Undergraduate Program

    College of Arts and Sciences and Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences Undergraduate Admission Requirements

    A minimum of 26 credit hours; 23 credit hours must be in courses acceptable toward graduation.

    A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 on all work.

    • Transfer students must have a 2.0 transfer GPA.
    • Continuing UNM students must have a 2.00 institutional GPA.

    Demonstrated academic achievement by satisfying the following:

    • Completion of the University Writing and Speaking Core.
    • Completion of the University Mathematics Core.
    • Completion of the University Foreign Language Core.

    Completion of Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences major admission coursework with grades of "C" or better:

    • Earth and Planetary Sciences: EPS 105L; CHEM 121; MATH 123 or 150 or 162.
    • Environmental Science: ENVS 102L; CHEM 121; MATH 123 or 150 or 162.

    Degrees Offered

    • Bachelor of Arts in Earth and Planetary Sciences (B.A.)

    • Bachelor of Science in Earth and Planetary Sciences (B.S.)

    • Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science (B.S.)

    Bachelor of Arts in Earth and Planetary Sciences

    Required Courses

    EPS 101, 105L (or ENVS 101 and 102L), 201L, 301, 302L, 303L 304L, 307L, 310L (or 319L), 401, 490 and 6 additional credit hours in Earth and Planetary Sciences above 299 (excluding 491-492, 493 and 495).
    (Total = 37 credit hours)

    Supporting Science Required Courses

    CHEM 121 and 123L and either PHYC 151 or 160; and 9 additional credit hours from Chemistry or Physics above the required levels, or from MATH 162 or above, BIOL 123/124L or higher, or ASTR 270 or above, or (with permission from the EPS Undergraduate Committee) from selected Anthropology, Engineering or Geography courses.
    (Total = 16 credit hours)


    Bachelor of Science in Earth and Planetary Sciences

    Required Courses

    EPS 101, 105L (or ENVS 101 and 102L), 201L, 301, 302L, 303L, 304L, 307L, 319L, 401, 490 and 12 additional credit hours in Earth and Planetary Sciences above 299 (excluding 300, 491–492, 493 and 495).
    (Total = 43 credit hours)

    Supporting Math/Science Required Courses

    CHEM 121, 123L, 122 and 124L; MATH 162 and 163, and either STAT 345 or EPS 428 or EPS 433; PHYC 160 and 161; and 7 additional credit hours from Chemistry, Math or Physics above the required levels, or BIOL 123/124L or higher, or ASTR 270 or above, or (with permission from the EPS Undergraduate Committee) from selected Anthropology, Engineering (including Computer Science) or Geography courses.
    (Total = 32 credit hours)

    ENGL 219 or 220 or 290 is required.

    Students completing the B.S. program fulfill the requirements for a Distributed Minor in support of an Earth and Planetary Sciences major, although an alternative minor or second major may be selected.


    Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science

    The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Environmental Science synthesizes quantitative studies of the interactions between the solid earth, oceans, atmosphere and biological processes taking place therein. The degree provides scientific training for environment-related occupations, including environmental sciences per se as well as peripheral fields such as Law and Medicine. Environmental Science covers a vast sweep of applied Earth science. Students, therefore, have considerable flexibility in tailoring the major to their individual interests while pursuing a common core of supporting math and science. By taking courses from four out of seven subdisciplinary groups, a wide variety of approaches to environmental science can be accommodated, including preparation for graduate study in the subdisciplines. Students pursuing this degree are strongly encouraged to consult the Environmental Science undergraduate advisor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at an early stage in their program in order to design their curriculum in the disciplinary groups. All majors are encouraged to pursue an undergraduate thesis (493 and 495) in collaboration with a faculty advisor.

    Required Core

    ENVS 101 or EPS 101, ENVS 102L or EPS 105L, ENVS 330, ENVS 430, EPS 428 or 433 or STAT 345 or higher, and EPS 490.

    At least 6 credit hours each from four of the following seven groups (of which no more than 4 credit hours may be below 300), plus additional credit hours from Earth and Planetary Sciences above 300 (excluding 491-492, 493 and 495) for a total of 30 credit hours:

    1. Spatial analysis: EPS 455L; GEOG 381L, 487L, 488L
    2. Geochemistry: EPS 203, 407L, 410, 415, CE 437L
    3. Geoscience: EPS 201L, 301, 302L, 310L, 333
    4. Earth Surface Processes: EPS 304L, 333, 481L, 485L
    5. Hydroscience: EPS 462 or CE 441, EPS 443, 476
    6. Climate: EPS 352, 436, 437, 439
    7. Ecology: BIOL 203L, 310L, 405, 451, 461L, 463L, 475, 494, 495, 496L

    Supporting Math/Science Required Courses

    MATH 162, 163; BIOL 123/124L or higher; CHEM 121 and 123L; PHYC 160.

    Students can satisfy the requirements for a Distributed Minor in support of an Environmental Science major by completing CHEM 122 and 124L, PHYC 161, and 7 additional credit hours from: Chemistry (above 122 and 124L), Mathematics (above 163), Physics (above 161), Biology (above 124L, not including courses counted in the Ecology subdisciplinary group) or Astronomy (270 or above) or, with permission, from selected Anthropology, Engineering or Geography courses.

    A student may also choose to complete a minor outside of the EPS Department.


    Minor Study Requirements

    Minor in Earth and Planetary Sciences

    A total of at least 20 credit hours distributed as follows:

    1. 12 credit hours must be above the 299 level (excluding 401, 493 and 495).
    2. No more than 3 credit hours of problems (491–492) may be applied to the Earth and Planetary Sciences minor.

    Minor in Environmental Science

    A total of at least 20 credit hours distributed as follows:

    1. ENVS 101 and 102L (or EPS 101 and 105L), and ENVS 330.
    2. Plus at least 13 additional credit hours selected from ENVS 430, EPS 433 (or STAT 345 or higher) and from at least two of the Environmental Science subdisciplinary groups. Only one course numbered 299 or below may count toward this requirement.

    Departmental Honors

    Students seeking honors in Earth and Planetary Sciences should consult with the department honors advisor no later than two full semesters prior to graduation. EPS 493 and 495 are required, as is a written senior thesis that is orally defended.


    Natural Science (NTSC)

    No major or minor offered.

    Natural Sciences
    Science Math Learning Center, B72

    Mailing Address
    Northrop Hall 141
    MSC03 2040
    221 Yale Blvd. NE
    Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
    (505) 277-0257


    Courses

    ENVS 101. The Blue Planet. (3)



    ENVS 102L. The Blue Planet Laboratory. (1)



    ENVS 330. Environmental Systems. (3)



    ENVS 430 / 530. Advanced Environmental Science. (4)



    ENVS 530 / 430. Advanced Environmental Science. (4)



    EPS 101. How the Earth Works - An Introduction to Geology. (3)



    EPS 105L. Physical Geology Laboratory. (1)



    EPS 110. Topics in the Earth Sciences. (1-3 to a maximum of 3 Δ)



    EPS 115. Geological Disasters. (3)



    EPS 201L. Earth History. (4)



    EPS 203. Energy and the Environment. (3)



    EPS 225. Oceanography. (3)



    EPS 250. Geology of New Mexico. (3)



    EPS 251. Meteorology. (3)



    EPS 252. Volcanoes!. (3)



    EPS **300. Topics in Geology. (1-4, may be repeated once Δ)



    EPS **301. Mineralogy/Earth and Planetary Materials. (3)



    EPS **302L. Mineralogy Laboratory. (2)



    EPS **303L. Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology. (4)



    EPS **304L. Sedimentology and Stratigraphy. (4)



    EPS **307L. Structural Geology. (4)



    EPS 310L. New Mexico Field Geology. (4)



    EPS **319L. Introductory Field Geology. (4)



    EPS **333. Environmental Geology. (3)



    EPS 352. Global Climate Change. (3)



    EPS **365. Exploring the Solar System. (3)



    EPS *400. Topics in Earth and Planetary Sciences. (1-4, may be repeated once Δ)



    EPS 401 / 501. Colloquium. (1 to a maximum of 3 Δ)



    EPS 405L / 505L. Stable Isotope Geochemistry. (3)



    EPS 407L / 507L. Thermodynamics and Physical Foundations of Geochemistry. (4)



    EPS 410 / 510. Fundamentals of Geochemistry. (3)



    EPS *411L. Invertebrate Paleontology. (4)



    EPS 415 / 515. Geochemistry of Natural Waters. (3)



    EPS 420L / 520L. Topics in Advanced Field Geology [Advanced Field Geology]. (2-4 to a maximum of 8 Δ [4])



