A.B./ Sc.B Geochemistry and Environmental Chemistry

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Brown University

Program Overview

Brown University’s Geochemistry and Environmental Chemistry concentration combines chemistry, Earth science, environmental science, and quantitative methods to examine chemical and biochemical processes on Earth and the formation and evolution of Earth and other planets. Students can pursue either an A.B. requiring 12 courses or a more in-depth Sc.B. requiring 19 courses, with the curriculum suited to interests in environmental science, climate science, planetary science, Earth processes, and global change.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish the scientific and quantitative foundation required for the concentration, beginning with CHEM 0330 – Equilibrium, Rate, and Structure and quantitative preparation such as MATH 0090 – Single Variable Calculus, Part I or approved alternatives. The Sc.B. pathway also incorporates supporting science and quantitative options such as CSCI 0111 – Computing Foundations: Data, PHYS 0050 – Foundations of Mechanics, or EEPS 0250 – Computational Approaches to Modelling and Quantitative Analysis in Natural Sciences: An Introduction.

Year 2: Students move into the core Earth and geochemical sciences through subjects such as EEPS 0220 – Earth and Environmental Processes, EEPS 0230 – Geochemistry: Earth and Planetary Materials and Processes, and EEPS 0240 – Earth: Evolution of a Habitable Planet. Chemistry can be developed further through courses such as CHEM 0350 – Organic Chemistry I, CHEM 0360 – Organic Chemistry II, or CHEM 0500 – Inorganic Chemistry.

Year 3: The curriculum becomes more specialized, with students studying areas such as EEPS 1370 – Environmental Geochemistry and EEPS 1410 – Mineralogy, while selecting additional chemistry and upper-level EEPS courses. Depending on interests, options include CHEM 1060 – Advanced Inorganic Chemistry, CHEM 1140 – Physical Chemistry: Quantum Chemistry, EEPS 1130 – Ocean Biogeochemical Cycles, or EEPS 1380 – Environmental Stable Isotopes.

Year 4: Students consolidate their advanced knowledge through upper-level science and mathematics electives and complete EEPS 1970 – Undergraduate Senior Thesis Course in the Sc.B. pathway. The final stage can therefore bring together geochemistry, environmental processes, chemistry, quantitative analysis, and independent research, with some course choices adaptable in consultation with the concentration advisor.

Focus Areas

Low-temperature geochemistry, high-temperature geochemistry, environmental geochemistry, climate science, planetary science, Earth and planetary materials, ocean biogeochemistry, mineralogy, petrology, environmental and resource issues, global change.

Learning Outcomes

Critical thinking, data analysis, quantitative modeling, systems-based problem solving, written communication, oral communication, geochemical analysis, understanding of Earth and planetary processes, environmental science, research skills.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

No program-specific professional accreditation is stated on Brown University’s official Geochemistry and Environmental Chemistry program or Bulletin pages; therefore, no specific accreditation should be assumed.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Brown University reported that LinkedIn ranked Brown No. 12 in its 2026 Top Colleges list, which evaluates U.S. institutions using career-related measures including job placement, advancement, internships, and entrepreneurship. This is a university-level ranking and not a specific ranking of the Geochemistry and Environmental Chemistry concentration.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The A.B./Sc.B. in Geochemistry and Environmental Chemistry at Brown University is designed around process-oriented learning, with students gaining practical experience through classroom work, laboratories, field trips, data analysis, modeling, and research. The program is housed within the Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences (DEEPS), where students can investigate low-temperature processes involving land, oceans and freshwater systems or high-temperature processes involving magma, volcanism and planetary evolution; Brown also provides opportunities for paid research during the academic year or summer.

Students can build practical and research experience through:

