Environmental and Earth System Science
B.S. Department of Earth System Science · UC Irvine · 2026-2027 Catalog
Environmental and Earth System Science is an interdisciplinary field of study that combines oceanography, atmospheric science, meteorology, geography, geology, hydrology, and environmental science. EESS students gain an understanding of how individual aspects of the environment interact, including the influence of humans on this complex system.
Examples of important questions in Environmental and Earth System Science include the influence of atmospheric chemistry on climate and air quality, biological controls on the chemistry of the oceans and atmosphere, physical controls on atmosphere and ocean circulation, and the implications of land use or climate change on the functioning of terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
The Environmental and Earth System Science (B.S.) program provides students with a fundamental understanding of the oceanographic, atmospheric, and terrestrial sciences. This program of study prepares students for careers in science, research, or technical fields. Students learn to apply basic sciences (physics, chemistry, mathematics, and biology) to understand the major processes and systems governing the Earth’s climate, biogeochemical cycles, and global change. Central to the B.S. program is an understanding of relevant scientific literature, methods to collect/analyze data, and interpret results in the context of scientific theory. Students will learn to work collaboratively to understand and address complex problems and communicate scientific knowledge.
In the core courses, students will learn to explain the current and projected future state of the Earth system in the context of past climate change and current human activities. Students are then encouraged to focus on a particular area within Environmental and Earth System Science and to choose upper-division electives that build upon this core knowledge. Focus areas include but are not limited to climatology, biogeochemical cycles, oceanography, hydrology, terrestrial sciences, and atmospheric sciences. Optional specializations are available in Atmospheric Science, Hydrology and Terrestrial Ecosystems, and Oceanography.
EESS students are encouraged to become directly involved in research. The Department provides excellent opportunities to learn from and work with recognized experts in the field while fulfilling degree requirements, including the opportunity to graduate with honors.
Admission
Students may be admitted to the Environmental and Earth System Science major upon entering the University as freshmen, via change of major, or as transfer students from other colleges and universities. Information about change of major policies is available in the Physical Sciences Student Affairs Office and at the UCI Change of Major Criteria website. For transfer student admission, preference will be given to junior-level applicants with the highest grades overall and who have satisfactorily completed the following required courses: one year of approved calculus and one year of either general chemistry with laboratory (preferred) or one-year of calculus-based physics with laboratory.
NOTE: The major is open to all students except Earth and Atmospheric Sciences minors.
Requirements
All students must meet the University Requirements. School Requirements: None.
Major Requirements
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| A. Complete: | ||
| EARTHSS 51 | Land Interactions | |
| EARTHSS 53 | The Ocean System | |
| EARTHSS 55 | Earth's Atmosphere | |
| EARTHSS 114 | Earth System Science Laboratory and Field Methods | |
| orEARTHSS 115 | Aquatic Field Methods | |
| EARTHSS 116 | Introduction to Environmental Data Science | |
| EARTHSS 192 | Careers in Earth System Science | |
| MATH 2A & MATH 2B | Single-Variable Calculus Iand Single-Variable Calculus II | |
| STATS 7 | Basic Statistics | |
| Complete the following sequence and accompanying lab: | ||
| CHEM 1A & CHEM 1B & CHEM 1C | General Chemistryand General Chemistryand General Chemistry | |
| CHEM 1LC & CHEM 1LD | General Chemistry Laboratoryand General Chemistry Laboratory | |
| Select one of the following sequences and accompanying labs: | ||
| PHYSICS 3A & PHYSICS 3B & PHYSICS 3C | Basic Physics Iand Basic Physics IIand Basic Physics III | |
| PHYSICS 3LB & PHYSICS 3LC | Basic Physics Laboratoryand Basic Physics Laboratory | |
| or | ||
| PHYSICS 7C & PHYSICS 7E | Classical Physicsand Classical Physics | |
| PHYSICS 7LC | Classical Physics Laboratory | |
| B. Select four from the following: | ||
| EARTHSS 122 | Atmospheric Dynamics | |
| EARTHSS 130 | Physical Oceanography | |
| EARTHSS 132 | Terrestrial Hydrology | |
| EARTHSS 137 | Terrestrial Ecosystems and Biogeochemistry | |
| EARTHSS 142 | Atmospheric Chemistry | |
| EARTHSS 144 | Marine Geochemistry and Biogeochemistry | |
| C. Select three additional electives from the following: | ||
| Any 4-unit upper-division EARTHSS courses permitting enrollment for Environmental and Earth System Science majors. EARTHSS 114, EARTHSS 115, EARTHSS 116, and EARTHSS H198 may not count toward this requirement. EARTHSS 199 or one quarter of EARTHSS H199A-B-C may count only once toward the elective requirement. | ||
| BIO SCI 93 | From DNA to Organisms | |
| BIO SCI 94 | From Organisms to Ecosystems | |
| BIO SCI 98 | Biochemistry | |
| CHEM 51A | Organic Chemistry | |
| CHEM 51B & CHEM 51LB | Organic Chemistryand Organic Chemistry Laboratory | |
| CHEM 51C & CHEM 51LC | Organic Chemistryand Organic Chemistry Laboratory | |
| CHEM 141 | Environmental Chemistry | |
| MATH 2D | Multivariable Calculus I | |
| MATH 3A | Introduction to Linear Algebra | |
| MATH 3D | Elementary Differential Equations | |
| MATH 105A | Numerical Analysis I | |
| MATH 112A | Introduction to Partial Differential Equations and Applications I | |
| MATH 115 | Mathematical Modeling | |
| PHYSICS 115A | Statistical Physics | |
| Computing Skills (one of the following may be counted toward degree): EECS 10, ENGRMAE 10, I&C SCI 31, PHYSICS 53, or an approved programming course. | ||
- Courses in section B may not double count for section C.
