Three hikers with backpacks on rocky trail overlooking alpine lake and snow-capped peaks
MEET OUR NEW GRADUATE STUDENTS

Learn about the newest members of the EPS community through photos and bios.

Meet the 2026 Cohort

Our Vision and Mission Statement

Together we create and share knowledge at the forefront of Earth and Planetary Sciences to cultivate informed stewardship and inspire curiosity.

We provide a world-class, stimulating intellectual and educational environment that prioritizes people. As a community we are committed to conducting cutting-edge research in Earth and Planetary Sciences to address challenging scientific and societal problems.

View our Strategic Plan

Majors and Programs

Explore the majors and programs offered by the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences below. 

Please note: We have launched our Earth and Planetary Sciences major, our new undergraduate degree program. The Geology major is no longer accepting new students. The archived Geology page remains available through the menu.

Sunlit pale sandstone spires and scrubby desert valley under clear blue sky, distant mountains

Earth and Planetary Sciences Major

Bachelor of Science in Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS)

Explore EPS Major
A close-up of brown coral

Marine and Coastal Science Major

Bachelor of Science in Marine and Coastal Science (MCS)

Explore MCS Degrees
Fractal leaves.

MAST

CalTeach / Mathematics and Science Teaching

Prepare yourself for a career in mathematics and science education

Learn more
Trilobites.

Minors

Geology Minor

Available in Geology, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Oceanography, Paleobiology

Learn more
Geoscientist outdoors

Grad school

Applying to Grad School

Graduate school in the geosciences may be a good choice for your career. How do you decide if it’s right for you?

Where to start

Department News

Check out the latest news, research, and announcements from the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences below. 

Feathered dinosaur walking across a desert landscape with sand dunes.

Did Dinosaurs Use Their Forelimbs for Social Signaling?

In December 2025, Russian scientists published an analysis of a 67-million-year-old dinosaur fossil that was found in the Gobi Desert in 1979. The fossil specimen belonged to a small, two-legged dinosaur named Manipulonyx reshetovi, a part of the Alvarezsauridae family...READ MORE
A laptop displaying code on a rocky beach surface.

UC Davis Alumni Launch Geology Coding Bootcamp

Geology provides a language for understanding the Earth. Stories from the planet’s past are locked in the rocks and landscape. But others are hard to reveal, hidden in troves of data. No one knows this better than UC Davis Ph.D. alums and married...READ MORE
Amanda Thomas headshot

meet

Amanda Thomas

I study tectonic, volcanic, and surface processes, integrating data collection, analysis, interpretation, and simplified numerical modeling to understand Earth's complex physical systems, and predict and respond to geohazards.

i am a geophysicist.
Isabel Montanez in her lab sitting at a table doing research.

meet

Isabel Montañez

I study ancient climates and how the Earth responded to climate change. Our study of ancient climates provides insight into how rainfall patterns, surface temperatures, and ecosystems will respond to future warming.

i am a paleoclimatologist.