Environmental Earth Science

University of California, Berkeley

About the Program

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

The environmental earth science major is designed to provide students with a broad background in the earth sciences with an emphasis on environmental sciences. Interrelationships between physical, biological, and chemical processes at Earth's surface will be emphasized. The major focuses broadly on the natural sciences by primarily using earth science as a base for expanding outward depending upon students' interests by incorporating courses in biology, hydrology, hazardous waste management, ecology, and natural resources. The program is designed to provide background for graduate study in environmental science, preparation for work within government agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of Land Management, United States Geological Survey or consulting firms, or broader involvement in land use planning, business, policy, law or management.

Declaring the Major

The department strongly encourages students to see the student services advisor as early as possible. Students are accepted into the major with a C average or better. There are a number of scholarships and research opportunities as well as other benefits available to declared majors.

Honors Program

Students in the honors program must fulfill the following additional requirements: (1) maintain a GPA of at least 3.3 in all courses in the major, and an overall GPA of at least 3.3 in the University; and (2) carry out an individual research or study project, involving at least 3 units of EPS H195. The project is chosen in consultation with a departmental advisor, and the written report is judged by the student's research supervisor and a departmental adviser.

Minor Program

For information regarding the requirements, please see the Minor Requirements tab. Program planning and confirmation should be done with the undergraduate student services adviser and the environmental earth science faculty adviser.

Other Majors and Minors Offered by the Department of Earth and Planetary Science

Atmospheric Science: BA, Minor
Climate Science: Minor
Earth and Planetary Science: Minor
Geology: BA, Minor
Geophysics: BA, Minor
Marine Science: BA, Minor
Planetary Science: BA, Minor

Visit Department Website

Major Requirements

In addition to the University, campus, and college requirements, listed on the College Requirements tab, students must fulfill the below requirements specific to their major program.

General Guidelines

  1. All courses taken to fulfill the major requirements below must be taken for graded credit, other than courses listed which are offered on a Pass/No Pass basis only. Other exceptions to this requirement are noted as applicable.
  2. No more than two upper division courses may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student's double major and no more one course may be used to fulfill minor program requirements with the exception of minors offered outside of the College of Letters & Science.
  3. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 must be maintained in both upper and lower division courses used to fulfill the major requirements.

  4. For more information on AP/IB Exam Scores & A-Level Course Equivalencies for EPS Majors, please see here. 

For information regarding residence requirements and unit requirements, please see the College Requirements tab.

Lower Division Requirements

EPS 50The Planet Earth4
CHEM 1A
& 1AL		General Chemistry
and General Chemistry Laboratory		5
or CHEM 4A General Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis
BIOLOGY 1BGeneral Biology Lecture and Laboratory4
Select one of the following math sequences:
MATH 16A
& MATH 16B
Analytic Geometry and Calculus
and Analytic Geometry and Calculus
MATH 51
& MATH 52
Calculus I
and Calculus II (MATH 51 and 52 as of Fall 2025 - previously MATH 1A and MATH 1B)
MATH 10A
& MATH 10B
Methods of Mathematics: Calculus, Statistics, and Combinatorics
and Methods of Mathematics: Calculus, Statistics, and Combinatorics
Select one of the following physics sequences:
PHYSICS 5A
& PHYSICS 5B
& PHYSICS 5BL
Introductory Mechanics and Relativity
and Introductory Electromagnetism, Waves, and Optics
and Introduction to Experimental Physics I
PHYSICS 8A
& PHYSICS 8B
Introductory Physics
and Introductory Physics
PHYSICS 7A
& PHYSICS 7B
Physics for Scientists and Engineers
and Physics for Scientists and Engineers

Upper Division Requirements 

EPS 102History and Evolution of Planet Earth4
EPS 117Geomorphology4
EPS 150Case Studies in Earth Systems 12
ENE,RES 102Quantitative Aspects of Global Environmental Problems4
Electives, select 12 upper division units from the following list of suggested courses: 212
EPS 100A
Minerals: Their Constitution and Origin [4]
EPS 100B
Genesis and Interpretation of Rocks [4]
EPS C100
Communicating Ocean Science [4]
EPS 103/203
Introduction to Aquatic and Marine Geochemistry [4]
EPS 108
Geodynamics [4]
EPS 109
Computer Simulations with Jupyter Notebooks [4]
EPS 115
Stratigraphy and Earth History [4]
EPS 122
Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors [3]
EPS 124
Isotopic Geochemistry [4]
EPS 125
Stable Isotope Geochemistry [4]
EPS 131
Geochemistry [4]
EPS C178
Applied Geophysics [3]
EPS C180
Air Pollution [3]
EPS C181
Atmosphere, Ocean, and Climate Dynamics [3]
ESPM 120
Science of Soils [3]
ESPM C125
Biogeography [4]
ESPM C128
Chemistry of Soils [3]
ESPM 130A
Forest Hydrology [4]
GEOG C136
Terrestrial Hydrology [4]
CIV ENG 115
Water Chemistry [3]
GEOG 140A
Physical Landscapes: Process and Form [4]
GEOG 140B
Physiography and Geomorphologic Extremes [4]
GEOG 142
Global Climate Variability and Change [4]
GEOG 143
Global Change Biogeochemistry [3]
GEOG 144
Principles of Meteorology [3]
INTEGBI 113L
Paleobiological Perspectives on Ecology and Evolution [4]
INTEGBI 159
The Living Planet: Impact of the Biosphere on the Earth System [3]
INTEGBI 184L
Morphology of the Vertebrate Skeleton with Laboratory [4]
INTEGBI C160Evolution4
1

