Overview

The Earth and Planetary Sciences program of Northwestern University offer courses in the degree program focus on physical, chemical, and biological processes affecting the Earth system spanning vast spatial and temporal scales, from the atomic to the interplanetary and from the origin of the solar system to the modern day.

The Earth major prepares students for a range of future career trajectories including: graduate study, environmental consulting, energy exploration and production, natural resources management, law, and medicine. It is ideal for the undergraduate who is interested in the big picture of science and the world around them.

Earth majors are involved in the full spectrum of departmental activities beyond coursework, including research, seminars, field trips, and social functions. Many do research projects with faculty and graduate students that lead to honors theses and scientific publications.

Career paths

The majority of industry jobs are found in the energy or mineral resources sectors, with environmental consulting following closely. Many earth scientists are employed in government labs such as Argonne, Lawrence Berkeley, Oak Ridge, or Los Alamos or in academic institutions as faculty or science support staff. Because the scope of earth science research has expanded significantly in recent decades to include ocean science, atmospheric science, polar and high elevation science, and space science (in addition to the more traditional paths in geological science), there are myriad opportunities. Many undergraduates at Northwestern have pursued dual or multiple majors (EPS plus Physics, Chemistry or Biology, Environmental Science, Environmental Policy and Culture, various engineering disciplines, and others) and these approaches are well suited to the interdisciplinary nature of earth science. A subset of students trained in earth science as undergraduates also go on to careers in law, medicine, or politics.