About the Department

Explore a different kind of classroom in the Department of Earth and Space Sciences. At CSU, you'll develop an in-depth understanding of the universe through the lens of earth, environmental, and space science - or robotics and engineering. Interdisciplinary by nature, our department offers both graduate and baccalaureate degrees, as well an associate’s degree and certificate program.

Create your own educational path as a student in the Department of Earth and Space Sciences. Pursue hands-on educational experiences with field trips, laboratory and field courses, class projects, and supervised research. Whether you’re interested in archaeology, engineering and robotics, environmental science, hydrology, geology, physics or science education, there's an experience waiting for you.

Create Your Future

The Department of Earth and Space Sciences offers a number of degrees and minors. Explore your options here.

Department Degree Programs
Program Type	Programs Available
Bachelor's	Earth and Space Science - Astrophysics & Planetary Geology (B.S.), Earth and Space Science - Environmental Science (B.S.), Earth and Space Science - Geology (B.S.), Earth and Space Science - Secondary Education (B.S.), Robotics (B.S.)
Master's	Robotics (M.S.), Natural Sciences - Environmental Science Thesis Track (M.S.), Natural Sciences - Environmental Science Non-thesis Track (M.S.), Natural Sciences - Geosciences Track (M.S.)
Combined Bachelor's/Master's	Earth and Space Science / Natural Sciences (Combined B.S./M.S.), Robotics (Combined B.S./M.S.)
Minors	Anthropology, Astronomy, Environmental Science, Geology
Undergraduate Certificates	Robotics Certificate

Explore All Degrees

Our Students in Action

Three female students putting sand into a bucket in a creek — Classrooms without walls

Four female students and one male student standing on a rock in front of mountains — A degree that expands your horizons

Several students lookuping up from a stairwell — Unravel the secrets of the universe

Several students and profesors looking through telescopes — Classrooms outside the windows

CSU students and a professor standing in front of a poster — A degree where learning is doing

Several students standing in front of a poster presentation — Make a difference in how we see the world

Several students sitting on rocks with paperwork — Classrooms without desks

Several students standing next to telescopes — A degree where the limit is beyond the sky

Three male students sitting on the edge of a creek gathering rocks — Protect our air, water, and natural environment

One male and one female student standing in a creek — Classrooms without screens

Several students and professors sitting on a rock — A degree that takes you places you never imagined

Several students standing below a cliff face — Locate the resources society needs

Several students standing on a cliff — Classrooms without limits

Several male and female students cleaning a river — A degree that makes the world a better place

A woman standing in front of a whiteboard in a classroom — Educate the next generation of scientists

Learn From the Best

Faculty in the Department of Earth and Space Sciences work to advance humanity's understanding of the Earth and wider universe. We share that passion for exploration with our students in the classroom, laboratory, and field, as well as through mentored research projects and hands-on learning experiences.

Dr. Troy Keller
Department Chair / Professor

Dr. Clinton Barineau
Professor

Dr. Shawn Cruzen
Professor / Director, Coca-Cola Space Science Center

Dr. Mohammad Jafari
Assistant Professor

Dr. Stephen Jessup
Assistant Professor

Dr. Andrew Puckett
Professor

Dr. Mahmut Reyhanoglu
Professor / Program Director of Robotics Engineering

Dr. David Schwimmer
Professor

Dr. Abiye Seifu
Professor

Dr. Kimberly Shaw
Professor

Dr. Rosa Williams
Professor

Visit the College of Letters and Sciences

We Can Help

Columbus State University offers students a number of scholarships each year. Learn more about available scholarships.

Scholarships

Tuition and Aid

Beyond the Classroom

At Columbus State University, you'll have opportunities to enhance your education in our degree programs by participating in organizations, events, and more.

Outreach

The Department of Earth and Space Sciences works closely with several of Columbus State University's outreach centers to give students hands-on experience and involve them in research projects. These include:

The Coca-Cola Space Science Center includes the Mead Observatory, which provides the telescopes and other equipment for astronomy lab classes. The Mead Observatory's primary telescope is used for student research projects on solar activity, and for classes on observing techniques. It is capable of remote telescope control and imaging via the Internet, bringing observing into school classrooms around the world and enabling CSU students first-hand experience in science education. Also featured is the Omnisphere Planetarium, which allows three-dimensional high-resolution imaging of the sky at any time and location, as well as sophisticated models and programming demonstrating various astronomical topics. In addition, the Space Science Center provides a variety of equipment invaluable in teaching astronomy, such as the Magic Planet three-dimensional display of satellite maps for planetary surfaces and atmospheres; an infrared camera; an "All-Sky" rooftop camera; and an assortment of physics and optics demonstrations.
The Academic Center for Tutoring has the dual purpose of assisting CSU students and faculty to learn and teach science, mathematics, English, and more. Faculty and teachers can learn about the latest pedagogical approaches, teaching tools, and classroom technologies. Students can gain experience in teaching both through education workshops and by doing first-hand peer tutoring. Other students, of course, gain the benefit of this tutoring to advance their understanding of math and science. Not only can you make an appointment to see a tutor across most disciplines, you can check out their resource database as well!
Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center is located within a natural park which includes wetlands, hardwood forests, and meadows. It provides an ideal location to study environmental science through the hands-on observation of these ecosystems. It is soon to open a newly remodeled building featuring classrooms, an auditorium, live animals and interactive displays.

In the News

Congratulations to ESS Professor of Geology Dr. David Schwimmer!

Congratulations to ESS Professor of Geology Dr David Schwimmer, who has the distinction of having a species named after him! Dr. Schwimmer is considered one of the world's foremost experts on the Cretaceous North American "super-croc," Deinosuchus. You can learn more about Dr. Schwimmer's work on this school bus-sized crocodilian in an interview with the Columbus Ledger Enquirer.

Alumni Spotlight

Congratulations to ESS alumni John Hood, who recently returned from Antarctica as part of the South Pole Telescope research group detector team at the Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics, as well as Dr. Kar'retta Venable, who joined the US Environmental Protection Agency as a ORISE Postdoctoral Research Scientist.