<p>From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, I got this:</p>
<p>Earth science (also known as geoscience, the geosciences or the Earth Sciences), is an all-embracing term for the sciences related to the planet Earth. It is arguably a special case in planetary science, the Earth being the only known life-bearing planet. There are both reductionist and holistic approaches to Earth science. There are four major disciplines in earth sciences, namely geography, geology, geophysics and geodesy. These major disciplines use physics, chemistry, biology, chronology and mathematics to build a quantitative understanding of the principal areas or spheres of the Earth system. It is the study of earth and space.</p>
<p>Are there any graduate degree program out there? Where and what kind of job will you get with a degree in “Earth Sciences”? </p>
<p>I really have no clue so please help.</p>
<p>Back in the old days when I was going to college, the best students go to Math, Physics and Chemistry, the bottom tier students go to departments like earth sciences</p>
<p>Truth is, “earth sciences” is rarely a listed major at better colleges, because it does not signal enough to an employer about preparation. And, even if one did have an “earth sciences” major, what matters is what the student prepared for, not what the title of the major was. </p>
<p>BTW, I would be wary of wikipedia definitions for something as complex as this, because “earth sciences” can mean whatever the user of the term wants it to mean within a broad range. </p>
<p>To explain another way, you don’t get a job in “earth sciences” except perhaps teaching high school. You get a job where the employer wants skills in geology, cartography, soil science (ag business), or whatever. Don’t focus on the title, focus on the content. Same for grad school.</p>
<p>Considering our degree is usually in one of the disciplines, DD’s friend majoring in geology has already had a great paid internship after his freshman year and is on track to very good career.</p>
<p>If your daughter is at Stanford, you might want to go check out the website for its School of Earth Sciences. I think there is a huge difference between the “earth science” that a 9th grader takes in HS and what these kids are doing at Stanford. </p>
<p>The son of a friend majored in geology at a top LAC, and he got a fabulous job at an environmental consulting firm. My husband is in the energy consulting business, and his firm practically turns away work, they are so busy. Environmental science is a growth industry, lots of high-paying jobs if you study the right stuff.</p>
<p>“Are there any graduate degree program out there/”
yes, hundreds. All the top universities have graduate degree programs in Geosciences/ Geophysics/ Petroleum Studies, Astrophysics, etc, etc- Stanford, UCB, MIT, YALE, Harvard, Princeton, U of Chicago to name a few.</p>
<p>Ummmm, look at starting salaries for last year. Geology, geophysics and related subjects were in hot demand.<br>
Most top tier schools have been slowly moving their Geology schools into departments of Earth and Space studies, or some similar title. The degree is in one of the disciplines in the school = geology, environmental science, geographic information systems, geophysics, whatever.</p>
<p>Dad II, are you worried about your D’s choice of majors in terms of the kind of job she may get once she graduates? Please give your amazingly talented child some credit. Relax & let her live her life as she sees fit. I would bet (and I am not a betting woman) that she will make the right choices.</p>
<p>I have read that the need for Geologists (which comes under the heading of Earth Science) far outweighs the number of grads. coming out of college.</p>
<p>My husband & I graduated with geology degrees back in the late 70s, and we enjoyed prosperous careers as petroleum geologists until the 80s oil bust. We, along with many of our peers, left that industry for government jobs in environmental geology or for other fields altogether.</p>
<p>Geology degrees, along with petroleum engineering, have been hot and cold depending upon the tempestuous oil business. I would imagine things might be heating up now, especially with the focus on environmental concerns.</p>
<p>However, I do wonder if the traditionally rigorous geology course of study has been watered down & renamed earth science in some colleges. Or, maybe Im just thinking of the environmental science degrees that seem relatively lightweight, ed school types of degrees designed for teacher types. Sorry to be snarky, but many of the ed school courses I know about are shamefully fluffy.</p>
<p>Thank you all very much. When DD told me she is taking one of the track under “Earth sciences”, I gave her 100% of my support - I am so glad she found the major she loves. </p>
<p>This is just to increase my own understanding of the subject. It sounds like there are many ways for her to make a decent living with a Ph.D. degree from one of these “disciplines”. </p>
<p>DD has proven again and again that she is more than just capable of making right decisions. She is doing fine on a 19 credit hours 1st quarter, made good friends, and even visited Chinatown. Overall, we are very happy.</p>
<p>I know an Italian engineer who studied Earth Sciences. He worked as a surveyor for oil drilling all over the world - when I met him he was on the way to a rig in Indonesia. Perhaps the jobs may encompass a fair bit of travelling.</p>
<p>“Truth is, “earth sciences” is rarely a listed major at better colleges, because it does not signal enough to an employer about preparation.”</p>
<p>Newmassdad, DadII’s daughter is at Stanford. I hope that constitute a “better college.”</p>
<p>DadII, you’re still operating under the assumptions of 20 years ago in a completely different culture. Relax, with all the emphasis on going green and the environment, an earth sciences major will have more than enough job opportunities.</p>