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Earth and Planetary Sciences
Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability
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  2. Programs
  3. Undergraduate
  4. Earth And Planetary Sciences
  5. Major: Bachelor of Science

Major: Bachelor of Science

Major
  • Earth and Planetary Sciences opens in a new tab
Program Minimum Units
60 Units
University Minimum Units
180 Units
Interests
Sustainability, Ecology & Environment, Data and Information Sciences
Academic Areas
Sustainability, Natural Sciences, Earth & Energy

Overview

The undergraduate program in Earth and Planetary Sciences aims to provide students with a broad background in the Earth and Planetary Sciences fundamentals and the quantitative, analytical, and communication skills necessary to conduct research and think critically about questions involving the Earth and other planets. EPS focuses on the history and structure of the Earth and other planets, the physics and chemistry of planetary materials, the processes that cycle those materials globally, and the interaction of human activities with geological processes and resources. The major provides excellent preparation for graduate school and careers in geological and environmental consulting, land use planning, law, teaching, and other professions in which a background in science and an understanding of our and other planets are necessary.

Areas of study to explore within EPS:

  • Earth history and the evolution of life 

  • Oceans and the atmosphere

  • Climate change

  • Processes that shape the Earth’s landscapes

  • Chemistry and physics of Earth materials

  • Sources of water, economic minerals, metals, and fuels

  • Natural hazards like earthquakes, volcanoes, and landslides

  • Contamination of natural waterways and possibilities for mitigation

  • Natural resource depletion and sustainable management practices

  • Planetary exploration

Multidisciplinary areas to explore within EPS:

  • Geobiology

  • Geochemistry & Environmental Chemistry

  • Geochronology & Thermochronology

  • Geomorphology, Hydrology, and Surface Processes

  • Geostatistics & Uncertainty Quantification

  • Mineralogy, Materials Science, and Mineral Physics

  • Petrology & Volcanology

  • Planetary Science

  • Sedimentary & Petroleum Geology

  • Structural Geology & Tectonics, Geomechanics

Requirements

Earth and Planetary Sciences is an interdisciplinary field that draws heavily on the other sciences. Students are encouraged to supplement their major coursework with classes in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, based on their background, goals, and interests, in consultation with their faculty advisor.

Major Requirements (60 units):

  • Core: 21 units

  • Breadth in Discipline: 27 units

  • Depth in Discipline: 6 units

  • WIM: 3 units

  • Capstone: 3 units

Core Program Requirements

Earth and Planetary Sciences Foundation (21 units)

Students must complete 6 courses that introduce the properties of planetary materials, the processes that change the Earth and other planets, and the timescales over which those processes act. These courses provide a broad foundational knowledge that can lead to specialization in many different geological and environmental sciences disciplines.

Complete all of the following course(s):
EPS 1

Introduction to Geology

5 Units
EPS 2

Chemistry of the Earth and Planets

3 Units
EPS 3

Earth and Planetary Processes and Mechanics

3 Units
EPS 4

Coevolution of Earth and Life

3 Units
EPS 6

Introduction to Data Science for Geoscience

3 Units
EPS 105

Introduction to Field Methods

3 Units

Breadth in Discipline

Electives (27 units)

Students select from a range of 100-level elective geoscience courses, providing exposure to diverse fields. These courses include classroom lectures, often supplemented with field and laboratory components.

Students are required to complete 27 units, of which 18 must be from EPS.

Complete any of the following course(s):
EPS 20

The Geoscience of Environmental Justice

3 Units
EPS 30N

Designing Science Fiction Planets

3 Units
EPS 42N

Moving and Shaking in the Bay Area

5 Units
EPS 101

Earth Materials: Introduction to Mineralogy

5 Units
EPS 102

Introduction to Sedimentology and Stratigraphy

5 Units
EPS 104

Introduction to Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology

5 Units
EPS 107

Journey to the Center of the Earth

3 Units
EPS 111

Fundamentals of Structural Geology

5 Units
EPS 119

Formation and Dynamics of Planets

3-4 Units
EPS 124

Introduction to Planetary Science

3-4 Units
EPS 128

Evolution of Terrestrial Ecosystems

4 Units
EPS 129

Paleomagnetism

3 Units
EPS 135

Sedimentary Geochemistry and Analysis

1-4 Units
EPS 136

Macroevolution

3 Units
EPS 137

The Sixth Extinction (and the Other Five)

3 Units
EPS 139

500 Million Years of Land Plant Evolution

3 Units
EPS 140

Data Science for Geoscience

3 Units
EPS 164

Geochemical Thermodynamics

3-4 Units
EPS 180

Magmatic and Eruptive Processes

1-3 Units
EPS 189

Tectonics Field Trip

1-3 Units
CEE 177

Aquatic Chemistry and Biology

3-4 Units
ESS 151

Biological Oceanography

3 Units
ESS 152

Marine Chemistry

3 Units
ESS 155

Science of Soils

4-5 Units
ESS 158

Geomicrobiology

3 Units
ESS 220

Physical Hydrogeology

4 Units
ESS 256

Soil and Water Chemistry

3 Units
GEOPHYS 110

Introduction to the Foundations of Contemporary Geophysics

3 Units
GEOPHYS 120

Geophysical Mechanics and Dynamics

3-5 Units
GEOPHYS 130

Introductory Seismology

3 Units
GEOPHYS 190

Near-Surface Geophysics: Imaging Groundwater Systems

4 Units
CS 106A

Programming Methodology

3-5 Units
GEOPHYS 233

Physics of Ice

3 Units
EARTHSYS 144

Fundamentals of Geographic Information Science (GIS)

3-4 Units
EPS 120

Planetary Surface Processes: Shaping the Landscape of the Solar System

4 Units
EPS 112

Geomorphology: The Mechanics of Earth's Landscapes

4 Units

Depth in Discipline

Research (6 units)

Students are required to complete 6 units of hands-on scientific research under the guidance of one or more faculty mentors. All majors must engage in hands-on research using the scientific method under faculty mentorship. Each student is required to complete 6 units of research under the guidance of one or more faculty mentors. The culmination of this research is a thesis that is potentially suitable for submission to a disciplinary journal.

