Earth & Planetary Sciences

The Earth & Planetary Sciences Department at UC Santa Cruz is home to a vibrant community of faculty, researchers, and students working at the forefront of geoscience and planetary exploration. We are among the largest departments of our kind in the UC system, offering robust undergraduate and graduate programs that combine rigorous coursework with transformative opportunities for research and field experience. Our faculty are internationally recognized for their contributions to topics ranging from seismology and climate change to planetary interiors and astrobiology. Join us in exploring the processes that shape Earth and other worlds—and in preparing the next generation of scientists to tackle the challenges of a changing planet.