Program Requirements

Course Availability and Information

Students should consult the School concerning courses offered in any particular year. Some fourth-year courses are offered in alternate years.

The names of course instructors, together with the required and recommended texts for each course, are available from the School.

Field Courses

Earth Sciences 300 and 400 are scheduled outside of the normal term time at off-campus locations on dates specified by the School. Students are required to meet part of the expenses involved and will be advised of such expenses during the Fall term. Students should contact the School for further information.

Honours Programs

Students will normally apply for admission to the SEOS Honours Program at the end of the third year of their undergraduate Earth Sciences Program, although they may apply as early as the end of their second year and as late as the beginning of their last year. The general requirement for admission to the Honours Program is a cumulative GPA of 5.5 in the Earth Sciences Program at the time of application. While enrolled in the Honours Program, students must maintain a sessional GPA of 5.5. Honours students must also maintain a course load of at least 6.0 units per term in the final year, except by approval of the department.

Honours Graduation Standing

An Honours degree requires:

• a graduating GPA of at least 5.5
• a GPA of at least 5.5 in 300- and 400-level EOS courses, including a minimum grade of B+ in EOS 499

If a student fails to meet the standards for the Honours degree, while meeting the Major degree requirements, the student may graduate with the appropriate Major degree.

Minor in Ocean Sciences

A student may declare a Minor in Ocean Sciences when enrolled in an Honours, Major, or General Program offered by SEOS or another department or school (which need not be in the Faculty of Science), along with the following courses:

• EOS/GEOG 120 and one of EOS/GEOG 110, EOS 340, 365
• EOS 311, 312, 313, 314
• Two of EOS 315, 403, 408, 410, 425, 431, 433, 435; BIOL 319, 322, 335, 446; PHYS 426; EOS 490 or BIOL 490D may be taken provided an appropriate oceans-related topic is chosen (with permission of department).

Four of these courses (311, 312, 313, and 314) will be taken during an intensive summer term, involving a substantial seagoing component. Students normally consult the School's Ocean Science Adviser before admission to the Ocean Science Minor Program at the end of the first or second year of their undergraduate program.

Earth Sciences Program Requirements

Honours in Earth Sciences

1. Students who have completed Biology 11 and 12 should take BIOL 190A.

2. Physics requirement may also be satisfied by PHYS 102 and 120; or PHYS 120 and 130.

3. Students should consider taking BIOL 215 as one of their electives.

Major in Earth Sciences

1. Students who have completed Biology 11 and 12 should take BIOL 190A.

2. Physics requirement may also be satisfied by PHYS 102 and 120; or PHYS 120 and 130.

3. Students should consider taking BIOL 215 as one of their electives.

General and Minor in Earth Sciences

The School of Earth and Ocean Sciences General and Minor Program is designed to offer a flexible program with maximum choice for students with a general interest in Earth Sciences. Students interested in a professional career or graduate studies in the field are strongly advised to take the Honours or Major Program.

1. In choosing electives, it is recommended that students consider the prerequisite requirements for EOS electives in Years 3 and 4.

2. Chosen from any EOS course numbered 300 or above, except for 312, 313, 314, 350, 360, 370.

3. Must include 9.0 units of 300 level or above in a second area of concentration for the General Program.