The Earth Sciences provide insights into some of humanity’s deepest questions. How was the planet Earth, our lifeboat in space, formed? What are the processes that have shaped the Earth - its surface and internal structure? How has life, of which humanity is a part, evolved? Why are there earthquakes, volcanoes, mountain chains, continents, and oceans? How has the surface of the Earth changed through time? On a practical level, the study of Earth Sciences provides a basis for understanding natural hazards, assessing Earth’s climate variability, predicting the migration of man-made pollutants, and exploring for the energy and mineral resources upon which society depends. The study of earth sciences also, uniquely, provides a perspective of time and an appreciation of the natural world that can enrich a lifetime.
To complete a minor in Earth Sciences, students must take 18 credits in Earth sciences which includes an introductory course (EAR 105 or EAR 110 or EAR 203 ), and 12 credits of courses numbered 300 or above.