College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Duffield College of Engineering
Program Description
A minor in Earth and Climate Sciences typically involves taking a set of courses that explore topics such as the Earth’s systems, climate processes, geology, atmospheric science, and environmental change. The minor allows students from other fields to gain foundational knowledge about how the Earth functions and how climate influences natural and human systems. By completing this minor, students develop skills in scientific analysis, environmental awareness, and understanding climate-related challenges, which can complement their main field of study and broaden their perspective on global environmental issues.
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Minors
The department offers three undergraduate minor programs, Earth and Climate Sciences Minor, Climate Change Minor, and Atmospheric Science Minor.
These minors are only available to student who are not in the Earth and Climate Sciences Major.
For more information about the minors, please contact Annmarie Card or visit the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Website.
Academic Standards
Grade Requirements
Each course must be completed with a grade of C- or better to count toward the minor.
A cumulative GPA > 2.3 in all courses taken towards the minor.
Program Information
- Minimum Credits for Minor: 18
Minor Requirements
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| EAS 2250 | The Earth System | 4 |
| 9 |
| Climate Dynamics | |
| Atmospheric Thermodynamics and Hydrostatics | |
| Atmospheric Dynamics | |
| Earth Materials | |
| Global Geophysics | |
| Evolution of the Earth System | |
| Introduction to Biogeochemistry (crosslisted) | |
| Physical Oceanography | |
| |
Graduation Requirements for Engineering Minor Degree Programs
Requirements
Students may pursue minors in any department in any college that offers them, subject to limitations placed by the department offering the minor or by the students' major. Completed minors will appear on the student's transcript. Not all departments offer minors. Additional information on specific minors can be found above, in the Engineering Undergraduate Handbook, in the undergraduate major office of the department or school offering the minor, and in Engineering Advising.
An engineering minor recognizes formal study of a particular subject area in engineering normally outside the major. Students undertaking a minor are expected to complete the requirements during the time of their continuous undergraduate enrollment at Cornell. Completing the requirements for an engineering minor (along with a major) may require more than the traditional eight semesters at Cornell. However, courses that fulfill minor requirements may also satisfy other degree requirements (e.g., distribution courses, advisor-approved, or major-approved electives), and completion within eight semesters is possible.
An engineering minor requires:
- successful completion of all requirements for an undergraduate degree.
- enrollment in a major that approves participation in the minor.
- satisfactory completion of six courses (at least 18 credits) in a college-approved minor.
Students may apply for certification of a minor at any time after the required course work has been completed in accordance with published standards. An official notation of certification of a minor appears on the Cornell transcript following graduation.
