Department of Earth Sciences
Department Chair
David Bottjer
Contact Information
Science Hall (SCI) 117
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0740
(213) 740-6106
More Information
Department Web Site: http://www.usc.edu/dept/earth
Course Catalogue
Schedule of Classes
Faculty Roster
Selected Ph.D. and Postdoctoral Placements
The surrounding area of USC College is composed of diverse topographies, enabling students to gain broad, firsthand knowledge of geological matters. The College’s earth sciences department conducts field trips to study Southern California geology, maintains a seismic network in the Los Angeles basin for earthquake research and has access to oceanographic vessels for marine research.
Students and faculty study issues of societal concern related to seismic risk, climate change, environmental contamination and other important geologic hazards. A close working relationship exists between students and faculty members. Through educational and research programs, students understand the processes that influence tectonics and the environment, and use this understanding to decipher earth’s history written in rocks and sediments, and to develop models that can be used to predict future changes due to natural phenomena.
Research topics include geophysics, geochemistry, structural geology, petrology, marine geology, sedimentology, physical and chemical oceanography, paleoceanography and paleontology.
Both graduate and undergraduate students participate in research projects. At the Southern California Earthquake Center, researchers gather new information about earthquakes in Southern California, integrate that knowledge into a comprehensive understanding of earthquake phenomena, and communicate this understanding to the general public to increase awareness, reduce economic losses and save lives.
Collaboration has led to ties with other programs, including the Department of Biological Sciences, the Environmental Studies Program, the Graduate Program in Ocean Sciences and several departments in the School of Engineering.
The department offers B.A., B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. In addition, students may enroll in the earth sciences (geology) concentration offered by the Environmental Studies Program or may choose to minor in earth sciences.
Undergraduate degrees and programs
Geology, B.S.
Earth Sciences, B.A.
Earth Sciences, Minor
Graduate degrees and programs
Earth Sciences, M.S., Ph.D.
Related research centers
Southern California Earthquake Center, http://www.scec.org
Southern California Sea Grant Program, http://www.usc.edu/org/seagrant |
