Undergraduate

The Undergraduate Program

The Earth & Planetary Sciences curriculum is diverse and engaging. Students can shape their academic journey through a wide range of courses that explore everything from tectonics and climate to planetary science and oceanography. Learning doesn’t stop at the lecture hall—many classes include field trips, lab work, and computer-based modeling, giving students practical experience with real-world tools and data.

The department also encourages interdisciplinary study, with complementary courses available in Ocean Sciences, Microbiology & Environmental Toxicology, Environmental Studies, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Astronomy & Astrophysics, and more.

Many students complete their capstone requirement through our renowned field camp or by undertaking an independent senior research thesis—but other pathways are also available to fit your goals.

Where can this degree take you? Almost anywhere. Our graduates go on to careers in:

Environmental and geological consulting
Federal, state, and local government agencies
Scientific research institutions and universities
Nonprofit organizations
Business, public health, law, education, and beyond

The department is home to a thriving academic community that includes 21 faculty members, 8 research scientists, around 60 graduate students, 120 undergraduate majors and minors, and numerous visiting researchers.

Majors & Minors

Man standing atop some rocks looking at a scenic mountain view.

Earth Science B.S.

This pathway provides the greatest flexibility to explore different aspects of Earth and planetary science. Through elective courses, students can sample from across the breadth of the major, including topics such as the evolution of the Earth, geophysics and seismology, rocks and minerals, surface processes and water, paleontology, oceanography, or the study of planets and asteroids in our solar system.

Students looking at rocks on a field trip.

Earth Science B.S. – Geology

The geology concentration includes fundamental coursework with a specific focus on geological topics such as field mapping, interpretation of faulting and folding, and sedimentology. Students completing a degree with a concentration in geology at UC Santa Cruz are prepared to begin the Geologist in Training (GIT) licensing process.

Professor and student looking and pointing at figures on a whiteboard.

Earth Science B.S. – Geophysics

A concentration in geophysics at UC Santa Cruz provides Earth science fundamentals with additional coursework in mathematics, coding, and geophysics. It involves applying physics principles to understand geological phenomena such as earthquakes, the behavior of rocks and other Earth materials during deformation, and the interior structure of the Earth, often using mathematical and computational methods.

Student standing on the Santa Cruz wharf holding a device used for ocean water sampling.

Earth Science B.S. – Ocean Science

The ocean science concentration provides the core Earth science coursework with additional emphasis on oceanography and marine geology. With elective courses, students can focus on biological, chemical, and physical oceanography; sediment, organic, and trace metal biogeochemistry; paleoceanography; and remote sensing.

Students and instructor standing at UC Observatory telescope.

Earth Science B.S. – Planetary Science

The planetary science concentration includes Earth science fundamentals with specialization in the study of planets, asteroids, and other bodies in the solar system. This discipline applies quantitative principles from physics and chemistry to study the interior, surface, and atmosphere of other solar system objects.

Earth Sciences / Anthropology – combined B.A.

The Earth Sciences/Anthropology combined major is intended for students with interests in Earth sciences and the laboratory-based aspect of anthropology. These include anthropology students interested in archaeology or paleoanthropology who desire more intensive training in natural sciences and Earth sciences students interested in paleobiology or archaeology.

Earth & Planetary Sciences Minor

Please see the course catalog

For information on the Environmental Sciences B.S. program:

CLICK HERE

Undergraduate Calendar

We are here to help

Jade Loftus – Lead Undergraduate Advisor and Program Coordinator

Melissa Fike, M.Ed. – Undergraduate Advisor

Advising & Support

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