Earth Science Major
Program Requirements
- Total units required: 53-60
The Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences (EEPS) offers majors in Earth Science, Environmental Science, and Planetary Science. The curriculum is broad, and the requirements are flexible enough to accommodate diverse needs and interests. Many courses present hands-on, problem-oriented experiences, including ample opportunity for fieldwork, laboratory work, and the use of state-of-the-art computational facilities and research instrumentation. All majors are required to complete certain core courses as well as electives and a capstone experience that must be presented at the Spring EEPS Undergraduate Research Symposium.
Requirements for All Majors
Required Core Courses
Students pursuing any Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences major must complete the following courses:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Chem 105 | Principles of General Chemistry I | 3 |
| EEPS 202 | Introduction to Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Science | 3 |
| Math 131 | Calculus I | 3 |
| Math 132 | Calculus II | 3 |
| Physics 191 | Physics I | 3 |
| SDS 2200 | Elementary Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| or SDS 3200 | Elementary to Intermediate Statistics and Data Analysis | |
| Total Units | 18 | |
Additional Electives
In addition to the disciplinary electives below, which are specific to each major, students must choose three L19 EEPS elective courses at the 300, 400, or 500 level, excluding the following courses: EEPS 390 Independent Study, EEPS 490 Independent Study, EEPS 493 Internship, and EEPS 499 Honors Research.
Skills Course
Students must complete one of the following:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| EEPS 387 | Geospatial Science | 4 |
| EEPS 400 | Special Topics | 3 |
| EEPS 492 | Field Camp | 6 |
| EEPS 496 | Field Geology | 3 |
| EnSt 380 | Applications in GIS | 3 |
| EnSt 364 | Field Methods for Environmental Science | 3 |
Capstone Experience
Students completing any Earth, environmental, and planetary sciences major must also build a portfolio of their work from projects completed in courses such as EEPS 496 Field Geology, EnSt 405 Sustainability Exchange: Community and University Practicums, EnSt 539 Interdisciplinary Environmental Clinic, or EnSt 452 International Climate Negotiation Seminar; internship experiences; or research. All capstones must be presented at the Spring EEPS Undergraduate Research Symposium.
Disciplinary Required Courses
Students must complete all of the requirements listed above for all majors as well as the following two courses:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| EEPS 340 | Minerals, Rocks, Resources and the Environment | 4 |
| EEPS 353 | Earth Forces | 4 |
Disciplinary Elective Courses
Students select five of the following courses:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| EEPS 317 | Soil Science | 3 |
| EEPS 323 | Biogeochemistry | 3 |
| EEPS 385 | Earth History | 3 |
| EEPS 386 | The Earth's Climate System | 3 |
| EEPS 401 | Earth Systems Science | 3 |
| EEPS 407 | Remote Sensing | 3 |
| EEPS 409 | Surface Processes | 3 |
| EEPS 422 | Sedimentary Geology | 4 |
| EEPS 428 | Hydrology | 3 |
| EEPS 437 | Igneous & Metamorphic Petrology | 4 |
| EEPS 441 | Introduction to Geochemistry | 3 |
| EEPS 452 | Introduction to Seismology | 3 |
| EEPS 453 | Interior of the Earth | 3 |
| EEPS 454 | Exploration and Environmental Geophysics | 4 |
| EEPS 459 | Geodynamics | 3 |
| EEPS 460 | Introduction to Structural Geology | 4 |
| EEPS 486 | Paleoclimatology | 3 |
Additional Information
- A grade of C- (C for summer field camp) is the minimum acceptable performance for each unit of credit for each required course, including those in mathematics, chemistry, and physics. Courses with grades of D may fulfill the College's 120 total hours requirement, but they do not meet the departmental requirements. A grade of C- is also the minimum acceptable performance for each unit of credit for any course required as a prerequisite to enrolling in advanced or sequential courses.
- If a student has two majors, only introductory (100- and 200-level) courses may be counted, when relevant, toward the requirements of both majors. All advanced (300- and 400-level) courses must be unique to each major; in other words, no advanced course may "double-count" for the course work needed to fulfill the minimal requirements for either major. Should both major programs require the same course, a departmentally-sanctioned elective must be chosen to replace the course in one of the programs.
- Credits to be transferred from another institution must have prior approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the relevant Arts & Sciences department.
- Students may transfer up to nine credits (or three courses, whichever is greater) of advanced coursework (course numbers 300 or above) toward the completion of a major in the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences. Students may transfer up to three credits (or one course, whichever is greater) of advanced coursework (course numbers 300 or above) toward the completion of a minor in the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences. This policy includes credit earned for courses taken while studying abroad or studying at another US institution. Credits earned through the completion of an approved field camp do not count toward this limit.
- Students may not place out of the chemistry, physics, or math requirements for the EEPS major. These courses must be taken at Washington University or at another accredited institution.
- In the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences, both Latin Honors and Departmental Distinctions require the completion of a senior thesis.
- In the spring of their junior year, the student should select a faculty member to guide the generation of this thesis. The student should then enroll in EEPS 499 Honors Research Honors Research (GPA > 3.65) or EEPS 490 Independent Study Independent Study (GPA < 3.65) with that faculty member for the fall of their senior year. At that time, the student and faculty advisor should meet and choose the two additional readers for the student's thesis (the thesis committee) and establish a set of goals for the fall semester's work. At this time, the student should fill out the Senior Honors Topic Form.
- The student may also (but is not required to) enroll in EEPS 499 Honors Research or EEPS 490 Independent Study in the spring semester of their senior year. The faculty adviser will determine, with the student, a date by which a complete draft is to be given to the faculty readers for review, such that the readers have ample time to review the work prior to issuing their evaluations. These drafts will be due no later than the Tuesday following Spring Break. A final copy containing revisions required by the committee is due by the first day of finals period.
- An oral presentation of the senior honors research is expected to be presented to the department, usually late in the senior's last semester. The thesis document must be prepared following the department's formatting guidelines, which are available from the Director of Undergraduate Studies. All theses must be submitted in PDF format to Erin Marshall prior to graduation for online archiving.
Undergraduate Department Awards
- The Ernest L. Ohle, Jr., Prize is presented to the senior judged to have the greatest promise for a successful career in Earth, environmental, or planetary sciences and who has demonstrated superior academic achievement. The prize is funded by an endowed donation from Dr. Ernest L. Ohle, Jr., an alumnus who had a distinguished career as a mining geologist.
- The Courtney Werner Memorial Prize is awarded to a senior student who has majored in Earth, environmental, and planetary sciences and who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement. Courtney Werner was an associate professor in the Department of Geology and Geological Engineering at Washington University. He joined the Department in 1923, having worked as a geologist for Gulf Oil Company. The prize is funded by endowed donations from his friends and former students.
- The Harold Levin Award is for undergraduate students who have done outstanding jobs as assistants to the instructor. Professor Levin was a paleontologist who specialized in study of microscopic fossils as indicators of environmental conditions during deposition of sedimentary rocks. He was an outstanding teacher at all levels, ensuring that students remained engaged in his courses through dynamic lectures and discussions.
- The Margaret E. Bewig Memorial Field Camp Award is presented to an EEPS major selected by the faculty from those attending summer field camp, based on a combination of academic merit and financial need. The award may be used to defray part of the cost of summer field camp. Margaret Bewig was the department secretary and later the administrative assistant from 1963 to 1986. She died on May 26, 1991. The award is funded by endowed donations from her friends, faculty, and former students.
Contact Info
| Website: | https://eeps.wustl.edu/ |