The Honors Program in Earth System Science provides an opportunity for selected students majoring in Earth and Environmental Sciences or Earth and Environmental Studies to pursue research with faculty in the Department during their senior year. Admission to the program is based on an application normally submitted by the sixth week of the spring quarter during the junior year.

To be considered for Departmental Honors in Earth and Environmental Sciences, a student must have satisfied the following requirements:

(1) completion of all mathematics, chemistry, and physics requirements for the major;
(2) completion of ESS 51, 53, and 55;
(3) achievement of an overall GPA at UCI of at least 3.3; and
(4) achievement of a GPA in Earth System Science courses of 3.4.

To be considered for Departmental Honors in Earth and Environmental Studies, a student must have satisfied the following requirements:

(1) completion of all mathematics, and chemistry requirements for the major;
(2) completion of ESS 60A-B-C;
(3) achievement of an overall GPA at UCI of at least 3.3; and
(4) achievement of a GPA in Earth System Science courses of 3.4.

Students must also demonstrate potential for carrying out research of honors quality, as judged by the Earth System Science faculty member who will supervise their research.

Click to download an application, or visit the Department of Earth System Science in 3200 Croul Hall.

Once admitted to the program, students will enroll in Honors Research in Earth System Science (H199A-B-C) and Honors Thesis in Earth System Science (H198).

In the Honors Research series, students will commit 10-15 hours a week to conduct research with an ESS faculty. At the end of each quarter, a written report is required.

In the Honors Thesis course, students will prepare and submit a seminar, poster, and written thesis describing their research. The thesis will be written in the style of a scientific manuscript, with separate abstract, introduction, methods, results and discussion sections. If the thesis is deemed honors quality by the ESS faculty and the student's final accumulative GPA is above 3.3, the student will graduate with departmental Honors in Earth and Environmental Sciences.

Questions? Contact Professor J. Keith Moore (Undergraduate Faculty Advisor)