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
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| EMES 200 |  The Solid Earth | 3 |
| EMES 201 | Earth's Surface: Processes, Landforms, and History | 3 |
| EMES 203 | Data Analysis for Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences | 3 |
| Select four fundamentals courses (at least one with a lab) | 13 | |
| Earth Materials: Minerals | ||
| Structural Geology | ||
| Sedimentology and Stratigraphy | ||
| Petrology and Plate Tectonics | ||
| Earth Systems History | ||
| 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 higher | 9-12 | |
| Six credits of a capstone experience: | 6 | |
| Undergraduate Research in Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences (6 credit hours total) | ||
| Summer Field Course in Geology and Summer Field Course in Geology | ||
| Honors in Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences and Honors in Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences | ||
| Additional Requirements | ||
| CHEM 101 & 101L | General Descriptive Chemistry I and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory I H, F | 4 |
| CHEM 102 & 102L | General Descriptive Chemistry II and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory II H, F | 4 |
| MATH 231 | Calculus of Functions of One Variable I H, F | 4 |
| MATH 232 | Calculus of Functions of One Variable II H, F | 4 |
| PHYS 114 | General Physics I: For Students of the Life Sciences F | 4 |
| or PHYS 118 | Introductory Calculus-based Mechanics and Relativity | |
| Select two of the following options: | 6-8 | |
| Introduction to Programming and Data Science H | ||
or COMP 116 | Introduction to Scientific Programming | |
| General Physics II: For Students of the Life Sciences F | ||
or PHYS 119 | Introductory Calculus-based Electromagnetism and Quanta | |
| Total Hours | 63-68 | |
| 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
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| EMES 201 | Earth's Surface: Processes, Landforms, and History | 3 |
| EMES 203 | Data Analysis for Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences | 3 |
| Select one of the following options: | 3 | |
| The Solid Earth | ||
| The Marine Environment and The Marine Environment Laboratory F | ||
| Oceanography | ||
| Select four fundamentals courses (at least one with a lab) | 13 | |
| Sedimentology and Stratigraphy | ||
| Water in Our World: Introduction to Hydrologic Science and Environmental Problems and 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 higher | 9-12 | |
| Six credits of a capstone experience: | 6 | |
| Undergraduate Research in Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences (6 credit hours total) | ||
| Summer Field Course in Geology and Summer Field Course in Geology | ||
| Honors in Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences and Honors in Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences | ||
| Capstone: Analysis and Solution of Environmental Problems (with approval based on topic) | ||
| Additional Requirements | ||
| CHEM 101 & 101L | General Descriptive Chemistry I and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory I H, F | 4 |
| CHEM 102 & 102L | General Descriptive Chemistry II and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory II H, F | 4 |
| MATH 231 | Calculus of Functions of One Variable I H, F | 4 |
| MATH 232 | Calculus of Functions of One Variable II H, F | 4 |
| PHYS 114 | General Physics I: For Students of the Life Sciences F | 4 |
| or PHYS 118 | Introductory Calculus-based Mechanics and Relativity | |
| Select two of the following options: | 6-8 | |
| Introduction to Programming and Data Science H | ||
or COMP 116 | Introduction to Scientific Programming | |
| General Physics II: For Students of the Life Sciences F | ||
or PHYS 119 | Introductory Calculus-based Electromagnetism and Quanta | |
| Total Hours | 63-68 | |
| 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
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| EMES 103 & 103L | The Marine Environment and The Marine Environment Laboratory F | 3-4 |
| or EMES 401 | Oceanography | |
| EMES 203 | Data Analysis for Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences | 3 |
| EMES 204 | The Microbial World: Foundations in Structure, Metabolism, and Ecology | 3-4 |
| 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 higher | 9-12 | |
| Six credits of a capstone experience: | 6 | |
| Undergraduate Research in Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences (6 credit hours total) | ||
| Honors in Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences and Honors in Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences | ||
| Capstone: Analysis and Solution of Environmental Problems (with permission based on topic) | ||
| Additional Requirements | ||
| CHEM 101 & 101L | General Descriptive Chemistry I and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory I H, F | 4 |
| CHEM 102 & 102L | General Descriptive Chemistry II and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory II H, F | 4 |
| MATH 231 | Calculus of Functions of One Variable I H, F | 4 |
| MATH 232 | Calculus of Functions of One Variable II H, F | 4 |
| PHYS 114 | General Physics I: For Students of the Life Sciences F | 4 |
| or PHYS 118 | Introductory Calculus-based Mechanics and Relativity | |
| Select two of the following options: | 6-8 | |
| Introduction to Programming and Data Science H | ||
or COMP 116 | Introduction to Scientific Programming | |
| General Physics II: For Students of the Life Sciences F | ||
or PHYS 119 | Introductory Calculus-based Electromagnetism and Quanta | |
| Total Hours | 63-70 | |
| 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 Programs
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Department of Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences
Murray and Mitchell Halls
