Earth System Science Minor (B.Sc.) (18 credits)
Offered by: Earth & Planetary Sciences (Faculty of Science)
Degree: Bachelor of Science
Program credit weight: 18
Program Description
The Minor in Earth System Science combines interdisciplinary knowledge with quantitative tools to explore global connections between the atmosphere, oceans, solid Earth, and the dynamic ecological and human processes at the Earth surface. The program aims to provide fundamental understanding relevant to navigating the challenges of sustainability and climate change, and addresses timescales ranging from the vastness of Earth history to the fast-moving events of the Anthropocene.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Required Courses (12 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ESYS 200 | Earth-System Interactions. | 3 |
Earth-System Interactions. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Topics related to climate change, biogeochemical cycles and natural resources are evaluated from an Earth System perspective. Exploration of the scientific literature in targeted areas of Earth system science with a focus on human-Earth interactions. Emphasis is on complex global issues that cross traditional disciplines, and interpreting and communicating academic knowledge derived from Earth system research. | ||
| ESYS 300 | Earth Data Analysis. | 3 |
Earth Data Analysis. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An applied introduction to programming and statistical image processing tools used in Earth system science, typically covering linear regression, statistical significance, Fourier analysis, empirical orthogonal function analysis. Use of global remote-sensing and in-situ observations. | ||
| ESYS 301 | Earth System Modelling. | 3 |
Earth System Modelling. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction o principle concepts of systems modelling related to Earth system science and environmental science, including simple numerical models, conservation laws of mass, energy, and momentum, discretization of governing differential equations, the stability of numerical schemes, and exploration of the ideas of equilibria, feedbacks, and complexity. | ||
| ESYS 500 | Collaborative Research Project. | 3 |
Collaborative Research Project. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The main steps in developing an Earth System Science research project: identifying knowledge gaps using scientific literature, designing a research strategy (observational, analytical or computational), conducting the research, analyzing and synthesizing results, and communicating results as a formal scientific report. | ||
Complementary Courses (6 credits)
6 credits (3 credits from two of the three ESYS Departments: EPSC, ATOC, or GEOG), at the 300 level or higher, in consultation with the ESS student adviser.