The major in Earth & Environmental Sciences engages students in the study of the Earth and its habitable environments 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. Each student, in consultation with an advisor, chooses a focus for in-depth coursework in one of three areas: Ecosystems, Earth and Climate, and Earth Observations. All levels of the curriculum emphasize analysis of data for critical evaluation of scientific arguments related to the study of Earth and environmental systems.
Students majoring in Earth & Environment take advantage of special opportunities that include BU’s Earth House living-learning community, as well as studies abroad in Australia, Denmark, and Italy, among others; qualified students may conduct mentored research toward Honors in the Major. The BA in Earth & Environmental Sciences prepares students for graduate study, including the Department’s MA in Energy & Environment, MA in Remote Sensing & Geospatial Sciences, and PhD in Earth & Environment, in the field, or for entry-level 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
- Demonstrate knowledge of fundamental concepts and specific topics in environmental science, Earth and climate science, and Earth observations that inform the study of planet Earth.
- Understand the application, and limits, of problem-solving tools from the Earth and environmental sciences to represent, organize, and assess information.
- Identify and quantitatively analyze data in order to critically evaluate scientific arguments related to the study of Earth and environmental systems.
- Communicate effectively, both in writing and verbally, using languages from environmental science, Earth and climate science, and Earth observations to express ideas and their importance.
- Solve complex problems in Earth and environmental sciences that require the application of scientific concepts and laboratory techniques from a combination of Earth and climate science, environmental science, and Earth observation.
Degree Requirements
The major in Earth & Environmental Sciences requires a total of 16 courses, as approved by the student’s advisor and all completed with a grade of C or higher. Those 16 offerings comprise three required core introductory courses; six required related mathematics and science courses; and seven approved principal electives, five of which must come from a single group (Ecosystems, Earth and Climate, or Earth Observations), and the remaining two of which must be chosen outside that group. At least one principal elective course must be at the 500-level. With prior approval from the student’s advisor, relevant coursework from BU Study Abroad programs or a directed study (EE/EE 491, 492) may fulfill major requirements.
Introductory Core Courses (3)
- EE 107 Introduction to Climate & Earth System Science
- EE 100 Environmental Change & Sustainability
- EE 270 Data, Models, and Analysis in Earth & Environment
EE 107 and EE 100 may be taken in any order; both should be taken before EE 270. With prior approval, students may substitute MA 213 for EE 270 and EE 105 for EE 107.
Required Related Courses (6)
- Calculus: MA 123 and MA 124 (or MA 127 or MA 129)
- General Chemistry: CH 101 or CH 109 or CH 111 or CH 171
- Physics: PY 211 or PY 251
- Biology: BI 107
- Upon completion of introductory courses in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, students choose one course: PY 212 or 252; BI 108; CH 102 or CH 110 or CH 112 or CH 172.
Degree Electives
Students select seven of the following, five from a single group and any two outside that group. At least one course must be an upper-level elective numbered 500 or higher.
Ecosystems Group
Core Electives
- BI 306 Biology of Global Change
- EE 375 Introduction to Quantitative Environmental Modeling
- EE 423 Marine Biogeochemistry
- EE 443 Terrestrial Biogeochemistry
- EE 456 Terrestrial Ecosystems and the Carbon Cycle
- EE 475 Urban Ecology
- EE 483 Environmental and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics
Upper-level Electives
- EE 509 Applied Environmental Statistics
- EE 512 Urban Climate
- EE 514 Dynamic Landsurface Hydrology
- EE 523 Marine Urban Ecology (BUMP)
- EE 525 Plant Physiological Ecology
- EE 529 Modeling and Monitoring Terrestrial Ecosystems Processes
- EE 530 Forest Ecology
- EE 539 Coral Reef Dynamics (BUMP)
- EE 558 Coastal Biogeochemistry (BUMP)
- EE 576 Aquatic Geochemistry
- EE 585 Ecological Forecasting and Informatics
- EE 591 Bio-Optical Oceanography
- EE 593 Marine Physiology and Climate Change
Earth & Climate Group
Core Electives
- EE 300 Earth’s Rocky Materials
- EE 305 Earth Structure
- EE 310 Climate & Environment
- EE 317 Introduction to Hydrology
- EE 331 Sedimentology
- EE 351 Paleoclimatology & Paleoceanography
- EE 371 Introduction to Geochemistry
- EE 375 Introduction to Quantitative Environmental Modeling
- EE 447 Marine Geology
Upper-level Electives
- EE 503 Micrometeorology: Energy & Mass Transfer at the Earth’s Surface
- EE 504 Physical Climatology
- EE 507 Dynamical Oceanography
- EE 511 Introduction to the Atmospheric Boundary Layer
- EE 512 Urban Climate
- EE 533 Quantitative Geomorphology
- EE 540 Atmospheric Chemistry & Global Change
- EE 543 Estuaries & Nearshore Systems (BUMP)
- EE 557 Oceanography of Stellwagen Bank (BUMP)
- EE 565 Landscape Evolution: Tectonics, Surface Processes, & Climate
Earth Observations Group
Core Electives
- EE 302 Remote Sensing of Environment
- EE 365 An Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
