The best earth sciences liberal arts colleges are those with rich histories of influence, proven through the work produced by the program’s faculty and alumni. Beyond demonstrating scholarly impact in the field, the best earth sciences degree programs maximize your opportunities to interact with outstanding earth sciences faculty.
A bachelor’s degree in earth sciences is an excellent starting point for a career in meteorology, environmental conservation, renewable energy, and many other innovative fields. As an earth sciences major, you’ll study the Earth, its atmosphere, the materials and substances that compose them, and the processes that produce weather patterns, climate shifts, geological events, and more.
Your earth sciences degree will incorporate four primary sub-disciplines—geology, meteorology, oceanography, and astronomy, as well as foundational courses in subjects such as mineralogy, climatology, hydrology, paleontology, agriculture, conservation, and preservation.
The best schools for earth sciences are those which are regionally accredited, which offer a full array of earth sciences concentrations, and which give you the chance to work with the best and most influential professors and classmates.
Bottom Line: Earth science is a very broad field that has numerous concentrations. Earning a degree in Earth science from a liberal arts college can open a number of career opportunities for graduates.
Scientific careers tend to involve specialized, challenging, and well-paying jobs, and earth sciences is no different. Whether as an environmental scientist, geologist, or atmospheric scientist, landing a job in a branch of earth sciences can lead to a big paycheck.
Whether studying minerals, crystals, and magma deep within the Earth, or measuring patterns of atmospheric change, earth science majors lead interesting careers full of discovery, investigation, and problem-solving opportunities. Today, top influencers in earth sciences are bringing new light to volcanology, climate change, sustainability, and much more.
Back to TopEarth sciences is a great major if you aspire to positively impact the earth and environment. This versatile degree gives you the opportunity to contribute to advances in sustainability, alternative energies, environmental conservation, agriculture, food production, and more. Your degree in earth sciences could put you in a position to produce findings, technology and innovations that could solve some of the world’s greatest challenges from global hunger to climate change.
Back to TopOnce you’ve declared your major in earth sciences, you will likely be required to complete a set of core courses in a number of STEM-related subject areas. While your concentration will give you a chance to choose from a wide range of highly-specialized earth sciences electives, there are several common courses that most earth sciences majors will be required to take, including:
With such a wide range of specialization options, earth science majors have an equally wide selection of career paths. Keep in mind, your major specialization largely determines your professional specialization, so if, for instance, you want to work as a geologist, we would recommend specializing in geology; if you plan to become a climate scientiest, specialize in meteorology. With the right focus, your earth sciences major can lead to a wide range of career opportunities, including these top jobs:
Related: How to Major in Earth Sciences
Earth scientists are professionals who study natural hazards, groundwater, climate, and environmental change, oceans, lakes, volcanoes, earthquakes, minerals, fossils, tectonics, sediments, rocks, and soils—basically the Earth itself. These scientists explore and study the active processes on our planet from its origin to today.
There are numerous concentrations within the field of Earth science, but generally speaking, all branches of earth science are connected. Here are some of the major branches of Earth science.
Also known as Earth science or geoscience, geology studies the structure, dynamics, and evolution of the Earth and its natural energy and mineral resources. This field explores the means that shaped the Earth some 4500 million years ago.
This field applies geology, chemistry, biology, meteorology, and other sciences to study the ocean. This field is especially important today as pollution, climate change, and other factors threaten the ocean and its marine life. There are many branches of oceanography, including:
Contrary to popular belief, meteorologists do not study meteors—but the atmosphere, the thin layer of gas surrounding the Earth. Meteorology includes the study of clouds, weather patterns, tornadoes, and hurricanes. With the use of satellites and radars, meteorologists work on forecasting or predicting the weather. Climatologists also study the Earth’s atmosphere and how climate will change in response to global warming.
Environmental scientists study people’s effects on the environment, including landscape, water, atmosphere, and living things. Those seeking to pursue careers in this field ask questions about how Earth’s systems are changing because of human actions and predict what changes will come in the future.
It is the study of outer space and other physical bodies beyond Earth. Astronomers usually use a telescope to see things far beyond what our human eye can see. These professionals help design satellites or spacecraft that travel into space and send information about faraway places.
There are many reasons to dive into the broad field of Earth science, but here are some of the top reasons:
Earth science is a general term for various science fields that relate to the planet Earth. It is simply a branch of planetary science. Think of it as the ‘owner’s manual’ for the planet.
In classes in Earth science, you will generally learn the nature of science and its application to Earth processes. You will learn about how the different parts of the Earth are interrelated.
Topics for classes in Earth science include:
Key Point: Earning a degree in Earth science at a liberal arts college will also mean that you will be taking classes that will broaden your scope of learning. Students don’t focus only on STEM courses, but liberal arts courses as well.
Earth science classes are not dry and boring at all! They are filled with theoretical data. Instead, you will be learning more about what is surrounding you and what is affecting you—from the latest pollution to earthquakes and even the gas price.
Students also use geography, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and chronology tools to understand how the Earth system works and evolves.
If you think a research university may be a better fit for you, see our ranking of the best research universities for a bachelor’s in earth sciences.
Tuition + fees
$57K
Acceptance
7%
Graduation
93%
Student body
2K
Pomona College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$60K
Acceptance
13%
Graduation
91%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1430/32
Middlebury College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$56K
Acceptance
8%
Graduation
94%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1467/32
Swarthmore College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$61K
Acceptance
9%
Graduation
92%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1495/33
Amherst College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$60K
Acceptance
9%
Graduation
94%
Student body
2K
Williams College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$58K
Acceptance
9%
Graduation
94%
Student body
2K
Bowdoin College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$58K
Acceptance
11%
Graduation
93%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1415/32
Claremont McKenna College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$61K
Acceptance
16%
Graduation
92%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1435/32
Wellesley College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$62K
Acceptance
17%
Graduation
90%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1385/31
Colgate University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
33%
Graduation
85%
Student body
22K
Median SAT/ACT
1315/29
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$62K
Acceptance
14%
Graduation
86%
Student body
2K
Colorado College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$60K
Acceptance
18%
Graduation
91%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1425/32
Carleton College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$58K
Acceptance
18%
Graduation
88%
Student body
<1K
Pitzer College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Acceptance
19%
Graduation
92%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1310/29
United States Coast Guard Academy’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$61K
Acceptance
31%
Graduation
90%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1365/31
Macalester College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$59K
Acceptance
17%
Graduation
92%
Student body
<1K
Bates College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$63K
Acceptance
20%
Graduation
93%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1440/33
Vassar College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$61K
Acceptance
9%
Graduation
87%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1450/32
Colby College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$61K
Acceptance
18%
Graduation
90%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1440/33
Haverford College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$59K
Acceptance
19%
Graduation
94%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1425/33
Washington and Lee University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$60K
Acceptance
14%
Graduation
92%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1445/33
Hamilton College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$60K
Acceptance
34%
Graduation
82%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1315/30
Oberlin College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$60K
Acceptance
35%
Graduation
88%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1340/30
Bucknell University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$58K
Acceptance
30%
Graduation
82%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
1400/31
Scripps College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
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