Earth and Planetary Sciences

Professor Steven C. Wofsy, Head Tutor

Harvard offers outstanding opportunities for students who wish to pursue studies in Earth and Planetary Sciences, a field of study that encompasses a broad range of science and technology. Understanding a complex natural system such as the Earth or another planet demands training in basic sciences and mathematics, a knowledge of the system itself, and the development of new tools and technologies, such as space probes and sophisticated new instruments to analyze the system. The Earth's natural systems are interconnected in ways heretofore unexpected, challenging earth scientists to be trained as broadly as possible across the boundaries between physics, chemistry, biology, and the earth sciences themselves. This intellectual breadth is not always possible to acquire in a "pure" science program, yet is a necessity for the study of the Earth. Hence, the department seeks to train students broadly and rigorously in the basic sciences, stressing their manifestations and interconnections in earth and planetary sciences. Students with a strong interest in a rigorous scientific education and natural curiosity about the Earth's dynamic systems, including geology, atmospheric sciences, and oceanography, should consider focus in the geological or geophysical sciences within the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS).

These are intellectually exciting times for the earth and planetary sciences, which are of unprecedented importance to contemporary society. Our environment is increasingly subject to stresses placed upon it. As never before, we must understand the consequences of our activities for the Earth's atmosphere, the oceans, the solid Earth, and the organisms that live on it. Exploring, extracting, and conserving natural resources are vital to the global political economy. We must mitigate the ill effects of earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, and severe weather by learning to predict their time and place. Students with a scientific interest in these issues will find a focus on environmental geoscience particularly appropriate.

Career opportunities in earth and planetary sciences are diverse, spanning the private, government, and academic sectors. Government service includes research and administration in NASA, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency, the US Geological Survey, the Environmental Protection Agency, and many other agencies and departments. Earth scientists work in and direct a number of oil and mineral exploration and production companies. There are abundant opportunities in the academic world. Many opportunities continue to grow for entrepreneurs who build companies specializing in resources, natural hazards, waste repositories and cleanup, and environmental impact. In addition to scientific career paths, an undergraduate degree in earth and planetary sciences is an excellent background for continuing study in law, business, public administration, and medicine, and in certain fields, such as environmental law, it may be indispensable.

The research environment of the department is an unparalleled resource for undergraduate education. Concentrators may work with faculty and graduate students on major research projects as a research or field assistant, in the context of course work, or as part of an undergraduate research project. Class sizes are small and student-professor contact is frequent and informal. As a result of these contacts and regular informal afternoon teas, each graduating senior is personally acquainted with virtually every faculty member in the department. The honors program provides students with the opportunity to explore beyond the elementary level in one or more of the subspecialities of earth and planetary sciences. Honors candidates are required to write a thesis, which may be based on field, laboratory, or theoretical research.

REQUIREMENTS
Basic Requirements: 12-14 half-courses

1. Required courses:
1. Three introductory EPS half-courses: EPS 5, EPS 7 and EPS 8 (3 half-courses).
2. Physics 11a and 11b, or 15a, 15b, and 15c (2-3 half-courses).
3. Physical Sciences 1 (or approved equivalent) and one additional half-course in Chemistry (2 half-courses).
4. Mathematics through Applied Mathematics 21a and 21b, or Mathematics 21a and 21b (2-4 half-courses).
5. Two additional half-courses in EPS (2 half-courses).
6. Additional half-courses in EPS or in related fields to complete the requirement of at least 12 half-courses (0-2 half-courses).
2. Tutorial: Sophomore year. Non-credit.
3. Thesis: Not required.
4. General Examination: None.
5. Substitutions: Advanced placement may substitute for required courses in 1b-1d, but a minimum of 12 half-courses must be completed to satisfy concentration requirements.
6. Other information:
1. None of the courses required for concentrators may be taken Pass/Fail.
2. Students should plan to complete at least two of the three introductory courses in 1a before the end of their first year in the concentration (usually the sophomore year). Selected Science courses in the Core may substitute for one of the required introductory courses (EPS 5, 7, and 8), if the Core class is taken before any other EPS course. A-30 may substitute for EPS 5; A-24 or A-43 may substitute for EPS 7; and B-35 or B-57 may substitute for EPS 8. Note that only one substitution is permitted.
3. EPS 131, EPS 132, or EPS 133 may substitute for EPS 5 in 1a.
4. Students are encouraged to consider Chemistry 20, Chemistry 60, or Engineering Sciences 168 to fulfill the EPS chemistry requirements.
5. Related fields: Includes all departmental courses offered in Applied Mathematics, Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Environmental Science and Public Policy, Mathematics, Physics, and Statistics which count towards the respective concentration requirements. Courses offered through the Core program are not admissible for the related field requirement.
6. Plan of Study: Students discuss and develop individual plans of study together with their concentration adviser. This ensures that the upper-level courses in EPS and related fields provide a coherent focus in some area of Earth and Planetary Science. Normally, students wishing to focus in the following sub-disciplines should include three or more of the listed courses in their plan of study:
1. For students wishing to focus in Geological Science: EPS 74, EPS 150, EPS 171, EPS 180.
2. For students wishing to focus in Environmental Geoscience: EPS 107, EPS 108, EPS 109, EPS 133, ES 162.
3. For students wishing to focus in Solid Earth Geophysics: EPS 108, EPS 161, EPS 166, EPS 167, AM 105a, AM 105b.
4. For students wishing to focus in Geochemistry: EPS 107, EPS 133, EPS 137, EPS 140, EPS 141, EPS 150.
5. For students wishing to focus in Atmospheric and Ocean Science: EPS 131, EPS 132, EPS 133, Bio 118, AM 105a, AM 105b.

