EESC

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Math and Quantitative Analysis 1

Subject

EESC

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

1

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Select 1 course unit of Data Analysis & Statistics 1 Attribute: AESD (https://catalog.upenn.edu/attributes/aesd/) Select 1 course unit of Economics & Policy 1 Attribute: AESE (https://catalog.upenn.edu/attributes/aese/)

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Natural disasters play a fundamental role in shaping landscapes and structuring ecosystems. The purpose of this course is to introduce you to both the natural and social science of disasters. This course will explore the geologic processes that cause natural disasters, the ecological and social consequences of disasters, and the role of human behavior in disaster management and mitigation. Through exploring these concepts, this class will provide you with a broad background in the geosciences and the basic tools needed to understand: how earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and hurricanes occur; the myriad of ways that we can mitigate against their impacts; and the way in which we can "calculate the cost" of these disasters.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Geologic history of invertebrates and their inferred life habits, paleoecology, and evolution. Introduction to paleobotany and vertebrate paleontology.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

This course will provide an overview of systematic mineralogy as well as petrology of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. It will include weekly microscopy sessions, during which each student will learn how to identify minerals in the polarizing microscope and then apply this knowledge to the description of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

EESC 1000 EESC 1060

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

This course covers Earth System dynamics from the viewpoint of deep time. Specifically, the course focuses on (i) the history of our planet and its life, (ii) the physical, chemical and biological feedbacks driving evolution and (iii) the evidence that has given us access into the understanding of the Geologic Time Scale.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

, Introductory sedimentary concepts, stratigraphic principles, depositional environments, and interpretation of the rock record in a paleoecological setting.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

This course will introduce students to Philadelphia’s local geology and environment, as well as some sites further afield in NJ and PA. The course aims to give students the opportunity to develop and execute fundamental field skills and techniques in the earth and environmental sciences. The course will involve field trips, workshops, and assignments developed around the field exercises.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Introduction to deformation as a fundamental geologic process. Stress and strain; rock mechanics. Definition, measurement, geometrical and statistical analysis, and interpretation of structural features. Structural problems in the field. Maps, cross-sections, and three-dimensional visualization; regional structural geology.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Directed study for individuals or small groups under close supervision of a faculty member.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

The aim of this 10-day summer program is to introduce inquisitive students to the nature, culture, history and languages of the European Alps in Switzerland and Italy. We will be exploring the geology of the Alps and how it influences the development of wildlife, flora, history, religion, culture and of entire regions, how humans have altered the environment, and how humans respond to climate change in Alpine ecosystems. We will learn how to observe nature in a spectacular landscape, visit cultural sites off the beaten track and explore some of the well-known localities, such as Zurich, Valtellina, Bellinzona, and the Engadine. 1 Course Unit

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

All forms of frozen water at Earth's surface define the cryosphere. These icy environmnets are an integral part of the global climate system, with important linkages and feedbacks resulting from their influences on surface energy and moisture fluxes, clouds, precipitation, hydrology, and circulation in the atmosphere and oceans. This course will survey the various components of the cryosphere and their interactions with climate, with a strong emphasis on the dynamics of glaciers and ice sheets. Broad topics to be covered are 1)the rudimentary mechanics of glacier and ice sheet flow, 2)fast-flowing ice streams and factors limiting their motion, 3)ice-quakes and their origins, 4)the nature of climate data recorded in natural ice bodies, 5)the influence of climate on the stability of ice sheets and glaciers, and 6)glacier-like flow on other planetary bodies. This will be a lecture-based course with written assignmnets and problems sets. 1 Course Unit

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

This course will cover some fundamental topics in Climate Sciences, while also teaching how to program & work with big data in Python. We will analyze big climate data (output from the newest generation climate models CMIP6 and NASA satellite datasets) remotely on a National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) supercomputer.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Patterns on the Earth's surface arise due to the transport of sediment by water and wind, with energy that is supplied by climate and tectonic deformation of the solid Earth. This course presents a treatment of the processes of erosion and deposition that shape landscapes. Emphasis will be placed on using simple physical principles as a tool for (a) understanding landscape patterns including drainage networks, river channels and deltas, desert dunes, and submarine channels, (b) reconstructing past environmental conditions using the sedimentary record, and (c) the management of rivers and landscapes under present and future climate scenarios. The course will conclude with a critical assessment of landscape evolution on other planets, including Mars. Not Offered Every Year Mutually Exclusive: EESC 6600 1 Course Unit

