2023-24 Edition

Earth System Science, B.S.

https://www.ess.uci.edu/bachelor-science-earth-system-science

Earth System Science is an interdisciplinary field of study that combines oceanography, atmospheric science, meteorology, geography, geology, hydrology, and environmental science. ESS students gain an understanding of how individual aspects of the environment interact, including the influence of humans on this complex system.

Examples of important questions in Earth System Science include, but are not limited to, the influence of atmospheric chemistry on climate and air quality, biological controls on the chemistry of the oceans, and physical controls on atmosphere and ocean circulation.

The Earth System Science (B.S.) program provides students with a fundamental understanding of the oceanographic, atmospheric, and terrestrial sciences. This program of study prepares students for careers in science, research, or technical fields. Students learn to apply basic sciences (physics, chemistry, mathematics, and biology) to understand the major processes and systems governing the Earth’s climate, biogeochemical cycles, and global change. Central to the B.S. program is an understanding of relevant scientific literature, methods to collect/analyze data, and interpret results in the context of scientific theory. Students will learn to work collaboratively to understand and address complex problems and communicate scientific knowledge.

Through the core course work, students will learn to explain the current and projected future state of the Earth system in the context of past climate change and current human activities. Once the core course work is complete, students are encouraged to focus on a particular area within Earth System Science and to choose electives that build a coherent core of knowledge. Focus areas include but are not limited to climatology, biogeochemical cycles, oceanography, hydrology, terrestrial sciences, and atmospheric sciences. Optional specializations are available in Atmospheric Science, Hydrology and Terrestrial Ecosystems, and Oceanography.

Earth System Science students are encouraged to become directly involved in research. The Department provides excellent opportunities to learn from and work with recognized experts in the field, while fulfilling degree requirements. EARTHSS 198W may satisfy Department and UCI upper-division writing requirements.

Students may be admitted to the Earth System Science major upon entering the University as freshmen, via change of major, or as transfer students from other colleges and universities. Information about change of major policies is available in the Physical Sciences Student Affairs Office and at the UCI Change of Major Criteria website. For transfer student admission, preference will be given to junior-level applicants with the highest grades overall and who have satisfactorily completed the following required courses: one year of approved calculus and one year of either general chemistry with laboratory (preferred) or one-year of calculus-based physics with laboratory.

NOTE: The major is open to all students except Environmental Science majors and Earth and Atmospheric Sciences minors.

All students must meet the University Requirements.
School Requirements: None.
Major Requirements
A. Complete:
EARTHSS 1 Introduction to Earth System Science
or EARTHSS 3 Oceanography
or EARTHSS 5 The Atmosphere
EARTHSS 51 Land Interactions
EARTHSS 53 Ocean Biogeochemistry
EARTHSS 55 Earth's Atmosphere
EARTHSS 114 Earth System Science Laboratory and Field Methods
or EARTHSS 115 Aquatic Field Methods
EARTHSS 116 Introduction to Environmental Data Science
EARTHSS 192 Careers in Earth System Science
MATH 2A- 2B Single-Variable Calculus I
and Single-Variable Calculus II
STATS 7 Basic Statistics
Select one of the following sequences and accompanying labs:
General Chemistry
and General Chemistry
and General Chemistry
General Chemistry Laboratory
and General Chemistry Laboratory
or
Honors General Chemistry
and Honors General Chemistry
and Honors General Chemistry
Honors General Chemistry Laboratory
and Honors General Chemistry Laboratory
and Honors General Chemistry Laboratory
Select one of the following sequences and accompanying labs:
Basic Physics I
and Basic Physics II
and Basic Physics III
Basic Physics Laboratory
and Basic Physics Laboratory
or
Classical Physics
and Classical Physics
Classical Physics Laboratory
B. Select seven electives from the following (at least four must be Earth System Science courses):
All 4-unit upper-division EARTHSS courses except EARTHSS 114, EARTHSS 115, EARTHSS 116, and EARTHSS H198 (EARTHSS 199 or one quarter of H199A-B-C may count only once toward the elective requirement)
From DNA to Organisms
From Organisms to Ecosystems
Biochemistry
Cell, Developmental, and Molecular Biology of Plants
Processes in Ecology and Evolution
Marine Biology
Conservation Biology
Limnology and Freshwater Biology
Field Freshwater Ecology
Environmental Ethics
Organic Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Organic Chemistry
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Environmental Chemistry
Introduction to Environmental Chemistry
Water Resources Engineering
Groundwater Hydrology
Hydrology
Fluid Mechanics of Open Channels
Introduction to Thermodynamics
Fluid Dynamics I
Air Pollution and Control
Multivariable Calculus I
Introduction to Linear Algebra
Elementary Differential Equations
Numerical Analysis I
Introduction to Partial Differential Equations and Applications I
Mathematical Modeling
Statistical Physics
Environmental Law and Policy
Water Resource Policy
Environmental Governance
Environmental Geology
Introduction to Environmental Health Science
Air Pollution, Climate, and Health
Human Exposure to Environmental Contaminants
Health and Global Environmental Change
Computing Skills (one of the following may be counted toward degree): EECS 10, ENGRMAE 10, I&C SCI 31, PHYSICS 53, or an approved programming course.

