The best earth sciences degree programs 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.
Key Takeaways
In an Earth sciences program, professionals learn about the Earth’s structure, stratigraphy, and chemical composition and their significance to society.
Earth sciences graduates from the best Earth sciences schools develop analytical, interpretive, and mapping skills and transferable soft skills to become even more attractive to employers.
A four-year degree in Earth sciences schools typically qualifies graduates for work in the field, but to pursue a research career, students must pursue a master’s or doctoral degree.
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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.
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Earth sciences studies is an academic discipline that focuses on solving the mysteries surrounding Earth’s history and the science behind it. If you’re a science buff passionate about such topics, an Earth sciences degree exposes students to the basics of planetary science, and our natural resources. Natural disasters, like hurricanes and volcanic eruptions, can be predicted and prepared for through the study of Earth science, which is highly relevant to the welfare of humanity.
Earth science’s four primary areas are astronomy, geology, meteorology, and oceanography.
Federal data indicate that the number of geoscientist jobs in demand will increase by 5% between 2021 and 2031.
Frequently Asked Questions About Earth Science Bachelor’s Degrees
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.
Earth 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.
Once 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:
