Earth and Planetary Science

Courses

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EPS 3 The Water Planet 3 Units [+]Expand course description

Terms offered: Summer 2019 8 Week Session, Spring 2019, Summer 2018 8 Week Session
An overview of the processes that control water supply to natural ecosystems and human civilization. Hydrologic cycle, floods, droughts, groundwater. Patterns of water use, threats to water quality, effects of global climate change on future water supplies. Water issues facing California.
The Water Planet: Read More [+]

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week

Summer: 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture per week

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Earth and Planetary Science/Undergraduate

Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.

The Water Planet: Read Less [-]

EPS 7 Introduction to Climate Change 3 Units [+]Expand course description

Terms offered: Fall 2019, Fall 2018, Fall 2017
This course covers the physical processes that determine Earth's past, present, and future climate, with a particular focus on the essentially irreversible climate change (a.k.a., global warming) caused by the burning of coal, oil, and natural gas. Topics will also
include the estimation of future warming and impacts, the Earth resources that can be used to combat climate change, and the policies being used to shift towards the use of those resources.
Introduction to Climate Change: Read More [+]

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Earth and Planetary Science/Undergraduate

Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.

Instructor: David Romps

Introduction to Climate Change: Read Less [-]

EPS 10 Earth's Greatest Volcanic Eruptions 3 Units [+]Expand course description

Terms offered: Not yet offered
A science-based course on the most significant eruptions Earth has produced. Most eruptions discussed will be from within historic time and will involve information from geology (volcanology), geography, archaeology, history, art, and paleoenvironmental records such as tree-rings and ice-cores. After a two-class introduction to volcanoes, volcanic activity, and volcanology, and the hazards vs benefits of eruptions, each class will feature one of more eruptions of different types from around the world. A science-based interpretation of the eruptions and effects on human-kind and the environment, will be presented. Class participants will learn about one type of natural hazard, its causes, and the variability of volcanism on Earth.
Earth's Greatest Volcanic Eruptions: Read More [+]

Hours & Format

Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture per week

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Earth and Planetary Science/Undergraduate

Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.

Instructors: Self, Manga

Earth's Greatest Volcanic Eruptions: Read Less [-]

EPS C12 The Planets 3 Units [+]Expand course description

Terms offered: Spring 2019, Spring 2018, Spring 2017
A tour of the mysteries and inner workings of our solar system. What are planets made of? Why do they orbit the sun the way they do? How do planets form, and what are they made of? Why do some bizarre moons have oceans, volcanoes, and ice floes? What makes the Earth hospitable for life? Is the Earth a common type of planet or some cosmic quirk? This course will introduce basic physics, chemistry, and math to understand planets, moons, rings, comets, asteroids, atmospheres, and oceans. Understanding other worlds will help us save our own planet and help us understand our place in the universe.
The Planets: Read More [+]

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture and 2.5 hours of discussion per week

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Earth and Planetary Science/Undergraduate

Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.

Also listed as: ASTRON C12/L & S C70T

The Planets: Read Less [-]

EPS W12 The Planets 3 Units [+]Expand course description

Terms offered: Summer 2019 8 Week Session, Summer 2018 8 Week Session, Summer 2017 8 Week Session
A tour of the mysteries and inner workings of our solar system. What are planets made of? Why do they orbit the sun the way they do? How do planets form, and what are they made of? Why do some bizarre moons have oceans, volcanoes, and ice floes? What makes the Earth hospitable for life? Is the Earth a common type of planet or some cosmic quirk? This course will introduce basic physics, chemistry, and math to understand planets, moons, rings, comets, asteroids, atmospheres, and oceans. Understanding other worlds will help us save our own planet and help us understand our place in the universe. This course is web-based.
The Planets: Read More [+]

Hours & Format

Summer: 8 weeks - 6 hours of web-based lecture per week

Online: This is an online course.

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Earth and Planetary Science/Undergraduate

Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.

Instructors: Marcy, Militzer

Also listed as: ASTRON W12

The Planets: Read Less [-]

EPS 20 Earthquakes in Your Backyard 3 Units [+]Expand course description

Terms offered: Summer 2019 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2019 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2018 Second 6 Week Session
Introduction to earthquakes, their causes and effects. General discussion of basic principles and methods of seismology and geological tectonics, distribution of earthquakes in space and time, effects of earthquakes, and earthquake hazard and risk, with particular emphasis on the situation in California.
Earthquakes in Your Backyard: Read More [+]

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of lecture per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 5 hours of lecture per week

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Earth and Planetary Science/Undergraduate

Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.

Formerly known as: Geophysics 20

Earthquakes in Your Backyard: Read Less [-]

EPS C20 Earthquakes in Your Backyard 3 Units [+]Expand course description

Terms offered: Fall 2019, Fall 2018, Fall 2017
Introduction to earthquakes, their causes and effects. General discussion of basic principles and methods of seismology and geological tectonics, distribution of earthquakes in space and time, effects of earthquakes, and earthquake hazard and risk, with particular emphasis on the situation in California.
Earthquakes in Your Backyard: Read More [+]

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Earth and Planetary Science/Undergraduate

Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.

