UHM Dept. of Earth Sciences banner, sunset over Diamond Head, (c) Ken H Rubin

Bachelor of Science in Earth Sciences: Effective Fall 2023

This degree program is for those who declare their major in Fall 2023 or later. Those who declared prior to Fall 2023 have the option to switch to this degree program

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This rigorous science degree prepares students for careers with geotechnical, environmental, geophysics, as well as energy and mineral resource companies. The work is usually quite varied and requires individuals with good backgrounds in geology, geophysics, geochemistry, hydrology, mapping, computer and/or GIS skills, as well as the ability to work in the field, write, and communicate with clients. These same skills are also sought after by construction and planning companies and governmental agencies who deal with land, water, and environmental management and/or protection. This degree program is an outstanding pathway for career in Earth Science research with companies, government agencies, or at universities. As research careers often require a M.S. or more commonly a Ph.D. degree, graduate school is the typical next step. Students achieve their B.S. degree through one of 6 possible pathways or concentrations

Earth Sciences General Pathway: This is the best option for those who have broad interests in Earth Sciences and are not ready for a particular specialization

Environmental and Hydrology: Make your passion for the environment your profession and work for state, government, and private agencies to manage water and environmental resources, teach science, become a science writer, or develop your skills farther and attend graduate school.

Geophysics and Tectonics: Enter careers to mitigate hazards from earthquakes, tsunami, and landslides; prospect for critical mineral resources, develop renewal energy, develop instrumentation, attend graduate school, teach science, or become a science writer.

Planetary Science: Attend graduate school, teach science, become an astronaut, or become a science writer

Volcano Science: Work at a volcano observatory, in a national park, for a government hazard agency, attend graduate school, teach science, or become a science writer

Research: Design your own coursework of concentration, do a B.S. thesis, work in a research lab, attend graduate school, or be a science writer

Course Requirements (120 credits minimum)

General Education Courses : UH Mānoa requires the following to graduate: FW, FQ, 2xFG, DB, DP, DY, 2xDS, 2 out of DH, DL, or DA, H-focus, O-focus, E focus, and 5 W-focus courses. The BS "common core" will provide DP, DY, O-focus, E-focus, and 1 or 2 W-focus courses. The various BS concentrations as well as science electives will account for 1 or 2 additional W-focus courses. Recommended courses to satisfy other GenEd requirements include: ERTH 135 and OCN 105 (FG), OCN 102 (DB), HWST 107 (DH, H-focus)

Lower Division General Education Courses + non-Science Electives (36 credits, Planetary Science requires 33 credits)

STEM Support Courses (28-29 credits):
  • Calculus 1 & 2 (MATH 241, 242, 8 credits)
  • Calc. Based Physics 1 & 2 (PHYS 170, 272 + labs, 9 credits)
  • General Chemistry 1 & 2 (CHEM 161, 162 + labs, 8 credits)
  • Biology, satisfied DB (3-4 credits) (BE 120, BIOC 441, BIOL 171, BOT 101, MICRO 130, NREM 210, NREM 251, OEST 103, OCN 102, ZOOL 101, or ZOOL 200)

Core Courses for all Concentrations (26-29 credits):
  • OEST 100 The College Experience (1)
  • ERTH 101 Dynamic Earth (3), or 103 Geology of the Hawaiian Islands (3), or ERTH104 Volcanoes in the Sea (3), or ERTH 106 Humans and the Environment (3), or ERTH130 Geologic Hazards(4)
  • ERTH 101L Dynamic Earth Laboratory (1) (unless ERTH 170 is taken)
  • ERTH 200 Geological Inquiry (4) or ERTH 201 Climate Change (3)
  • ERTH 250 Scientific Computing or EE160 Programming for Engineeers (3)
  • ERTH 305 Geological Field Methods (3) ( not required for Planetary or Research Concentration )
  • ERTH 333 Earth Materials and Structures (4)
  • ERTH 398 Undergraduate Research in Earth Sciences (3)*
  • ERTH 410 Undergraduate Seminar (2)
  • ERTH 413 Intro. to Statistics & Data Analysis (3)

A grade of C (not C-) or better is required of all major courses (i.e., STEM Support, Core, and Science Electives)
*For a list of undergraduate research projects, please see this Google Sheet.

