Earth and Marine Sciences Major, B.S.

The B.S. degree program aims to prepare students for employment in the fields of earth and marine sciences as well as graduate study. Students in this program will understand the processes that shaped the Earth and continue to shape it today. By studying earth and marine sciences, students learn about the structure, composition, and history of the planet we live on. They will learn the importance of managing natural resources like water, minerals, and fossil fuels. Students will learn how to assess and mitigate natural hazards such as earthquakes, landslides, floods, coastal erosion, and volcanic eruptions. They will learn to identify potential hazards and develop strategies to minimize their impact. Earth and marine science plays a crucial role in managing our environment. Students will learn to assess the impact of human activities on the Earth and develop strategies to minimize negative effects. They will study processes like climate change that can impact ecosystems.

In addition to the goals listed above, the geoscience concentration is designed to permit students to pursue professional licensure in geology and the hydrology concentration is designed to permit students to pursue professional certification in hydrology. Professional licensure and certification are significant enhancements to career paths in these fields.

Please note that B.S. in geological sciences is available for students who started at the University prior to fall 2023. Please see the Catalog Archives for program requirements. 

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Earth and marine sciences program (B.S.), students should be able to:

  • Recognize foundational concepts in earth and marine sciences and identify how these disciplines are relevant to humans and society.
  • Assess real-world problems in the earth and marine sciences and apply scientific reasoning to solve them.
  • Communicate clearly and effectively to a range of audiences.
  • Collect, analyze and evaluate earth and marine science data from both field and laboratory settings.

In addition to the program requirements, students must

  • earn a minimum final cumulative GPA of 2.000
  • complete a minimum of 45 academic credit hours earned from UNC–Chapel Hill courses
  • take at least half of their major core requirements (courses and credit hours) at UNC–Chapel Hill
  • earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.000 in the major core requirements. Some programs may require higher standards for major or specific courses.

For more information, please consult the degree requirements section of the catalog.

Students can pursue one of three concentrations, as outlined below. 

Geoscience Concentration

Core Requirements
EMES 200IDEAs in Action General Education logo The Solid Earth3
EMES 201IDEAs in Action General Education logo Earth's Surface: Processes, Landforms, and History3
EMES 203IDEAs in Action General Education logo Data Analysis for Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences3
Select four fundamentals courses (at least one with a lab)13
Earth Materials: Minerals
Structural Geology
Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
Petrology and Plate Tectonics
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Earth Systems History
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Geochemistry
Introduction to Geophysics
Surface Processes and Landscape Evolution
Principles of Environmental Consulting: Mechanics of Groundwater Flow
Select three EMES specialization courses numbered 300 and higher9-12
Six credits of a capstone experience: 6
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Undergraduate Research in Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences (6 credit hours total)
Summer Field Course in Geology
and Summer Field Course in Geology
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Honors in Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences
and IDEAs in Action General Education logo Honors in Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences
Additional Requirements
CHEM 101
101L
IDEAs in Action General Education logo General Descriptive Chemistry I
and IDEAs in Action General Education logo Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory I H, F
4
CHEM 102
102L
IDEAs in Action General Education logo General Descriptive Chemistry II
and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory II H, F
4
MATH 231IDEAs in Action General Education logo Calculus of Functions of One Variable I H, F4
MATH 232IDEAs in Action General Education logo Calculus of Functions of One Variable II H, F4
PHYS 114IDEAs in Action General Education logo General Physics I: For Students of the Life Sciences F4
or PHYS 118 IDEAs in Action General Education logo Introductory Calculus-based Mechanics and Relativity
Select two of the following options: 6-8
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Introduction to Programming and Data Science H
Introduction to Scientific Programming
Any MATH above MATH 232 or MATH 210
IDEAs in Action General Education logo General Physics II: For Students of the Life Sciences F
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Introductory Calculus-based Electromagnetism and Quanta
Total Hours63-68
H

Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply.

F

FY-Launch class sections may be available. A FY-Launch section fulfills the same requirements as a standard section of that course, but also fulfills the FY-SEMINAR/FY-LAUNCH First-Year Foundations requirement. Students can search for FY-Launch sections in ConnectCarolina using the FY-LAUNCH attribute.

1

Must be pre-approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

2

This course may also be used to satisfy one of the required GEOL courses numbered above 300

