Earth Sciences (BS)

Students examine the aftermath of Ridgecrest earthquake. Photo by Andrew Jorgensen.
Students examine the aftermath of Ridgecrest earthquake. Photo by Andrew Jorgensen.

**Effective Fall 2021, the Earth Science major has been renamed to Geosciences with some accompanying changes to the curriculum. As a result, new students can no longer choose the Earth Science major or follow the curriculum below, but can choose to enroll in the Geosciences major. Students already in the Earth Sciences major can continue to follow the curriculum below, or can switch into the new Geosciences major. We encourage students to contact one of our department advisors on the Virtual Advisor to discuss which option makes the most sense for them.

 

Exceptional students in the Earth Sciences major with an interest in research are encouraged to consider the Scripps Undergraduate Honors Program. Please note that all academic advising questions (for current students) are handled via the Virtual Advisor.

 

Earth Sciences (BS)
Degree Requirements

Lower-division requirements for all the specializations are designed to provide the foundations in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology that are essential in modern quantitative earth science disciplines. All Earth Science majors take an introductory course: SIO 50, and four upper division core requirements introducing basic concepts in the Earth Sciences. SIO 100, SIO 102, SIO 103, and SIO 104. Ideally, SIO 50, SIO 100, SIO 102, and SIO 103 should be taken during the sophomore year to provide the appropriate background for other upper-division courses.

It is strongly recommended that all Earth Science majors meet regularly with the Earth Science program academic advising staff and a faculty adviser to discuss and update curriculum choices.

Lower Division Requirements

Upper Division Requirements

Group A: Earth Science Upper-Division Core Requirements (all courses are required):

  • SIO 100. Introduction to Field Methods
  • SIO 102. Introduction to Geochemistry
  • SIO 103. Introduction to Geophysics
  • SIO 104. Paleobiology and History of Life

Group B: Upper-Division Earth Science Restricted Electives (choose at least 3 of the following)

  • SIO 105. Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
  • SIO 106. Introduction to Hydrogeology
  • SIO 113. Introduction to Computational Earth Science
  • SIO 120. Mineralogy
  • SIO 141. Chemical Principles of Marine Systems
  • SIO 144. Introduction to Isotope Geochemistry
  • SIO 152. Petrology and Petrography
  • SIO 160. Introduction to Tectonics
  • SIO 162. Structural Geology
  • SIO 182. Environmental and Exploration Geophysics

Group C: Upper-division restricted electives (choose at least 5 of the following):

Student many use any additional course(s) from the Earth Science Restricted Electives list (Group B, above) as an Group C elective

Career Track examples with restricted electives

The Earth Sciences curriculum is designed to be flexible and can be tailored to student interests and needs in consultation with academic and faculty advisors. The following are suggested career paths for graduate school and/or employment in sub-disciplines of Earth Sciences. NOTE: These recommendations are intended to guide students in concert with academic and faculty advising. They are not requirements -the only formal requirements for the major are listed above.

 

Career Track: Geology

Faculty Advisor: Geoff Cook, Assistant Teaching Professor, Geosciences Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, gwcook@ucsd.edu

Recommended electives for students with an interest in geological aspects of the Earth:

SIO 105. Sedimentology and Stratigraphy SIO 110. Introduction to GIS and GPS for Scientists SIO 120. Mineralogy SIO 152. Petrology and Petrography SIO 160. Introduction to Tectonics SIO 162. Structural Geology SIO 170. Introduction to Volcanology SIO 182. Environmental and Exploration Geophysics In addition, students should complete at least one quarter of a SIO199 research topic coordinated with an SIO Earth Sciences faculty.

Career Track: Geophysics

Faculty Advisor: Dave Stegman, Professor, Institute for Geophysics and Planetary Physics, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, dstegman@ucsd.edu

Recommended electives and additional lower division preparation for students with an interest in the mechanical, dynamical and thermodynamical aspects of the Earth:

SIO 105. Sedimentology and Stratigraphy SIO 111. Introduction to Waves and Tides

 

NOTE: Geophysics is a highly quantitative field. Interested student should prepare for upper-division electives and work in the field with additional lower-division prerequisites:

Physics 4 series (4A-E) recommended OR Physics 2 series with Physics 2D, 2BL, 2CL Math 20E. Vector Calculus Math 20F. Linear Algebra CSE 5A. Introduction to Programming OR any other C or FORTRAN programming course
Career Track: Environmental Geochemistry

Faculty Advisor: Katherine Barbeau, Professor, Geosciences Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, kbarbeau@ucsd.edu

Recommended electives for students with an interest in the study of the chemical, physical, geological and biological processes and reactions that govern the composition of the natural environment:

SIO 105. Sedimentology and Stratigraphy SIO 117. The Physical Basis of the Climate System SIO 141. Chemical Principles of Marine Systems

 

Students are advised to gain experience with common chemistry laboratory techniques. Suitable classes include CHEM 7L (General Chemistry Laboratory), Chem 100B (Fundamentals of Instrumental Analysis and Chem 100BL (Instrumental Analysis Laboratory), and CHEM 143A (Organic Chemistry Laboratory).

Students should additionally complete at least one quarter of SIO 199: Independent Research, coordinated with an SIO or Chemistry faculty.

Career Track: Solid Earth Geochemistry

Faculty Advisor: Miriam Kastner, Professor, Geosciences Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, mkastner@ucsd.edu

Recommended electives for students with an interest in the focus on the Earth as a chemical system and on its evolution:

SIO 120. Mineralogy SIO 144. Introduction to Isotope Geochemistry
 

Students are advised to gain experience with common chemistry laboratory techniques. Suitable classes include CHEM 7L (Introductory Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory), CHEM 100A (Analytical Chemistry Laboratory), CHEM 100B (Instrumental Analysis Laboratory), and CHEM 143A (Organic Chemistry Laboratory). Students should additionally complete at least one quarter of SIO 199: Independent Research, coordinated with an Earth Sciences or Chemistry faculty.

  • SIO 152. Petrology and Petrography
  • SIO 141. Chemical Principles of Marine Systems
  • SIO 155. Petrology and Geochemistry of the Solid Earth
  • SIO 160. Introduction to Tectonics
  • SIO 162. Structural Geology
  • CHEM 120A. Inorganic Chemistry
Career Track: Marine Science/Oceanography

Faculty Advisor: TBN

Earth Sciences majors with an interest in Marine Sciences should consider the academic minor in Marine Sciences as a complement to the Earth Sciences major. Alternatively, student might choose from the following recommended electives within the Earth Sciences major:

SIO 105. Sedimentology and Stratigraphy SIO 141. Chemical Principles of Marine Systems SIO 144. Introduction to Isotope Geochemistry SIO 101. California Coastal Oceanography SIO 111. Introduction to Waves and Tides SIO 115. Ice and the Climate System SIO 117. The Physical Basis of Global Warming SIO 138. The Coral Reef Environment SIO 148. Evolution of Earth’s Biosphere

Career Track: Earth Sciences Education

Faculty Advisor: John Czworkowski, Lecturer, Science Education Minor, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, jczworskowski@ucsd.edu

An Earth Sciences major is good preparation for students who are considering K-12 science education and/or public education and outreach as a career. Students with these interests should consider the academic minor in science education, offered through the Department of Education Studies, as a complement to the Earth Sciences major.

Recommended Electives: SIO 180. Communicating Science to Informal Audiences