 This course can only be taken during the student's senior year.

2

 All elective courses used to fulfill the major requirements must be approved by the faculty adviser. This list is intended as a guide; the suggested courses are not limited to only courses included in this list.

Minor Requirements

Students who have a strong interest in an area of study outside their major often decide to complete a minor program. These programs have set requirements and are noted officially on the transcript in the memoranda section, but they are not noted on diplomas.

General Guidelines

  1. All minors must be declared before the first day of classes in your Expected Graduation Term (EGT). For summer graduates, minors must be declared prior to the first day of Summer Session A. 

  2. All upper-division courses must be taken for a letter grade. 

  3. A minimum of three of the upper-division courses taken to fulfill the minor requirements must be completed at UC Berkeley.

  4. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 is required in the upper-division courses to fulfill the minor requirements.

  5. Courses used to fulfill the minor requirements may be applied toward the Seven-Course Breadth requirement, for Letters & Science students.

  6. No more than one upper division course may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student's major and minor programs.

  7. All minor requirements must be completed prior to the last day of finals during the semester in which the student plans to graduate. If students cannot finish all courses required for the minor by that time, they should see a College of Letters & Science adviser.

  8. All minor requirements must be completed within the unit ceiling. (For further information regarding the unit ceiling, please see the College Requirements tab.)

Requirements

Lower Division
EPS 50The Planet Earth (or equivalent)4
Upper Division
Select a minimum of five of the following:
EPS 100A
Minerals: Their Constitution and Origin [4]
EPS 100B
Genesis and Interpretation of Rocks [4]
EPS C100
Communicating Ocean Science [4]
EPS 102
History and Evolution of Planet Earth [4]
EPS 103
Introduction to Aquatic and Marine Geochemistry [4]
EPS 109
Computer Simulations with Jupyter Notebooks [4]
EPS 115
Stratigraphy and Earth History [4]
EPS 117
Geomorphology [4]
EPS 131
Geochemistry [4]
EPS C178
Applied Geophysics [3]
EPS C180
Air Pollution [3]
EPS C181
Atmosphere, Ocean, and Climate Dynamics [3]

College Requirements

Undergraduate students must fulfill the following requirements in addition to those required by their major program.

For a detailed lists of L&S requirements, please see Overview tab to the right in this guide or visit the L&S Degree Requirements webpage. For College advising appointments, please visit the L&S Advising Pages. 

University of California Requirements

Entry Level Writing

All students who will enter the University of California as freshmen must demonstrate their command of the English language by fulfilling the Entry Level Writing requirement. Fulfillment of this requirement is also a prerequisite to enrollment in all reading and composition courses at UC Berkeley and must be taken for a letter grade. 

American History and American Institutions

The American History and American Institutions requirements are based on the principle that all U.S. residents who have graduated from an American university should have an understanding of the history and governmental institutions of the United States.

Berkeley Campus Requirement

American Cultures

All undergraduate students at Cal need to take and pass this campus requirement course in order to graduate. The requirement offers an exciting intellectual environment centered on the study of race, ethnicity and culture of the United States. AC courses are plentiful and offer students opportunities to be part of research-led, highly accomplished teaching environments, grappling with the complexity of American Culture.

College of Letters & Science Essential Skills Requirements

Quantitative Reasoning

The Quantitative Reasoning requirement is designed to ensure that students graduate with basic understanding and competency in math, statistics, or computer/data science. The requirement may be satisfied by exam or by taking an approved course taken for a letter grade.

Foreign Language

The Foreign Language requirement may be satisfied by demonstrating proficiency in reading comprehension, writing, and conversation in a foreign language equivalent to the second semester college level, either by passing an exam or by completing approved course work taken for a letter grade.

Reading and Composition

In order to provide a solid foundation in reading, writing, and critical thinking the College of Letters and Science requires two semesters of lower division work in composition in sequence. Students must complete parts A & B reading and composition courses in sequential order by the end of their fourth semester for a letter grade.

