The Planetary Science Option is for students who wish to pursue a research career, e.g., at universities, research institutions, government facilities such as NASA, and museums. It focuses on the physical and geochemical processes in our Solar System spanning the early solar nebula to planetary formation and evolution. The option facilitates interdisciplinary knowledge in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology, and is therefore well suited to students transferring from other STEM disciplines as well as those preparing for graduate study.
Declaration of the major in Earth & Planetary Sciences requires a grade of C or better in 01:460:101 Introductory Geology or 01:460:100 Planet Earth or equivalent or special permission of the Undergraduate Program Director. Course schedules for each semester should be approved by the Undergraduate Program Director or other faculty advisor prior to registration.
460-P: Planetary Science Option (B.S.) [63 credits total]
Foundation Courses
- 01:160:161, 162 General Chemistry (4, 4)
- 01:640 CALC1, CALC2 (4, 4)
- One of the following: 01:640 CALC3 (4) or 01:960:401 Basic Statistics for Research (3)
- One of the following: 01:750:193 Physics for the Sciences (4) or 01:750:201 Extended General Physics (5) or 01:750:203 General Physics (3)
- One of the following: 01:750:194 Physics for the Sciences (4) or 01:750:202 Extended General Physics (5) or 01:750:204 General Physics (3)
Core Courses
- 01:460:101 Introductory Geology (4) [alternatively 01:460:100 Planet Earth (3) and 01:460:103 Introductory Geology Lab (1)]
- 01:460:222 Planet Mars or 01:460:224 Geology of Moons & Planets
- 01:460:301 Mineralogy (4)
- 01:460:302 Petrology (4)
- 01:460:304 Introduction to Geochemistry (4)
- 01:460:441 Structure & Formation of Terrestrial Planets (3) [or 01:460:442 Dynamics of Planetary Interiors (3)]
- 01:460:480 Major Events in Earth History (3)
Elective Courses
Three 3-credit courses from the following list: 01:355:302 Scientific & Technical Writing; 01:450:321 Geographic Information Systems (3); 01:450:322 Remote Sensing (3); 01:460:300 Introduction to Sedimentary Geology (4); 01:460:407 Structural Geology & Geologic Maps (4); 01:460:414 Hydrologic Processes (3); 01:460:418 Geological Modeling (3); 01:460:442 Dynamics of Planetary Interiors (3) [or 01:460:441 Structure & Formation of Terrestrial Planets (3)]; 16:460:630 Seminar in Planetary Science (3); 01:640:244 Differential Equations for Engineering & Physics (4) or 01:640:250 Introductory Linear Algebra (3) or 01:640:252 Elementary Differential Equations (3) or 01:640:292 Honors Calculus IV; 01:750:341 or 342 Principles of Astrophysics
Outline of Planetary Science Major Track Courses
| Planetary Science Option | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cognate Courses |
Calc 1 & 2 & Calc 3 or Stats | 12 |
| General Chemistry 1 & 2 | 8 | |
| General Physics 1 & 2 | 6 | |
|
EPS |
Intro Geology or equiv. | 4 |
| Mineralogy (spring only course) | 4 | |
| Petrology (fall only course) | 4 | |
| Geochemistry (fall only course) | 4 | |
| Major Events in Earth History (spring only course) | 3 | |
| Planet Mars / Geology of the Moons & Planets |
3 | |
| Structure & Formation of Terrestrial Planets |
3 | |
| Building Blocks of the Solar System | 3 | |
|
Elective |
300+ level or approved elective | 3 |
| 300+ level or approved elective | 3 | |
| 300+ level or approved elective | 3 | |
| TOTAL CREDITS: | 63 |