    EPS 427 / 527. Geophysics. (3)



    EPS 428 / 528. Applied Mathematics for Earth and Environmental Sciences. (3)



    EPS 433. Statistics and Data Analysis in Earth Science. (3)



    EPS 436 / 536. Climate Dynamics. (3)



    EPS *439. Paleoclimatology. (3)



    EPS 443 / 543. Aquifers and Reservoirs. (3)



    EPS 445 / 545. Topics in Sedimentology and Stratigraphy. (1-4, may be repeated 5 times Δ)



    EPS 450L / 550L. Volcanology. (4)



    EPS 455L / 555L. Computational and GIS Applications in Geomorphology. (3)



    EPS 457L / 557L. Mathematical Modeling in the Geosciences. (3)



    EPS 462 / 562. Hydrogeology. (3)



    EPS 465 / 565. Mars Evolution. (3)



    EPS 476 / 576. Physical Hydrology. (3)



    EPS 481L / 581L. Geomorphology and Surficial Geology. (4)



    EPS 482L / 582L. Geoarchaeology. (3)



    EPS 485L / 585L. Soil Stratigraphy and Morphology. (3)



    EPS *490. Geologic Presentation. (1)



    EPS 491-492. Problems. (1-3, 1-3)



    EPS 493. Independent Study. (3)



    EPS 495. Senior Thesis. (3)



    EPS 501 / 401. Colloquium. (1 to a maximum of 3 Δ)



    EPS 505L / 405L. Stable Isotope Geochemistry. (3)



    EPS 507L / 407L. Thermodynamics and Physical Foundations of Geochemistry. (4)



    EPS 510 / 410. Fundamentals of Geochemistry. (3)



    EPS 513. Planetary Materials and the Evolution of the Solar System. (3)



    EPS 515 / 415. Geochemistry of Natural Waters. (3)



    EPS 516. Selected Topics in Geomorphology. (3, may be repeated 5 times Δ)



    EPS 518L. Electron Microprobe Analysis. (3)



    EPS 520L / 420L. Topics in Advanced Field Geology [Advanced Field Geology]. (2-4 to a maximum of 8 Δ [4])



    EPS 522. Selected Topics in Geophysics. (3, may be repeated 5 times Δ)



    EPS 523. Topics in Tectonics. (3, may be repeated 5 times Δ)



    EPS 526L. Advanced Structural Geology. (4)



    EPS 527 / 427. Geophysics. (3)



    EPS 528 / 428. Applied Mathematics for Earth and Environmental Sciences. (3)



    EPS 534. Radiogenic Isotope Geochemistry. (3)



    EPS 535. Freshwater Ecosystems. (3)



    EPS 536 / 436. Climate Dynamics. (3)



    EPS 538L. Analytical Electron Microscopy. (3)



    EPS 543 / 443. Aquifers and Reservoirs. (3)



    EPS 545 / 445. Topics in Sedimentology and Stratigraphy. (1-4, may be repeated 5 times Δ)



    EPS 547-548. Seminar. (2-3, 2-3, may be repeated 5 times Δ)



    EPS 550L / 450L. Volcanology. (4)



    EPS 551-552. Problems. (1-3, 1-3)



    EPS 555L / 455L. Computational and GIS Applications in Geomorphology. (3)



    EPS 557L / 457L. Mathematical Modeling in the Geosciences. (3)



    EPS 558. Geomicrobiology. (3)



    EPS 562 / 462. Hydrogeology. (3)



    EPS 565 / 465. Mars Evolution. (3)



    EPS 576 / 476. Physical Hydrology. (3)



    EPS 581L / 481L. Geomorphology and Surficial Geology. (4)



    EPS 582L / 482L. Geoarchaeology. (3)



    EPS 585L / 485L. Soil Stratigraphy and Morphology. (3)



    EPS 587. Advanced Mineralogy. (3)



    EPS 599. Master's Thesis. (1-6, no limit Δ)



    EPS 699. Dissertation. (3-12, no limit Δ)



    NTSC 261L. Physical Science. (4)



    NTSC 262L. Life Science. (4)



    NTSC 263L. Environmental Science. (4)



    NTSC *400. Science Topics for Educators. (1-4, may be repeated twice Δ)



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    Office of the Registrar

    MSC11 6325
    1 University of New Mexico
    Albuquerque, NM 87131

    Phone: (505) 277-8900
    Fax: (505) 277-6809