Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences at Rice University

Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences encompass a range of interrelated disciplines focused on understanding the origin of Earth and planetary systems, the processes that operate within them, and their evolution through time. Topics represented in our field include the physics and chemistry of the solid Earth and its planetary neighbors, the causes and consequences of plate tectonics, and the origin and importance of the oceans and atmosphere. The study of past and present-day environmental processes is integral to understanding the impacts of Earth's climate, land surface evolution, natural resources, and natural hazards on the biosphere, including humans.

The Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences offers undergraduate and graduate programs for a wide range of interests. All undergraduate majors take a five-course core sequence, typically in the freshman through junior years, gaining a fundamental understanding of Earth and planetary systems, processes, materials, history, and interactions. Majors also take a course in applied laboratory, field, and computational techniques, and introductory courses in  mathematics, chemistry, and possibly, physics and biology. The BS degree provides three areas of specialization:

• Geoscience - focused on Earth systems and processes, including upper-level courses in solid Earth geophysics, geochemistry, tectonics, and a range of elective options.
• Environmental Earth Science* - emphasizing interactions between Earth processes and Earth's biosphere, enhanced by upper-level electives selected from BioSciences, Chemistry, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and more.
• Planetary Science - designed to apply our knowledge of the Earth to other planetary systems in our solar system, enhanced by upper-level electives in Physics and Astronomy and beyond. 

The BS degree with a major in Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences should be chosen by students planning a career or further study in Earth, Environmental, or Planetary Sciences, or a related field. The BA degree is a more flexible program that still provides a comprehensive overview of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences, but can be combined easily with other majors or professional career paths. Many undergraduate students engage in research projects during their careers, gaining the opportunity to work with complex and highly interconnected problems, gaining skills to become leaders and entrepreneurs in the real world - field and laboratory opportunities abound! Future career opportunities include academia, working in industry, business or government, or working with and for societal issues. Many students present their own research projects at national and international professional conferences.

The department also offers an undergraduate minor providing a solid introduction to the broad field of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences*, and allowing students to gain exposure to additional advanced topics, while pursuing their major in another field.

The department offers two graduate degrees, a Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy. Students select research projects in concert with their research advisors, and have the opportunity to work on a wide-range of open-ended, complex, and highly interconnected problems.

Faculty members have joint research projects with scientists at over 100 institutions worldwide, giving an international scope to the department with research programs on all the continents, in all of the oceans, and on four planets. Faculty research interests span a wide range of topics; see https://earthscience.rice.edu for more information. Many departmental research programs involve substantial field activities, both on land and at sea. Several courses also include field trips to a variety of destinations and geologic settings.

*Students interested in an undergraduate major with an environmental emphasis have multiple options at Rice University, spanning the Schools of Natural Sciences, Engineering, Humanities, and Social Sciences, including:

• Environmental Earth Science Area of Specialization under the BS degree with a major in Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences, described above. This major is built upon a strong foundation in Earth Science, and focuses on the interface between the Earth and life.
• Environmental Science (BS and BA degrees) is a broad and interdisciplinary program that incorporates humanities and social sciences perspectives of environmental issues, in addition to natural sciences. This major is jointly administered by the BioSciences and Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences departments, and offers two corresponding Major Concentrations: Earth Science and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
• Environmental Engineering Area of Specialization within the Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (BSChE) degree.
• Environmental Engineering Major Concentration within the BA degree with a major in Civil and Environmental Engineering. 

Similarly, students interested in an undergraduate minor with an environmental emphasis have three options at Rice University:

• Minor in Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences offered by the Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences department, with a strong Earth Science basis.
• Minor in Energy and Water Sustainability offered through the Civil and Environmental Engineering department, highlighting engineering and economic considerations.
• Minor in Environmental Studies, an interdisciplinary minor drawing broadly from the Schools of Natural Sciences, Engineering, Humanities, and Social Sciences.