 150/L
• Two additional upper-division electives from biology, chemistry, Earth sciences, environmental studies, or ocean sciences with an environmental focus

Students also complete one of the three options for a senior comprehensive requirement described above.

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Earth & Planetary Sciences Major with Concentration in Ocean Sciences (B.S.)

The ocean sciences concentration is intended to provide quantitative preparation for career pathways that include ocean biogeochemistry. Additional biology and chemistry courses are required for this concentration, along with other distributions of upper-division requirements and electives.

Required Lower-Division Preparation (11 courses)

• EART 5/L or 10/L or 20/L
• BIOL 20A and BIOE 20B
• Chemistry 1A, 1B/M and 1C/N
• Mathematics 11A or 19A and 11B or 19B
• Mathematics 22 or 23A or EART 111
• Physics 6A/L and 6B/M

Required Upper-Division Work (10-12 courses)

• EART 110A/L, 110B/M, 110C/N
• EART 190 (optional)
• Chemistry 108A/L and 108B/M or 112A/L and 112B/M and 112C/N
• Ocean Sciences 101 or 102
• Plus four electives from the following list:
  • EART 101, 102, 105, 109/L, 116, 119, 120/120L, 121, 128, 130/L, 140/L, 148, 172; Chemistry 122; Ocean Sciences 101, 102, 118, 120, 124, 130, 200, 211, 213, 215, 220, 260, 285

Students also complete the comprehensive requirement by writing a senior thesis with Ocean Sciences faculty and/or Earth & Planetary Sciences faculty sponsorship. A topic emphasizing ocean sciences is recommended. They may also substitute one of the other two options listed above.

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Earth & Planetary Sciences with Concentration in Science Education (B.S.)

The Science Education concentration is designed to provide future K-12 science teachers with coursework aligned with the California K-12 Earth and planetary science standards, a broad background across the sciences, and a thorough introduction to educational theory and practice including a sequence of three classroom-based internships. Additional biology, astronomy, and ocean science courses required for this concentration will ensure that students are very well prepared to enter a rigorous teaching credential program and ultimately a career in education. The senior comprehensive requirement involves a curriculum development project jointly overseen by faculty in Earth and Planetary Sciences and UCSC’s Cal Teach program.

Students may start with either the Cal Teach or Earth and Planetary Sciences department for degree and course information, but must stay in contact with both for dual advising and development of study plans as well as approval for formally declaring the major.

Required Lower-Division Preparation

• EART 5/L (strongly recommended) or 10/L or 20/L
• ASTR 2 (recommended) or another lower division course
• BIOL 20A
• BIOE 20B and 20C (ENVS 24 may be substituted for BIOE 20C)
• Chemistry 1A, 1B/M and 1C/N
• Education 50C
• Mathematics 11A and 11B, or 19A and 19B
• Physics 7A/L and 7B/M

Required Upper-Division Work

• Ocean Sciences 102
• EART 110A/L and 110B/M
• EART 109/L, or both 120/L and 150/L
• EART 111, or Math 21 or 22, or Applied Math and Statistics 5
• One upper-division course in Earth and Planetary Sciences or Ocean Sciences
• One upper-division course in Earth and Planetary Sciences or Ocean Sciences that must involve significant laboratory or field data acquisition/analysis
• Education 100C, 180A, 185C, 185L
• One upper-division Education course from the following list: 128, 141, 164, or 181.

Students complete a comprehensive requirement by doing an independent project through EART 194F, which applies knowledge of Earth and planetary sciences to K-12 curriculum development.

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Earth & Planetary Sciences Major with Concentration in Planetary Sciences (B.S.)

The planetary sciences concentration is designed to provide students with a quantitative background appropriate for career pathways in the interdisciplinary study of planets. The upper-division elective courses can be tailored for students interested in planetary interiors, atmospheres, and/or surfaces.

Required Lower-Division Preparation (10-11 courses)

• EART 10/L (recommended) or 5/L or 20/L
• Astronomy 14 or 16 or 18
• Chemistry 1A, 1B/M and 1C/N
• Mathematics 19A and 19B (preferred) or 11A and 11B
• Mathematics 22 or 23A or EART 111
• Physics  5A/L, 5B/M, 5C/N (preferred) or 6A/L, 6B/M, 6C/N; Physics 5D recommended

Required Upper-Division Work (9-10 courses)

• EART 110A/L, 110B/M, 110C/N, 119, 160,
• EART 190 (optional)
• Any one of:  EART 162, 163, or 164
• Plus three electives from the following list: 
  • EART 107, 109/L, 116, 117/L, 121, 128, 130/L, 140/L, 148, 150/L, 152, 162, 163, 164, 172, 209, 210, Mathematics 130, Astronomy 112, 118

Students also complete the comprehensive requirement by writing a senior thesis with an Earth & planetary sciences or Astronomy faculty sponsorship. A topic emphasizing planetary sciences is recommended. They may also substitute one of the other two options listed above.

