Students integrate knowledge of these separate disciplines in ways needed to understand and help solve important interdisciplinary problems, such as slowing and adapting to climate change and managing conflicting demands that humans make on the natural environment. It also prepares students to advise and educate others about issues requiring knowledge of how the Earth works.

Beyond the basic foundation, students have great flexibility to adapt the program to satisfy many possible interests in the Earth sciences and prepare for a variety of careers.

Some career possibilities include

• High school and middle school science teaching.
• Technical support for firms engaged in environmental engineering, environmental monitoring and protection, natural resource analysis and management, hazardous materials and ecological remediation, computer mapping, etc.
• Technical support to city, county, state, and other governmental agencies charged with land use and other planning.
• Preparation for graduate education in such fields as resource management, environmental public policy, and environmental law.
• Science writing, editing, and librarianship.
• Interpretation for park systems, nature centers, museums, and other areas requiring natural science field skills and natural history communication skills.