Earth & Atmospheric Sciences Major & Minor

The EAS program is intrinsically interdisciplinary, involving many branches of science and engineering. Examples of the latter include civil and environmental engineering, biological and environmental engineering, mechanical and aerospace engineering and electrical and computer engineering. Students in this program can pursue education and research that prepares them to compete for careers or graduate study at leading institutions in this country and abroad. By analyzing the complex relations among the ocean, solid earth, atmosphere and biosphere, students can help meet society’s growing demand for energy, minerals and clean water as well as contribute to mitigating the negative impacts related to global warming, rising sea level, natural hazards and decreasing biodiversity.

CALS seeks students who maintain a rigorous high school curriculum and demonstrate an outstanding record of academic achievement. Admissions requirements include:

• 4 Units of English

• 4 Units of Mathematics (including calculus)

• 3 Units of Science (including biology, chemistry, and physics)

• An additional unit of science is strongly recommended

Students must receive a C- or better in all major required courses and take all major required courses for a letter grade.

• MATH 1910
• MATH 1920
• PHYS 2207 or 1112
• PHYS 2208 or 2213
• CHEM 2070 and 2071 or 2090
• CHEM 2080 and 2081 or CHEM 1570 or PHYS 2214

Advisor Approved Course - CALS students must take a Biology course.

Students in the College of Engineering may count EAS 2250: The Earth System as an ENGRD course in fulfilling their college core curriculum requirements. Students who choose to do so must take an additional major-approved elective (see "Additional Required Courses" section below).

Core Courses

Students must choose 3 of the following courses:

• EAS 3010 - Evolution of the Earth System
• EAS 3030 - Introduction to Biogeochemistry
• EAS 3050 - Climate Dynamics
• EAS 3090 - Earth Materials
• EAS 3410 - Atmospheric Thermodynamics and Hydrostatistics
• EAS 3420 -Atmospheric Dynamics
• EAS 3530 - Physical Oceanography
• EAS 3880 - Global Geophysics

Concentration Courses

Concentration courses build depth and provide the student with specific expertise in some facet of earth system science. Four concentrations are defined for the major: Atmospheric Sciences, Environmental Geosciences, Geological Sciences and Ocean Sciences. Students also have the option of designing their own concentration tailored to their interests in consultation with their advisor and upon approval of the EAS Curriculum Committee. Four concentration-appropriate courses at the 3000-level or above are required. It is expected that concentration courses be at least 3 (structured) credits; however, alternate courses can count towards the concentration course requirement with agreement of the student's academic advisor and approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

A minimum of 15 credits of concentration courses is required.

Field Experience

Exposure to the basic observations of earth science in the field is necessary to fully understand the chosen area of concentration in the major. A minimum of 3 credits of appropriate coursework is required, although more experience with field work is encouraged. Possibilities include the following:

• EAS 2500: Meteorological Observations and Instruments
• EAS 4370: Field Geophysics
• Courses in SEA Semester
• Field courses offered at Shoals Marine Laboratory*
• Field courses offered by another college or university*
• Experience gained participating in field research with Cornell faculty (or REU at another institution)*

*Field course options marked by an asterisk (*) require pre-approval by the faculty advisor and the EAS Curriculum Committee. These courses/internships/REUs should require observations to be taken in the field and interpreted by the student. Field courses should generally require 40+ hours of active observation and data collection in the field. Students using a non-credit research option for the field course requirement are required to complete an additional EAS concentration course.

Additional Required Courses

For engineering students, please see the Cornell Duffield Engineering website for information on affiliation, major courses, and requirements. 

EAS 3010-Evolution of the Earth System

Life activities alter the physical and chemical environment of Earth's surface and are altered by that environment, while physical and chemical processes transform rock, transfer material, and create new rocks that record Earth's environmental history. The interactions over very long times constitute a coevolution of Earth and Life. Course uses modern systems and ancient systems to illustrate principles, methods of reconstructing deep history, and the context of natural change inherent to life and earth.

EAS 3050-Climate Dynamics

Discusses processes that determine climate and contribute to its change, including atmospheric radiation, ocean circulation, and atmospheric dynamics. Investigates contemporary climate change issues and discusses them in the context of natural variability of the system.

EAS 3090-Earth Materials

Materials of the solid Earth (minerals, rocks) record the formation and evolution of our planet and the solar systems. This course will prepare students to identify minerals, understand their significance as a record of fundamental processes for our planet, and other rocky worlds in the solar system. This course will introduce geochemical concepts that include: element formation in the solar nebula, thermodynamic and kinetic properties that control the formation and chemical diversity of minerals, the mineral and rock record of deep Earth and surface processes. The lectures will be complemented by labs where students will learn to identify minerals using crystallography and polarized microscopy techniques. The labs will also include an introduction to modern analytical methods such as Raman and infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, mass spectrometry, with hands-on projects where the students will collect and interpret their own data.

•     Obtain working knowledge of scientific method.

• Discover the way that data are collected
• Construct and evaluate scientific hypotheses from Earth sciences data
• Design, conduct and analyze experiments to test hypotheses

•     Collect, analyze and interpret field and laboratory data.

•     Identify, formulate and solve scientific problems using appropriate mathematical tools.

•     Compile and interpret spatial and temporal earth science data.

•     Explain and assess important concepts in the chosen concentration.

•     Utilize computer systems and programming to find, analyze and present data and evaluate hypotheses.

•     Communicate the earth sciences effectively in written and oral mediums.

•     Demonstrate the ability to work in teams.

•     Have a broad education, including liberal studies.