Geosciences Major

Curious about the natural world? Learn the principles of chemistry, physics, biology, and statistics, and apply them to Earth and environmental problems, in the laboratory, in the field and with computer modeling.

Starting in Fall 2025, the Geosciences Department offers a new curriculum and plan of study. This page describes this new plan of study, for students in the Classes of 2028 and beyond. The Class of 2027 is encouraged to follow the new curriculum, but will be allowed to follow the old curriculum if they choose to do so.

Geosciences Major Plan of Study

GEO follows the recommendations of departments that accept standardized test scores and Princeton placement test scores for exemption from introductory courses in PHY and CHM.

The major in geosciences requires: three prerequisites to declare, five core science requirements, two core GEO requirements (one counts as the Fall Junior Independent work), and five GEO electives.

Prerequisites and Core Science Requirements
(P/D/F not allowed)

Prerequisite courses to declare major (3 courses):

  • Geosciences (1 course): 
    GEO 202 or GEO 203
  • Mathematics (1 course): 
    MAT 104 or MAT 175
  • Core science requirement (1 course from list below)

Core Science Requirements (1 completed as a prerequisite; remaining 5 must be completed by end of junior year):

  • Chemistry (1 course):
    CHM 201 (or equivalent)
  • Physics (1 course):
    PHY 103 (or equivalent)
  • Statistics (1 course):
    GEO323/CEE323 or SML 201 or ORF 245
  • Biology (1 course): 
    EEB211 or MOL214
  • Elective core science courses (any 2 courses out of the following): 
    COS126, MAT201, MAT202, CHM202 (or equivalent), MOL214, EEB211, PHY104 (or equivalent), MAE305.

GEO Course Requirements and Independent Work

Students must receive a C- or better for departmental credit on courses.

  • Two core Geosciences: GEO362 and GEO390 are required. GEO390 is mandatory for juniors and counts as Fall Junior Independent work.
  • Five elective upper-level GEO (300+) or cross listed GEO courses. 
    Students need DUS approval for any courses not primarily listed in GEO.
  • Independent work: Juniors must complete GEO390, listed above, to fulfill their Fall JP, and complete a Spring JP. Senior must complete a year-long senior thesis (ST, GEO498 and GEO499). Students that wish to go on study abroad in junior-fall will need to either take GEO390 in sophomore year or identify a methods course abroad approved by the DUS, and submit a research project (following guidelines of GEO390) to fulfill their Fall JP.
  • Electives provide opportunities to explore subjects such as Environmental Chemistry, Ocean and Atmosphere, Climate Science, Biogeochemistry, Geology, Paleontology and Geophysics.

See the GEO or Registrar’s website for a complete list of courses.

Table: overview of proposed plan of study

Prerequisites to declare major 
(3 courses, No P/D/F)

GEO202 or GEO203

MAT104

1 core science requirement 
(from list below)

Core Science Requirements 
(1 as a prerequisite; remaining 5 completed by 
end of junior year, No P/D/F)

CHM201 (or equivalent)

PHY103 (or equivalent)

SML201 or ORF245 or CEE323

EEB211 or MOL214

Choose 2 courses in: COS126, MAT201, MAT202, CHM202 (or equivalent), MOL214, EEB211,
PHY104 (or equivalent), MAE305

GEO requirements

GEO362 (Earth History)

GEO390 (Research Method in Geosciences)
counts as Fall JP

Five elective upper-level GEO (300+) 
or cross listed GEO courses* 
*Students need DUS approval for any courses
not primarily listed in GEO

Independent work: GEO390
counts as Fall JP,
Spring JP and year-long
 senior thesis

Downloads

Available documents for Undergraduate review:

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