Earth Systems Option
This option is available within the Environmental Sciences major at the following locations:
- Corvallis
- Ecampus
The Earth Systems option provides an interdisciplinary foundation in the physical and biological processes that shape the planet and govern interactions among the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, biosphere, and human systems. Students in the option build an interdisciplinary understanding of Earth’s past, present, and future dynamics and prepare to address complex environmental challenges such as climate change, water resource management, natural hazards, and land-use change.
Option Code: 848
Options follow the learning outcomes of the major. For this option, refer to the learning outcomes of the Environmental Sciences major.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| Select 27 credits from at least three of the following categories: | 27 | |
| Atmosphere | ||
| THERMODYNAMICS AND CLOUD MICROPHYSICS | ||
| ATMOSPHERIC RADIATION | ||
| +*CLIMATE SCIENCE | ||
| +INTRODUCTION TO METEOROLOGY | ||
| ^CLIMATOLOGY | ||
| CLIMATE PHYSICS | ||
| CLIMATE MODELING | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO BIOGEOCHEMISTRY | ||
| Earth History | ||
| +*PHYSICAL GEOLOGY | ||
| +*EARTH SYSTEMS SCIENCE | ||
| +*EVOLUTION OF PLANET EARTH | ||
| *GLOBAL CHANGE AND EARTH SCIENCES | ||
| STRATIGRAPHY AND SEDIMENTOLOGY | ||
| GLACIAL GEOLOGY | ||
| QUATERNARY PALEOCLIMATOLOGY | ||
| QUATERNARY STRATIGRAPHY OF NORTH AMERICA | ||
| Earth’s Surface | ||
| WATERSHED PROCESSES | ||
| SURFACE PROCESSES | ||
| STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY | ||
| APPLIED GEOMORPHOLOGY | ||
| COASTAL GEOMORPHOLOGY | ||
| +HYDROGEOLOGY | ||
| SNOW HYDROLOGY | ||
| Oceans | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO BIOGEOCHEMISTRY | ||
| +*OCEANOGRAPHY | ||
| +*INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY | ||
| COASTAL OCEANOGRAPHY | ||
| BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY | ||
| CHEMICAL OCEANOGRAPHY | ||
| GEOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY | ||
| PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY | ||
| COASTAL AND ESTUARINE OCEANOGRAPHY | ||
| ESTUARINE ECOLOGY | ||
| ^POLAR OCEANOGRAPHY | ||
| Soils | ||
| +*SOIL SCIENCE | ||
| SOIL SCIENCE and +*SOIL SCIENCE LABORATORY FOR SOIL 205 | ||
| ECOSYSTEMS OF WILDLAND SOILS | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL SOIL PHYSICS | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL SOIL CHEMISTRY | ||
| BIOLOGY OF SOIL ECOSYSTEMS | ||
| SOIL MORPHOLOGY AND CLASSIFICATION | ||
| SOIL LANDSCAPE ANALYSIS | ||
| Human-Environment Interaction | ||
| OCEANS IN PERIL | ||
| +*SOCIETY AND VOLCANOES | ||
| +*MINERALS, ENERGY, WATER AND THE ENVIRONMENT | ||
| *NATIONAL PARK GEOLOGY AND PRESERVATION | ||
| +*THE BIG ONE: SURVIVING AN EARTHQUAKE | ||
| ^ECOLOGICAL BIOGEOGRAPHY | ||
| +*GEOGRAPHIES OF RISK, VULNERABILITY, AND RESILIENCE | ||
| RESILIENCE-BASED NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT | ||
| CONFLICT, COOPERATION, AND CONTROL OF WATER IN THE US | ||
| THE WORLD'S WATER | ||
| LAND USE IN THE AMERICAN WEST | ||
| +OCEANS, COASTS, AND PEOPLE | ||
or OC 333 | *OCEANS, COASTS, AND PEOPLE | |
| Methods | ||
| OBSERVING CLIMATE | ||
| CLIMATE DATA ANALYSIS | ||
| +*FOUNDATIONS OF GEOSPATIAL SCIENCE AND GIS | ||
| GEOGRAPHIC FIELD RESEARCH | ||
| GISCIENCE I: GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND THEORY | ||
| CARTOGRAPHY | ||
| REMOTE SENSING: PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONS | ||
| MATHEMATICAL APPLICATIONS IN THE EARTH SCIENCES | ||
| Total Credits | 27 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025
- +
Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond
- ^
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course
Option Code: 848