Hydrology Concentration 

Core Requirements
EMES 201IDEAs in Action General Education logo Earth's Surface: Processes, Landforms, and History3
EMES 203IDEAs in Action General Education logo Data Analysis for Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences3
Select one of the following options:3
IDEAs in Action General Education logo The Solid Earth
IDEAs in Action General Education logo The Marine Environment
and IDEAs in Action General Education logo The Marine Environment Laboratory F
Oceanography
Select four fundamentals courses (at least one with a lab)13
Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Water in Our World: Introduction to Hydrologic Science and Environmental Problems
and IDEAs in Action General Education logo Water in Our World Laboratory
Flood Hydrology: Models and Data Analysis
Surface Processes and Landscape Evolution
Wetland Hydrology
Principles of Environmental Consulting: Mechanics of Groundwater Flow
Geochemistry of Natural Waters
Fluid Dynamics of the Environment
Geologic and Oceanographic Applications of Geographical Information Systems
Select three EMES specialization courses numbered 300 and higher9-12
Six credits of a capstone experience: 6
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Undergraduate Research in Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences (6 credit hours total)
Summer Field Course in Geology
and Summer Field Course in Geology
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Honors in Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences
and IDEAs in Action General Education logo Honors in Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences
Capstone: Analysis and Solution of Environmental Problems (with approval based on topic)
Additional Requirements
CHEM 101
101L
IDEAs in Action General Education logo General Descriptive Chemistry I
and IDEAs in Action General Education logo Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory I H, F
4
CHEM 102
102L
IDEAs in Action General Education logo General Descriptive Chemistry II
and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory II H, F
4
MATH 231IDEAs in Action General Education logo Calculus of Functions of One Variable I H, F4
MATH 232IDEAs in Action General Education logo Calculus of Functions of One Variable II H, F4
PHYS 114IDEAs in Action General Education logo General Physics I: For Students of the Life Sciences F4
or PHYS 118 IDEAs in Action General Education logo Introductory Calculus-based Mechanics and Relativity
Select two of the following options: 6-8
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Introduction to Programming and Data Science H
Introduction to Scientific Programming
Any MATH above MATH 232 or MATH 210
IDEAs in Action General Education logo General Physics II: For Students of the Life Sciences F
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Introductory Calculus-based Electromagnetism and Quanta
Total Hours63-68
H

Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply.

F

FY-Launch class sections may be available. A FY-Launch section fulfills the same requirements as a standard section of that course, but also fulfills the FY-SEMINAR/FY-LAUNCH First-Year Foundations requirement. Students can search for FY-Launch sections in ConnectCarolina using the FY-LAUNCH attribute.

Marine Biology and Ecology Concentration 

Core Requirements
EMES 103
103L
IDEAs in Action General Education logo The Marine Environment
and IDEAs in Action General Education logo The Marine Environment Laboratory F
3-4
or EMES 401 Oceanography
EMES 203IDEAs in Action General Education logo Data Analysis for Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences3
EMES 204IDEAs in Action General Education logo The Microbial World: Foundations in Structure, Metabolism, and Ecology3-4
or BIOL 250 Evolutionary Biology
or BIOL 260 Introduction to Ecology
Select four fundamentals courses (at least one with a lab)13
Marine Life in a Fluid World
Geochemistry of Natural Waters
Marine Physiological Ecology
Marine Biology
Marine Microbiology
Marine Microbial Symbioses: Exploring How Microbial Interactions Affect Ecosystems and Human Health
Coastal and Estuarine Ecology
Biogeochemical Processes
Human Impacts on Estuarine Ecosystems
Marine Ecology
Chemical Equilibria in Natural Waters
Select three EMES specialization courses numbered 300 and higher9-12
Six credits of a capstone experience: 6
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Undergraduate Research in Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences (6 credit hours total)
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Honors in Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences
and IDEAs in Action General Education logo Honors in Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences
Capstone: Analysis and Solution of Environmental Problems (with permission based on topic)
Additional Requirements
CHEM 101
101L
IDEAs in Action General Education logo General Descriptive Chemistry I
and IDEAs in Action General Education logo Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory I H, F
4
CHEM 102
102L
IDEAs in Action General Education logo General Descriptive Chemistry II
and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory II H, F
4
MATH 231IDEAs in Action General Education logo Calculus of Functions of One Variable I H, F4
MATH 232IDEAs in Action General Education logo Calculus of Functions of One Variable II H, F4
PHYS 114IDEAs in Action General Education logo General Physics I: For Students of the Life Sciences F4
or PHYS 118 IDEAs in Action General Education logo Introductory Calculus-based Mechanics and Relativity
Select two of the following options: 6-8
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Introduction to Programming and Data Science H
Introduction to Scientific Programming
Any MATH above MATH 232 or MATH 210
IDEAs in Action General Education logo General Physics II: For Students of the Life Sciences F
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Introductory Calculus-based Electromagnetism and Quanta
Total Hours63-70
H

Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply.

F

FY-Launch class sections may be available. A FY-Launch section fulfills the same requirements as a standard section of that course, but also fulfills the FY-SEMINAR/FY-LAUNCH First-Year Foundations requirement. Students can search for FY-Launch sections in ConnectCarolina using the FY-LAUNCH attribute.

Department of Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences

Visit Program Website

Murray and Mitchell Halls

Chair

Eric Kirby

ekirby@unc.edu

Director of Undergraduate Studies

Kevin Stewart

KGSTEWAR@email.unc.edu

Undergraduate Student Services Manager

Heratia Brelland

heratiab@unc.edu