A major chosen after arrival
Yale says every student begins undeclared and has until the end of sophomore year to choose from over 80 majors. The pages read describe no separate application to Earth and Planetary Sciences.
Undergraduate · Yale College
Yale Earth and Planetary Sciences: the Earth system, climate and other planets
Yale College admits students without a declared major, and Earth and Planetary Sciences is a major they can choose once enrolled. Yale's catalogue describes applying scientific principles to the Earth system and other planets, with a B.A. suited to double majors and a B.S. with four concentrations. This guide makes no claim of a separate application to the major.
Official information · read 1 November 2026, no entry-year label
What Yale says about Yale Earth and Planetary Sciences
Taken from the Yale College Programs of Study 2026–2027 entry for Earth and Planetary Sciences and Yale Undergraduate Admissions' Majors, Standardized Testing and International pages, read on 1 November 2026. The pages carry no entry-year label, so for a 2028-entry application every statement below is evidence for the previous cycle and may change; check Yale's pages for the 2028-entry details.
B.A. or B.S.
The B.A. requires fewer upper-level courses and suits students combining two majors; the B.S. has four concentrations.
Four B.S. concentrations
Atmosphere, Ocean, and Climate; Environmental and Energy Geoscience; Paleontology and Geobiology; Solid Earth Science.
Exam credit can count for prerequisites
With permission, acceleration credits for high scores on national or international exams may satisfy prerequisites.
The SAT or ACT is required
Yale's testing policy requires scores from either test; international applicants meet the same requirements.
Official sources
- Yale Undergraduate Admissions: Majors & Academic Programsadmissions.yale.edu
- Yale College Programs of Study 2026–2027: Earth and Planetary Sciencescatalog.yale.edu
- Yale Undergraduate Admissions: Standardized Testingadmissions.yale.edu
Read on 1 November 2026 on the Yale College Programs of Study 2026–2027 entry for Earth and Planetary Sciences and Yale Undergraduate Admissions' Majors, Standardized Testing and International pages, which describes 2027 entry. The pages carry no entry-year label. Yale's department website, the course listings behind each course code, deadlines and financial aid were not read, and the admissions pages do not mention A-levels or the IB by name and are not stated.
The major
What the catalogue says the major is
Yale's catalogue says the programme prepares students to apply scientific principles and methods to the Earth system and other planets, from the history of Earth and life to present-day environmental processes and climate change, deep interiors, tectonic plates, oceans, atmospheres and natural resources. The B.A. requires fewer upper-level courses and may suit students fulfilling two majors or deciding on a science major after the first year; the B.S. offers four concentrations as pathways to professional careers and research. This guide does not list individual courses.
Is it the right major?
Earth and Planetary Sciences beside other Yale science and engineering routes
Yale describes these as separate majors, so the choice is made after admission. Avandy's comparison is general.
This major fits if
you want the Earth and planets as natural systems, with climate, oceans or deep Earth as your focus.
Applied Physics fits if
you want physics tied to technology. Avandy's Yale Applied Physics guide covers it.
Chemical Engineering fits if
you want process design for energy and the environment. Avandy's Yale Chemical Engineering guide covers it.
Admission and testing
A Yale College application and the SAT or ACT
Yale requires first-year applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores and has no preference between them. International applicants complete the same application with the same requirements, and the admissions pages read do not mention A-levels or the IB by name. The major is chosen after admission, not applied for separately. This guide states no score.
A decision framework
Three questions before you commit
This is Avandy's own framework, not Yale's.
Which B.S. concentration draws you?
The four concentrations have different prerequisites.
Do you want to double major?
The catalogue says the B.A. may suit that.
Can you plan the SAT or ACT with your A levels or IB?
Yale requires one of them for first-year applicants.
Planning for 2028 entry
Planning for 2028 entry: what carries over and what is awaiting publication
Yale's pages carry no entry-year label, so nothing on them is confirmed for 2028 entry. Use them to understand the structure of the application, then check Yale's own pages for the 2028-entry details.
The requirements and descriptions on the pages read on 1 November 2026, which carry no entry-year label
These are the best guide to what to prepare. Yale has not confirmed them for 2028 entry.
Deadlines, fees, financial aid and any department prerequisites not quoted here: not stated
This guide has not read them. Check Yale for the values that apply to your application year.
What to do now
Read the Earth and Planetary Sciences entry in Yale's Programs of Study and plan the SAT or ACT alongside your A levels or IB.
Support
Independent support with planning your own application
Avandy provides independent academic and admissions support. It is not affiliated with Yale College or any of its colleges or departments. Preparation sits within the Avandy Trinity Advisory Model: a Strategic Admissions Consultant, a PhD-level Academic Mentor and a Subject-specific Tutor, working to the actual requirements of each course. Support here is limited to understanding the requirements and planning the applicant's own work; Avandy does not write or edit essays, does not submit any materials and has no partnership with Yale College. No outcome is promised.
Questions
Questions applicants ask
Can I apply directly to Yale Earth and Planetary Sciences?
The pages read describe admission to Yale College. Students begin undeclared and choose a major by the end of sophomore year.
Can exam credit count?
The catalogue says that with the director's permission, acceleration credits for high scores on national or international exams, such as Advanced Placement subject tests, may satisfy prerequisites.
Can I decide late?
The catalogue says the B.A. may suit students who decide to pursue a science major only after the first year.
Do I need the SAT or ACT?
Yes. Yale's testing policy requires scores from either test.
Does Yale name A-levels or the IB on these pages?
No. The admissions pages read do not mention them by name.
Are these the rules for 2028 entry?
No. They are Yale's wording with no entry-year label. Check Yale's pages again when Yale publishes its 2028-entry requirements.
Students and families
Talk to us about Yale Earth and Planetary Sciences
Tell us about the student's curriculum, their physics, chemistry and mathematics, their interest in field and climate science and their SAT or ACT plan, the universities on the list, and the intended year of entry. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare.