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The Bachelor of Arts in Earth Systems at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers a comprehensive interdisciplinary education designed to explore the complex interactions between Earth's physical, biological, and human systems. This program provides students with a broad understanding of Earth's processes, including climate change, environmental sustainability, geology, oceanography, and atmospheric science. Students will gain a solid foundation in scientific principles, critical thinking, and data analysis, enabling them to address pressing environmental challenges facing our planet today. The curriculum combines coursework from multiple disciplines such as geology, ecology, geography, atmospheric sciences, and policy studies, ensuring a well-rounded perspective on Earth systems. Students will have opportunities for hands-on learning through laboratory experiments, fieldwork, and research projects, fostering practical skills and real-world experience. The program also emphasizes the importance of societal impacts and ethical considerations related to environmental issues, preparing graduates for careers in research, environmental consulting, conservation, policy-making, and education. Partnerships with research institutes and government agencies enhance experiential learning and professional development. Graduates of this program will be equipped to analyze environmental data, develop sustainable solutions, and contribute meaningfully to the stewardship of Earth's resources. With a strong emphasis on environmental justice and sustainability, the Earth Systems degree aims to advance understanding and inspire action towards a more sustainable and resilient future for our planet.
Core Requirements | ||
GEOL 202 | Earth Systems History | 3 |
GEOL 301 | Earth Materials: Minerals | 4 |
A minimum of 11 credits from the following courses: | 11 | |
GEOL first-year seminar |
||
GEOL 204 |
Planetary Geology: Meteorites and Asteroids | |
GEOL 211 |
Environmental Geology | |
GEOL 213 |
Earth's Dynamic Systems | |
GEOL 401 |
Structural Geology | |
GEOL 402 |
Sedimentology and Stratigraphy | |
GEOL 404 |
Petrology and Plate Tectonics | |
One of the following field-oriented courses: | 3-6 | |
ANTH 451 |
Field School in North American Archaeology H | |
BIOL 459 |
Field Biology at Highlands Biological Station | |
GEOL 395 |
Undergraduate Research in Geology (six credits over two semesters with a preapproved field component) | |
GEOL 396 |
Independent Study in Geology (six credits over two semesters with a preapproved field component) | |
GEOL 413 |
Field Paleontology (six credits over two semesters with a preapproved field component) | |
GEOL 601 |
Summer Field Course in Geology | |
GEOL 602 |
Summer Field Course in Geology | |
MASC 472 |
Barrier Island Ecology and Geology | |
Additional Requirements | ||
One of the following courses: 1 | 4 | |
GEOL 101 |
Introductory Geology and Introductory Geology Laboratory |
|
GEOL 103 |
The Marine Environment and Introductory Geology Laboratory |
|
GEOL 105 |
Violent Earth and Introductory Geology Laboratory |
|
GEOL 109 |
Earth, Climate, and Life through Time and Introductory Geology Laboratory |
|
GEOL 110 |
Earth and Climate for Science Majors and Introductory Geology Laboratory |
|
GEOL 159 |
Prehistoric Life and Introductory Geology Laboratory |
|
CHEM 101 & 101L |
General Descriptive Chemistry I and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory I |
4 |
MATH 130 | Precalculus Mathematics | 3 |
At least three geology and/or allied science electives not otherwise required for the major (see below chart) | 9 | |
Total Hours | 41-44 |
H |
Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
1 |
Only one of GEOL 101, GEOL 105, GEOL 109, and GEOL 110 may be taken for course credit. |
Geology and/or Allied Science Electives Not Otherwise Required for the Major
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
ANTH 143 | Human Evolution and Adaptation | 3 |
ANTH 220 | Principles of Archaeology | 3 |
ANTH 315 | Human Genetics and Evolution | 3 |
ANTH 317 | Evolutionary Perspectives on Human Adaptation and Behavior | 3 |
ANTH 412 | Paleoanthropology | 3 |
ANTH 414 | Laboratory Methods: Human Osteology | 3 |
any Astronomy (ASTR) | ||
any Biochemistry (BIOC) except BIOC 107 and BIOC 108 | ||
BIOL 101 & 101L |
Principles of Biology and Introductory Biology Laboratory H |
4 |
or any Biology (BIOL) above BIOL 113 | ||
any Chemistry (CHEM) above CHEM 101 | ||
any Computer Science (COMP) except COMP 50, COMP 70, and COMP 380 | ||
ECON 101 | Introduction to Economics H | 3 |
ECON 454 | Economics of Population | 3 |
ENEC 489 | Ecological Processes in Environmental Systems | 4 |
ENEC 490 | Special Topics in Environmental Science and Studies H | 1-12 |
