Earth and Environmental Science
What this major studies in college, how to prepare in high school where a source says so, and careers open with a bachelor’s degree. Every fact below names its source.
Last checked:
What it is
Global climate change and more local environmental change present major challenges, and solving them requires people with a solid scientific understanding of natural earth and environmental systems and of the social, economic and political sides of these problems. [1]
Typical college courses
Published by the Geological Society of America (GSA), fourteen skills appeared in a third or more of 1,214 job ads for bachelor’s-level geoscientists, and four of them (written communication, field skills, data collection and computer skills) appeared in more than half of the ads. [2]
The earth science and policy B.S. requires, with a grade of C or better, Modeling the Earth System and Risk Analysis in the Earth Sciences. [1]
The rows below show one named program as an example: the Penn State bachelor of science in earth science and policy, 2026–2027 bulletin. Course descriptions are in our own words. Course names and numbers differ at every college; confirm each college’s own list.
| Course | Status | What it covers (example: Penn State bulletin) | Comes after |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Geology (or Planet Earth) | One of the choices in this example programThe B.S. also requires Physical Geology or Planet Earth. [1] | Physical Geology (GEOSC 1) studies the earth processes that shape the materials, structure and landforms of the earth’s crust, with practice in field work and with rocks, minerals, models and topographic maps. [3] | No prerequisite is shown for it. [3] |
Get ready with these topics: Minerals and rocks · The rock cycle · Plate tectonics and the ages of rocks · Plate boundaries, earthquakes and volcanoes · Building up and wearing down the land · Weathering, erosion and soil | |||
| Earth Materials (one of three choices) | One of the choices in this example programStudents also select 8 credits, with a grade of C or better, from Earth Materials, Chemical Processes in Geology and Physical Processes in Geology. [1] | Earth Materials (GEOSC 201) covers the basics of crystals and crystal chemistry, and how sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks and their minerals form, occur and are identified, with one or more required field trips. [3] | It comes after CHEM 110 and third-semester standing, with GEOSC 1 or GEOSC 20 before or at the same time. [3] |
Get ready with these topics: Minerals and rocks · The rock cycle · Atoms and electron arrangement · Ionic and covalent bonding · Metallic bonding and network solids | |||
| Modeling the Earth System | Required in this example program[1] | Modeling the Earth System (EARTH 402) has students build and test numerical models of earth systems, focusing on the climate and on the economics and policy of energy and carbon emissions, to see how different policy choices could affect the climate. [4] | Its prerequisite line lists EARTH 2, EARTH 103, MATH 140, MATH 110, MATH 83 and CHEM 110. [4] |
Get ready with these topics: Earth as a system · The carbon cycle · Energy flow and climate change · Climate data and models · Climate change: evidence · Climate change: impacts and responses · Environmental economics | |||
| Risk Analysis in the Earth Sciences | Required in this example program[1] | Risk Analysis in the Earth Sciences (GEOSC 450) introduces ideas and methods for measuring and analyzing risk, focusing on risks tied to water, climate and energy. [3] | It comes after MATH 140 or MATH 110, an introductory earth science or geoscience class, and an introductory statistics class such as STAT 200, or permission of the program. [3] |
Get ready with these topics: Resources, hazards and human life · Natural hazards: earthquakes, storms and floods · Fresh water: supply and use · Probability rules · Random variables and expected value | |||
| Elementary Statistics | Required in this example programThe B.S. requires Elementary Statistics. [1] | Elementary Statistics (STAT 200) is a standard first course in statistics, covering descriptive statistics, frequency distributions, probability, and the binomial and normal distributions. [5] | It comes after placement into MATH 21 or higher. [5] |
Get ready with these topics: Measures of center · Measures of spread · The normal model · Conditional probability and independence · Confidence intervals for a proportion · Significance and p-values | |||
Typical high school preparation
We did not find an official source that gives high school course advice for this major, so none is listed. For the high school courses colleges ask for in general, see the College Preparation page.
