Degree Requirements
Minimum Credit Requirement: 128 credits
Minimum Residency Requirement: 32 credits must be taken at UNH
Minimum GPA: 2.0 required for conferral*
Core Curriculum Required: Discovery & Writing Program Requirements
Foreign Language Requirement: No
All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.
Major Requirements
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| MATH 425 | Calculus I 1 | 4 |
| MATH 426 | Calculus II | 4 |
| CHEM 403 | General Chemistry I 1,2 | 4 |
| CHEM 404 | General Chemistry II 1,2 | 4 |
| PHYS 407 | General Physics I 1 | 4 |
| PHYS 408 | General Physics II 1 | 4 |
| ESCI 401 | Dynamic Earth | 4 |
| or ESCI 409 | Geology and the Environment |
| ESCI 402 | Earth History | 4 |
| ESCI 501 | Introduction to Oceanography | 4 |
| ESCI 512 | Principles of Mineralogy | 4 |
| ESCI 530 | Geological Field Methods 3 | 4 |
| or ESCI 534 | Techniques in Environmental Sciences |
| 4 |
ESCI 654 | Fate and Transport in the Environment | |
ESCI 701 | Quantitative Methods in Earth Sciences 4 | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| 5 | |
| |
| Total Credits | 48 |
Specialization Requirements
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| ESCI 514 | Introduction to Climate | 3 |
| ESCI 561 | Landscape Evolution | 4 |
| 6-7 |
ESCI 758 | Introductory Physical Oceanography | |
ESCI 760 | Paleoceanography | |
ESCI 762 | Glacial Geology | |
ESCI 765 | Paleoclimatology | |
| 9-12 |
| Total Credits | 22-26 |
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| ESCI 561 | Landscape Evolution | 4 |
| ESCI 614 | Introduction to Petrology | 4 |
| ESCI 631 | Structural Geology | 4 |
| BIOL 412 | Introductory Biology: Evolution, Biodiversity and Ecology | 4 |
| 6-8 |
| Total Credits | 22-24 |
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| MATH 527 | Differential Equations with Linear Algebra | 4 |
| MATH 528 | Multidimensional Calculus | 4 |
| ESCI 561 | Landscape Evolution | 4 |
| or ESCI 614 | Introduction to Petrology |
| ESCI 631 | Structural Geology | 4 |
| 8 |
ESCI 734 | Geophysics | |
ESCI 756 | Geotectonics | |
ESCI 759 | Geological Oceanography | |
| 3-4 |
| Total Credits | 27-28 |
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| BIOL 411 | Introductory Biology: Molecular and Cellular | 4 |
| ESCI 514 | Introduction to Climate | 3 |
| 10-11 |
ESCI 752 | Chemical Oceanography | |
ESCI 758 | Introductory Physical Oceanography | |
ESCI 759 | Geological Oceanography | |
MEFB 755 | Biological Oceanography | |
| 9-12 |
| Total Credits | 26-30 |
Capstone Experience
A capstone experience is required of all undergraduate Earth sciences majors during their senior year. All capstone experiences at UNH must meet one or more of the following criteria:
- The capstone synthesizes and applies disciplinary knowledge and skills.
- The capstone fosters reflection on undergraduate learning and experience.
- The capstone demonstrates emerging professional competencies.
- The capstone applies, analyzes, and/or interprets research or data or artistic expression.
- The capstone explores areas of interest based on the integration of prior learning.
Suggested ways of meeting the capstone requirement in the Department of Earth Sciences include approved INCO 790 Advanced Research Experience, ESCI 795 Topics/ESCI 796 Topics, ESCI 799 Senior Thesis, URA/SURF/IROP projects, internships, environmental/geologic field camps, REU programs, or Earth Sciences education and outreach activities designed according to the above criteria. Capstone experiences must be equivalent to a minimum of 2 academic credits. Students should work closely with their faculty advisors to define the most appropriate capstone experience for their Earth Sciences degree program, although the capstone mentor can be someone other than their primary faculty advisor. All capstone experiences must be approved and certified by the faculty advisor and the capstone mentor. Presentation of projects or experiences developed for the capstone is encouraged at the annual UNH Undergraduate Research Conference or other appropriate venue.
