Earth, Society, & Environmental Sustainability: Science of the Earth System (SES), BSLAS

for the degree of Bachelor Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences Major in Earth, Society, & Environmental Sustainability, Science of the Earth System Concentration

All students wishing to attend graduate school in any field should discuss necessary supplementary course work with their advisor as early as possible.

A Major Plan of Study form must be completed and submitted to the LAS Student Affairs Office before the end of the fifth semester (60-75 hours). Study abroad courses may be substituted for major and minor requirements with approval of advisor.

Departmental distinction: Students who maintain grade point averages of at least 3.3 in all courses within the major and who undertake a faculty-guided individual research project for credit in the major are recommended for graduation with distinction.

for the degree of Bachelor Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences Major in Earth, Society, & Environmental Sustainability, Science of the Earth System Concentration

All students wishing to attend graduate school in any field should discuss necessary supplementary course work with their advisor as early as possible.

A Major Plan of Study form must be completed and submitted to the LAS Student Affairs Office before the end of the fifth semester (60-75 hours). Study abroad courses may be substituted for major and minor requirements with approval of advisor.

Distinction: A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.3, and have also completed an approved independent study project, approved senior thesis, or approved capstone.

High Distinction: A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5, and have also completed an approved independent study project, approved senior thesis, or approved capstone.

Highest Distinction: A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.7, and also completed an approved senior thesis or approved research capstone.

ESE Core Requirements:

General education: Students must complete the Campus General Education requirements including the campus general education language requirement.


Minimum required major and supporting course work: Normally equates to 48-58 hours. Twelve hours of 300- and 400-level in the major must be taken on this campus. Substitutions may be made with advisor approval.


Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours.

ESES Introductory Core12-14
Students take one approved introductory or advanced course from at least four of the following five areas.
Earth’s Biosphere and Ecology
ESE 111, GEOL 143, IB 100, IB 103, IB 105, IB 150, MCB 150, NRES 105, UP 205
Earth’s Physical Systems, Resources, and Hazards
ATMS 100, ATMS 120, ATMS 201, GEOL 100, GEOL 107, GEOL 117, GEOL 118, GGIS 103, GGIS 222
Environment and the Human Response
ACE 210, ACE 251, GGIS 106, HIST 202, REL 270, RST 242, SOC 160
Sustainability, Policy, and Global Change
ANTH 278, ATMS 140, CPSC 215, GEOL 208, LA 250, NPRE 101, NPRE 201, PS 224, PS 225, SOC 270
Visualizing the Earth System
ATMS 207, GGIS 105
ESE coursework7
ESE 200
Earth Systems
GGIS 379
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
Advanced Courses 15-20
A minimum of five 300- and 400-level courses (from the list below) and in an academically coherent program approved by the advisor, are required. Courses taken to satisfy the “ESE Introductory Core” requirement cannot simultaneously be used to satisfy the Advanced Course requirement. It is strongly recommended that students complete the LAS requirement with 21 hours of 300- or 400-level courses related to the ESE curriculum.
At least three of these five advanced courses must be listed or cross-listed as an ESE or ENSU course.
Earth's Biosphere & Ecology
ESE 439, HORT 430, IB 405, IB 440, IB 444, IB 447, IB 451, IB 452, IB 453, IB 461, IB 485, NRES 348, NRES 419, NRES 420, NRES 431
Earth's Physical Systems, Resources, & Hazards
ABE 436, ATMS 420, CEE 330, CHEM 360, ENSU 302, ESE 320, ESE 333, ESE 411, ESE 445, ESE 470, ESE 486, GEOL 380, GEOL 401, GEOL 450, GEOL 451, GEOL 460, GGIS 401, GGIS 406, GGIS 408, MSE 489, NRES 351
Environment & the Human Response
AGCM 330, AGCM 430, CHLH 469, ENG 315, ENGL 476, ENSU 301, ESE 311, ESE 360, ESE 389, GGIS 350, GGIS 384, GGIS 455, GGIS 483, GGIS 495, GGIS 496, LA 314, LA 430, LA 450, NRES 340, NRES 472, SOC 447
Sustainability, Policy, and Global Change
ACE 310, ACE 406, ACE 411, ATMS 307, ATMS 447, ATMS 449, CPSC 336, CPSC 415, CPSC 431, ENSU 303, ENSU 310, ENSU 410, ESE 410, ESE 465, ESE 466, ESE 482, ETMA 311, LA 370, NPRE 480, NRES 325, NRES 424, NRES 426, NRES 439, UP 405, UP 446, UP 456, UP 480
Visualizing the Earth System
ATMS 305, ESE 421, ESE/GGIS 380, GGIS 371, GGIS 412, GGIS 460, GGIS 468, GGIS 476, GGIS 477, GGIS 479, NRES 427, NRES 454, UP 418

