Earth Sciences (2024)

Earth Sciences offers a broad understanding of Earth's landscape features and processes and includes a range of branches of the subject, including soil science, hydrology, geomorphology, physical geography, volcanology, sedimentary geology, coastal marine studies, engineering geology and environmental science.

Earth Sciences is available as a first major for the Bachelor of Climate Change (BCC), Bachelor of Science (BSc) and Bachelor of Science (Technology) (BSc(Tech)). Earth Sciences may also be taken as a second major in other undergraduate degrees, subject to approval of the Division in which the student is enrolled.

To complete Earth Sciences as a single major for the BCC, BSc and the BSc(Tech), students must gain 135 points, including EARTH101, EARTH102, 60 points from EARTH211, EARTH221, EARTH231, EARTH241, EARTH251, and at least 45 points from 300-level Earth Sciences papers.

To complete Earth Sciences as part of a double major for the BCC, BSc, BSc(Tech) or other undergraduate degree, students must gain 120 points, including EARTH101, EARTH102, 60 points from EARTH211, EARTH221, EARTH231, EARTH241, EARTH251, and at least 30 points from 300-level Earth Sciences papers.

Students with a special interest in physical geography should consult with the subject convenor before selecting their papers. The majority of papers in Earth Sciences include both laboratory practical and field work.

Further information regarding papers, staff and research details can be found in brochures available from the School of Science office or website.


On this page


  • Prescriptions for the GradCert(EarthSc) and GradDip(EarthSc)

    A Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma are available to graduates who have not included Earth Sciences at an advanced level in their first degree.

    For further details, contact the School of Science.

  • Prescriptions for the PGCert(EarthSc), PGDip(EarthSc), BSc(Hons), MSc, MSc(Res) and MSc(Tech) [1]

    To complete a postgraduate subject in Earth Sciences, students must complete a minimum of 60 points (for PGDip a minimum of 90 points) of taught papers in the subject at 500 level, including at least 30 points with an EARTH prefix from papers in List A, and a maximum for 30 points from List B. They must also complete any research requirement for their degree, typically EARTH592 (60 points), EARTH593 (90 points) or EARTH594 (120 points), as well as any other degree requirements. Candidates should select their papers in consultation with the Postgraduate Convenor, and enrolment in BSc(Hons) is only by invitation of the Postgraduate Convenor.

    List A papers are: EARTH501, EARTH502, EARTH503, EARTH504, EARTH505, EARTH506, EARTH508 and EARTH509.

    List B papers are: ENVSC503, SCIEN511, SCIEN512 and SCIEN589.

    [1] The MSc(Tech) will not be offered in 2024.

  • Prescriptions for the MPhil

    The Master of Philosophy is a one year research-based degree in which students undertake a programme of approved and supervised research that leads to a thesis which critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance, demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship, displays intellectual independence and makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned, and is of publishable quality.

  • Prescriptions for the PhD

    The Doctor of Philosophy is a three year research-based degree in which students undertake a programme of approved and supervised research that leads to a thesis which critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance, demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship, displays intellectual independence and makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned, and is of publishable quality.

  • 100 Level

    Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
    EARTH101Introduction to Earth System Sciences - Pūtaiao Pūnaha Whenua15.024A (Hamilton) & 24A (Tauranga)
    A lecture and laboratory paper that explores the interacting processes that affect the surface of the Earth, producing landforms and resources, with a focus on physical processes. Topics covered include coastal processes and hazards; climate change; weathering; erosion and mass movement; soil formation; the hydrological cycle; rive...
    EARTH102Discovering Planet Earth - Tūhuratia Papatūānuku15.024B (Hamilton)
    This paper explores the Earth's interior and its dynamic interaction with the crust, including: the major rocks and minerals; interpreting the rock record and geologic maps; the geological time scale and fossils; plate tectonics; volcanism; earthquakes. He tuhura no tenei pepa i te kopu o Papatuanuku me tona pahekoheko hihiri i te ...
  • 200 Level

    Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
    EARTH211Earth Resources and Materials15.024A (Hamilton)
    An introduction to the nature, composition and origin of Earth materials and resources. Topics covered include mineral properties and their uses; process origins of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks; and the importance of Earth materials as a societal resource. The paper also encompasses the petrographic and analytical cha...
    EARTH221Soil Science15.024B (Hamilton)
    An introduction to the nature, formation, and classification of soils, their physical, chemical, mineralogical, and biological properties, and issues of soil quality, land degradation and sustainable management. The paper also encompasses the properties, genesis, and distribution of the soils of New Zealand and their use.
    EARTH231Water Resources, Weather and Climate15.024A (Hamilton)
    Introduction to atmospheric and hydrological processes affecting weather and climate in Aotearoa, including the distribution of water in space and time. Topics include mid-latitude weather and atmospheric precipitation processes and how they interact with the land to affect hydrological regimes across Aotearoa, including the potent...
    EARTH241Oceanography15.024B (Hamilton) & 24B (Tauranga)
    This paper introduces students to the broad scale properties, issues, and research importance of the global ocean via the main disciplines of oceanography: particularly biological, chemical, geological and physical oceanography
    EARTH251Applied Earth Sciences15.024A (Hamilton)
    A field-based paper involving data collection and spatial analysis across several Earth Science sub-disciplines to determine the processes operating on our landscape. This includes geological mapping, geomorphological analysis in the field and from aerial images, stream gauging, as well as soil characterization and mapping. The pap...
  • 300 Level

    Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
    EARTH311Volcanology15.024A (Hamilton)
    A study of pyroclastic rocks, physical volcanology, volcanic hazards, the origin of magmas, crystallisation of rock-forming minerals and phase equilibria, petrology and trace element geochemistry of volcanic rocks, and volcanic resources.
    EARTH312Sedimentary Geology15.024B (Hamilton)
    This paper explores the links between sedimentary rocks and past environments through two major strands: reconstructing depositional environments and understanding the effects of sea-level change on sedimentary processes (sequence stratigraphy). A third strand explores the environmental and economic aspects of sedimentary geology, ...
    EARTH313Engineering Geology15.024A (Hamilton)
    Engineering Geology is the application of the principles of Earth Sciences to ensure hazards associated with landslides or unfavourable soil and rock conditions are identified in engineering or environmental work. This paper gives an introduction to the field of engineering geology. Topics covered include: landslide processes and t...
    EARTH322Soil and Water Management15.024A (Hamilton)
    This paper integrates an understanding of land/soil and water processes that occur at paddock to catchment to national scales. A focus is on management practices that optimise resource use for productive purposes with attention to avoidance or minimisation of environmental effects. Topics include soil degradation, soil fertility, ...
    EARTH331Hydrology15.024B (Hamilton)
    This paper examines aspects of the hydrological cycle at a regional scale, focussing on catchments in the North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand, including lake processes. The paper is predominantly practical and involves the measurement and analysis of hydrological processes, emphasising precipitation, river flow and runoff processe...
    EARTH341Coastal Oceanography15.024A (Hamilton) & 24A (Tauranga)
    This paper focuses on the physical oceanography of the coastal zone. Topics include estuarine circulation, wind driven currents on the shelf, longwaves, resonance, seiching, methodologies for quantifying processes and coastal responses, waves and surfzone processes.
  • 500 Level

    Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
    EARTH501Volcanic Techniques and Applications15.024B (Hamilton)
    This paper investigates geological techniques used to reconstruct eruption processes and histories, and their application to society, including volcanic facies analysis, tephra studies (tephrochronology), volcanic glass and mineral studies, juvenile and lithic studies, and volcanic hazards.
    EARTH503Coastal Processes: Analysis and Prediction15.024A (Hamilton)
    This paper considers techniques to predict coastal processes for management and research, including assessment of which processes to observe, how to obtain and analyse data, and using results for prediction.
    EARTH504Geohazard Risk15.024B (Hamilton)
    This seminar paper evaluates the methodologies used to characterise risk associated with geohazards, and assesses the impact of strategies employed to avoid or mitigate this risk.
    EARTH506Sedimentary Geology15.024A (Hamilton)
    A paper that builds on the foundational knowledge of sedimentary geology established at the undergraduate level. It focuses on examining the application of sedimentological, stratigraphical, and geophysical principles to mapping Earth materials and building cross sections through sedimentary basins.
    EARTH592Dissertation60.024X (Hamilton) & 24X (Tauranga)
    A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation.
    EARTH594Earth Sciences Thesis120.024X (Hamilton) & 24X (Tauranga)
    An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research.
    ENVSC503Greenhouse Gas Fluxes from Land15.024A (Hamilton)
    Processes and factors controlling exchanges of water, carbon and greenhouse gases in natural or managed ecosystems, methodologies to quantify them, and approaches to mitigate undesirable anthropogenic consequences.
    SCIEN512Data Analysis and Experimental Design15.024A (Hamilton)
    This paper covers aspects of research design for experiments, and methods for analysis of scientific data using modern statistical techniques.
    SCIEN589Directed Study15.024A (Hamilton), 24A (Tauranga), 24B (Hamilton), 24B (Tauranga), 24C (Hamilton) & 24C (Tauranga)
    No description available.
  • 800 Level

    Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
    EARTH800Earth Sciences MPhil Thesis120.024X (Hamilton)
    No description available.
  • 900 Level

    Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
    EARTH900Earth Sciences PhD Thesis120.024I (Hamilton), 24J (Hamilton), 24K (Hamilton), 24X (Hamilton) & 24X (Tauranga)
    No description available.

2024 Catalogue of Papers information current as of : 22 March 2024 8:11pm

This page has been reformatted for printing.