Earth Systems Science Home Page
Earth Systems Science Program
Earth Systems Science Faculty
The undergraduate major in Earth Systems Science is designed to provide students with a quantitative understanding of the physical, chemical, and biological principles that control the processes, reactions, and evolution of the Earth as a support system for life. Emphasis is given to the interactions between biological systems and physical Earth processes. Core courses within the major provide students with a firm foundation in the fundamentals of chemistry, biology, hydrology, ecology and Earth sciences, while emphasis areas allow students the flexibility to pursue disciplinary areas in more depth. This major emphasizes a highly interdisciplinary approach to Earth Systems Science, incorporating field studies, laboratory experiments, and computations. Complementary coursework in the social sciences exposes students to the political, economic, and societal implications of human interactions with the environment.
Graduates of this major will have a strong background in the theory and application of Earth Systems Science. They will be well prepared for either graduate studies or jobs in the areas of environmental conservation, ecosystem and natural resource management and science, and many aspects of agricultural sciences. Additionally, Earth Systems Science is an excellent foundation for professional careers in law, policy and administration that increasingly involve the environmental sciences.
The location of UC Merced in the San Joaquin Valley near the Sierra Nevada offers an excellent and diverse real-world laboratory for studying the natural environment and how it is affected by human activity. Additionally, the UC Merced Sierra Nevada Research Institute provides a rich milieu of faculty expertise, research seminars, and other activities, and provides opportunities for undergraduate internships.
A hallmark of the Earth Systems Science major is its breadth and flexibility. Lower division coursework emphasizes foundation courses in physical, chemical, and biological sciences and mathematics, with a choice of a lower division elective science course. A freshman seminar is designed to expose students to current topics, research, and career opportunities in Earth Systems early in the program. Upper division requirements consist of four core courses that provide students with a balance of key physical, chemical, and biological concepts in Earth Systems, including a field-intensive course that integrates these principles in practical applications and exercises. In the upper division, students select an emphasis area that allows exploration of a particular topical area in more depth. Selection of three courses from within an emphasis area allows each student to tailor their program to their individual interests. An upper division seminar highlights the latest research in interdisciplinary Earth Systems topics. General education coursework in communications, economics, ethics, and public policy prepares majors to apply their quantitative science skills in the job market or in further studies at the graduate level. Students are encouraged to participate in research, internship, and service learning activities with faculty as part of their undergraduate studies.
Transfer Students. Transfer students who wish to major in Earth Systems Science should complete one year of calculus, one year of physics, one year of general chemistry, one to two semesters of organic chemistry and two to three semesters of general biology or Earth or environmental science courses. Students should check with the UC Merced admissions staff for more information on how courses will transfer to UC Merced.
| Earth System Science Faculty | |
|
Philip Duffy |
| Jessica Green | |
| Peggy O’Day | |
| Samuel Traina | |