Earth Science General Pathway

Courses, choose 4 from the following (12-16 credits):

  • ERTH 300 Volcanology (3)
  • ERTH 301 Mineralogy (4)
  • ERTH 302 Igneous & Metamorphic Petrology (3)
  • ERTH 303 Natural Hazards & Geomechanics (3)
  • ERTH 306 Work of Water (3), or GEO 405(3)
  • ERTH 309 Sedimentary Processes & Environments (4)
  • ERTH 313 Plate Tectonics & Geodynamics (3)
  • ERTH 323 Physics of the Earth & Planets (4)
  • ERTH 325 Geochemistry (3)
  • ERTH 425 Environmental Geochemistry (3)
  • ERTH 455 Hydrogeology (4)
  • ERTH 461 Geospatial Information (3), or GEO 388 (3), or NREM 477 (4)

Upper division science electives (9 credits): Any 300+ level ERTH, EPET, ATMO, or OCN course; plus GEO 370, 388, 405; NREM 301, 302, 477; PEPS 451

Upper division electives any topic (7 credits)

Useful links for the General Pathway:

Environmental and Hydrogeology (EH) Concentration:

Specialization Courses (17 credits):

  • ERTH 306 Work of Water (3), or GEO 405(3)
  • ERTH 309 Sedimentary Processes & Environments (4)
  • ERTH 425 Environmental Geochemistry (3)
  • ERTH 455 Hydrogeology (4)
  • ERTH 461 Geospatial Information (3), or GEO 388 (3), or NREM 477 (4)

Upper division science electives (6 credits): ERTH 301, 302, 303, 420, 423, 460; ATMO 302, 303, 310; BIOL 301, 310, 340, 410; BOT 458, 459; ECON 358; GEO 300, 302, 303, 305, 310, 370, 401, 405, 410, 412, 413, 414; HWST 458, 459; NREM 461; OCN 318, 411, 441, 457; PLAN 414, 473; TPSS 304.

Upper division electives any topic (7 credits)

Useful links for the EH Concentration:

Geophysics and Tectonics (GT)

Specialization Courses (13-14 credits):

  • ERTH 303 Natural Hazards & Geomechanics (3)
  • ERTH 313 Plate Tectonics & Geodynamics (3)
  • ERTH 323 Physics of the Earth & Planets (4)
  • ERTH 461 Geospatial Information (3), or GEO 388 (3), or NREM 477 (4)

Upper division science electives (12 credits): At least 9 credits from ERTH 312 (or MATH 243 302, 303, 307, 311), ERTH 300, 301, 302, 401, 423, 455, 460, 466. The remaining 3 credits can be any 300+ level ERTH, EPET, ATMO, or OCN course, plus; GEO 370, 388, 405; NREM 301, 302, 477; PEPS 451.

Upper division electives any topic (5 credits)

Useful links for the GT Concentration:

Planetary Science Concentration

Specialization Coures (26-28 credits):

  • ERTH 107 Solar System Studio (3) or EPET 201 Space Exploration (3)
  • ERTH 301 Mineralogy (4)
  • ERTH 313 Plate Tectonics & Geodynamics (3)
  • ERTH 325 Geochemistry (3)
  • ERTH 460 Geological Remote Sensing (4)
  • ERTH 461 Geospatial Information (3), or GEO 388 (3), or NREM 477 (4)
  • ERTH 466 Planetary Geology (3)
  • ERTH 469 Origin of the Solar System (3)

Upper division science electives (4 credits): any 300+level ERTH course; EPET 301, 400

Upper division electives any topic (4 credits)

Useful links for the Planetary Concentration:

Basic Science and Research (BSR) Concentration

Research Course (6 credits):

  • ERTH 499 Undergraduate Thesis

Upper division science electives (15 credits): any 300+ level ERTH, EPET, ATMO, or OCN course, plus GEO 370, 388, 405; NREM 301, 302, 477; PEPS 451 or alternatives approved by the student's advisor, with ERTH 461 strongly recommended.

Upper division electives any topic (9 credits)

Useful links for the General Pathway:

Volcano Science (VS) Concentration

Specialization Courses (19-20 credits):

  • ERTH 300 Volcanology (3)
  • ERTH 301 Mineralogy (4)
  • ERTH 302 Igneous & Metamorphic Petrology (3)
  • ERTH 303 Natural Hazards & Geomechanics (3)
  • ERTH 325 Geochemistry (3)
  • ERTH 461 Geospatial Information (3), or GEO 388 (3), or NREM 477 (4)

Upper division science electives (6 credits): Any 300+ level ERTH, EPET, ATMO, or OCN course; plus GEO 370, 388, 405; NREM 301, 302, 477; PEPS 451

Upper division electives any topic (5 credits)

Useful links for the VS Concentration: