Earth and Environmental Sciences

The Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences offers research and educational programs to explore the dynamic earth processes and complex ecosystems that tie with current and future challenges of resource conservation and environmental quality. It explores interactions among environmental processes that involve the biosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere and offer a cross-disciplinary perspective and training for sound decision making by earth and environmental scientists, managers and planners.

The department has a multi-faceted degree program with many options for students, including Undergraduate Degree Programs in Earth & Environmental Sciences and Environmental Sciences, Master’s Degree Programs in Earth & Environmental Sciences, and Earth Science Teaching, and a Ph.D. Program in Environmental Sciences. The Master of Science in Earth Science Teaching (MST) program is recognized nationally and provides training for teaching professionals. The core research strengths of the department include the following: Aquatic Processes and Biogeochemistry, Hydrogeology and Hydrology, Geophysics and Computational Science, Watershed Processes, Geospatial Analysis and Remote Sensing, Paleobiology, Paleoecology & Sedimentary Environments, and Earth Science Education. These core areas reflect the expertise and research interests of the faculty, and the department prepares its students for careers in various fields and disciplines that have a bright future. Graduates have the ability to address complex, real-world challenges, and students acquire a strong foundation in the basic sciences and an advanced training in interdisciplinary and emerging fields.