Requirements for Honors Eligibility: 15-16 half-courses

1. Required courses:
1. Three introductory EPS half-courses: EPS 5, EPS 7, and EPS 8 (3 half-courses)
2. Physics 11a and 11b, or Physics 15a, 15b, 15c (2-3 half-courses).
3. Physical Sciences 1 (or approved equivalent) and one additional half-course in Chemistry (2 half-courses).
4. Mathematics through Applied Mathematics 21a and 21b, or Mathematics 21a and 21b (2-4 half courses).
5. EPS 99, Senior Thesis Tutorial (1 half-course).
6. Three additional half-courses in EPS (3 half-courses).
7. Additional half-courses in EPS or in related fields to complete the requirement of 15 half-courses (0-3 half-courses). One term of EPS 99 may count as one of these additional half-courses.
2. Tutorial: Sophomore year. Required. Non-credit.
3. Thesis: Required. Written as part of EPS 99. An oral presentation of the thesis is required.
4. General Examination: None.
5. Substitutions: Advanced placement may substitute for required courses in 1b-1d, but a minimum of 15 half-courses must be completed to satisfy concentration requirements.
6. Other information: Same as Basic Requirements. In addition, EPS 99 may be taken for two terms. The first term counts toward requirement 3, and the second term may count toward requirement 1g, but not 1f.

Joint Concentration
Requirements for Honors Eligibility: 11-15 half-courses

1. Required Courses:
1. Two introductory EPS half-courses selected from EPS 5, EPS 7, and EPS 8 (2 half-courses).
2. Physics 11a and 11b, or 15a, 15b, and 15c (2-3 half-courses).
3. Physical Sciences 1 (or approved equivalent) and one additional half-course in Chemistry (2 half-courses).
4. Mathematics through Applied Mathematics 21a and 21b, or Mathematics 21a and 21b (2-4 half-courses).
5. EPS 99 (Senior Thesis Tutorial) or similar course in the student's other concentration (1 half-course).
6. Three additional half-courses in EPS (3 half-courses).
2. Tutorial: Sophomore year Required. Non-credit.
3. Thesis: Required. Written as part of EPS 99. An oral presentation of the thesis is required.
4. General Examination: None.
5. Substitutions: Advanced placement may substitute for required courses in 1b-1d, but a minimum of 11 half-courses must be completed to satisfy joint concentration requirements.
6. Other information: Same as Basic Requirements. An EPS faculty member must serve as a thesis reader.

ADVISING

At the beginning of the first term of concentration each student is assigned a faculty adviser. Students normally continue with the same adviser throughout their concentration, although advisers may be changed upon student request. For honors candidates writing a thesis, the senior thesis adviser will also act as the concentration adviser. Students should meet individually with their advisers at least once each term to discuss course selections and other academic matters. Students may also seek advice from the Head Tutor at any time. Students seeking additional advising about course options in chemistry are encouraged to speak with Professor Ann Pearson (Hoffman Labs 302, 384-8392; pearson@eps.harvard.edu).

RESOURCES

The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences is housed partly in the Hoffman Laboratory of Experimental Geology, which is directly connected with department classrooms, offices, and the Kummel Library in the Geological Museum on Oxford Street. Atmospheric sciences and physical oceanography are housed in Pierce Hall, just across Oxford Street from Hoffman Laboratory. Biological oceanography and paleontology are housed in the Geological Museum, with direct connection through the museum to the parts of the department housed in Hoffman Laboratory.

HOW TO FIND OUT MORE

All essential information about the concentration is included in this book or in the Earth and Planetary Sciences section of Courses of Instruction. Additional information may be obtained from the offices of the department, on the fourth floor of Hoffman Laboratory, from the Head Tutor, or on our website (www.eps.harvard.edu). Outside of those offices is the bulletin board that contains many notices of job opportunities, lectures, fellowships, and other matters of interest.

Head Tutor: Professor John H. Shaw, Geological Museum Room 215, 615-495-8008, shaw@eps.harvard.edu. Department Administrator: Chenoweth Moffatt, Hoffman Laboratory Room 402, 617-384-9760, moffatt@eps.harvard.edu.

ENROLLMENT STATISTICS

Number of Concentrators as of November