Optional Specializations

Three optional specializations are available: Atmospheric Science, Hydrology and Terrestrial Ecosystems, and Oceanography. The specializations require the completion of at least four courses from the following lists (three science courses plus one advanced tools course).

Specialization in Atmospheric Science
Requirements
Three courses selected from the following:
Atmospheric Dynamics
Weather Analysis
Atmospheric Chemistry
Undergraduate Research (one 4-unit course focused on atmospheric research selected from EARTHSS 199, 198, H198, H199A-H199B-H199C)
One advanced tools courses selected from the following:
Analysis, Modeling, and Visualization of Multidimensionnal Environmental Data
Fundamentals of GIS for Environmental Science
Satellite Remote Sensing for Earth System Science
(These courses may overlap in Major Requirements, Section B.)
 Specialization in Hydrology and Terrestrial Ecosystems
Requirements
Three courses selected from the following:
Terrestrial Hydrology
Advanced Geology
Soil: It's the Good Dirt
The Future of Forests
Undergraduate Research (one 4-unit course focused on terrestrial research selected from EARTHSS 199, 198, H198, H199A-H199B-H199C)
One advanced tools course selected from the following:
Analysis, Modeling, and Visualization of Multidimensionnal Environmental Data
Fundamentals of GIS for Environmental Science
Satellite Remote Sensing for Earth System Science
(These courses may overlap in Major Requirements, Section B.)
  Specialization in Oceanography
Requirements
Three courses selected from the following:
Physical Oceanography
Marine Geochemistry and Biogeochemistry
Marine Ecosystems and Global Change
Microbial Biogeochemistry
Undergraduate Research (one 4-unit course focused on oceanographic research selected from EARTHSS 199, 198, H198, H199A-H199B-H199C)
One advanced tools course selected from the following:
Analysis, Modeling, and Visualization of Multidimensionnal Environmental Data
Satellite Remote Sensing for Earth System Science
(These courses may overlap in Major Requirements, Section B.)

Sample Program — Earth System Science

Freshman
Fall Winter Spring
MATH 2AMATH 2BSTATS 7
CHEM 1ACHEM 1BCHEM 1C- 1LC
EARTHSS 1General Education/ElectiveGeneral Education/Elective
Generl Education/ElectiveGeneral Education/ElectiveGeneral Education/Elective
Sophomore
Fall Winter Spring
EARTHSS 51EARTHSS 53EARTHSS 55
PHYSICS 3APHYSICS 3B- 3LBPHYSICS 3C- 3LC
General Education/ElectiveGeneral Education/ElectiveGeneral Education/Elective
CHEM 1LDGeneral Education/ElectiveGeneral Education/Elective
Junior
Fall Winter Spring
EARTHSS 114EARTHSS 116ESS Elective
EARTHSS 192Approved ElectiveESS Elective
General Education/ElectiveGeneral Education/ElectiveElective
ElectiveElective 
Senior
Fall Winter Spring
ESS ElectiveESS ElectiveESS Elective
Approved ElectiveElectiveElective
ElectiveElectiveElective
 ElectiveElective

Some students (particularly transfer students) take EARTHSS 51, EARTHSS 53, and EARTHSS 55 in the junior year.