Field-based learning: DEEPS explicitly emphasizes hands-on approaches in laboratories and on field trips, giving students opportunities to apply geochemical concepts to real Earth and environmental systems.
Environmental and geochemical coursework: Students can develop applied knowledge through courses such as EEPS 1370 Environmental Geochemistry, EEPS 1130 Ocean Biogeochemical Cycles, EEPS 1410 Mineralogy, and EEPS 1420 Petrology.
Mass Spectrometer Analytical Facility: Brown's DEEPS facility provides access to advanced instruments including a Thermo Scientific Neptune Plus multi-collector ICP-MS, Thermo Scientific X-Series-2 ICP-MS, Photon Machines Analyte G2 laser ablation system, and a trace-metal-free clean laboratory for geological, biological, environmental, and materials research.
Research laboratories: Students can participate in research connected with DEEPS's major areas, including Geochemistry, Environmental Science, Climate and Environment, Geophysics, and Planetary Science, providing opportunities to work on active scientific questions.
Paid undergraduate research: Brown specifically states that Geochemistry and Environmental Chemistry students have opportunities to undertake paid research during the summer or academic year, allowing them to gain experience within an active research environment.
Chemistry instrumentation: Because the concentration combines Earth sciences with chemistry, students can also benefit from Brown Chemistry's facilities, including NMR spectrometers, mass spectrometry instrumentation, HPLC, and dedicated research laboratories.
NMR and data-analysis tools: Brown's NMR facility provides undergraduate access after training and uses MESTREC software for NMR processing, while the Mass Spectrometry Facility provides software including Xcalibur, MassHunter, ChemStation, SpectrumMill, and Bioworks/Sequest for instrument control and data analysis.
Undergraduate research in chemistry: CHEM 0980 Undergraduate Research allows students to conduct original research under the mentorship of a faculty member, and Brown Chemistry states that research opportunities are available from the first year.
GeoChem and MacMillan facilities: The GeoChem Research Building houses Chemistry and DEEPS, while W. Duncan MacMillan Hall contains teaching laboratories for chemistry, geology, and environmental sciences, creating a shared interdisciplinary learning environment.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The A.B./Sc.B. in Geochemistry and Environmental Chemistry develops skills in critical thinking, data analysis and modeling, complex problem-solving, and scientific communication, with the Sc.B. providing deeper preparation for graduate study and careers in geochemistry, climate science, planetary science, and related areas. Brown specifically identifies pathways including environmental consulting, academia, government agencies such as NASA, NOAA, EPA and USGS, NGOs, technology companies, climate solutions, and sustainable energy.

Typical career roles: Environmental Consultant, Geochemist, Environmental Scientist, Geoscience Researcher.

Career development and progression are supported through:

Career services: Brown’s Lizzie & Jonathan Tisch Center for Career Exploration provides career guidance, resources, employer connections, and access to Brown’s worldwide alumni network.
Research opportunities: DEEPS provides opportunities for students to undertake paid research during the academic year or summer, allowing undergraduates to build research experience alongside faculty.
Relevant research experience: Brown’s DEEPS research spans geochemistry, environmental science, oceans, ice and atmospheres, planetary geosciences, and climate-related research, giving students opportunities to connect their degree with active scientific investigations.
Graduation outcomes: Brown reports that 96% of graduating seniors in 2021 went immediately into employment opportunities or graduate/professional school, while 82% of undergraduate students participated in summer internships, fellowships, or research projects. These figures are for Brown undergraduates overall rather than this specific concentration.
Career preparation: Brown’s career-outcomes data reports that 88% of undergraduate alumni 10 years after graduation said Brown prepared them for their current career; the university also reports that 97% of employed Class of 2022 graduates in its available outcomes data were working in the U.S.
Employment and salary figures: Brown’s official career resources provide employment trends and annual earnings information through career-pathway tools, but the university does not publish a current Geochemistry and Environmental Chemistry-specific graduate salary figure on the program page. Therefore, a concentration-specific salary figure is not stated by Brown.
University–research partnerships: DEEPS research includes collaborations with organizations and universities such as the Uganda Wildlife Authority, Makerere University, Pennsylvania State University, Dartmouth College, and Trinity College Dublin in climate and geochemistry research.
Professional accreditation value: Brown states that the university is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). Brown does not state a separate professional accreditation specifically for the Geochemistry and Environmental Chemistry A.B./Sc.B., so no program-specific professional accreditation should be assumed.
Research-to-career exposure: Recent DEEPS graduates have combined the concentration with experiences such as UTRA research, internships, field research, teaching assistantships, and international research, demonstrating the range of academic and professional experiences available alongside the concentration.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the A.B. or Sc.B. in Geochemistry and Environmental Chemistry, students can progress to master’s or doctoral study in geochemistry, environmental science, Earth and planetary sciences, climate science, oceanography, or related disciplines. Brown specifically describes the Sc.B. as suitable for students considering graduate school and deeper study in geochemistry, climate science, planetary science, and related fields.