Program Description

Earth & Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary degree that provides students with the requisite knowledge for understanding the Earth system. The Earth system comprises four interconnected spheres: the atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere, and hydrosphere. Students enrolled in the major will gain an understanding of processes that connect spheres, and how these processes can be traced and quantified. Knowledge of all spheres and shared processes will be gained, but students must choose one of three emphases: Climate Science, Ecosystem Science, or Geoscience. The degree will focus on providing students with experiential learning opportunities, for example through research lab experiences offered through the Science Research Initiative. The degree will also focus on providing students with opportunities to study Earth system processes firsthand, for example through field and lab-based research in the neighboring Wasatch Mountains and Utah’s national parks. Students with this degree will gain the education and experience required to make an impact on the challenges facing our planet.

The Student Experience

Students enrolled in the major are encouraged to supplement their academic experience with additional research opportunities, internships, and externships. Earth & Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary program, something students will be exposed to everyday as they interact with faculty, staff, and students from across the College of Science (and beyond). Also note that the mission of the “EES” program overlaps strongly with that of the Wilkes Center for Climate Science & Policy.

Career Opportunities

Holders of the Earth and Environmental Science degree can go on to work for private companies, public companies, or the government. For example, companies developing and applying technologies to counteract increasing Earth surface temperatures, or government entities with missions focused on forestry and wildlife, air quality, or geosciences. With additional education, careers in research, education, and administration are also possible.

More Info

• Earth & Environmental Science
• College of Science
• Department Advising
• U Career Success

Catalog

• Earth & Environmental Science BS

Exploratory Classes

• ATMOS/BIOL/GEO 1120 - Intro to Earth System Science