The Geophysics and Climate Physics concentration involves applying physics and mathematics to study processes that operate on and within the Earth and other planets, over short and long timescales. Geophysical approaches are fundamental for understanding how the oceans, atmosphere and ice sheets respond to climate change, managing resources such as water and geothermal energy, mitigating natural hazards such as earthquakes and volcanoes, and understanding the dynamic processes that shape the surfaces and control the interiors of Earth and other planetary bodies. Geophysics spans both theoretical modeling of physical processes and the analysis of geophysical data (including remote sensing and machine learning), and typically involves computing, as well as lab experiments and field work.
Both A.B. and Sc.B. degrees are offered, requiring 12 and 19 courses, respectively. These degrees build skills in critical thinking, data analysis and modeling, finding solutions to complex problems, and written and oral communication. DEEPS provides a highly collaborative learning environment that emphasizes process-oriented, hands-on approaches in the classroom, in labs and on field trips. There are many opportunities for students to do paid research during the summer or academic year.
Students interested in this concentration may also wish to consider related concentrations: Earth, Climate and Biology, Geochemistry and Environmental Chemistry, and Earth and Planetary Science.
Standard program for the A.B. degree
This program is recommended for students interested in applying physical and mathematical principles toward understanding and modeling processes affecting Earth, its environment and climate, and other planets. Its requirements are well-suited to students seeking to combine these fields with other educational interests, while preparing them for diverse careers including environmental science, global change, and Earth and planetary science. Some course requirements may be flexible based on consultation with the concentration advisor.
Note - For students still enrolled with the prior Concentration in Geology-Physics/Mathematics A.B., please refer to the Archived Bulletin link on left hand navigation for your requirements for the year you declared.
| Five supporting science courses: | ||
| CHEM 0330 | Equilibrium, Rate, and Structure (or equivalent) | 1 |
| A course involving mechanics such as: | 1 | |
| Foundations of Mechanics | ||
| Analytical Mechanics | ||
| Engineering Statics and Dynamics (or the equivalent) | ||
| Three courses in APMA or MATH, one of which must be APMA 0350 or equivalent | 3 | |
| Seven concentration courses: | ||
| Two of these four fundamentals courses: | 2 | |
| Understanding Earth and Environmental Processes | ||
| Geochemistry: Earth and Planetary Materials and Processes | ||
| Earth: Evolution of a Habitable Planet | ||
| Computational Approaches to Modelling and Quantitative Analysis in Natural Sciences: An Introduction | ||
or EEPS 0350 | Mathematical Methods of Fluid | |
| One of these courses: | 1 | |
| Principles of Planetary Climate | ||
| Solid Earth Geophysics | ||
| Two of the following courses, can combine different focii: | 2 | |
| Climate focus: | ||
| Global Water Cycle | ||
| Dynamic Meteorology | ||
| Ocean Circulation and Climate | ||
| Solid Earth and planets focus: | ||
| Mineralogy | ||
| Structural Geology | ||
| Continuum Physics of the Solid Earth | ||
| Data science focus: | ||
| Machine Learning for the Earth and Environment | ||
| Introduction to Methods in Data Analysis | ||
| Tackling Climate Change with Machine Learning | ||
| One additional EEPS course such as: | 1 | |
| Climate focus: | ||
| Ocean Biogeochemical Cycles | ||
| Introduction to Quantitative Glaciology | ||
| Geophysical Fluid Dynamics: Rotating, Stratified Turbulence Edition | ||
| Solid Earth and planets focus: | ||
| Global Tectonics | ||
| Earthquake Seismology | ||
| Physics of Planetary Evolution | ||
| Data science focus: | ||
| Global Environmental Remote Sensing | ||
| Other alternatives: | ||
| Individual Study of Geologic Problems | ||
a field or sea course or any EEPS course listed in the concentration | ||
| One course in physics or engineering such as: | 1 | |
| Foundations of Electromagnetism and Modern Physics | ||
| Electricity and Magnetism | ||
| Advanced Classical Mechanics | ||
| Computational Physics | ||
| Mechanics of Solids and Structures | ||
| Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering | ||
| Electricity and Magnetism | ||
| Fluid Mechanics | ||
| Advanced Engineering Mechanics | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Standard program for the Sc.B. degree
This program is recommended for students interested in more in-depth study in climate science, geophysics, planetary science and related fields, potentially including graduate school and careers in these areas. Students will gain hands-on experience with theoretical and numerical modeling of processes, data analysis, and computing. Some course requirements may be flexible based on consultation with the concentration advisor.
Note - For students still enrolled with the prior Concentration in Geology-Physics/Mathematics Sc.B., please refer to the Archived Bulletin link on left hand navigation for your requirements for the year you declared.
| Five supporting science courses: | ||
| CHEM 0330 | Equilibrium, Rate, and Structure | 1 |
| A course involving mechanics such as: | 1 | |
| Foundations of Mechanics | ||
| Analytical Mechanics | ||
| Engineering Statics and Dynamics (or the equivalent) | ||
| Three courses in APMA or MATH, one of which must be APMA 0350 or equivalent | 3 | |
| Fourteen Concentration Courses: | ||
| EEPS 0220 | Understanding Earth and Environmental Processes | 1 |
| EEPS 0230 | Geochemistry: Earth and Planetary Materials and Processes | 1 |
| or EEPS 0240 | Earth: Evolution of a Habitable Planet | |
| EEPS 0250 | Computational Approaches to Modelling and Quantitative Analysis in Natural Sciences: An Introduction | 1 |
| or EEPS 0350 | Mathematical Methods of Fluid | |
| EEPS 1430 | Principles of Planetary Climate | 1 |
| EEPS 1610 | Solid Earth Geophysics | 1 |
| Three of the following courses, can combine different focii: | 3 | |
| Climate focus: | ||
| Global Water Cycle | ||
| Dynamic Meteorology | ||
| Ocean Circulation and Climate | ||
| Solid Earth and planets focus: | ||
| Mineralogy | ||
| Structural Geology | ||
| Continuum Physics of the Solid Earth | ||
| Data science focus: | ||
| Machine Learning for the Earth and Environment | ||
| Introduction to Methods in Data Analysis | ||
| Tackling Climate Change with Machine Learning | ||
| One additional EEPS course such as: | 1 | |
| Climate focus: | ||
| Ocean Biogeochemical Cycles | ||
| Introduction to Quantitative Glaciology | ||
| Geophysical Fluid Dynamics: Rotating, Stratified Turbulence Edition | ||
Solid Earth and planets focus: | ||
| Global Tectonics | ||
| Earthquake Seismology | ||
| Physics of Planetary Evolution | ||
| Data science focus: | ||
| Global Environmental Remote Sensing | ||
| Other alternatives: | ||
| a field or sea course | ||
| or any EEPS course listed in the concentration | ||
| Three courses in physics or engineering such as: | 3 | |
| Foundations of Electromagnetism and Modern Physics | ||
| Electricity and Magnetism | ||
| Advanced Classical Mechanics | ||
| Computational Physics | ||
| Mechanics of Solids and Structures | ||
| Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering | ||
| Electricity and Magnetism | ||
| Fluid Mechanics | ||
| Advanced Engineering Mechanics | ||
| One additional upper-level science or math course with approval from the concentration advisor | 1 | |
| EEPS 1970 | Individual Study of Geologic Problems | 1 |
| Total Credits | 19 | |