Why Study Earth Systems?
Vision
Our vision is for Earth systems alumni to drive just solutions to environmental and sustainability challenges across diverse careers and sectors.
Experiential learning
Earth systems students develop diverse perspectives through field trips, internships, capstone projects, community-engaged learning, and other real-world experiences.
Systems approach
Earth systems alumni approach problems with interdisciplinary systems thinking and empathy, recognizing the interconnected and diverse human responses to environmental challenges.
Global network
Students are part of a global community of researchers, alumni, and organizations who are creating solutions in a rapidly changing world.
Diverse careers
Earth systems graduates effect change through careers in government, nonprofits, consulting, teaching, engineering, and research. Our alumni are data scientists, lawyers, ecologists, policymakers, sustainability officers, environmental scientists, and more – and demand for these careers is growing due to a global focus on sustainability and climate change.
Applicable skills
Earth systems students gain deep knowledge of Earth system processes, economics, governance, and environmental justice. This knowledge, together with skills in data analysis, statistics, and communications, prepares them for careers in sustainability-related fields like conservation, clean energy, and environmental policy.
Undergraduate degrees
What does an Earth systems degree entail?
Earth systems students learn how to make connections between disciplines to drive impactful environmental solutions with empathy, justice, and innovation.
Our students take foundational courses in Earth sciences, social sciences, biology, mathematics, statistics, and sustainability, then pursue a specialized track.
They gain transferable skills through internships and experiences that apply research, analysis, partnership, and service to propel their careers.