Undergraduate Program

1. Introduction

The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPSc) concentrates on the geological aspects of Earth and other planets. Always closely allied to practical concerns, the field is rapidly expanding and becoming more quantitative. Offerings range from general courses surveying the concepts, methods, and results of Earth and planetary sciences, suitable for any nonmajor, through a program of fundamental, modern, quantitative studies that will prepare students for the full range of opportunities in the geosciences in the 21st century.

The department's courses focus on the application of quantitative methods of chemistry, biology, and physics to Earth sciences, and on the nature of Earth's resources together with the resulting constraints on human activity. The study of resources and their management, environmental processes, and the social, historical, and philosophical contexts of natural science will interest the general student, as well as students in related disciplines such as biology, chemistry, economics, engineering, and physics.

There are three program options for students who want to study the Earth and planetary sciences at deeper than a generalist's level: a major in EPSc, a minor in EPSc, and a major in Environmental Studies on the Natural Science track.

2. Requirements for A.B. Degree in Earth and Planetary Sciences

2.1 Departmental Requirements for the EPSc Major

The curriculum offers a wide spectrum of courses, and the EPSc Department major has sufficient flexibility to accommodate a sequence of courses to meet diverse needs and interests. Many courses present hands-on, problem-oriented experiences, including ample opportunity for field work, laboratory work, and the use of state-of-the-art computational facilities and research instrumentation. Written and oral presentations are emphasized in the junior and senior years.

All students in the major are given the opportunity, although not required, to participate in faculty research programs either for pay or for academic credit. Many of our students do take advantage of the varied research opportunities, giving them valuable experience for future employment or for graduate school. Each year, several scientific papers and scientific abstracts are co-authored by undergraduates, and undergraduates have presented papers at national science meetings.

The Major: A well-defined, 3-course core (EPSc 201, 352, 353) gives each student an overview of the major subfields in the Earth sciences, while also preparing her/him for more in-depth study in one of three tracks in the department: Geology, Geochemistry, and Geophysics & Remote Sensing. At least five courses must be selected from those listed in Table 1, with at least one in each track. Students are also required to take either EPSc 498 - Undergraduate Research Seminar, or EPSc 404 - Ideas and Controversies in the Geosciences, (each is a writing-intensive course), and to complete an approved summer field camp worth at least six units of credit. The field camp must be attended after either the junior or the senior year. Individual students may propose to the faculty an alternative program of studies as a substitute for field camp. The following prerequisites for the above courses are also required: Chem 111A, 112A, Math 131, 132, 233, Phys 117A, 118A. Physics 197, 198 are acceptable alternatives to Physics 117A, 118A. (See Table 1 for an overview of requirements.)

Students attracted to the environmental professions might choose among EPSc 323, 407, 409, 413, 428, 430, 444, 452, 454, and 480.

Students interested in planetary sciences are advised that a strong background in earth sciences is essential for understanding planets. Courses centered on planetary sciences should be selected from the list of electives. Electives specifically focusing on planetary science and its methods include EPSc 401, 407, 408, 410, 453, 473, and 474.

All EPSc graduate courses are open to advanced undergraduates with permission of the undergraduate advisor and the specific course instructor.

The Department has set the following policy concerning the minimum acceptable grade performance. A grade of "C-" ("C" for summer field camp) is the minimum acceptable performance for each unit of credit for each required course, including those in mathematics, chemistry, and physics. Courses with grades of "D" may fulfill the College's 120 total hours requirement, but they do not meet the Departmental requirements. A grade of "C-" is also the minimum acceptable performance for each unit of credit for any course required as a prerequisite to enrolling in advanced or sequential courses. Courses taken at the University College (evening school) normally may not be substituted for the courses required for an EPSc major. Written consent from the Chairman of the Department is required for any such substitutions to apply, and should be sought before the course is taken.

2.2 College Requirements

See current College of Arts and Sciences Bulletin. Coursework to be completed at another college or university and applied to meeting requirements for the EPSc Major must have prior approval of the Department.

