BSc Honours in Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences in La Jolla United States | University of California, San Diego

Scripps Institution of Oceanography's Honors Program is available to a select group of students who have shown outstanding achievement in either the earth sciences or marine biology majors. Those pursuing oceanic and atmospheric sciences will gain foundational knowledge of the physical and chemical processes that shape our oceans and atmosphere. This program explores diverse scientific subjects with growing societal importance, such as wave dynamics, tidal patterns, ocean currents, natural climate phenomena like El Niño, anthropogenic climate shifts, global temperature rise, seawater acidification, weather systems, and marine vortices. Participants will develop analytical skills to examine these issues through core principles of fluid dynamics and atmospheric chemistry. Leveraging Scripps' specialized resources, the program incorporates contemporary methods for gathering and interpreting extensive oceanic and atmospheric datasets. The curriculum capitalizes on Scripps' distinctive advantages, with upper-level courses typically maintaining small class sizes for individualized attention while providing access to a major research university's facilities. Numerous research opportunities allow undergraduates to collaborate with faculty, researchers, and graduate students on both observational and theoretical projects. By its very design, this interdisciplinary major maintains strong ties to coursework and research in physics, chemistry, engineering, geosciences, and environmental studies.