Science of the Earth System Concentration Requirements:

Cognate Course Work 15-18
CHEM 102
General Chemistry I
or CHEM 202
 Accelerated Chemistry I
CHEM 103
General Chemistry Lab I
or CHEM 203
 Accelerated Chemistry Lab I
MATH 220
Calculus
or MATH 221
 Calculus I
STAT 100
Statistics
PHYS 101
College Physics: Mech & Heat
or PHYS 211
 University Physics: Mechanics
Highly recommended: ECON 102

for the degree of Bachelor Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences Major in Earth, Society, & Environmental Sustainability, Science of the Earth System Concentration

Sample Sequence

This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.

Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a fourth level of a language other than English. This may require up to four semesters of language depending on high school coursework or placement.​ For more information, see the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.

First Year
First SemesterHours
Free Elective course1
ESE 2003
CHEM 102 or 2023
CHEM 103 or 2031
Language Other Than English (3rd level)4
Composition I or ESES Introductory Core course4
 16
Total Hours 16
First Year
Second SemesterHours
ESES Introductory Core course or Composition I3
MATH 220 or 2215
Language Other Than English (4th level)4
Free Elective course4
 16
Total Hours 16
Second Year
First SemesterHours
PHYS 211 or 1014
ESES Introductory Core course3
ESES Introductory Core course3
General Education course3
 13
Total Hours 13
Second Year
Second SemesterHours
STAT 1003
ESES Introductory Core course3
General Education course3
General Education course3
Free Elective course3
 15
Total Hours 15
Third Year
First SemesterHours
GGIS 3794
Advanced ESE or ENSU course4
General Education course3
Free Elective course3
 14
Total Hours 14
Third Year
Second SemesterHours
Advanced ESE or ENSU course3
General Education course3
General Education course3
Free Elective course3
Free Elective course3
 15
Total Hours 15
Fourth Year
First SemesterHours
Advanced ESE or ENSU course4
Advanced course from list3
General Education course3
Free Elective course3
Free Elective course3
 16
Total Hours 16
Fourth Year
Second SemesterHours
Advanced course from list3
General Education course3
Free Elective course3
Free Elective course3
Free Elective course3
 15
Total Hours 15

Total Hours: 120

for the degree of Bachelor Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences Major in Earth, Society, & Environmental Sustainability, Science of the Earth System Concentration

1. Be able to recognize, critique and implement commonly accepted Sustainability models and ideas in a wide variety of settings, using systems thinking to link social and natural science concepts.
2. Have a fundamental understanding of the underlying natural science; being able to recognize and apply appropriate scientific methods.
3. Use quantitative methods to describe, understand and evaluate theoretical and applied issues in environmental and sustainability study; this includes direct calculation, working with data, and using quantitative models.
4. Be able to critically evaluate and then communicate environmental and sustainability concepts to both specialized and wide audiences.
5. Students will demonstrate professional competence in environmental and sustainability practice by executing appropriate laboratory and field techniques, applying Geographic Information Science tools and software, and selecting and employing suitable quantitative and qualitative analytical methods. 

for the degree of Bachelor Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences Major in Earth, Society, & Environmental Sustainability, Science of the Earth System Concentration

School of Earth, Society & Environment

Earth, Society & Environment Faculty
Earth, Society & Environment advising

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

overview of college admissions & requirements: Liberal Arts & Sciences