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to theory and applications of chemistry in the earth and environmental sciences. Theory covered will include atomic structure, chemical bonding, cosmic abundances, nucleosynthesis,radioactive decay, dating of geological materials, stable isotopes, acid-base equilibria, salts and solutions, and oxidation-reduction reactions. Applications will emphasize oceanography, atmospheric sciences and environmental chemistry, as well as other topics depending on the interests of the class. Although we will review the basics, this course is intended to supplement, rather than to replace, courses offered in the Department of Chemistry. It is appropriate for advanced undergraduate as well as graduate students in Geology, Environmental Science, Chemistry and other sciences, who wish to have a better understanding of these important chemical processes. Not Offered Every Year 1 Course Unit

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

From hurricanes and heat waves to climate change and urban heat islands, atmospheric science sits at the center of some of today's most urgent environmental challenges. This course provides the foundation for understanding these phenomena and prepares students for careers across fields including meteorology, climate science, environmental policy, urban planning, and Earth system research. Students explore the structure and composition of the atmosphere and the physical processes that shape weather and climate, investigating how solar energy drives atmospheric motion and how interactions among air, land, and water produce patterns from local storms to global circulation. We examine why some regions are arid while others receive abundant rainfall, how winds form and evolve, and why hazardous events such as hurricanes and tornadoes occur more frequently in certain parts of the world. Throughout the semester, we connect theory to real-world events by examining historic and current weather events. By the end of the semester, students will have developed strong physical intuition for how atmospheric processes operate across scales, from neighborhood urban microclimates to the entire planet, and how interactions between the atmosphere and Earth's surface drive weather, climate variability, and extreme events.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

An introduction to the chemistry of the earth's atmosphere. Covers evolution of the earth's atmosphere, its physical and chemical structure, its natural chemical composition and oxidative properties, and human impacts, including photochemistry, and aerosols; stratospheric ozone loss, tropospheric pollution; climate change, and acidic deposition. Chemistry in the atmosphere of other planets in our solar system will be covered.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Implications for Future Climate Change

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Environmental Fluid Dynamics (EFD) is an applied branch of fluid mechanics devoted to studying fluid systems in nature, including atmospheric boundary layers and aquatic environments, such as lakes, rivers, and coastal seas. In particular, EFD aims to characterize the mechanisms governing the transport of heat, dissolved, and suspended matter in fluid environments, which together play a critical role in the functioning of ecosystems. This course will introduce the underlying physics governing motion in natural fluids, with emphasis on water bodies. We will discuss the transport equations that model fluid flows affected by vertical and horizontal density gradients, the effect of Earth rotation in fluid trajectories, and the main natural drivers responsible for energizing fluid flows, such as wind and heat fluxes. The course will revisit analytical results characterizing specific type flows in nature, and we will discuss open topics that are under development.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Humans have an enormous impact on the global movement of chemical materials. Biogeochemistry has grown to be the principal scientific discipline to examine the flow of elements through the global earth systems and to examine human impacts on the global environment. This course will introduce and investigate processes and factor controlling the biogeochemical cycles of elements with and between the hydrosphere, lithosphere, atmosphere and biosphere. Students will apply principles learned in lectures by building simple computer-based biogeochemical models.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Microorganisms inhabit almost every conceivable environment on the planet's surface, and extent the biosphere to depths of several kilometers into the crust. Significantly, the chemical reactivity and metabolic diversity displayed by microbial communities make them integral components of global elemental cycles, from mineral dissolution and precipitation reactions, to aqueous reduction-oxidation processes. In that regard, microorganisms have helped shape our planet overthe past 4 billion years and made it habitable for higher forms of life. In this course we will evaluate the geological consequences of microbial activities, by taking am interdisciplinary and "global" view of microbe-environment interactions. Mutually Exclusive: EESC 6440 1 Course Unit

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Introduction to the basic principles of the hydrologic cycle and water budgets, precipitation and infiltration, evaporation and transpiration, stream flow, hydrograph analysis (floods), subsurface and groundwater flow, well hydraulics, water quality, and frequency analysis.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Soil is considered the "skin of the Earth", with interfaces between the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. It is a mixture of minerals, organic matter, gases, liquids and a myriad of organisms that can support plant life. As such, soil is a natural body that exists as part of the environment. This course will examine the nature, properties, formation and environmental functions of soil. Mutually Exclusive: EESC 5660 1 Course Unit

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

This course will introduce students to the principles of remote sensing, characteristics of remote sensors, and remote sensing applications. Image acquisition, data collection in the electromagnetic spectrum, and data set manipulations for earth and environmental science applications will be emphasized. We will cover fundamental knowledge of the physics of remote sensing; aerial photographic techniques; multispectral, hyperperspectral, thermal, and other image analysis. Students will pursue an independent research project using remote sensing tools, and at the end of the semester should have a good understanding and the basic skills of remote sensing. Mutually Exclusive: EESC 6700 1 Course Unit

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

This course will cover the application of geophysical investigation techniques to problems of the earth's plantary structure, local subsurface structure and mineral prospecting. The topics will include principles of geophysical measurements and interpretation with emphasis on gravity measurement, isostasy, geomagnitism, sesmic refraction and reflection,electrical prospecting, electromagnetics and groung radar. Not Offered Every Year 1 Course Unit

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

In depth examination of special topics in Earth Science. Topics will change with instructor and course offerings. 1 Course Unit

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2026 and later. Students shoul consult with their academic program regarding final certifications an requirements for graduation. Sample Plan of Study Course Title

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

This course is designed to provide the graduate student with an understanding of the fundamentals of aqueous geochemistry.The chemistry of water,air and soil will be studied from an environmental perspective.The nature, composition, structure, and properties of pollutants coupled with the major chemical mechanisms controlling the occurrence and mobility of chemicals in the environment will also be studied.Upon completion of this course, students should expect to have attained a broad understanding of and familiarity with aqueous geochemistry concepts applicable to the environmental field. Environmental issues that will becovered include acid deposition, toxic metal contamination, deforestation,and anthropogenic perturbed aspects of the earth's hydrosphere. Not Offered Every Year 1 Course Unit

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

This course will cover various topics related to Air Quality. Initial lectur will cover the history of air pollution, discussions of the Clean Air Act an composition of the atmosphere. We will then progress to discussion of atmospheric pollutants and sources of those pollutants. Additional topics will include: fate of atmospheric pollutants (transport and dispersion mechanis will include: fate of atmospheric pollutants (transport and mechanisms), effects of air pollution (health and environmental effects), urban smog, acid rain, climate change, ozone depletion in the stratosphere, air quality criteria, and engineering controls.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Introduction to the basic principles of the hydrologic cycle and water budgets, precipitation and infiltration, evaporation and transpiration, stream flow, hydrograph analysis (floods), subsurface and groundwater flow, well hydraulics, water quality, and frequency analysis.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Soil is considered the "skin of the Earth", with interfaces between the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. It is a mixture of minerals, organic matter, gases, liquids and a myriad of organisms that can support plant life. As such, soil is a natural body that exists as part of the environment. This course will examine the nature, properties, formation and environmental functions of soil. Mutually Exclusive: EESC 4660 1 Course Unit

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

This course will introduce numerical techniques for analyzing data and formulating models in Earth Science. Students will first be introduced to Octave, a high level computer programming language (equivalent to Matlab, but free of cost) that allows data analysis and manipulation, sophisticated plotting and numerical modeling from the same interface. Data analysis will focus on time series, pattern recognition, image/ topography analysis, and correlation statistics; modeling will include groundwater and surface water flow, random processes, diffusion, and erosion and deposition. This will be a seminar-style course where discussion will be encouraged, and additional topicsmay be covered depending on student interest. Through project-based learning exercises students will gain proficiency in Octave which will be useful for allaspects of Earth science.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

The Geologic Field Methods course focuses on commonly used geoscience and environmental field techniques and is conducted over the course of 8 consecutive days (one on Penn’s campus, and seven in the field throughout eastern Pennsylvania). The course will include training on the use of the pocket transit to perform surveying measurements and collection of strike and dip measurements of geologic beds. Other field methods will be studied, including traverse geologic mapping; sketching of geologic outcrops; and construction of geologic fold cross-sections using the Busk Method. The course will include opportunity for field study of metamorphic, sedimentary, and igneous rocks. Large- and small- es scale geologic structures will be visited and studied. We will have the d opportunity to use environmental monitoring equipment to measure contamination in soil, water, and air. Students should be aware that the course requires a great deal of walking and may include exposure to adverse weather conditions.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Managing Contaminated Site Liability

