这是一个以研究为导向的部门，隶属于许多研究机构和研究中心，包括环境研究合作研究所（CIRES），大气与空间物理实验室（LASP），北极与高山研究所（INSTAAR） ，天体生物学中心，能源和矿产应用研究中心（EMARC）和大学博物馆。研究的相关领域是地理，天体物理学和行星科学，大气和海洋科学，化学，物理学，地球物理学，微生物学，生态学和进化生物学。根据学院的研究成果，为即将毕业的研究生设置学位课程。强烈建议学生选择研究兴趣最匹配他们自己的教职员工。
This is a research-oriented department affiliated with a number of research institutes and research centers, including the Cooperative Institute for Environmental Research (CIRES), the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP), the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), the Center for Astrobiology, the Energy and Minerals Applied Research Center (EMARC), and the University Museum. Related areas of study are geography, astrophysical and planetary sciences, atmospheric and oceanic sciences, chemistry, physics, geophysics, microbiology, ecology and evolutionary biology. Degree programs for incoming graduate students are individually designed according to research efforts of the faculty. It is highly recommended that students locate a faculty member whose research interests most closely match their own.