Also listed as: L & S C70Y

Earthquakes in Your Backyard: Read Less [-]

EPS 24 Freshman Seminar in Earth and Planetary Sciences 1 Unit [+]Expand course description

Terms offered: Fall 2019, Spring 2019, Fall 2018
The freshman seminar in earth and planetary science is designed to provide new students with an opportunity to explore a topic in geology or earth sciences with a faculty member in a small seminar setting. Topics will vary from semester to semester but will include such possible topics as great voyages of geologic discovery and the role of atmospheric sciences in geologic study.
Freshman Seminar in Earth and Planetary Sciences: Read More [+]

Rules & Requirements

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1 hour of seminar per week

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Earth and Planetary Science/Undergraduate

Grading/Final exam status: The grading option will be decided by the instructor when the class is offered. Final Exam To be decided by the instructor when the class is offered.

Formerly known as: Geology 24

Freshman Seminar in Earth and Planetary Sciences: Read Less [-]

EPS 39 Freshman/Sophomore Seminar 2 Units [+]Expand course description

Terms offered: Fall 2019, Spring 2019
Freshman and sophomore seminars offer lower division students the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member and a group of peers in a small-seminar setting. These seminars are offered in all campus departments; topics vary from department to department and from semester to semester.
Freshman/Sophomore Seminar: Read More [+]

Rules & Requirements

Prerequisites: Priority given to freshmen and sophomores

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of seminar per week

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Earth and Planetary Science/Undergraduate

Grading/Final exam status: The grading option will be decided by the instructor when the class is offered. Final Exam To be decided by the instructor when the class is offered.

Formerly known as: Geology 39

Freshman/Sophomore Seminar: Read Less [-]

EPS 39A Freshman/Sophomore Seminar 2 - 4 Units [+]Expand course description

Terms offered: Spring 2018, Spring 2017, Spring 2016
Freshman and sophomore seminars offer lower division students the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member and a group of peers in a small-seminar setting. These seminars are offered in all campus departments; topics vary from department to department and from semester to semester.
Freshman/Sophomore Seminar: Read More [+]

Rules & Requirements

Prerequisites: Priority given to freshmen and sophomores

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2-4 hours of seminar per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 5-10 hours of seminar per week

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Earth and Planetary Science/Undergraduate

Grading/Final exam status: The grading option will be decided by the instructor when the class is offered. Final exam required.

Formerly known as: Geology 39

Freshman/Sophomore Seminar: Read Less [-]

EPS 50 The Planet Earth 4 Units [+]Expand course description

Terms offered: Fall 2019, Summer 2019 8 Week Session, Spring 2019
An introduction to the physical and chemical processes that have shaped the earth through time, with emphasis on the theory of plate tectonics. Laboratory work will involve the practical study of minerals, rocks, and geologic maps and exercises on geological processes.
The Planet Earth: Read More [+]

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 3 hours of laboratory per week

Summer: 8 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture and 7.5 hours of laboratory per week

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Earth and Planetary Science/Undergraduate

Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.

Formerly known as: Geology 50

The Planet Earth: Read Less [-]

EPS 80 Environmental Earth Sciences 3 Units [+]Expand course description

Terms offered: Fall 2019, Summer 2019 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2019 Second 6 Week Session
This course focuses on the processes on and in the earth that shape the environment. Humanity's use of land and oceans is examined based on an understanding of these processes.
Environmental Earth Sciences: Read More [+]

Rules & Requirements

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for 80 after taking Integrative Biology 80 or Paleontology 15.

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Earth and Planetary Science/Undergraduate

Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.

Environmental Earth Sciences: Read Less [-]

EPS 81 Atmospheres 3 Units [+]Expand course description

Terms offered: Spring 2019
An introductory survey of the atmospheres of Earth and other planets, spanning diverse phenomena such as hurricanes, drought, Martian dust storms, and the exotic winds on planets orbiting other stars. This course introduces the basics of planetary weather and climate, showing through exploration of a diverse set of atmospheres and paleoclimates that the world around us need not always be the way we currently observe it. Topics include atmospheric composition and structure, planetary orbits and radiation, habitability, global patterns of wind, clouds and precipitation, prediction of weather, chaos theory, and vortices such as tropical cyclones, tornadoes, and Jupiter’s great red spot.
Atmospheres: Read More [+]

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Earth and Planetary Science/Undergraduate

Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.

Instructor: Boos

Atmospheres: Read Less [-]

EPS C82 Oceans 3 Units [+]Expand course description

Terms offered: Fall 2019, Fall 2018, Fall 2017, Fall 2016
This course offers multidisciplinary approach to begin answering the question "Why are oceans important to us?" Upon a physical, chemical, and geologic base, we introduce the alien world of sea life, the importance of the ocean to the global carbon cycle, and the principles of ecology with a focus on the important concept of energy flow through food webs. Lectures expand beyond science to include current topics as diverse as music, movies, mythology, biomechanics, policy, and trade.
Oceans: Read More [+]

Rules & Requirements

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for Earth and Planetary Science C82/Integrative Biology C82 after completing Integrative Biology 82 or Earth and Planetary Science N82.

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week

Summer:
6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture and 2.5 hours of discussion per week
8 weeks - 5.5 hours of lecture and 1.5 hours of discussion per week

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Earth and Planetary Science/Undergraduate

Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.

Also listed as: INTEGBI C82