- EE 375 Introduction to Quantitative Environmental Modeling
- EE 422 Aquatic Optics & Remote Sensing
- EE 442 Radar Remote Sensing
- EE 444 Digital Image Processing
- EE 445 Physical Models in Remote Sensing
- EE 446 Remote Sensing of the Lower Atmosphere
Upper-level Electives
- EE 501 Advanced Topics in Remote Sensing
- EE 503 Micrometeorology: Energy & Mass Transfer at the Earth’s Surface
- EE 505 Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- EE 508 Data Science for Conservation Decisions
- EE 516 Multivariate Analysis for Geographers
- EE 529 Modeling & Monitoring Terrestrial Ecosystems processes
- EE 540 Atmospheric Chemistry and Global Change
- EE 578 Marine Geographic Information Science (BUMP)
- EE 598 Key Debates & Emerging Research in Land Change Science
Related Programs and Study Abroad
Boston University Marine Program
For students wishing to develop a marine focus, particularly with a biological emphasis, courses are available through the Boston University Marine Program (BUMP). In this case, the emphasis is on field and laboratory research with foci on ancient marine geology, biogeochemistry of sediments, and biota. Access is provided to present-day natural field laboratories in New England and Belize. This Marine Semester is especially well suited for Environmental Science majors, who fulfill four major electives through the program.
Boston Area Consortia
Registration in the Boston Area Consortia is a formal agreement between Boston Universityand several local colleges and universities whereby BU students can attend courses at other institutions, and students from other institutions can attend courses at BU. The primary schools in the Cross Registration consortium are Boston College, Brandeis University, Tufts University, and Hebrew College.
Earth House
Earth House is a sustainable living-learning community for undergraduates at 7 Buswell Street, on south campus. The historic row house and its supporting energy, water, food and waste systems are the principal objects of inquiry for student-residents. Students take part in at least one change or upgrade in sustainability of Earth House during their residential year, while analyzing Earth house and developing a proposal for the single most environmentally- and cost-effective upgrade in the physical plant or resident consumer behavior for implementation in the following year. Co-curricular credit is available through CAS EE 395/396 Earth House Sustainability Practicum. Earth House is advised by faculty in Earth and Environment, College of Engineering, and Questrom School of Management; and staff of Sustainability@BU. Learn more about the Earth House’s projects here.
Boston University’s Study Abroad and Internship Programs offer several educational opportunities for students pursuing study in the areas of earth and environment. The following is one example of a popular program among Earth & Environment students. A full catalogue of programs can be found at BU Global Programs.
SEA Semester
Sea Education Association (SEA) is an internationally recognized leader in undergraduate ocean education. SEA Semester programs are multidisciplinary learning communities that address the critical environmental issues of our time: climate change, sustainability, biodiversity, human impacts on the environment, and environmental justice. SEA offers six SEA Semester programs: The Global Ocean, Ocean Exploration, Oceans & Climate, Colonization to Conservation in the Caribbean, Sustainability in Polynesian Island Cultures & Ecosystems, and Marine Biodiversity & Conservation. SEA also offers four short-term SEA Summer Sessions: Transatlantic Crossing, Historic Seaports of Western Europe, Protecting the Phoenix Islands, and Pacific Reef Expedition. All SEA programs incorporate an interconnected suite of courses designed to explore a specific ocean-related theme using a cross-disciplinary approach. By combining initial academic coursework in a residential environment in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, with a hands-on voyage aboard a sailing research vessel at sea, SEA allows students to put their newfound knowledge and skills immediately into practice. SEA accepts students from all majors, and no prior sailing experience is necessary.
Honors in Earth & Environment
Successful completion of a departmental honors program signifies outstanding achievement in undergraduate scholarship. Students who maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 are eligible to work toward honors in their respective majors. Requirements include completion of a two-course sequence of independent study (EE/EE 401 and EE/EE 402), original research, and successful composition, oral presentation, and defense of a thesis in the senior year. (Note: EE/EE 401 and EE/EE 402 do not count as electives in the major.) In appropriate circumstances students may apply significant summer research toward the production of a thesis. Each honors student is advised by at least two faculty members, who act as first and second readers of the thesis. Students cannot apply earlier than the first semester of their sophomore year and should apply in the second semester of their junior year. Graduation with honors in the major is a factor in election to Phi Beta Kappa and is noted on the student’s transcript and diploma. Interested students should contact Undergraduate Program Coordinator Sayaka Yamaki. Application for Honors in Earth & Environment