The Program
The major in Earth & Environmental Sciences engages students in the study of the Earth and its environmental systems with a focus on the key natural and physical processes that shape our planet, from the geologic past to the present, and into the future. Students gain a broad foundational understanding of concepts and research techniques in the physical, life, and interdisciplinary natural sciences that inform society about the physical world and environment in which we live. The curriculum emphasizes scientific literacy and analysis skills for critical evaluation of scientific arguments related to the study of Earth and environmental systems. The BA in Earth & Environmental Sciences prepares students for graduate study in the field or for employment in a variety of professions including environmental consulting, ecosystem management, private sector industry, governmental and private scientific agencies, science journalism, and environmental law.
Degree Learning Outcomes
Students graduating with a major in Earth & Environmental Sciences are able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of fundamental concepts in Earth Systems Sciences that inform the study of earth systems and the environment.
- Understand and apply foundational concepts from biology, chemistry, and physics to understand earth systems and environmental science.
- Use critical thinking and analytical skills to evaluate data and scientific arguments related to the study of earth and environmental systems.
- Recognize the interrelations of humans and the environment and contribute to efforts to address environmental challenges.
- Communicate scientific ideas through writing, oral presentations, and visual representations.
Degree Requirements
All BU undergraduate students, including both entering first-year and transfer students, will pursue coursework in the BU Hub, the University’s general education program that is integrated into the entire undergraduate experience. BU Hub requirements can be satisfied in a number of ways, including coursework in and beyond the major as well as through cocurricular activities. Students majoring in Earth & Environmental Sciences will ordinarily, through coursework in the major, satisfy BU Hub requirements in Scientific Inquiry 1 & 2; Quantitative Reasoning 1 & 2; Diversity, Civic Engagement & Global Citizenship; Communication; Research & Information Literacy; Digital/Media Expression; and the Intellectual Toolkit. Remaining BU Hub requirements will be satisfied by selecting from a wide range of available courses outside the major or, in some cases, cocurricular experiences.
The major in Earth & Environmental Sciences requires a total of 16 courses (64 units), all completed with a grade of C or higher, as approved by the student’s advisor. Those 16 courses include two required introductory courses, six required related mathematics and science courses, three principal courses, and five elective courses. At least two elective courses must be at the 400 or 500 level. With prior approval from faculty advisors, students may apply coursework taken as part of the BU Marine Program (as well as other study abroad opportunities) toward the total of 16 courses required for the major. In addition, up to one term (4 units) of Directed Study (EE 491 or 492) may be applied toward fulfillment of the 16-course requirement for the major.
Required Courses
Introductory Core Courses (2)
- CAS EE 100 or EE 150 or EE 250
- CAS EE 107 (preferred) or EE 105 or EE 142 or EE 144
Required Related Courses (6)
- Biology: CAS BI 107
- General Chemistry: CAS CH 101 or CH 109 or CH 171
- Physics: CAS PY 105 or PY 211 or PY 251
- Mathematics & Statistics: Students select between a traditional calculus/statistics track or a data science track (taking three courses total):
- Traditional calculus/statistics track:
- Calculus: MA 121 and 122 or MA 123 and MA 124
- Statistics: EE 270 (preferred) or MA 115 or MA 213
- Data Science track: CDS DS 120 and 121 and 122
Principal Courses (3)
Students complete one course from each of the following categories:
- Ecosystems and Ecology: BI 306 Biology of Global Change, EE/BI 307 Biogeography
- Physical Earth System Sciences: EE 300 Earth’s Rocky Materials, EE 310 Climate and the Environment, EE 317 Introduction to Hydrology, EE 360 Introduction to Physical Oceanography
- Earth Observation and Analysis: EE 302 Remote Sensing of Environment, EE 365 An Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS), EE 375 Introduction to Quantitative Environmental Modeling
Degree Electives
Electives (5)
Students select five elective courses from the list of approved electives. At least two courses must be at the 400 or 500 level (or above) and up to one course can be selected from the environmental social science and policy approved electives. The Earth System Science topical areas are suggestive only. Students can select from any list.