3. Earth and Planetary Sciences Minor Program

3.1 Introduction

Because the Earth and planetary sciences have natural links with many other disciplines, an EPSc Minor is an attractive option for students majoring in a variety of other fields, such as biology, chemistry, economics, engineering, mathematics, and physics. The growing national concern for the natural environment and natural resources means that an EPSc Minor is also valuable professionally to students who intend to pursue these and other fields including law and architecture. Furthermore, students in other disciplines who are also interested in the planetary sciences may find an EPSc minor of interest. The diversity of the Earth and planetary sciences facilitates the selection of a set of courses with an emphasis tailored to the student's particular interests.

3.2 Departmental Requirements

A minor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences consists of at least 16 units of EPSc courses, including EPSc 201, 352, and 353, At least one additional EPSc course numbered 300 or above, not including EPSc 390, Independent Study, is required.

A faculty advisor will be assigned to each student at the time that the minor is declared. Minor programs must be approved by the student's minor advisor. The grades and performance policy described in Section 2.1 applies to all coursework required for the minor program. The Department requirements also meet those for a minor as defined by the College of Arts and Sciences.

3.3 Intent to Graduate Form

All candidates for a degree must file an Intent to Graduate Form by the College-specified date to be considered for degree conferral. The form is available online at WebSTAC. It can also be downloaded from Information & Forms. Paper copies are available from the Office of Student Records or from the Dean's Office. The deadline for filing the form is printed each semester on the university calendar in the Course Listings or may be obtained by contacting the Dean's office or the Office of Student Records.

Once the student files the form, the student's academic division is notified to consider him or her as a candidate for degree. They will evaluate the student's record to determine if the student has met degree requirements and notify the department of the names of all final degree recipients. The Office of Student Records then posts degrees conferred with dates to records.

If the student fails to complete degree requirements during the semester for which the form is filed, the student must re-file the form for a subsequent degree period.

4. Geobiology Second Major

The EPSc Department offers a special program in Geobiology for EPSc Majors. Geobiology is a new interdisciplinary field melding the earth sciences with Microbiology, Evolution, Molecular Biology, Population Genetics, Anthropology, and Paleontology, and thus is an excellent fit to the wide-ranging strengths of our campus. The Geobiology Second Major is designed for students whose prime focus is in the Earth Sciences but who also have interests in the biological sciences. The EPSc department's development of this program reflects its support of undergraduate students that have a wider range of career interests. The Second Major differs from a minor, in that the classes are targeted to the students' specific areas of interest, giving the student the flexibility of taking upper-division courses in a variety of departments. (Note that some classes have prerequisites that may not count toward the Geobiology Second Major, and classes that count toward the EPSc degree cannot also count toward the Geobiology Second Major.)

In order to qualify for the Second Major, students must complete all courses necessary for the EPSc major plus 6 courses, including at least 18 credits of upper-division coursework, in an approved area of study. Example areas of study can be found below and include such areas as Geoarchaeology, Geomicrobiology, and Paleobiology. Students may choose one of these example areas of study, or they can create their own (e.g., Astrobiology) depending on their interests and career goals. The Geobiology Second Major is intended to be a highly flexible program, offering 41 electives from which to fashion the required coursework. A total of 6 courses (in addition to those taken for the EPSc degree) are required to obtain the Second Major. Note that these courses cannot "double count" for the EPSc degree. Three credits of advanced independent study (EPSc 490) may be counted towards the Second Major if the research topic is approved by the Geobiology Faculty Committee.

Students interested in the Second Major program should first consult with EPSc professor Jennifer Smith. The Geobiology faculty committee (including EPSc faculty members Jan Amend, Jill Pasteris, Jennifer Smith, and William H. Smith) will then meet and approve the courses chosen by the student to fulfill the requirement for the Second Major. Students can work with the Geobiology faculty to design their own area of study, if different from the examples provided below. Students must receive approval from the committee before enrolling in courses meant for Geobiology Second Major credit. Once the courses have been completed, the committee will review the students' progress and, if satisfactory, will award the Second Major (the minimum acceptable grade in each course is a C-). Receipt of the Second Major will be recorded on the students' transcript.