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Bulk structure of the Earth. Plate tectonics and plate boundaries. Plumes, rifting, and intraplate tectonics. Geotectonics and seismicity. Not Offered Every Year 1 Course Unit

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Earthquakes affect the lives of billions of people on Earth but are also an important mechanism that continuously shapes the land and oceans. This course will introduce major and current research topics related to earthquakes, from the microphysics behind them to plate tectonics. This seminar class will introduce earthquakes from different perspectives spanning different scales, including rock friction, fault zone structure, human-induced earthquakes, subduction zone earthquakes, and extraterrestrial quakes. The interdisciplinary approach of this class will integrate mechanics, geochemistry, structural geology, seismology and environmental science and how they all relate to the study of earthquakes. Class assignments will include reading book sections, research and review papers, class presentations and participating in class discussions.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

This class will discuss physical principles fundamental to the theoretical,observational, and experimental study of geophysical fluids, the equations of motion for rotating fluids; hydrostatic and Boussinesq approximations; circulation theorem; conservation of potential vorticity; scale analysis, geostrophic wind, quasigeostrophic system; wave theory and applications, flow instabilities, geophysical boundary layers. Depending on student interest, the class will be adapted to include applications from Oceanography, Meteorology, Geophysics or Engineering. 1 Course Unit

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Directed study for individuals or small groups under supervision of a faculty member.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

This course will explore topics related to the Applied Geosciences Not Offered Every Year 1 Course Unit

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Occurrences and origins of igneous and metamorphic rocks; phase equilibria in heterogeneous systems. Laboratory study of rocks and thin sections as a tool ininterpretation of petrogenesis.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to theory and applications of chemistry in the earth and environmental sciences. Theory covered will include atomic structure, chemical bonding, cosmic abundances, nucleosynthesis,radioactive decay, dating of geological materials, stable isotopes, acid-base equilibria, salts and solutions, and oxidation-reduction reactions. Applications will emphasize oceanography, atmospheric sciences and environmental chemistry, as well as other topics depending on the interests of the class. Although we will review the basics, this course is intended to supplement, rather than to replace, courses offered in the Department of Chemistry. It is appropriate for advanced undergraduate as well as graduate students in Geology, Environmental Science, Chemistry and other sciences, who wish to have a better understanding of these important chemical processes. Not Offered Every Year 1 Course Unit

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

This course is designed to introduce the major concepts regarding geochemistry and geochemical modeling. The course introduces two United States Geological Survey (USGS) computer models, PHREEQC, a geochemical speciation model, and PHAST, a transport module which is coupled with PHREEQC output. These are highly respected, world- renowned models that are free-ware via the USGS, complete with documentation. Once familiar with the models, the student can continue to work with them beyond the course experience. PHREEQC is designed to perform a wide variety of aqueous geochemical calculations and can be used to simulate chemical reactions and transport processes in natural or polluted waters. PHREEQC is capable of modeling both equilibrium and kinetic reactions. Some of the simulations pursued during the course include: Speciation of precipitation water; Iron speciation; Zinc sorption onto hydrous ferric oxide; Oxidation of organic carbon and the sequence of electron donors in natural waters; Benzene advective transport in groundwater; TCE transport and degradation.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

An introduction to the chemistry of the earth's atmosphere. Covers evolution of the earth's atmosphere, its physical and chemical structure, its natural chemical composition and oxidative properties, and human impacts, including photochemistry, and aerosols; stratospheric ozone loss, tropospheric pollution; climate change, and acidic deposition. Chemistry in the atmosphere of other planets in our solar system will be covered.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Advanced Environmental Fluid Dynamics (EFD) is an applied branch of fluid mechanics devoted to studying fluid systems in nature, including atmospheric boundary layers and aquatic environments, such as lakes, rivers, and coastal seas. In particular, EFD aims to characterize the mechanisms governing the transport of heat, dissolved, and suspended matter in fluid environments, which together play a critical role in the functioning of ecosystems. This course will introduce the underlying physics governing motion in natural fluids, with emphasis on water bodies. We will discuss the transport equations that model fluid flows affected by vertical and horizontal density gradients, the effect of Earth rotation in fluid trajectories, and the main natural drivers responsible for energizing fluid flows, such as wind and heat fluxes. The course will revisit analytical results characterizing specific type flows in nature, and we will discuss open topics that are under development.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

