BA Earth Sciences at The Ohio State University

Programme overview

Earth Science majors are curious about the whole Earth, from its ancient past to its present and future. Students in the Earth Sciences major learn to use tools from chemistry, physics, biology and mathematics to study the Earth. Housed within the School of Earth Sciences, the Earth Science major is a globally preeminent program, with courses and research focused on the most important issues facing society, including climate change, water resources, the environment, human health, geological hazards, energy and mineral resources.

Faculty: Arts and Sciences | Study mode: full-time | Location: Columbus, OH, United States

What you will study

The School of Earth Sciences offers two major programs: a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Arts. For BS students, we have three major subprograms: - Climate, Water and Environment - Geological Sciences - Geophysics We also have six certificate programs that are great additions to any Earth Science degree: - Climate Change Fundamentals - Hydrogeology - Marine Science - Natural History Museum Curation - Petroleum Geology - Planetary Science. These certificates allow you to take more classes in the subjects you find interesting and enrich your portfolio!

Career pathways

A major in Earth Sciences is a gateway to high demand careers in energy, energy transition, critical minerals, environmental protection and resource management.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admission to the university (and the Arts and Sciences college where applicable) applies; no separate programme-specific requirement published. Upon admission to the university, students can declare a major in Earth Sciences within the College of Arts and Sciences. Students should then contact the Earth Sciences advisor, Dr. Karen Royce to map out an appropriate program of courses.

Domestic applicants: USD 12,921 a year (2026-27). Columbus campus on-campus Instructional Fee (tuition) for students beginning Autumn 2026: $6,460.50 per semester at 12-18 credit hours, shown as two semesters (Autumn and Spring). The Ohio State Tuition Guarantee fixes this rate for four years for Ohio re Source

Entry terms for first-year applicants to the Columbus campus: Autumn 2027 and Spring 2027 (Spring 2027 deadline November 1, 2026). Summer first-year applications are not accepted.

Transfer applicants can start in Spring, Summer or Autumn 2027.

First-year, Columbus campus, Autumn 2027: early action (non-binding) deadline November 1, 2026; regular decision deadline January 15, 2027; financial aid priority date February 1; acceptance fee deadline May 1, 2027. Early action decisions: December 11 (Ohio residents and Stamps Eminence applicants) and January 22 (non-Ohio residents and international applicants); regular decision decisions March 5.

First-year applicants apply with the Common Application. ACT or SAT scores are required for first-year Columbus applicants (superscored; sent directly by the testing agency); applicants out of high school two or more years are not required to submit scores. The essay is not required.

Transfer applicants (Columbus campus): Spring 2027 deadline November 1, 2026; Autumn 2027 deadline March 1, 2027; Summer 2027 deadline May 15, 2027. Regional campuses: December 1, 2026, April 15, 2027 and July 15, 2027 respectively.

International transfer applicants: Spring 2027 deadline October 1, 2026; Autumn 2027 deadline March 1, 2027.

Apply through the official page: https://undergrad.osu.edu/apply

Explore more study programmes

Engineering