Earth Sciences Off Campus Program

The Earth Sciences Off-Campus field program, traditionally called the "Stretch," is a unique undergraduate off-campus teaching program designed to provide Earth Science majors and minors with a field experience during which the methodology and theory of the study of the earth's lithosphere and hydrosphere will be presented. Additionally, a perspective of ongoing research projects of faculty, graduate students, and senior thesis candidates in the Department of Earth Sciences at Dartmouth is provided.

The program is open to all undergraduates who have taken one of the prerequisite coures, Earth Sciences 1, 2, 3, 6 and Earth Sciences 34 (Materials of the Earth). The program is usually taken in the fall term of the junior year. The term is divided into a series of segments, each taught by a different professor in a different location. These subsequent segments are developed to expand a student's ability to map out geologic structures and geomorphic systems, investigate hydrologic riverine and lacustrine processes, observe volcanic rocks and volcanism, geochemical analysis of environmentally fragile ecosystems, investigate glacial processes and use geophysics to answer structural and tectonic problems. These segment currently take place in Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, Montana, California and Arizona. This program is an attractive departure from textbook and classroom instruction and an exciting adventure in learning about the earth sciences. For many students, it provides the stimulus and material for honors research and a senior thesis.

For more information or to apply for the Stretch Off-campus Program: Contact Jodie Davi. Note: Students will also need to apply online with the Off Campus Prgrams Office