This course will cover some fundamental topics in Climate Sciences, while also teaching how to program & work with big data in Python. We will analyze big climate data (output from the newest generation climate models CMIP6 and NASA satellite datasets) remotely on a National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) supercomputer.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Humans have an enormous impact on the global movement of chemical materials. Biogeochemistry has grown to be the principal scientific discipline to examine the flow of elements through the global earth systems and to examine human impacts on the global environment. This course will introduce and investigate processes and factor controlling the biogeochemical cycles of elements with and between the hydrosphere, lithosphere, atmosphere and biosphere. Students will apply principles learned in lectures by building simple computer-based biogeochemical models.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

This field- and lab-based course will examine a set of methods for the study and quantification of biochemical processes in terrestrial and aquatic systems. We will focus on field-based measurements, as well as sample collection and laboratory analyses of fluxes of carbon and nutrient elements, including photosynthesis, respiration, dissolved and suspended nutrient fluxes in streams.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Microorganisms inhabit almost every conceivable environment on the planet's surface, and extent the biosphere to depths of several kilometers into the crust. Significantly, the chemical reactivity and metabolic diversity displayed by microbial communities make them integral components of global elemental cycles, from mineral dissolution and precipitation reactions, to aqueous reduction-oxidation processes. In that regard, microorganisms have helped shape our planet overthe past 4 billion years and made it habitable for higher forms of life. In this course we will evaluate the geological consequences of microbial activities, by taking an interdisciplinary and "global" view of microbe-environment interactions. Mutually Exclusive: EESC 4440 1 Course Unit

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Topics in vertebrate paleontology and paleoecology.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Paleoecology, or ecology in the fossil record,is the study of how interactions between species have developed over time and how ecosystems and environmental change have shaped the evolution of life and biodiversity.It also involves rebuilding lost communities from fossil evidence to provide context for the origins of modern life and modern ecosystems.This seminar course will survey major topics in Paleoecology, including of ecosystems,the long-term connections between habitat, life mode and biodiversity as well as the distribution of life (e.g. paleobiogeography), escalation between predatorsand prey, competition between invasive and resident species, and how we can infer the ecology and behavior of long-dead organisms. Students will lead discussions on select concepts and choose one topic to investigate in depth. Not Offered Every Year 1 Course Unit 2026-27 Catalog | Generated 08/03/26

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Macroevolution, or evolution above the population level and on long timescales,as a field addresses fundamental questions about the origins of life, past and present.These include but are not limited to: How are highly dissimilar speciesrelated? Why are animals on distant continents so similar? How and when did major groups, like birds or mammals, originate? What drives evolutionary arms races? Why are there so many more species of beetle than crocodile? Why are there more species in the tropics than the arctic? Did dinosaursprevent the diversification of mammals? Why do some animals survive mass extinction? How can invasive species spread so rapidly? Students will learn importantconcepts underlying our understanding of modern biodiversity and the fossil record, as well as how to use different method and lines of evidence, including evolutionary trees (phylogeny), fossil databases, past climate and global events,mathematical modeling, and even modern genomics, to answer fundamental questions about the evolution of life. Spring, even numbered years only 1 Course Unit

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Patterns on the Earth's surface arise due to the transport of sediment by water and wind, with energy that is supplied by climate and tectonic deformation of the solid Earth. This course presents a treatment of the processes of erosion and deposition that shape landscapes. Emphasis will be placed on using simple physical principles as a tool for (a) understanding landscape patterns including drainage networks, river channels and deltas, desert dunes, and submarine channels, (b) reconstructing past environmental conditions using the sedimentary record, and (c) the management of rivers and landscapes under present and future climate scenarios. The course will conclude with a critical assessment of landscape evolution on other planets, including Mars. Not Offered Every Year Mutually Exclusive: EESC 3600 1 Course Unit

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

This course covers basic groundwater flow and solute transport modeling in one-,two- and three-dimensions. After first reviewing the principles of modeling, the student will gain hands-on experience by conducting simulations on the computer. The modeling programs used in the course are MODFLOW (USGS), MT3D, and the US Army Corps of Engineers GMS (Groundwater Modeling System). Students enrolled in this course will be required to review pertinent groundwater hydrogeology material and perform associated assignments prior to the start of the course. This material comprises Parts 1 and 2 of the course and will be posted to a pre-course Module on the course Canvas website. The pre-course materials will open to students two weeks prior to the start of class.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

