Earth Systems, Environment and Society
Earth Systems, Environment and Society
The major in Earth Systems, Environment and Society offers a unique, multidisciplinary liberal arts education in the scientific and human dimensions of the Earth System. The curriculum balances a broad exposure to diverse disciplines at an introductory level with a more focused substantive course of study at the upper level. To do this, the major offers two options within which majors can specialize: Science of the Earth System and Society and the Environment.
Both options will prepare students for a variety of career paths in either the private or the public sector, as well as for graduate study. The interdisciplinary background in both scientific and human aspects of environmental problems will prepare students for a variety of positions with state and federal regulatory agencies, research institutions, consulting firms and nongovernmental education and advocacy organizations. The major also provides a platform for entry into professional schools (e.g. law and public policy programs) as well as graduate study in a variety of physical and social scientific disciplines and interdisciplinary programs related to the environment.
All students are required to participate in an introductory interdisciplinary colloquium series and a project-oriented capstone experience in their senior year. Students are encouraged to pursue internship and research projects as part of their course of study.
Major in Sciences and Letters Curriculum
E-mail: program-info@eses.uiuc.edu
Degree title: Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences
Minimum required major and supporting courses equate to 50 hours.
General education: The LAS General Education requirements are set up so students automatically complete the Campus General Education requirements.
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours
Departmental distinction: Students who maintain grade point averages of at least 3.3 in all courses within the major and who fulfill the Capstone requirement with a faculty-guided individual research project are recommended for graduation with distinction.
Society and the Environment (SAE) Concentration
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 12 | SAE Advanced Core1 |
| 15-16 | Cognate Course Work |
| 9 hours-Introductory Social Science (Select three courses from approved list) | |
| 3 hours-Statistics (Select one course from approved list) | |
| 3 hours-Economics (ECON 101 or ECON 102) | |
| Highly recommended: Computer Science 100 or 110x |
1. A minimum of 12 hours of advanced course work (300- and 400-level courses) in an intellectually or professionally coherent program approved by an advisor is required, including at least one 300- or 400-level course within the Science of the Earth System (SAE) curriculum. These courses should be used to help meet the LAS requirement of 21 hours of 300- or 400-level courses overall, 12 hours of 300- or 400-level courses in the major. It is strongly recommended that students complete the LAS requirement with 15 hours of 300- or 400-level courses related to the SAE concentration and 6 hours from the SES.
Science of the Earth System (SES) Concentration
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 12 | SES Advanced Core1 |
| 15-16 | Cognate Course Work |
| 3 hours-CHEM 102-General Chemistry I | |
| 1 hour-CHEM 103-General Chemistry Lab I | |
| 5 hours-MATH 220-Calculus I | |
| 3 hours-STAT 100-Statistics | |
| 4 hours-Physics (Select one course from approved list) | |
| Highly recommended: Computer Science 101 or 110x |
1. A minimum of 12 hours of advanced course work 300- and 400-level courses) in an intellectually or professionally coherent program approved by an advisor is required, including at least one 300-or 400-level course within the Society of the Environment (SAE) curriculum. These courses should be used to help meet the LAS requirement of 21 hours of 300- or 400-level courses overall, 12 hours of 300- or 400-level courses in the major. It is strongly recommended that students complete the LAS requirement with 15 hours of 300- or 400-level courses related to the SES concentration and 6 hours from the SAE.
Students planning to attend graduate school in Earth Systems science, Geoscience or Atmospheric Science should take at minimum MATH 225 (Introductory Matrix Theory), MATH 231 (Calculus II), MATH 241 (Calculus III) and MATH 285 (Intro to Differential Equations); CHEM 104 and 105 (General Chemistry II and Lab); and either PHYS 101, 102 or PHYS 211, 212 and 213 (the latter sequence is preferred.) All students wishing to attend graduate school in any field should discuss necessary supplementary course work with their advisor as early as possible. Sample programs of study are available at www.earth.uiuc.edu/students
Twelve hours of 300- or 400-level courses must be taken on this campus.
Second majors or campus-wide minors may be used to fulfill this requirement upon approval of an advisor.
Substitutions may be made with advisor approval.
All foreign language requirements must be satisfied.
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.