B.S. in Earth Systems, 2024-2025 Catalog

Four Year Degree Worksheet for:

This degree worksheet is intended to help you develop a balanced course schedule while completing your degree within 4 years. The same sequence of courses (with fewer courses each semester) is also recommended for students completing their degree in 5 or 6 years.

This worksheet is not intended to replace academic advising with your assigned advisor. ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ should consult with their assigned advisor to determine the appropriate sequence of required courses and electives based on their academic goals.

ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Enrollment Services prepares the Academic Requirements Report, which is the official graduation verification.

Major-Specific Degree Requirements

Major-Specific Degree Requirements are listed as an "MSDR" in the notes column. These courses must be completed in order to declare your major. All students must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher in the STEM MSDR suite. For more information, please see: Major-Specific Degree Requirements for ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ.

Pre-Earth Systems first-time freshmen must complete CHEM 111A and MATH 122 or higher, and ERTH 102 and ERTH 104 within one year of matriculation. Some students may need to take courses during Summer Session to meet these requirements. ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ who have not met the requirements by the required semester must either declare another major or meet with an Academic Advisor to determine if the student's performance in the courses merits an additional semester to complete.

Additional Notes

ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ should take the Graduate Writing Assessment Requirement Placement Examination (GPE) after Year 1.

Year 1 - Semester 1

Courses to Take in Year 1 - Semester 1
Course #Course Title (Units)PrerequisitesNotes
ERTH 102General Geology (3) MSDR
ERTH 104General Geology Lab (1)Corequisite: ERTH 102MSDR
MATH 122
(area B4)
Calculus I (4)MATH 111 and either 112B or 113MSDR
GE (area A2)Written Communication (3) MSDR
GE (area C1)Other Exploration (3)  
NSCI 190AExperience Success Program 1 (1) Fall only

Year 1 - Semester 2

Courses to Take in Year 1 - Semester 2
Course #Course Title (Units)PrerequisitesNotes
MATH 123
(area B4)
Calculus II (4)MATH 122MSDR
CHEM 111AGeneral Chemistry (5)Appropriate Placement, Corequisite: MATH 112A or 112B or higher, CHEM 95 if neededMSDR
GE (area A1)Oral Communication (3) MSDR
GE (area A3)Critical Thinking (3) MSDR

Year 2 - Semester 3

Courses to Take in Year 2 - Semester 3
Course #Course Title (Units)PrerequisitesNotes
ERTH 240Historical Geology (4)ERTH 102 and 104Fall only
CHEM 111BGeneral Chemistry (5)CHEM 111A or 112A, MATH 112B or higher 
PHYS 100AGeneral Physics (4)MATH 122 
GE (area C1)Other Exploration (3)  

Year 2 - Semester 4

Courses to Take in Year 2 - Semester 4
Course #Course Title (Units)PrerequisitesNotes
ERTH 300Earth Systems (3) GE (area B-UD)
STAT 108Statistics for Everyday Life (3)  
GE (area C2)Other Exploration (3)  
GE (area C3)Other Exploration (3)  
GE (area D1)Other Exploration (3)  

Year 3 - Semester 5

Courses to Take in Year 3 - Semester 5
Course #Course Title (Units)PrerequisitesNotes
ERTH 250Introduction to Field Methods (3)ERTH 102 and 104Fall only
ERTH 363Earth Materials (3)CHEM 111AFall only
BIOL 211Introduction to Evolution and Diversity (5)CHEM 111A 
GE (area D2 or D3)Other Exploration  
GE (area E)Lifelong Learning and Self Development (3)  

Year 3 - Semester 6

Courses to Take in Year 3 - Semester 6
Course #Course Title (Units)PrerequisitesNotes
ERTH 301Earth Science Careers (1) Spring only
ERTH 303;
OR
ERTH 433
Structural Geology (4);
OR
Coastal Systems (3)
 Spring only
ERTH 496Undergraduate Research (3)  
GE (area F)Ethnic Studies (3)  

Year 4 - Semester 7

Courses to Take in Year 4 - Semester 7
Course #Course Title (Units)PrerequisitesNotes
ERTH 339Introduction to Geomorphology (3)ERTH 102 and 104Fall only
ERTH 420Geologic Writing (3)ERTH 102, 104, 240, and 250, GE FoundationFall only
ERTH 443Stratigraphy/Sedimentology (4)ERTH 240 and 322Fall only
ERTH 461Introduction to Geochemistry (3)CHEM 111A or 112A and 111B or 112B, MATH 123Fall only

Year 4 - Semester 8

Courses to Take in Year 4 - Semester 8
Course #Course Title (Units)PrerequisitesNotes
ERTH 465;
OR
ERTH 477
Physical and Chemical Oceanography (3);
OR
Hydrogeology (3)
ERTH 102, CHEM 111A, PHYS 100ASpring only
GEOG 330;
OR
BIOL 350
ÃÛÌÒÓ°ÏñEcosystems (3);
OR
General Ecology (3)
  
GEOG 444Climatology (3)  
GE Upper Division (area C-UD)Upper Division Social Science (3)GE (area C, D) 
GE Upper Division (D-UD)Upper Division Arts and Humanities (3)GE (area C, D)