BA Earth & Climate Sciences at University of Maine

Programme overview

A small, hands-on programme combining education with research on how Earth's processes work and on societal challenges, with field trips, internships and research projects. Offered as B.A. and B.S.

Faculty: College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences | Department: School of Earth and Climate Sciences | Study mode: full-time | Location: Orono, ME, United States

What you will study

Five branches of geoscience: freshwater and marine environments; glaciers, sea ice and permafrost; rocks and minerals; atmosphere and climate; and fossils and past life. Students choose classes with an academic adviser; research work can include analysing minerals, testing water chemistry, modelling glaciers and sampling ice cores.

Career pathways

Consulting, government (e.g. USGS, USFS), industry (mining, resource management), education, nonprofits and academia.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

First-year undergraduate applicants (University of Maine): college-preparatory coursework, recommended 4 units English, 3-4 units mathematics (at least Algebra I and II and Geometry; some programs require more), 2-3 units lab science, 2 units foreign language, 2-3 units social studies. Test optional. Application, official high school transcript and a school recommendation required; essay recommended. Early Action deadline December 1, regular deadline March 1; no application fee. International applicants: TOEFL iBT 79, IELTS 6.5 or PTE 53 (exemptions apply), plus NACES credential evaluation of the high school transcript.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Entry terms: Fall and Spring. Fall deadlines are Early Action December 1 and Regular March 1 (rolling review after March 1); Spring applications are recommended by November 1.

First-year Fall: Early Action deadline December 1 (maximum financial aid and a decision before the end of the year); regular deadline March 1 with scholarships given as available; applications after March 1 are reviewed on a rolling basis. First-year Spring: November 1 recommended; applications submitted after January 1 are reviewed on a space-available basis; Survey Engineering Technology applications completed after November 15 are reviewed on a space-available basis.

Transfer Fall: March 1 preferred filing date; June 1 FAFSA on-time date and Nursing application date; applications after July 1 are considered on a space-available basis. Transfer Spring: apply early in the fall semester; applications after January 1 are space-available.

International applicants Fall: Early Action December 1, regular March 1, final deadline July 15. Spring: regular November 1, final deadline December 1.

Applications are accepted through the Common App or the ApplyMaine App; the ApplyMaine App skips the application fee and standardized tests, with a decision in as little as three days. A high school transcript and a first-year letter of recommendation are required. Documents go to [email protected] or University Processing Center, PO Box 412, Bangor, ME 04401.

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