The evaluation of technical, social, and economic constraints on the implementation of water supply and sanitation projects. The development of sustainable technical solutions that fit within the appropriate social context. Discussion draws insight from successful small rural community system approaches to inform practical larger regional and watershed approaches in the US and internationally. Case studies are used to demonstrate these principles across a range of examples from developed and developing countries including detailed studies from rural communities with limited financial resources.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

This course is designed to introduce the major definitions and concepts regarding groundwater flow and contaminant transport. The theory and underlying concepts, including mathematical derivations of governing equations used to model groundwater flow and contaminant transport, will be discussed and applications to environmental problems addressed. Upon completion of this course, students should expect to have attained a broad understanding of and familiarity with groundwater flow and contaminant transport concepts, and to have acquired the skills necessary to pursue work in flow and transport modeling.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Introduction to the basic principles of the hydrologic cycle and water budgets, precipitation and infiltration, evaporation and transpiration, stream flow, hydrograph analysis (floods), subsurface and groundwater flow, well hydraulics, water quality, and frequency analysis.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Soil is a natural body that exists as part of the environment where inorganic, geologic materials combine with organic materials to produce an array of soils with large variations in observable properties. This course will begin with in-class primers on the field description of soil properties, soil classification, and land use classification, followed by several day-long local field trips to observe and study soils in-situ. This is an in-person class. One week in Philadelphia is required to complete the course. Field trips are required.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Or another data analytics course with approval from the department

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

An introduction to the theory, operation and application of modern analytical instrumentation used in geo- and environmental sciences. Primarily focused on laboratory instrumentation such as mass spectroscopy, elemental analyses and x-ray techniques. Some field instruments will be introduced as well. Students will be expected to develop projects utilizing the various instruments.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

The purpose of this course is advanced study in geologic field methods. Field methods will include use of air monitoring, soil sampling, geophysics and remote sensing equipment. Each of the field methods will be implemented on a Pennsylvania Site. This course will meet during five Saturdays over the course of the semester.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

perspectives Industrial and economic development bring increased quality of life, but also increased waste generation and need for effective waste management. The majority of severely contaminated sites in the United States have a common characteristic: they were created by unsafe industrial and hazardous waste management before the passage of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). RCRA often refers to the statute, regulations, and federal program which have been implemented to ensure a national, uniform, safe approach to hazardous waste management. This course will explore the many components of RCRA that are utilized to ensure the safe and effective management of hazardous waste, from “cradle to grave.” Rapid economic development, and coincident increased waste generation, is currently occurring elsewhere in the world; therefore, this course will also includ discussion of the current status of waste generation, and hazardous waste management within developing countries and economies.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Statistical analysis of data from geological, geotechnical, and geohydrologic sources.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

remediation, and long-term stewardship”

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

This class will provide an overview of water topics and issues and is intended to provide geologists and environmental scientists with a working understanding of current water resource issues and challenges ranging from stormwater and flooding to stream restoration, water re-use and ecological restoration. Starting with an understanding of hydrology, streams, and related ecosystems, the class will look at the various ways we use and depend on water, the ways in which water resources are degraded, and practices to restore and protect the resource. Topics to be covered include green infrastructure, water and wastewater sources and water reuse, stream health, stream channel restoration, riparian buffers, floodplains, best practices, and the concept of “one water”. We will also cover current regulations, changing water policies, sustainability, and the implications of climate change

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Landslides are important geomorphic agents in mountainous terrain, mobilizing sediment and playing a key role in controlling relief and elevation. The work of landslides is often characterized by their magnitude-frequency, which also has direct implications for people, property, and infrastructure in mountainous terrain, and for the approaches taken to minimize the risk from landslides. This course will introduce students to a conceptual understanding of landslides at a range of spatial scales, including the mechanics of the processes governing landslides from trigger to deposition. Methods of slope monitoring and the varied approaches to landslide risk mitigation and management will be explored, with a range of geotechnical and environmental applications. This course includes lab-based sessions to demonstrate simple techniques to understand fundamental landslide processes, and applications of GIS technology to explore slope monitoring and failure prediction. e Spring, odd numbered years only 1 Course Unit

