虽然每个集中都有特定的重点，但该专业使学生对地球科学有广泛的了解。完成该计划后，毕业生将了解行星内部和行星上运行的基本物理和化学过程，并了解如何使用直接和间接方法来检查和理解地球的结构，组成和动力学。毕业生欣赏人类和生态系统如何与动态地球相互作用，并对大气和气候变化，岩石循环，自然灾害以及水文和生物地球化学循环有深入的了解。此外，他们了解如何测量和利用岩石，沉积物和化石的结构，序列和特性来重建地球历史上的事件并识别潜在的自然灾害或地球资源。古生物学专业的学生将学习深层时期的生物学和物理条件如何影响地球当前
The Earth Science major provides graduates with a broad understanding of the physical and chemical processes that operate in and on the planet and how direct and indirect methods are used to examine and understand the structure, composition, and dynamics of the Earth. Graduates appreciate how humans and ecosystems interact with the dynamic Earth, and they have an in-depth knowledge of the atmosphere and climate change, the rock cycle, natural hazards, and the hydrologic and biogeochemical cycles. Additionally, they understand how to measure and use the structure, sequence, and properties of rocks, sediments, and fossils to reconstruct events in Earth's history and identify potential natural hazards or earth resources.