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Combined Earth & Planetary Sciences/Environmental Studies Major (B.A.)

The combined major in Environmental Studies and Earth Sciences is intended to provide students with the basic tools of both disciplines needed to address environmental problems. Suggested plans of study include water policy/hydrology, restoration ecology, agroecology/soil physical processes and environmental policy/climate change, among others.  Both departments should be contacted for advising, beginning with the Environmental Studies Department, who determines if lower division coursework has been completed in order to meet the criteria for entering this major.  Unlike the B.A. degree in Earth Sciences described above as a part of a double major, this is a single degree earned in coordination with the Environmental Studies department.  Requirements are equally balanced between these social science and natural science disciplines.

Lower-Division Requirements for Environmental Studies (4 courses)

• 1 course in Ecology (ENVS 24 at UCSC)
• 1 course in Economics and Politics (ENVS 25 at UCSC)
• 1 course in Cultural Anthropology, Introduction to Sociology or Ethics (ANTH 2 or SOCY 1 or 15, or  PHIL 21, 22, 24, 28, or 80G or STEV 80ABC)
• 1 course in Statistics (AMS 7/L at UCSC)

Lower-Division Preparation for Earth & Planetary Sciences (7 courses)

• EART 20/L (recommended) or 5/L or 10/L
• Chemistry 1A, 1B/M and 1C/N
• Mathematics 11A or 19A and 11B or 19B
• Physics 6A/L and 6B/M

Required Upper-Division Courses (8 total)

• ENVS 100/L
• EART 110A/L or 110B/M or 110C/N
• Plus any three upper division courses from each discipline. (including one ENVS course in social sciences. e.g. ENVS 110, 130B, 140, 141, 143, 149)

The senior comprehensive requirement may be filled by completing one of the following:

• ENVS 190 or ENVS 196 or ENVS 183B senior internship
• EART 188A /188B (Prerequisites:  EART 109/L, 110A/L, 110B/M; see restrictions.)
• ENVS 195 or EART 195 and a senior thesis with a faculty advisor from both departments

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Combined Earth & Planetary Sciences/Anthropology Major (B.A.)

The Earth Sciences/Anthropology combined major is intended for students with interest in Earth sciences and the laboratory-based aspect of anthropology.  These include anthropology students interested in archaeology or paleoanthropology who desire more intensive training in natural sciences, and Earth sciences students with interests in paleobiology or archaeology.  Students should contact both departments for advising.  Unlike the B.A. degree in Earth Sciences described above as a part of a double major, this is a single degree earned in coordination with the Anthropology department.  Requirements are equally balanced between these social science and natural science disciplines.

Lower-Division Requirements for Anthropology (3 courses)

• Anthropology 1, 2, and 3

Lower-Division Preparation for Earth & Planetary Sciences (8 courses)

• EART 5/L or 10/L or 20/L
• Mathematics 11A or 19A and 11B or 19B
• Five lower-division cognate science courses, plus labs, chosen from the following:
  • Chemistry 1A, 1B/M, 1C/N
  • BIOL 20A, BIOE 20B, 20C
• Physics 6A/L, 6B/L

Required Upper-Division Courses (8 total)

• EART 110A/L
• Plus any three EART upper division elective courses
• Any four ANTH upper division elective courses from the Physcial Anthropology or Archaeology concentrations

The senior comprehensive requirement may be filled by completing one of the following:

• ANTH 194__ (Any senior seminar in Physical Anthropology or Archaeology)
• EART 188A /188B (Prerequisites:  EART 109/L, 110A/L, 110B/M; see restrictions)
• ANTH 195 or EART 195 and a senior thesis with a faculty advisor from both departments
• Any approved Anthropology or Earth Sciences field program

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Minor Requirements

Students can earn a minor in Earth Sciences by taking courses 5/L or 10/L or 20/L, and five additional upper-division Earth sciences courses.  Transferred courses or those from other departments (such as Ocean Sciences or Environmental Studies) may be approved for substitution by petition.