Earth Sciences
Degree: BS, BA
Campus: Columbus
College: Arts and Sciences
Earth Science majors are curious about the whole Earth, from its ancient past to its present and future. Students in the Earth Sciences major learn to use tools from chemistry, physics, biology and mathematics to study the Earth. Housed within the School of Earth Sciences, the Earth Science major is a globally preeminent program, with courses and research focused on the most important issues facing society, including climate change, water resources, the environment, human health, geological hazards, energy and mineral resources.
The benefits of studying Earth Sciences at Ohio State include:
- Small class size: Despite our university being so large, our major has all the advantages of a smaller program. You can expect 10–20 students in each major class. Our program is a community where everyone gets to know each other.
- Field trips: As Earth Scientists, we go outside! We emphasize field experiences, and many of our courses include at least one field trip. Recent trips include the Bahamas, Appalachian Mountains, Guadalupe Mountains, Lake Erie and plenty of great trips in Ohio!
- Alumni mentoring: We have a large alumni base who are tightly connected to our program to give back with their time and advice. In fact, our vibrant alumni board meets every semester in the School of Earth Sciences to connect directly with our students and provide career advice.
- Scholarships: We have a wide range of scholarships available to majors, funded by our generous alumni. Scholarships support tuition, Field Camp, study abroad programs, research and conference travel.
Upon admission to the university, students can declare a major in Earth Sciences within the College of Arts and Sciences. Students should then contact the Earth Sciences advisor, Dr. Karen Royce to map out an appropriate program of courses.
The School of Earth Sciences offers two major programs: a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Arts. For BS students, we have three major subprograms:
- Climate, Water and Environment
- Geological Sciences
- Geophysics
We also have six certificate programs that are great additions to any Earth Science degree:
- Climate Change Fundamentals
- Hydrogeology
- Marine Science
- Natural History Museum Curation
- Petroleum Geology
- Planetary Science.
These certificates allow you to take more classes in the subjects you find interesting and enrich your portfolio!
Another distinguishing element of our program is that all Earth Science majors complete a thesis research project/capstone experience, mentored by a professor. This capstone experience integrates classroom learning with practical experiences, allowing students to merge knowledge with technical skills, develop critical thinking and improve written/oral communication.
Our alumni overwhelmingly agree that a capstone experience provides our Earth Science graduates with a competitive advantage after graduation for employment or graduate school. Students often attend and present their research at a regional or national conference. Generous funding to support student research and travel to conferences is available.
The Geo Club, made up of Earth Science majors and minors, is an organization that organizes field trips, STEM outreach events and community building activities. The club is funded by our generous alumni that love to see our students having fun with Earth Sciences!
A major in Earth Sciences is a gateway to high demand careers in energy, energy transition, critical minerals, environmental protection and resource management. Our graduates have gone to work at major companies, including:
- Energy production
- Schlumberger
- Baker-Hughes
- Core Laboratories
- Environmental consulting companies
- Eagon and Associates
- DHDC Engineering Consulting
- EMSL Analytical
- Battelle Memorial Institute
Additionally, graduates build careers at government agencies, including Ohio EPA, Ohio Seismology and county soil and water conservation districts. Half of the program's graduates go on to graduate school for masters or PhD degrees. Remember, Earth Science masters and PhD programs pay for your salary and tuition!
Our engaged alumni community recently surveyed employers that hire Earth Science graduates. The alumni reported that the need for Earth Science graduates will increase significantly in the next 5 years in:
- Environmental consulting/monitoring (hydrogeologist, sustainability engineer)
- Government agencies (a wide range of earth scientist specialties)
- Energy industry (geologist, geophysicist, paleontologist)
- Geospatial sciences (GIS specialist, geodetic scientist)
- Education (K-12 teacher, museum curator, professor)
- Water resources (hydrogeologist, geochemist)
- Natural hazard mitigation (disaster risk specialist, natural resources manager)
The average starting salaries for students with a BS in Earth Science ranges from $49,000 to $77,000.
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Future students
Academic info
Students will participate in the school's six-week summer geology Field Camp, which has been in operation for over 70 years. This is a capstone experience for our geology majors, as it provides a unique environment for field-based research experiences for students and faculty. Students typically take this in their junior or senior year. Scholarships are available to offset costs.
Interested in a career in the STEM fields?
Check out the STEM Pathway to discover the many majors Ohio State offers that can lead to a career in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.