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Geomorphology, the study of the Earth's landforms and surface processes that have formed them, have evolved rapidly over the past decades. Traditionally, this sub-discipline of geology was largely descriptive, with the shape and relationships of various landforms attributed to the interplay of tectonic and climatic forces. In the 1950-60s, scientists began to quantify the processes operating at different spatial and temporal scales, and the field of Process Geomorphology replaced the descriptive framework. A quantitative approach is now integrating regional structural framework, climatology, and biologically mediated (including anthropogenic) processes to generate predictive models of landscape change. This course will include applications of high- resolution near-surface geophysical method, ground-penetrating radar (GPR), to help visualize the subsurface aspects of landform analysis. Along with understanding the morphodynamic feedbacks based on sediment transport, this geophysical application will help integrate the active earth surface processes with antecedent conditions (paleo- landscape). Lecture material will be complemented with manuscript analysis and the course will culminate with a rigorous research-based term project. 1 Course Unit 2026-27 Catalog | Generated 08/03/26

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

00

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

This course will cover the application of geophysical investigation techniques to problems of the earth's plantary structure, local subsurface structure and mineral prospecting. The topics will include principles of geophysical measurements and interpretation with emphasis on gravity measurement, isostasy, geomagnitism, sesmic refraction and reflection,electrical prospecting, electromagnetics and groung radar. Not Offered Every Year 1 Course Unit

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

The application of geophysical investigation techniques to problems of the local and shallow subsurface structure of the earth. The application of geophysical measurements and interpretation for environmental site characterizations, locating buried structures, groundwater investigations, and identifying geotechnical hazards with emphasis on gravity methods, seismic refraction and reflection, electrical resistivity, electromagnetic methods, ground penetrating radar, and borehole nuclear logging.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

00

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Static and Dynamic mechanical properties of fluid in earth materials, as applied to the Hydrologic Sciences; Principles of Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics applied to open channel flow in earth materials; flow through gates, weirs, spillways, and culverts; Applications of Darcy's Law to subsurface flow and seepage.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

The combined branches of Engineering Geology and Structural Geology enable thorough site characterization to assure the safety, efficiency, and economy of engineering and environmental projects. Engineering geology applies the understanding of geologic context to engineering problems in construction, infrastructure development and resource management. Applied structural geology requires a fundamental understanding of how rocks behave both in the deformation and failure of the earth’s crust and under current and changing conditions in the built environment. Geologists provide an essential service as human population expands into less hospitable areas and climate resilience adaptation is required, while building, protecting, remediating, and mitigating the environment, and sustainably extracting earth’s resources when needed. Engineering and Structural Geology interfaces closely with Civil Engineering to assist in site selections, desktop site investigations, subsurface site investigations, development of three-dimensional engineering, structural and stratigraphic models, and assistance with soil and rock lithological engineering and geochemical design parameters. This course will focus on the occurrence and distribution of Earth's rocks and soils, delving into their engineering and structural attributes. Emphasis will be placed on the engineering categorization, testing, and application of these materials. Additionally, the course will explore geohazards within structural geology, analyzing geotechnical engineering factors in rocks and soil, and other natural geological risks like floods and earthquakes. These topics will be contextualized within geological history, highlighting their significance in planning and design within the geological environment.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Total Course Units 4

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Directed independent field work.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Four Elective Courses 4 Students will choose four electives to complement their backgrounds and reach their career goals. Students choose from a selection of courses that are designed to help mid- career professionals boost career opportunities.

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

This seminar will familiarize new PhD students in Earth Science with the skills and knowledge needed to develop as professionals. Topics will include research ethics, the publication process, writing proposal for research funding, etc. Two Term Class, Student may enter either term; credit given for either 1 Course Unit

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

This course will use the weekly EES seminar series to survey historic breakthrogh papers or topics in the earth sciences, as well as modern papers - written by the seminar speakers - that often put the classics in perspective. Graduate students (Ph.D. only) in the Department of Earth and Environmental Science will engage in the material through reading, presentation, and discussion. The course has several goals. (1.) To engender an understanding and appreciation of major breakthroughs in our field. (2.) To develop skills in presenting and discussing scientific results. And (3.) to refine students' understanding of what constitutes great science. 1 Course Unit

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Total Course Units 13

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Any Subject 5000-9999 Dissertation 3

Subject

EESC

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu