Earth SciencesSubject regulations

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.

Other qualifications

Prescriptions for:

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.
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 SCIEN520 (45 points), SCIEN523 (45 points), EARTH592 (60 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, SCIEN501, SCIEN502, SCIEN503, SCIEN511, SCIEN512 and SCIEN589.
NOTE:
[1] The MSc(Tech) will not be offered in 2025.
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.
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.

Earth Sciences papers

Code and paper title	Points	Occurrence/Location The study locations.
EARTH101Introduction to Earth System Sciences - Pūtaiao Pūnaha Whenua A lecture and laboratory paper that explores the interacting processes that affect the surface of the Earth, producing landforms and resources, with...	15	25A (Hamilton) & 25A (Tauranga)
EARTH102Discovering Planet Earth - Tūhuratia Papatūānuku This paper explores the Earth's interior and its dynamic interaction with the crust, including: the major rocks and minerals; interpreting the rock...	15	25B (Hamilton)

Code and paper title	Points	Occurrence/Location The study locations.
EARTH211Earth Resources and Materials An introduction to the nature, composition and origin of Earth materials and resources. Topics covered include mineral properties and their uses...	15	25A (Hamilton)
EARTH221Soil Science An introduction to the nature, formation, and classification of soils, their physical, chemical, mineralogical, and biological properties, and issues...	15	25B (Hamilton)
EARTH231Water Resources, Weather and Climate Introduction to atmospheric and hydrological processes affecting water resources in Aotearoa / New Zealand, including the distribution of water in...	15	25A (Hamilton)
EARTH241Oceanography This paper introduces students to the broad scale properties, issues, and research importance of the global ocean via the main disciplines of...	15	25B (Hamilton) & 25B (Tauranga)
EARTH251Applied Earth Sciences A field-based paper involving data collection and spatial analysis across several Earth Science sub-disciplines to determine the processes operating...	15	25A (Hamilton)

Code and paper title	Points	Occurrence/Location The study locations.
EARTH311Volcanology A study of pyroclastic rocks, physical volcanology, volcanic hazards, the origin of magmas, crystallisation of rock-forming minerals and phase...	15	25A (Hamilton)
EARTH312Sedimentary Geology This paper explores the links between sedimentary rocks and past environments through two major strands: reconstructing depositional environments and...	15	25B (Hamilton)
EARTH313Engineering Geology Engineering Geology is the application of the principles of Earth Sciences to ensure hazards associated with landslides or unfavourable soil and rock...	15	25A (Hamilton)
EARTH322Soil and Water Management This paper integrates an understanding of land/soil and water processes that occur at paddock to catchment to national scales. A focus is on...	15	25A (Hamilton)
EARTH331Hydrology This paper examines aspects of the hydrological cycle at a regional scale, focussing on catchments in the North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand...	15	25B (Hamilton)
EARTH341Coastal Oceanography This paper focuses on the physical oceanography of the coastal zone. Topics include estuarine circulation, wind driven currents on the shelf...	15	25A (Hamilton) & 25A (Tauranga)

Code and paper title	Points	Occurrence/Location The study locations.
EARTH501Volcanic Techniques and Applications This paper investigates geological techniques used to reconstruct eruption processes and histories, and their application to society, including...	15	25B (Hamilton)
EARTH503Coastal Processes: Analysis and Prediction This paper considers techniques to predict coastal processes for management and research, including assessment of which processes to observe, how to...	15	25A (Hamilton)
EARTH504Geohazard Risk This seminar paper evaluates the methodologies used to characterise risk associated with geohazards, and assesses the impact of strategies employed...	15	25B (Hamilton)
EARTH506Sedimentary Geology A paper that builds on the foundational knowledge of sedimentary geology established at the undergraduate level. It focuses on examining the...	15	25A (Hamilton)
EARTH508Rock Failure This paper considers structural geology and rock mechanics within Engineering Geology, including strength of intact rocks, rock joints and fault...	15	25B (Hamilton)
EARTH592Dissertation A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation.	60	25X (Hamilton) & 25X (Tauranga)
EARTH594Earth Sciences Thesis An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research.	120	25I (Hamilton) & 25X (Hamilton) & 25X (Tauranga)
ENVSC503Greenhouse Gas Fluxes from Land Processes and factors controlling exchanges of water, carbon and greenhouse gases in natural or managed ecosystems, methodologies to quantify them...	15	25A (Hamilton)
SCIEN501Science Research Methods This paper is an introduction to professional practice as a scientist and is required for MSc(Res) degree students. This paper may be taken by MSc...	15	25A (Hamilton) & 25A (Tauranga) & 25B (Hamilton) & 25B (Tauranga)
SCIEN502Science and Mātauranga Māori This paper will provide science students with a foundational understanding of both scientific and Mātauranga Māori perspectives on topical issues and...	15	25A (Hamilton) & 25A (Tauranga)
SCIEN503Science Communication in Society and the Workplace This paper discusses ways in which science can be communicated by scientists to others. It includes interacting with mainstream media, how to...	15	25C (Hamilton)
SCIEN512Data Analysis and Experimental Design This paper covers aspects of research design for experiments, and methods for analysis of scientific data using modern statistical techniques.	15	25A (Hamilton)
SCIEN520Dissertation A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation, in the form of an individual project based on the analysis of existing data.	45	25X (Hamilton) & 25X (Tauranga)
SCIEN523Dissertation A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation, in the form of a project based on the analysis of existing data. All students...	45	25C (Hamilton)
SCIEN589Directed Study	15	25A (Hamilton) & 25A (Tauranga) & 25B (Hamilton) & 25B (Tauranga) & 25C (Hamilton) & 25C (Tauranga)

Code and paper title	Points	Occurrence/Location The study locations.
EARTH800Earth Sciences MPhil Thesis	120	25X (Hamilton)

Code and paper title	Points	Occurrence/Location The study locations.
EARTH900Earth Sciences PhD Thesis	120	25I (Hamilton) & 25J (Hamilton) & 25K (Hamilton) & 25X (Hamilton) & 25X (Tauranga)

2025 Catalogue of Papers information current as of 13 Jul 2025 01:00am

Earth SciencesSubject regulations

Other qualifications

GradCert(EarthSc) and GradDip(EarthSc)

PGCert(EarthSc), PGDip(EarthSc), BSc(Hons), MSc, MSc(Res) and MSc(Tech) [1]

MPhil

PhD

Earth Sciences papers