4.1 Example Area of Study #1 - Geomicrobiology

Take the following three courses (recommended):

Chem 251 - Organic Chemistry I (may count as upper level for the purposes of the Second Major)
EPSc 323 - Biogeochemistry
EPSc 448 - Microbial geochemistry
EPSc 449 - Microbes and the Environment (was EPSc 330 Geomicrobiology)

Choose three from the following list of electives:

        1 of (Biol 346A - The Darwinian Revolution or Biol 347 - Darwin and Evolutionary Controversies)
                (students may not count both towards the Second Major)        
        *Biol 3491 - Microbiology Lab
        Biol 4342 - Research Explorations in Genomics
        Biol 446 - Biology of Fungi
        1 of (Biol 451 - General Biochemistry or Biol 4501 - Biochemistry or Chem 453 - Bioorganic Chemistry)
                (Students may only count 1 towards the Second Major)
        EPSc 480 - Special Topics in Microbiology, Chemistry, and Earth Science
        EPSc 499 - Honors Research

* if this course (2 credits) is taken, student must also take either Biol 4342 or Biol 451 (4 credits)

4.2 Example Area of Study #2 - Geoarchaeology

Take the following two courses (recommended)
    1 of (Arc 379 - Feast & Famine: Archaeology & Climate Change or Arc 479 Climate, Culture,
        and Human History)
    Arc 372 - Geoarchaeology

Choose two courses from each column (electives):

5. Environmental Studies Program

Environmental issues have achieved a prominent position on the agenda of many political systems in many societies. Today, these issues and their economic consequences are shaped by political leaders, interest groups, public opinion, and international concerns that pervade both the industrial and the developing worlds.

The Environmental Studies Program offers students an opportunity to undertake a major or minor in environmental sciences or in societal issues associated with the environment. The Program is interdisciplinary; it takes advantage of faculty expertise in anthropology, biology, economics, Earth and planetary sciences, political science, environmental regulation, and engineering.

There are several possible areas of concentration in environmental studies. Some areas emphasize the social sciences, while others focus on the natural sciences. The Environmental Studies Program offers both a major and a minor degree program.

For detailed information about Environmental Studies, please contact the Environmental Studies Program at barb@levee.wustl.edu or (314) 935-7047, or visit the Program's website at http://epsc.wustl.edu/enst/.

6. Policy for Senior Honors and Research Distinction

6.1 Senior Honors Program

The Department's policy on recommending Senior Honors with the A.B. degree is set forth below. The student should be aware, of course, that conferral of Honors requires the recommendation not only of the major department but also of the Committee on Honors of the College of Arts and Sciences.

The Department's recommendation for Honors is based on three aspects of student performance: grade point average (GPA), courses completed, and submission of a Senior Honors Thesis subsequent to enrollment in EPSc 499, Honors Research. The GPA will be computed on the basis of all EPSc, mathematics, and other natural science courses taken (weighted according to credit hours) according to the following scale:

The Department's guidelines for levels of Senior Honors are as follows:

I. A.B. cum laude (i) a minimum GPA of 3.5, (ii) a Senior Honors Thesis, (iii) at least those EPSc courses required for an EPSc major.

II. A.B. magna cum laude (i) a minimum GPA of 3.65, (ii) a Senior Honors Thesis of quality appropriate for magna cum laude status, (iii) at least those EPSc courses required for a major and at least six units of approved (by the student's advisor) upper level mathematics, physics, chemistry, engineering, or biology courses. The additional coursework may also be upper level EPSc courses taken in addition to the five EPSc courses required for the EPSc major.

III. A.B. summa cum laude (i) a minimum GPA of 3.8, (ii) a satisfactory Senior Honors Thesis of quality appropriate for summa cum laude status, (iii) additional courses as described in II (iii) above.

The Senior Honors Thesis will be read by a committee of at least three faculty members and its merit evaluated in accord with the level of Honors considered.

In the spring of their junior year, the student should select a faculty member to guide the generation of this thesis. The student should then enroll in EPSc 499, Honors Research, with that faculty member, for the fall of their senior year. In the beginning of the fall semester, the student and faculty advisor should meet and choose the two additional readers for the student's thesis (the thesis committee) and establish a set of goals for the fall semester's work. At this time, the student should fill out the Senior Honors Topic Form (available on the department website Information & Forms). The faculty advisor will issue a grade in EPSc 499, at the end of the fall semester based on the student's progress towards those goals.

The student may also (but is not required to) enroll in EPSc 499 in the spring semester of their senior year. A draft of the thesis should be given to the faculty advisor in mid-February, and a version of the thesis incorporating the advisor's comments provided to the thesis committee by the Friday before Spring Break. At this time, the student should also submit a copy of the Senior Honors Thesis Examination Form (see Information & Forms) to their faculty advisor. A final copy containing revisions required by the committee is due by the end of finals period.