any Environmental Health Sciences (ENVR) except ENVR 600 | ||
GEOG 370 | Introduction to Geographic Information | 3 |
GEOG 410 | Modeling of Environmental Systems | 3 |
GEOG 412 | Synoptic Meteorology | 3 |
GEOG 414 | Climate Change | 3 |
GEOG 416 | Applied Climatology: The Impacts of Climate and Weather on Environmental and Social Systems | 3 |
GEOG 440 | Earth Surface Processes | 3 |
GEOG 441 | Introduction to Watershed Systems | 3 |
GEOG 444 | Landscape Biogeography | 3 |
any Geography (GEOG) above GEOG 477 | ||
any Geological Sciences (GEOL) except GEOL 101, GEOL 105, GEOL 109, and GEOL 110 | ||
any Marine Sciences (MASC) above MASC 101 | ||
any Mathematics (MATH) above MATH 130 | ||
any Physics (PHYS) except PHYS 101, PHYS 132, and PHYS 313 | ||
any Statistics and Operations Research (STOR) 155 or above |
- All students, regardless of their residency and/or citizenship, apply to UNC using The Common Application. The application will ask you for more information, including your personal biographical information, parent and sibling information, educational history, and extracurricular activities. There are also three writing samples: one essay on The Common Application and two short answer responses on the UNC-Chapel Hill Member Page.
- Secondary School/High School Transcripts
- All applicants are required to submit a statement from an official at their secondary school. This is often a University Counselor at your school, or an advisor, headmaster, or other official. Please note that this must come from someone at your secondary school. We will not accept statements from private counseling companies or agents.
- We require one letter of recommendation from a teacher who has taught you in your secondary school.
- We require all applicants, regardless of where they are from, to submit SAT or ACT scores. Our SAT code is 5816 and our ACT code is 3162. We have no preference between the SAT or ACT. If you send us both scores, we will look at whichever score is higher in our review of your application.
- TOEFL minimum is 100
- IELTS minimum is 7.0
- We do not require or offer interviews as part of our admissions process. However, non-native English speakers are welcome to submit unscripted interviews with third-party services such as InitialView, Vericant or Naviance Advantage. This is not a requirement and will only be used as supplemental information as needed by the Admissions Committee.
Scholarships
We consider all students, including international students, for a limited number of merit-based scholarships. There is no separate application for these scholarships—just by applying for admission, you’ll automatically be considered for these opportunities. Because these are quite limited in number, we encourage all students to be prepared to pay the full cost of attendance.
Students attending one of the 12 United World Colleges (UWC) are eligible for the Davis Scholars Program,providing they demonstrate financial need according to UNC-approved methodology. Admitted Davis UWC students will receive instructions regarding requisite forms for determining financial need. Qualifying Davis UWC Scholars can receive a scholarship of up to $10,000.
The Earth Systems program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers students a comprehensive education in understanding the complex interactions within Earth's physical, biological, and chemical systems. This interdisciplinary program is designed to prepare students for careers in environmental science, climate research, resource management, and policy making. The curriculum typically includes coursework in geology, atmospheric science, oceanography, ecology, and environmental chemistry, providing a well-rounded foundation in Earth sciences. Students have opportunities to engage in hands-on research, fieldwork, and internships, which enhance practical skills and deepen understanding of Earth's processes. The program emphasizes the importance of sustainability, environmental stewardship, and the scientific principles underlying Earth's systems. Graduates of the Earth Systems degree can pursue further education in graduate or professional schools or enter the workforce in areas such as environmental consultancy, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and industry. The faculty involved in this program are experts in their fields, offering mentorship and research guidance. State-of-the-art laboratories and research facilities support student innovations and exploration. The program also promotes interdisciplinary collaboration, encouraging students to integrate knowledge from different Earth science disciplines. Overall, the Earth Systems program at UNC Chapel Hill aims to equip students with the skills, knowledge, and practical experience necessary to address some of the most pressing environmental challenges facing our planet today.