Example: Students can enroll in 4 units of EPS 192 and 2 units of EPS 197 to equal the minimum 6 units required for Depth in Discipline.

Complete any of the following course(s):
EPS 192

Undergraduate Research in Earth & Planetary Sciences

1-10 Units
EPS 197

Senior Thesis

3-5 Units

Senior Thesis (for seniors who wish to take writing units on a thesis based on research in 192 or as a summer research fellow).

Writing in the Major (WIM)

WIM (3 units)

Writing in the Major courses provides students with opportunities to develop writing skills in the context of their major fields. It begins the process of learning to write effectively in discipline-specific formats and styles.

Complete all of the following course(s):
EPS 150

Senior Seminar: Issues in Earth Sciences

3 Units

Capstone

EPS Capstone Options (3 units)

Students may fulfill the capstone requirement through either a departmental field study program or an independent capstone research project. The field study option includes a minimum of six weeks of field research with training in field techniques, including mapping, and a written report. The research project option requires students to present their findings through written reports and oral presentations.

Contact the EPS Student Services Team in the department for enrollment guidance.

Complete any of the following requirements:
Option 1 - Research in the Field

The first option is participation in a departmental field study program, which includes a minimum of six weeks of field research. These month-long courses provide students with the opportunity to collect data in the field as part of a team-based investigation of research questions, under the guidance of faculty and graduate students. Students learn and apply field techniques, including mapping, and complete a written report documenting their work. Topics and locations vary.

Rule Note: Juniors planning to enroll in this summer field course should contact the EPS Student Services Team during the Winter or Spring Quarter, prior to the summer offering, for information regarding the course location, tuition, enrollment procedures, and other logistical details.

Complete all of the following course(s):
EPS 190

Research in the Field

3-6 Units

Students may enroll for a minimum of 1 unit per quarter and may repeat enrollment for credit, up to a maximum of 3 units

or
Option 2 - Scientific Knowledge Applied to Real-World Challenges

Alternatively, students may fulfill the requirement by completing an independent capstone research project. In this option, students apply their geoscience background to design and address real-world problems. They are expected to present their findings through written reports and oral presentations.

Evaluation may include participation in SDSS departmental symposia or assessment by non-profit specialists, and must take place within the year of enrollment in the capstone course. All self-designed capstone projects must be submitted to and approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies prior to enrollment.

Complete all of the following course(s):
EPS 193

Scientific Knowledge Applied to Real-World Challenges

1-3 Units

Students may enroll for a minimum of 1 unit per quarter and may repeat enrollment for credit, up to a maximum of 3 units

Honors

Optional
Students may choose to pursue department honors by completing a program of special advanced work, such as an honors thesis, in addition to their major requirements.

Honors

Overview & Requirements

The honors program provides an opportunity for year-long independent study and research on a topic of particular interest, culminating in a written thesis. Students select research topics in consultation with the faculty advisor of their choice. Research undertaken for the honors program may be theoretical, field, experimental, or a combination of these approaches. The honors program is open to students with a GPA of at least 3.0 in all university coursework. Modest financial support is available from several sources to help defray laboratory and field expenses incurred in conjunction with honors research. 

To apply, please visit: https://epsci.stanford.edu/academics-admissions/undergraduate-program/honors-program opens in a new tab 

To receive a Bachelor of Science with honors designation, students are required to:

  • Submit a formal written report to both the student’s research advisor and the second faculty member no later than the fourth week of the student’s final quarter, or by a date preferred by the research advisor.

  • Obtain advisor (first reader) approval on the report and a second faculty member (second reader). Submit the Bachelor of Science with Honors Completion Verification Signature Form opens in a new tab to the department before graduation, ideally by the University’s thesis submission deadline for the quarter.

  • Students may choose to submit their paper to the Stanford Digital Repository—please contact the EPS Student Services Team for more information.

  • Students must present their research at a public seminar approved by the DUS. The EPS department typically hosts an Undergraduate Symposium or coordinates with the student EPS Brown Bag seminars at the end of May each year, providing an opportunity for BSH students to present their research.

The decision whether a given research project merits an award of honors will be made jointly by the student’s faculty advisor, second reader, and the Undergraduate Program Director, and will be based on the quality of both the honors work and the student’s other work in earth sciences.

Enroll in any of the following course(s):
EPS 199

Honors Program

1-10 Units

Enroll in EPS 199 under your research faculty advisor. 9 units total are required by year-end, which can be distributed throughout senior year as needed.

Optional: Honors students in EPS are also eligible for University awards such as the Firestone Medal, which is awarded by Academic Advising for exceptional theses. Students who wish to be considered for University awards must submit the Bachelor of Science with Honors Completion Verification Signature Form by the end of the Winter Quarter of their graduating year.