Become an Earth Sciences Major!
Our major is flexible and can be tailored to your interest in Geology, Oceanography, Environmental Science, Geophysics, Geobiology, Data Science, and more!
Earth Sciences
Earth Scientists focus on today’s pressing challenges to society: earthquake risk, sustainability, water resources, ocean health, natural resources and societal impact of changing climate/atmospheric chemistry. We also tackle the foremost problems in the earth sciences: the temporal and spatial evolution of life, habitability, the origin and movement of Earth’s crust, deep earth structure and the study of complex chemical cycles.
Earth Sciences in the field
@drjoshwest
Fantastic start to our @USC_earth @USCDornsife #Alaska field class at the Army Corps Permafrost Research Tunnel, exploring frozen ground, ancient grasses, ice wedges, and mammoth bones… oh and the pungent smell of permafrost! Huge thanks to @USACEHQ CRREL for hosting us!
@drjoshwest
Incredible #aufeis on the North Slope of Alaska near @Toolik with @USC_earth field class. These seasonal accumulations of layered ice form in the Arctic where ground water discharges and successfully freezes, building up then eroding from underneath during Spring thaw. Amazing!
Exciting 2 days w/ @USC_earth field class on fabled Dalton Hwy. Trucks servicing Alaska’s oil fields make 414-mile gravel road an adventure but also amazing opportunity to reach remote tundra off the North Slope. Pipeline, Arctic Circle, & caribou herds just some highlights.
Exciting 2 days w/@USC_earth field class on fabled Dalton Hwy. Trucks servicing Alaska’s oil fields make 414-mile gravel road an adventure but also amazing opportunity to reach remote tundra of the North Slope. Pipeline, Arctic Circle, & caribou herds just some highlights.
Amazing ancient ice wedge features come to life in the USACE permafrost tunnel. White ice filled in voids where older brown ice melted. Ice wedges warped surrounding layers as they formed and expanded. Amazing opportunity to be able to take our @USC_earth class there.
Had fantastic opportunity to spend 5 days
@Toolik Field Station in #Arctic of northern Alaska with @USC_earth class. Thanks to everyone at this amazing facility for allowing us to explore tundra & learn water chemistry in this rapidly changing environment. It’ll be hard to leave!
Global Impact
Contact Us
Main Office
Department of Earth Sciences
Zumberge Hall of Science (ZHS)
3651 Trousdale Pkwy
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0740