College of Letters & Science 7 Course Breadth Requirements

Breadth Requirements

The undergraduate breadth requirements provide Berkeley students with a rich and varied educational experience outside of their major program. As the foundation of a liberal arts education, breadth courses give students a view into the intellectual life of the University while introducing them to a multitude of perspectives and approaches to research and scholarship. Engaging students in new disciplines and with peers from other majors, the breadth experience strengthens interdisciplinary connections and context that prepares Berkeley graduates to understand and solve the complex issues of their day.

Unit Requirements

  • 120 total units

  • Of the 120 units, 36 must be upper division units

  • Of the 36 upper division units, 6 must be taken in courses offered outside your major department
Residence Requirements

For units to be considered in "residence," you must be registered in courses on the Berkeley campus as a student in the College of Letters & Science. Most students automatically fulfill the residence requirement by attending classes at Cal for four years, or two years for transfer students. In general, there is no need to be concerned about this requirement, unless you graduate early, go abroad for a semester or year, or want to take courses at another institution or through UC Extension during your senior year. In these cases, you should make an appointment to meet an L&S College adviser to determine how you can meet the Senior Residence Requirement.

Note: Courses taken through UC Extension do not count toward residence.

Senior Residence Requirement

After you become a senior (with 90 semester units earned toward your B.A. degree), you must complete at least 24 of the remaining 30 units in residence in at least two semesters. To count as residence, a semester must consist of at least 6 passed units. Intercampus Visitor, EAP, and UC Berkeley-Washington Program (UCDC) units are excluded.

You may use a Berkeley Summer Session to satisfy one semester of the Senior Residence requirement, provided that you successfully complete 6 units of course work in the Summer Session and that you have been enrolled previously in the college.

Modified Senior Residence Requirement

Participants in the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP), Berkeley Summer Abroad, or the UC Berkeley Washington Program (UCDC) may meet a Modified Senior Residence requirement by completing 24 (excluding EAP) of their final 60 semester units in residence. At least 12 of these 24 units must be completed after you have completed 90 units.

Upper Division Residence Requirement

You must complete in residence a minimum of 18 units of upper division courses (excluding UCEAP units), 12 of which must satisfy the requirements for your major.

Student Learning Goals

Mission

The goal of the earth and planetary sciences (EPS) BA degree is to provide students with a broad and sound education that provides general and specialized knowledge and is intellectually challenging and stimulating. Upon completion of the degree students are ready to enter graduate school at top-ranking institutions (about half of them choose this path), find employment in the profession (geological and environmental engineering and consulting are major opportunities), continue in public education as teachers, or use their background as a sound basis for a new career such as in public policy, law or medical sciences.

Learning Goals for the Major

EPS majors acquire knowledge through course work, laboratory training (expertise in experimental techniques), primary field research, library research, and computer applications, with oral presentations and written reports required in many of our classes.

The undergraduate program provides strong technical training for those who wish to pursue professional careers in the earth, environmental and planetary sciences, as well as training in analytical, creative and critical thinking and communication that serves well those who choose paths in new fields.

The environmental earth science track focuses broadly on the natural sciences, using earth science as a base to expand outward. This track can accommodate the student's interest by incorporating classes in biology, hydrology, hazardous waste management, ecology, and natural resources. Interrelationships are key to this course of study, with an emphasis on how the physical, biological, and chemical processes at the earth's surface affect each other.

This track is excellent preparation for graduate study in environmental science, but it also provides a strong foundation for work within governmental agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of Land Management, United States Geological Survey or consulting firms, or broader involvement in land use planning, business, policy, law or management. This is a great way to obtain a good science foundation for students who are interested in teaching science in elementary or secondary education.

Major Map

Major maps are experience maps that help undergraduates plan their Berkeley journey based on intended major or field of interest. Featuring student opportunities and resources from your college and department as well as across campus, each map includes curated suggestions for planning your studies, engaging outside the classroom, and pursuing your career goals in a timeline format.

Use the major map below to explore potential paths and design your own unique undergraduate experience:

Advising

Undergraduate Student Services

Anna Atkinson, Undergraduate Major Advisor
epsua@berkeley.edu 

Faculty Advisor

Professor Bruce Buffett
bbuffett@berkeley.edu   

EPS Undergraduate Appointments

To make an appointment, please visit the EPS Student Services page.

Courses

Contact Information

Department of Earth and Planetary Science

307 McCone Hall

Phone: 510-642-3993

Fax: 510-643-9980

Visit Department Website

Department Chair

Professor Mark Richards

mark_richards@berkeley.edu

Undergraduate Student Services

Anna Atkinson

319 McCone Hall

https://eps.berkeley.edu/student-resources/contact-student-services-advisors

epsua@berkeley.edu

Faculty Advisor

Professor Penny Wieser

penny_wieser@berkeley.edu

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