Curriculum

Earth and Planetary Science curricula have traditionally been defined around a limited set of core courses thought to be integral to the science (e.g., mineralogy, petrology, sedimentology, structural geology, etc.). Students typically amend a core sequence of required courses with a variety of more specialized elective courses (e.g., hydrogeology, glaciology, geobiology, etc.).

Core Competencies

We have developed an alternative to the "core course" approach which might be described as a "core competencies" approach. We instituted this alternative approach to the Department's curriculum design in 2009 and published an assessment of it in 2014 (Design and Assessment of a Skills-Based Geoscience Curriculum, Journal of Geoscience Education 62:668-678). We recently updated our curriculum in Spring 2026 associated with the Department's name change.

In our revised curriculum, instead of defining our curricula as a list of specific courses, we instead define multiple sets of key concepts or skills we want our students to master (see below). These sets of core competencies reflect, in part, the on-going effort within the Earth and Planetary Science community to define the core ideas and supporting concepts that constitute what everyone should know about Earth and Planetary Sciences.

Introductory Courses (EAPS 1-14)

The key concepts and skills that we expect to be common to all our courses at the introductory level include:

  • Earth's origins
  • Concepts of geologic time and spatial scales
  • The use of maps and spatial data
  • The process of science and the evolution of scientific concepts
  • Earth as a dynamic system including physical, chemical, and biological interactions
  • The impact of geology and natural resources on the evolution of life and vice versa
  • The concept of uncertainty as it applies to our understanding and analysis of Earth processes, resources, and hazards

Collection and Analysis of Earth and Planetary Science Data (EAPS 15-29)

Specific skills and concepts covered in these courses include:

  • Collection and interpretation of Earth and Planetary Science data
  • Collection of field observations
  • Quantifying uncertainty
  • Creation of maps and plotting spatial data

Methods and Concepts (EAPS 30-49)

Specific skills and concepts covered in these courses include:

  • Core field and analytical methods
  • Collaborative research and collection of field observations
  • Origin of Earth materials
  • Biogeochemical cycles
  • Structure and mechanics of Earth materials 

Advanced Quantitative Analysis of Earth and Planetary Systems (EAPS 50-69)

Specific skills and concepts covered in these courses include:

  • Simplification/modeling of complex systems for quantitative analysis
  • Quantitative analysis of Earth and Planetary systems
  • Limits of data/knowledge 

Advanced Topics (EAPS 70-89)

Specific skills and concepts covered in these courses include:

  • In-depth exploration of a specialized topic at an advanced level
  • Reading the scientific literature
  • Scientific discourse (oral and written presentation of data and analyses) 

CULMINATING EXPERIENCE

All Earth and Planetary Sciences majors must also complete a culminating experience their senior year. There are several options:

  • Completion of a Senior Honors Thesis (EAPS 92 and 93). 
    • A thesis project generally takes two to four terms and is carried out under the guidance of a faculty or staff member
    • The completion of a thesis generally makes a student eligible for Honors in the major
  • Completion of a one-term research project (EAPS 90).
  • Completion of EAPS 91 (Alternative Culminating Experience)

In addition, to fulfill the College's culminating experience requirement, all students must attend the weekly Department Seminars during Winter and Spring terms of their senior year.