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Major in Earth & Planetary Sciences

Students examine rocks using magnifying devices

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About the earth Major

Our new Curriculum launches new major requirements for those joining NU in Fall 2025.  If you are a first year students or transfer in Fall 2025, please be sure to consult the new curriculum outlined on this webpage, or in the 2025-2026 NU catalog.

Are you fascinated by the immensity of galaxies, as well as the intricacy of microscopic shell structures seen under a scanning electron microscope? Do you seek that "CSI Miami" experience of reconstructing billion-year old landscapes long turned to dust and pressed into stone? Is your secret mission to solve the world's energy problems? Are you eager to support both human and environmental health and safety as climate change increases the stakes? Does your breadth of scientific interests make it hard to choose a career within just one field: chemistry, math, biology or physics? Perhaps you are most intrigued by an interdisciplinary synthesis of them all.

If so...Earth & Planetary Sciences might be for you!

As an EARTH Major, you will have opportunities to participate in a wide range of departmental activities beyond the classroom, including research, seminars, field trips, and social events. Many undergraduates conduct research projects with faculty and graduate students that lead to honors theses and scientific publications.  [ ### LeObj]

earth major requirements

 The major entails three successive levels:

I. RELATED COURSES - Science & Math 

II.  CORE COURSES - 200-Level

The sequence of EARTH core courses for the EARTH major are:

A special note on EARTH 214 - Physical Earth Sciences (prev. Earth Systems Revealed) is one of our core courses and is taught each year during the spring quarter. EARTH 214 combines aspects of physical and historical geology. Physical geology examines Earth materials (rocks and minerals) and the processes that create, modify, and destroy them. Historical geology examines the origin of Earth and its development through time. The course culminates with a required weekend field trip to Baraboo, WI, usually during the third weekend in May. As the Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences has led the Baraboo field trip for over 90 years, taking EARTH 214 presents an excellent opportunity to participate in one of Northwestern’s best-kept secret traditions. Have you ever wondered about the origin of the “The Rock”? Come to Baraboo to find out!

While not strictly required by the ENVR SCI major, we direct your attention to EARTH 397 - Scientific Communication for Earth and Environmental Sciences as an excellent option in fulfilling your WCAS Advanced Communication degree requirements. EARTH 397 is typically offered in Winter quarters. 

You need to earn at least a C- in all courses counted to the Major - including Related Science, Core Courses, and Advanced Studies.

III.  ADVANCED STUDIES - Sub-Discipline &  Skills Requirements

Eight 300-level advanced studies EARTH courses are required. 

SUB-DISCIPLINE -

EARTH majors must take at least one course from four of the following seven Sub-Discipline Lists:

SKILLS REQUIREMENT -

EARTH majors must take 1 course from 3 of the following Skills Requirement:

No course may be counted for more than one Skills Requirement.

A single course that appears on both the Advanced Studies - Sub-Discipline List and the Skills Requirement List, may be used to fulfill both requirements of the EARTH major. 

Some topic offerings of EARTH 390-0 may be applied to a Skills Area with approval of the DUS. 

Dual Major for EARTH & Planetary, and environmental Sciences

Students wishing to major in both Earth and Planetary Sciences and Environmental Sciences will take all 6 core 200-level EARTH courses (EARTH 210-0, EARTH 211-0, EARTH 212-0, EARTH 213-0, EARTH 214-0 and EARTH 215-0).

Dual majors will also take the 8 Advanced Studies courses for each major. 

Dual majors will also take ONE additional Advanced Studies or other EARTH 300-level (or approved 400-level) to apply to one major to make up one of the two double counted credits from the 200-level sequence. 

Courses for Advanced Studies and Skills Requirement must not be double counted across majors.

Second Major for ISP Students

The Integrated Science Program (ISP) is a highly selective program within Weinberg College. Students majoring in ISP who wish to also complete a major in Earth and Planetary Sciences must fulfill the two Core Courses and seven Advanced Studies courses as described below, in addition to the requirements for ISP. 

Physics of the Earth for ISP (EARTH 350-0), part of the requirements for the ISP major, may not be waived or skipped by students doing the second major in Earth and Planetary Sciences.

2 Core Courses, of EARTH 210, and EARTH 214

7 Advanced Studies Courses

Any 300-level EARTH course may be applied towards the Advanced Studies requirement (a 400-level course with approval), with a maximum of one unit of EARTH 399-0 (or INTG_SCI 398-0 if associated Earth and Planetary Science research).

Within Advanced Studies students must also complete:

Sub-Discipline Requirement (4 courses) - Students must take at least one course from four of the seven Sub-Disciplines. A course may not be applied to more than one sub-discipline at the same time. 

Skills Areas Requirement (2 courses) - Students must take at least one course from two of the following three Skills Areas (Note that the Computation Skills Area is excluded for the ISP double major). No course may be counted for more than one Skills Area at the same time. 

undergraduate research and honors Requirements

EARTH majors with strong academic records and an interest in pursuing research projects,should seek a faculty mentor early in their undergraduate career, but no later than spring quarter of their junior year. After the faculty mentor approves a proposed project, research is conducted. Here is the EARTH-399 Independent Research Form.

Student wishing to submit a senior thesis and pursue Honors, complete a minimum of two credits of EARTH 399-0 Independent Research credit with the academic advisor of their project (while many research active undergraduates take more). Only one quarter of EARTH 399 counts toward the major requirements.  To earn the honors distinction, students must complete a thesis following the guidance provided in the Honors Degree Guidelines and Thesis Style Guide.  Students whose grades, research, and written thesis meet departmental criteria are recommended to the college for graduation with honors. For more information, students should consult the Degree Guidelines , and Honors in the Major  and/or contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS).

Learn more about how to get involved with ongoing research at Northwestern as an undergraduate!

Undergraduate ResearchAll DEEPS Research

Advising

Our advising page contains more information about declaring the major and other useful resources. If you have questions or need more information, contact the Program Assistant to set an appointment with the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS).

Learn More

There are several ways you can learn more about Earth and Planetary Sciences.

If you wish to keep current about social functions, department activities, research opportunities, and job openings, please contact us about being added to the Department’s undergraduate e-mail listserv.