Earth and Environmental Sciences is a broad interdisciplinary field dedicated to understanding the origin and evolution of the Earth. This discipline includes the study of climate, water, landscapes, earthquakes, volcanoes, prehistoric life, planets, natural resources, and the impact of humans on the environment. To help solve some of the greatest challenges facing human society, students majoring in Earth and Environmental Sciences will gain knowledge of Earth’s materials and the physical, chemical, and biological processes that have operated throughout Earth’s history. The curriculum also emphasizes active and collaborative learning and provides ample opportunities for research, field trips, and study abroad coursework around the world. Students graduating with a degree in Earth and Environmental Sciences will be prepared for graduate or professional programs or direct entry into the workforce. Earth and Environmental Sciences majors may go on to careers in industry, technology, consulting, nonprofits, government, education, and law.

Students pursuing this bachelor’s degree must earn a minimum of 30 credit hours in the Newcomb-Tulane College core curriculum, 120 credit hours in their degree and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.000. More information on degree and core curriculum requirements can be found here.

See Recommended Plan of Study below.

Curriculum Requirements 

Course requirements for the Earth and Environmental Sciences major are outlined below: 

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Students should consult with their major advisor to review available electives.

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Two of the following courses may also count as electives: COLQ 4120 The Grand Canyon (3,4 c.h.), ANTH 3560 Environmental Archaeology (3 c.h.), EBIO 2040 Conservation Biology (3 c.h.), EBIO 2580 Urban Ecology (3 c.h.) , EBIO 2600 Natural Resource Conservation (3 c.h.), EBIO 3040 General Ecology (3 c.h.), EVST 3310 Approaches to Environ Studies (3 c.h.), CHEM 2500 Environmental Chemistry (3 c.h.), CMPS 1100 Foundations of Programming (3 c.h.), CMPS 1500 Intro to Computer Science I (4 c.h.),  CMPS 2170 Intro to Discrete Math (3 c.h.), COMM 3510 Environmental Comm (3 c.h.), MATH 2210 Calculus III (4 c.h.), MATH 2240 Intro To Applied Math (4 c.h.), MATH 3070 Intro To Probability (3 c.h.), MATH 3090 Linear Algebra (4 c.h.).

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MATH 1150 Long Calculus I (3 c.h.)  and MATH 1160 Long Calculus II (3 c.h.) (Long Calculus sequence) may be taken instead of MATH 1210 Calculus I (4 c.h.) to complete the Calculus 1 requirement. 

MATH 1310 Consolidated Calculus (4 c.h.) may be taken instead of MATH 1210 Calculus I (4 c.h.)/MATH 1220 Calculus II (4 c.h.)

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Field-based courses include a range of options, typically transferred from another accredited university-level program. These include geoscience field camp courses, applied field-based geophysics courses, and coastal and/or marine science courses. Department approval is required.

Recommended Plan of Study

This example plan of study for the BS in Earth and Environmental Sciences Major represents a fall semester start and encompasses all program requirements. Students are responsible for reviewing university, school, and program requirements, along with prerequisites and the sequencing of courses in coordination with their academic and major advisors.

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Students may choose either a field-based course, EENS 4560/SRVC 4890, EENS 4570, or EENS 4990/5000. Field-based courses include a range of options, typically transferred from another accredited university-level program. These include geoscience field camp courses, applied field-based geophysics courses, and coastal and/or marine science courses. Department approval is required.

^{Program String and Field of Study: SEBS_UG, EENS}

For more information, contact the School of Science and Engineering.