Ecosystems and Ecology
- CAS BI 306 Biology of Global Change
- CAS EE/BI 307 Biogeography
- CAS EE 317 Introduction to Hydrology
- CAS EE 371 Introduction to Geochemistry
- CAS EE 375 Introduction to Quantitative Environmental Modeling
- CAS BI 413 Microbial Ecology
- CAS EE/BI 423 Marine Biogeochemistry
- CAS EE/BI 443 Terrestrial Biogeochemistry
- CAS EE/BI 475 Urban Ecology
- CAS EE 503 Micrometeorology: Energy and Mass Transfer at the Earth’s Surface
- CAS EE 512 Urban Climate
- CAS EE 514 Dynamic Landsurface Hydrology
- CAS EE/BI 523 Marine Urban Ecology (BUMP)
- CAS EE 525 Plant Physiological Ecology
- CAS EE 529 Modeling and Monitoring Terrestrial Ecosystems Processes
- CAS EE/BI 530 Forest Ecology
- CAS EE/BI 539 Coral Reef Dynamics
- CAS EE 542 Coastal Ecosystems
- CAS EE 585 Ecological Forecasting and Informatics
Physical Earth System Sciences
- CAS EE 300 Earth’s Rocky Materials
- CAS EE 305 Earth Structure
- CAS EE 310 Climate and the Environment
- CAS EE 317 Introduction to Hydrology
- CAS EE 351 Paleoclimatology and Paleoceanography
- CAS EE 360 Intro to Physical Oceanography
- CAS EE 371 Introduction to Geochemistry
- CAS EE/BI 423 Marine Biogeochemistry
- CAS EE 503 Micrometeorology: Energy and Mass Transfer at the Earth’s Surface
- CAS EE 504 Physical Climatology
- CAS EE 507 Dynamical Oceanography
- CAS EE 511 Introduction to the Atmospheric Boundary Layer
- CAS EE 512 Urban Climate
- CAS EE 514 Dynamic Landsurface Hydrology
- CAS EE 533 Quantitative Geomorphology
- CAS EE 540 Atmospheric Chemistry and Global Change
- CAS EE 542 Coastal Ecosystems: Adaptation and Resilience to Environmental Change
- CAS EE 543 Estuaries and Nearshore Systems
- CAS EE 544 Coastal Sedimentology
- CAS EE 557 Oceanography of Stellwagen Bank and Surrounding Waters
- CAS EE/BI 591 Bio-Optical Oceanography
- CAS EE/BI 593 Marine Physiology & Climate Change
Earth Observations and Analysis
- CAS EE 302 Remote Sensing of Environment
- CAS EE 365 An Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
- CAS EE 375 Introduction to Quantitative Environmental Modeling
- CAS EE 422/622 Aquatic Optics and Remote Sensing
- CAS EE 444/644 Digital Image Processing
- CAS EE 445/645 Physical Models in Remote Sensing
- CAS EE 446/646 Remote Sensing of the Lower Atmosphere
- CAS EE 501 Advanced Topics in Remote Sensing
- CAS EE 503 Micrometeorology: Energy and Mass Transfer at the Earth’s Surface
- CAS EE 505 Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- CAS EE 508 Data Science for Conservation Decisions
- CAS EE 516 Multivariate Analysis for Geographers
- CAS EE 529 Modeling and Monitoring Terrestrial Ecosystems Processes
- CAS EE 540 Atmospheric Chemistry and Global Change
- CAS EE 585 Ecological Forecasting
- CAS EE/BI 591 Bio-Optical Oceanography
Environmental Social Science and Policy
- CAS EC 371 Environmental Economics
- CAS EC 571 Energy & Environmental Economics
- CAS EE 309 Intermediate Environmental Analysis and Policy
- CAS EE 322 The Politics of Science, Care, and the Environment
- CAS EE 347 Water & Environment
- CAS EE 400/600 Environment and Development: A Political Ecology Approach
- CAS EE 460/660 Resource Economics and Policy
- CAS EE 506/IR 512 Global Resource Geopolitics
- CAS EE 508 Data Science for Conservation Decisions
- CAS EE 518 Environmental Risk Governance and Society
- CAS EE 519 Energy, Society, and the Environment
- CAS EE 521 Law for Sustainability
- CAS EE 522 The Development of Sustainable Environmental Responsibility
- CAS EE 524 Environmental Justice
- CAS EE 526 Global Energy Justice
- CAS EE 528 US Environmental Policy
- CAS EE 538 Research for Environmental Agencies and Organizations
- CAS EE 545 Methods of Environmental Policy Analysis
- CAS EE 552 Reconstructing Environmental Governance
- CAS EE 555 World Oil Markets
- CAS EE/IR 304 Environmentally Sustainable Development
- CAS EE/IR 308 Introduction to Global Resource Geopolitics
- CAS EE/IR 594 Global Environmental Negotiation and Policy
- CAS EE/IR 597 Development and Environment in Latin America
- CAS EE/IR 599 Science, Politics, and Climate Change
- CAS IR 311 Climate Change and Development Policy
Honors in the Major
Students who maintain a minimum GPA of 3.5 or higher are eligible to work toward honors in the major. Requirements include completion of the two-course sequence of independent study (CAS EE 401 and CAS EE 402) and successful defense of a senior thesis. In appropriate circumstances, and with the approval of the Departmental Honors Committee, students may apply significant summer research toward the production of a senior thesis. In such cases, students combine independent summer fieldwork with either EE 401 or EE 402 as the basis for writing and defending a senior honors thesis.
Interested students should contact the department Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS), who oversees departmental honors, no later than March of their junior year. Students with an overall GPA between 3.3 and 3.5 can request permission from the DUS to be accepted into the program.
Departmental Honors Application