Related majors
Each card opens that major’s page. Compare the courses before you choose, and confirm each college’s own list.
Physics
Penn State's physics major provides a sound program of technical and general education for students planning a career in physics and related fields. [6]
Astronomy
Astronomy involves the study of the properties, physical nature and origins of the planets, stars, galaxies and the universe as a whole. [7]
Biology
Typical courses, health tracks and careers, with sources.
Chemistry
Typical courses, health tracks and careers, with sources.
Environmental Engineering
Typical courses, licensing and careers, with sources.
Where this degree can lead with a bachelor’s
National figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay varies by state, setting and experience. This is not a promise of pay or a job.
Examples from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Other careers may need more study after the bachelor’s degree.
Geoscientists
Geoscientists study the physical aspects of the Earth. [8]
Most states require licensing for geologists who offer services to the public. [8]
The median annual wage for geoscientists was $101,920 in May 2025. [8]
Employment of geoscientists is projected to grow 5 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations. [8]
Geoscientists typically need a bachelor's degree in geoscience or a related field, such as physical science or natural resources. [8]
Environmental scientists and specialists
Environmental scientists and specialists conduct research or investigations to protect the environment or human health. [9]
The median annual wage for environmental scientists and specialists was $82,220 in May 2025. [9]
Employment of environmental scientists and specialists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations. [9]
Environmental scientists and specialists typically need a bachelor's degree in natural science or a related field to enter the occupation. [9]
Questions people search
Chosen from our search-question research. Every answer is cited.
What can you do with an environmental science degree?
Environmental scientists and specialists typically need a bachelor's degree in natural science or a related field to enter the occupation. [9]
Environmental scientists and specialists conduct research or investigations to protect the environment or human health. [9]
Your next step
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Sources
- The Pennsylvania State University. Earth Science and Policy, B.S.. https://bulletins.psu.edu/undergraduate/colleges/earth-mineral-sciences/earth-science-policy-bs/. 2026–2027 Undergraduate Bulletin. Checked .
- Geological Society of America (GSA). Analysis of Skills Sought by Employers of Bachelors-Level Geoscientists. https://www.geosociety.org/gsa-today/february-2022/analysis-of-skills-sought-by-employers-of-bachelorslevel-geoscientists. GSA Today, volume 32, issue 2 (February 2022), Groundwork article. Checked .
- The Pennsylvania State University. Geosciences (GEOSC) course descriptions. https://bulletins.psu.edu/university-course-descriptions/undergraduate/geosc/. University Bulletins, 2026–27 edition. Checked .
- The Pennsylvania State University. Earth Sciences (EARTH) course descriptions. https://bulletins.psu.edu/university-course-descriptions/undergraduate/earth/. University Bulletins, 2026–27 edition. Checked .
- The Pennsylvania State University. Statistics (STAT) course descriptions. https://bulletins.psu.edu/university-course-descriptions/undergraduate/stat/. current University Bulletins (the BMB, BIOL and NUTR course pages show the 2026–27 edition). Checked .
- The Pennsylvania State University. Physics, B.S.. https://bulletins.psu.edu/undergraduate/colleges/eberly-science/physics-bs/. 2026–2027 Undergraduate Bulletin. Checked .
- The Pennsylvania State University. Astronomy and Astrophysics, B.S.. https://bulletins.psu.edu/undergraduate/colleges/eberly-science/astronomy-astrophysics-bs/. 2026–2027 Undergraduate Bulletin. Checked .
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook: Geoscientists. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/geoscientists.htm. OOH page last modified August 27, 2026 (pay data May 2025; projections 2025–35). Checked .
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook: Environmental Scientists and Specialists. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/environmental-scientists-and-specialists.htm. OOH page last modified August 27, 2026 (pay data May 2025; projections 2025–35). Checked .
Format: Publisher. Page title. URL. Edition or catalog year. Checked date.