Optional Specializations
Two optional specializations are available for Environmental and Earth System Science majors: Geographic Information System and Environmental Data Science.
Specialization in Geographic Information System (GIS)
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Requirements | ||
| Complete: | ||
| EARTHSS 134 | Fundamentals of GIS for Environmental Science | |
| EARTHSS 135W | Advanced Geographic Information Systems for Environmental Science | |
Courses taken for the GIS Specialization can be used toward the Environmental and Earth System Science major. Courses must be taken for a letter grade in order to count for the GIS Specialization.
For students double majoring in Urban Studies or Environmental Science and Policy, the optional GIS Specialization can only be applied to one major.
Specialization in Environmental Data Science
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Requirements | ||
| Complete: | ||
| EARTHSS 118 | Analysis, Modeling, and Visualization of Multidimensionnal Environmental Data | |
| EARTHSS 138 | Satellite Remote Sensing for Earth System Science | |
Courses taken for the Environmental Data Science Specialization can be used toward the Environmental and Earth System Science major. Courses must be taken for a letter grade in order to count for the Environmental Data Science Specialization.
Concentration in Geosciences Education with Secondary Teaching Certification
This concentration allows students pursuing the B.S. in Environmental and Earth System Science to earn a bachelor's degree and complete the required course work and field experience for a California Preliminary Single Subject Teaching Credential at the same time. In addition to the requirements listed above, students must complete the following courses:
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 193 | Research Methods | |
| orPHYSICS 193 | Research Methods | |
| EARTHSS 7 | Physical Geology 1 | |
| orEARTHSS 140 | Advanced Geology | |
| EDUC 55 | Knowing and Learning in Mathematics and Science | |
| EDUC 109 | Reading and Writing in Mathematics and Science | |
| EDUC 143AW | Classroom Interactions I | |
| EDUC 143BW | Classroom Interactions II | |
| EDUC 148 | Complex Pedagogical Design | |
| EDUC 158 | Student Teaching Mathematics and Science in Middle/High School (two quarters) | |
| LPS 60 | The Making of Modern Science | |
| PHY SCI 5 | California Teach 1: Introduction to Science and Mathematics Teaching | |
| PHY SCI 105 | California Teach 2: Middle School Science and Mathematics Teaching | |
| PHYSICS 20A | Introduction to Astronomy | |
| orPHYSICS 20B | Cosmology: Humanity's Place in the Universe |
- EARTHSS 140 may overlap with the major requirement in section C.
With careful, early planning, it is possible for students to complete the bachelor's degree and the secondary teaching certification in four years.
For additional information about teacher certification requirements and enrollment procedures, visit the Cal Teach website. Interested students are strongly encouraged to contact the Cal Teach Resource and Advising Center or the Physical Sciences Student Affairs Office.
Sample Program
Freshman
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 2A | MATH 2B | STATS 7 |
| CHEM 1A | CHEM 1B | CHEM 1C& CHEM 1LC |
| EARTHSS 45 | General Education/Elective | General Education/Elective |
| Generl Education/Elective | General Education/Elective | General Education/Elective |
Sophomore
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| EARTHSS 51 | EARTHSS 53 | EARTHSS 55 |
| PHYSICS 3A | PHYSICS 3B& PHYSICS 3LB | PHYSICS 3C& PHYSICS 3LC |
| General Education/Elective | General Education/Elective | General Education/Elective |
| CHEM 1LD | General Education/Elective | General Education/Elective |
Junior
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| EARTHSS 114 | EARTHSS 116 | EARTHSS Section B Requirement |
| EARTHSS 192 | EARTHSS Section B Requirement | EARTHSS Section B Requirement |
| EARTHSS Section B Requirement | General Education/Elective | General Education/Elective |
| General Education/Elective |
Senior
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| Approved Elective | Approved Elective | Approved Elective |
| Approved Elective | General Education/Elective | General Education/Elective |
| General Education/Elective | General Education/Elective | General Education/Elective |
Some students (particularly transfer students) take EARTHSS 51 , EARTHSS 53, and EARTHSS 55 in the junior year.
Honors Program
Environmental and Earth System Science Honors Program. In the year-long honors course sequence, students admitted into the ESS Honors Program pursue research with faculty in the Department, and prepare a written thesis of their work. Visit the Environmental and Earth System Science Honors Program website for more information.
Teaching Certification. Earth System Science students interested in teaching careers can earn a bachelor’s degree concurrently with a California Preliminary Single Subject Teaching Credential. See the Concentration in Geosciences Education with Secondary Teaching Certification section below for more information.
Career Opportunities
Some students go on to graduate school in physical sciences, engineering, or related areas. Others begin careers as research scientists in academic, public, or private institutions (may require a graduate-level degree). Options that may be available are scientist positions in the following roles: environmental policy and planning, environmental consulting, air quality monitoring and assessment, laboratory analysis, scientific research, science education, natural resource management, wildlife management, conservation and environmental protection, and water resource management.