Campuses:
This is archival data. This system was retired as of August 21, 2023 and the information on this page has not been updated since then. For current information, visit catalogs.umn.edu.
Twin Cities Campus
Earth Sciences B.A.Department of Earth Sciences
College of Liberal Arts
Earth Sciences is the study of the composition, structure, and history of the Earth, as well as the processes that operate on and within it. Emphasis on the crust, oceans, and atmosphere. The B.A. prepares students for graduate study or professional employment.
Earth scientists are employed in a wide range of fields, including exploration for and development of natural resources, environmental science, urban planning, education, oceanography, and other areas related to natural science. Potential employers include the oil, gas, and minerals industries, environmental consultants, federal and private research institutions, universities, schools, and government agencies. An advanced degree is usually required for a career in research or teaching.
Program Delivery
This program is available:
Admission Requirements
A GPA above 2.0 is preferred for the following:
Students interested in Earth Sciences as a major may want to consider taking ESCI 1001 or another ESCI 1xxx course.
For information about University of Minnesota admission requirements, visit the
Office of Admissions
website.
General Requirements
All students in baccalaureate degree programs are required to complete general University and college requirements including writing and liberal education courses. For more information about University-wide requirements, see the
liberal education requirements.
Required courses for the major, minor or certificate in which a student receives a D grade (with or without plus or minus) do not count toward the major, minor or certificate (including transfer courses).
Program Requirements
Students are required to complete 4 semester(s) of
any second language.
with a grade of C-, or better, or S, or demonstrate proficiency in the language(s) as defined by the department
or college.
Students may earn a B.A. or a minor in earth sciences, but not both.
Beginning fall 2012, all incoming CLA freshmen must complete the appropriate First Year Experience course sequence. Specific information about this collegiate requirement can be found at: http://class.umn.edu/degree_requirements/index.html
Mathematics
Take one of the calculus sequences (two courses), or the honors sequence (two courses). Note: these courses do not count toward the overall length in credits of the major.
or
MATH 1571H - Honors Calculus I
[MATH]
(4.0 cr)
MATH 1572H - Honors Calculus II
(4.0 cr)
Physics
Note: these courses do not count toward the overall length in credits of the major.
PHYS 1301W - Introductory Physics for Science and Engineering I
[PHYS, WI]
(4.0 cr)
or
PHYS 1401V - Honors Physics I
[PHYS, WI]
(4.0 cr)
PHYS 1302W - Introductory Physics for Science and Engineering II
[PHYS, WI]
(4.0 cr)
or
PHYS 1402V - Honors Physics II
[PHYS, WI]
(4.0 cr)
Chemistry
Take a total of four courses for eight credits. Note: these courses do not count toward the overall length in credits of the major.
Chemical Principles I
CHEM 1061 - Chemical Principles I
[PHYS]
(3.0 cr)
CHEM 1065 - Chemical Principles I Laboratory
[PHYS]
(1.0 cr)
or
CHEM 1071H - Honors Chemistry I
[PHYS]
(3.0 cr)
CHEM 1075H - Honors Chemistry I Laboratory
[PHYS]
(1.0 cr)
Chemical Principles II
CHEM 1062 - Chemical Principles II
[PHYS]
(3.0 cr)
CHEM 1066 - Chemical Principles II Laboratory
[PHYS]
(1.0 cr)
or
CHEM 1072H - Honors Chemistry II
[PHYS]
(3.0 cr)
CHEM 1076H - Honors Chemistry II Laboratory
[PHYS]
(1.0 cr)
Field Courses
ESCI 3911 - Introductory Field Geology
(4.0 cr)
ESCI 4911 - Advanced Field Geology
(4.0 cr)
or
ESCI 4971W - Field Hydrogeology
[WI]
(4.0 cr)
Electives
Take 8 or more credit(s) from the following:
·
ESCI 2302 - Petrology
(3.0 cr)
·
ESCI 4501 - Structural Geology
(3.0 cr)
·
ESCI 4602 - Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
(3.0 cr)
·
ESCI 2xxx
·
ESCI 3xxx
·
ESCI 4xxx
·
ESCI 5xxx
·
GCC 3006 {Inactive}
[ENV]
(3.0 cr)
or
GCC 5008 - Policy and Science of Global Environmental Change
[ENV]
(3.0 cr)
Upper-division Writing Intensive within the major
Students are required to take one upper-division Writing Intensive course within the major. If that requirement has not been satisfied within the core major requirements, students must choose one course from the following list. Some of these courses may also fulfill other major requirements.
Take 0 - 1 course(s) from the following:
·
ESCI 3303W - Geochemical Principles
[WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
ESCI 4971W - Field Hydrogeology
[WI]
(4.0 cr)
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Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Math 1271/Math 1381/Math 1571/ |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Math 1272/Math 1282/Math 1372/ |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Math 1271/Math 1381/Math 1571/ |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Math 1272/Math 1282/Math 1372/ |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Math 1271/Math 1381/Math 1571/ |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Math 1272/Math 1282/Math 1372/ |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Phys 1201W/1301W/1401V/1501V |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Phys 1201W/1301W/1401V/1501V |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Phys 1202W/1302W/1402V/1502V |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Phys 1202W/1302W/1402V/1502V |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Chem 1061/ 1071/H/ 1081 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Chem 1065/Chem 1075H |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Chem 1061/ 1071/H/ 1081 |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Chem 1065/Chem 1075H |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Chem 1062/1072/1072H/1082/ |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Chem 1066/Chem 1076H |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Chem 1062/1072/1072H/1082/ |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Chem 1066/Chem 1076H |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | EEB 5146/FNRM 5146/GCC 5008/P |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Summer |