An oral report of the Senior Honors research is expected to be presented to the Department, usually late in the senior's last semester. The thesis document must be prepared following the formatting guidelines in the Senior Honors Thesis Guide (see Information & Forms). All Senior Honors candidates will be required to submit a copy of their completed thesis on acid-free paper for archiving in the EPSc Library by the last day of finals in the semester in which they graduate. They should also submit a PDF copy of their document to Hugh Chou (hugh@levee.wustl.edu) for online archival.

6.2 Research Distinction Recognition

For students who do not qualify for, or do not choose to enroll in, the Senior Honors Program, special recognition for excellence in research can be awarded. The student should notify the Chair of the Undergraduate Program Committee of interest in the Research Distinction award. The Chair will assemble a faculty research review committee, to be convened as necessary. The Committee will review the student's research work. Excellence in research, as evaluated by the review committee, will result in the award of Research Distinction, which will be added as a Milestone to the student's academic record. Milestones are included as part of student academic transcripts. No minimum GPA is required for award of Research Dissertation.

7. Combined A.B.-A.M. Degree

7.1 Introduction

The combined A.B.-A.M. degree program leads to a Master's degree at the end of the student's matriculation. This option is particularly attractive to undergraduates interested in obtaining a Master's degree before seeking employment.

7.2 College Requirements

Any student who has completed 9 or more units of advanced (300 level or above) coursework in any participating department may, with the approval of that department and the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, file a "statement of intent to engage in the combined A.B.-A.M. program". The purpose of such a statement of intent will only be to facilitate the advising process; it will not be binding on any party.

The minimum requirements for the combined degree will be:

1. At least 135 units of College and/or Graduate School coursework, including all the academic and residency requirements for an A.B. degree.

2. At least 30 units of graduate (400 and 500) level coursework in the major field, beyond the minimum required for the A.B. degree by that department. No more than 9 of these units should be independent study, thesis and/or research credits. All courses offered towards the graduate degree must be passed with a grade of B or better.

3. Completion of a thesis and/or special examination such that the Department can certify the student's achievement of the level of competence normally expected of candidates for the A.M. degree.

Upon certification by the major department that a student is enrolled for a final semester of study which, if successfully completed, will fulfill both sets of degree requirements, the student will be admitted to the graduate school and be permitted to file diploma orders for both degrees. As in all cases, actual award of each degree will be contingent on successful completion of all requirements for that degree.

7.3 Departmental Requirements

The Breadth requirement defined in Section 3.2 of the Graduate Program must be completed. The requirement must be passed by the end of the fifth year of studies. Selection of a Major Advisor must be done by the middle of the fifth year. Statements defined in Section 8.2.1.2 of the Graduate Program concerning research and the thesis also apply to the combined A.B.-A.M. degree. Finally, it is expected that an A.B.-A.M. candidate will complete the degree at the latest no more than 12 semesters after enrollment as a freshman.

7.4 Procedures

Statement of Intent

A "statement of intent to engage in the combined A.B.-A.M. degree" may, with the approval of the Department and of the Dean, be filed with the College of Arts and Sciences by any student who has completed 9 or more units of advanced (300 or above) coursework in the Department. This statement will not be binding on any party. The Department recommends that at least 4 semesters of the required chemistry, mathematics, and physics courses, as well as EPSc 352 and EPSc 353 be completed before approval is sought. Approval should be sought through the student's major advisor. Approval by the Department will indicate that satisfactory progress is being made towards fulfilling the combined degree requirements, and this approval will be reviewed each semester.

Graduate Record Exams

The Department requires that general GRE's be taken by all prospective graduate students.

Admission to Graduate School

After enrolling for an eighth semester of study, all students with a current Statement of Intent and GRE results on file will be reviewed for possible recommendation by the Department for admission to graduate school. Criteria will include, but are not limited to, high performance in EPSc and other science courses, potential for independent thought, and commitment to professionalism.

Graduate Financial Aid

Students desiring financial aid should apply to the Department by the end of the first week of the semester preceding expected admission to graduate school. Assistantships, fellowships, etc. are awarded on a competitive basis to all students admitted to the Department's graduate program.