
Program description
B.S. in Earth Science
The B.S. in Earth Science teaches students how to interpret clues from the past to understand the present and protect the future. The program uses an integrated approach to the study of problems of the Earth’s environment through a synthesis of geology, hydrology and geochemistry. The program emphasizes a solid foundation in geology with opportunities to focus on environmental geosciences.
Program Benefits
Through the B.S. in Earth Science, students have access to equipment for petrologic, petrographic and X-ray diffraction analysis; groundwater modeling by physical, field and numerical methods; and field studies involving hydraulic testing and groundwater and soil sampling, including campus monitoring wells.
Admission requirements
Northeastern Illinois University has adopted a Test Optional admissions policy for undergraduate admissions to the university. Applicants who have a cumulative high school grade point average of 2.5 or above will automatically be admitted to the university and not required to submit standardized test scores for admissions. Applicants who score below a 2.5 grade point average are encouraged to submit standardized test scores.
Students with GEDs: If you are 18 years of age, or older, you can be considered for admission upon successful completion of the GED.
Subject requirements for freshmen:
In addition to meeting the Test Optional minimum requirement for admission, freshmen must also have completed the following high school subjects in accordance with the Illinois Board of Higher Education requirements*:
- 4 years of Language Arts
- 3 years of Mathematics (1 year must be algebra and 1 year must be a course that includes geometry content)
- 2 years of Writing (1 year must be an English course and 1 year may be provided as part of any course offered)
- 2 years of Social Science (must include 1 year of U.S. history or combination of U.S. history and American government and 1 semester of civics)
- 2 years of Science
- 1 year of Electives (Includes art, music, foreign language, or vocational education)
*First time freshmen and transfer applicants with fewer than 24 hours of transferable credit, who meet all criteria for admission except high school subject requirements, may be admitted on a provisional basis.
International student requirements:
Submit application for admission with a $30 application fee to the Admissions Office. We encourage students to apply online for faster processing.
Submit current official copies of transcripts of schools attended within the United States. All transcripts from non U.S. colleges or universities must be evaluated by Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE) or World Education Services (WES) sent to the Admissions Office.
Arrange to have official TOEFL or IELTS scores sent to the Admissions Office. You must pass the written version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 500 (masters admission requires 550) or you must pass the computerized version of the TOEFL test with a minimum score of 173 (master admission requires 213) or the internet based test with minimum score of 61 (masters admission requires 79). The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) may be submitted in lieu of TOEFL. An IELTS minimum score of 6 (masters admissions 6.5) is required.
Your file will be reviewed for admission decision when the application, fee and all academic documents, such as transcripts and test scores are received. However, an I-20 will not be issued until the Requirements for I-20 Processing have been met.
For more information about admission requirements, please visit the website.
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Learn moreProgram content
Major in Earth Science requirements
Required Course
- Physical Geology
- Writing Intensive Program: Earth Materials
- Climate Change: Evidence, Causes, Effects
- Mineralogy And Petrology I
- Historical Geology
- Sedimentology And Stratigraphy
- Structural Geology
- Field Geology
Minor in Earth Science
Required Courses
- Physical Geology
- Writing Intensive Program: Earth Materials
- Climate Change: Evidence, Causes, Effects
- Historical Geology
Scholarships & funding
Several scholarship options are available. Please visit the website for more information.
Tuition fees
Career opportunities
The B.S. in Earth Science prepares you for careers such as:
- Geologist
- Hydrologist
- Environmental Scientist
- Environmental Lawyer
- Geotechnical Engineer
- Geochemist
- Geophysicist
- Meteorologist
- Seismologist
- Oceanographer
- Paleontologist
- Volcanologist
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About this institute

Northeastern Illinois University
Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) is a public university that is more than 150 years old. It attracts students and faculty from over 100 countries. Its main 67-acre campus is a welcoming oasis located in a safe residential neighborhood on the...
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Northeastern Illinois University
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