Concentration in Geosciences Education with Secondary Teaching Certification

This concentration allows students pursuing the B.S. in Earth System Science to earn a bachelor's degree and complete the required course work and field experience for a California Preliminary Single Subject Teaching Credential at the same time. In addition to the requirements listed above, students must complete the following courses:

CHEM 193 Research Methods
or PHYSICS 193 Research Methods
EARTHSS 7 Physical Geology 1
or EARTHSS 140 Advanced Geology
EDUC 55 Knowing and Learning in Mathematics and Science
EDUC 109 Reading and Writing in Mathematics and Science
EDUC 143AW Classroom Interactions I
EDUC 143BW Classroom Interactions II
EDUC 148 Complex Pedagogical Design
EDUC 158 Student Teaching Mathematics and Science in Middle/High School (two quarters)
LPS 60 The Making of Modern Science
PHY SCI 5 California Teach 1: Introduction to Science and Mathematics Teaching
PHY SCI 105 California Teach 2: Middle School Science and Mathematics Teaching
PHYSICS 20A Introduction to Astronomy
or PHYSICS 20B Cosmology: Humanity's Place in the Universe
1

 EARTHSS 140 may overlap with the major requirement in section B.

 With careful, early planning, it is possible for students to complete the bachelor's degree and the secondary teaching certification in four years.

For additional information about teacher certification requirements and enrollment procedures, visit the Cal Teach website. Interested students are strongly encouraged to contact the Cal Teach Resource and Advising Center or the Physical Sciences Student Affairs Office.

Sample Program – Concentration in Geosciences Education with Secondary Teaching Certification 

Freshman
Fall Winter Spring
MATH 2AMATH 2BSTATS 7
CHEM 1ACHEM 1BCHEM 1C- 1LC
EARTHSS 1PHYSICS 20AGeneral Education
ElectivePHY SCI 5Elective
Sophomore
Fall Winter Spring
EARTHSS 51EARTHSS 53EARTHSS 55
PHYSICS 3APHYSICS 3B- 3LBPHYSICS 3C- 3LC
CHEM 1LDCHEM 193LPS 60
PHY SCI 105General EducationEARTHSS 191
Junior
Fall Winter Spring
EARTHSS 114EARTHSS 116ESS Elective
EDUC 55Approved ElectiveESS Elective
General EducationEDUC 143AWEDUC 148
EARTHSS 192Elective 
Senior
Fall Winter Spring
EDUC 143BWEDUC 109EDUC 158
EARTHSS 140EDUC 158ESS Elective
General EducationESS ElectiveApproved Elective

Earth System Science Honors Program. In the year-long honors course sequence, students admitted into the ESS Honors Program pursue research with faculty in the Department, and prepare a written thesis of their work. Visit the Earth System Science Honors Program website for more information.

Teaching Certification. Earth System Science students interested in teaching careers can earn a bachelor’s degree concurrently with a California Preliminary Single Subject Teaching Credential. See the Concentration in Geosciences Education with Secondary Teaching Certification section below for more information.

Some students go on to graduate school in physical sciences, engineering, or related areas. Others begin careers as research scientists in academic, public, or private institutions (may require a graduate-level degree). Options that may be available are scientist positions in the following roles: environmental policy and planning, environmental consulting, air quality monitoring and assessment, laboratory analysis, scientific research, science education, natural resource management, wildlife management, conservation and environmental protection, and water resource management.