Earth, Climate and Biology

专业介绍

Students in Earth, Climate and Biology apply principles from geology, biology, chemistry, and physics to understand how major components of the Earth, such as its atmosphere and oceans, interact with and sustain life in the past, present, and into the future.

Many courses emphasize climate change, environmental quality, and biogeochemistry, so this concentration is a good match for students interested in studying the environment. Other areas emphasize Earth history, including climate change, extinction events, and using the Earth’s sedimentary record to investigate environmental change.

Both A.B. and Sc.B. degrees are offered, requiring 12 and 19 courses, respectively.  These degrees build skills in critical thinking, data analysis and modeling, finding solutions to complex problems, and written and oral communication.   DEEPS provides a highly collaborative learning environment that emphasizes process-oriented, hands-on approaches in the classroom, in labs and on field trips. There are many opportunities for students to do paid research during the summer or academic year.

Students interested in this concentration may also wish to consider related concentrations: Geochemistry and Environmental Chemistry, Geophysics and Climate Physics, and Earth and Planetary Science.

Student Goals

Students in this concentration will:

• Understand fundamental processes that shaped the Earth and our environment through time
• Study the interactions between life, climate, and the solid Earth in the past and present, including those that lead to climate change and environmental concerns
• Apply multidisciplinary scientific approaches to finding solutions to societal problems
• Develop skills in critical thinking, data analysis, theory and modeling, speaking and writing, and teamwork and leadership
• Build a strong foundation for diverse careers