Science
Earth and Space Science
Explore geology, oceanography, meteorology, astronomy, and human impacts in this self-paced, online Earth and Space Science course.
About the course
Course Overview
Earth and Space Science introduces students to the systems and forces that shape our planet and universe, using scientific investigation, systems thinking, and evidence-based reasoning as a guide. Students explore how physical laws connect solar system formation, plate tectonics, and climate change, and learn to trace Earth’s major cycles, read the geologic record, and assess the risks of natural hazards. The course starts with core science skills — writing hypotheses, spotting bias, and testing claims — then moves outward from Earth’s interior to the scale of the universe. No prior science experience or materials are required.
By the end of the course
Learning Objectives
- Apply the practices of scientific inquiry — including designing investigations, evaluating evidence, and constructing evidence-based arguments — to questions about Earth and space systems.
- Explain how Earth’s major systems — geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere — interact through matter and energy cycles, and analyze how changes in one system affect others.
- Use plate tectonic theory, the geologic record, and astronomical evidence to explain the history and structure of Earth and the solar system.
- Analyze data and observational evidence to evaluate the causes and consequences of climate change, natural hazards, and human impacts on Earth systems.
- Construct written Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) arguments that communicate scientific explanations clearly, accurately, and with appropriate use of discipline-specific vocabulary.
Course contents
What You'll Study
Nature of Science & Systems Thinking
What Is Science and How Does It Work? • Designing and Evaluating Investigations • Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning • Systems Thinking: Boundaries, Inputs, and Feedback • Ethics, Bias, and the Culture of Science
Earth–Moon–Sun System & Seasons
Earth in Motion: Rotation, Revolution, and Orbits • Seasons and Axial Tilt • Moon Phases and Eclipses • Tides and Gravitational Interactions
Light, Telescopes & Observational Evidence
The Electromagnetic Spectrum • Telescopes and Observatories • Spectra and the Composition of Stars • The Doppler Effect, Brightness, and Evidence of Motion
Formation of the Solar System & Planetary Habitability
Nebular Theory and Solar System Formation • Planetary Differentiation and Structure • Conditions for Habitability • Comparative Planetology
Stars, Galaxies & Big Bang Theory
Stellar Evolution and the H-R Diagram • Nucleosynthesis and the Life Cycles of Stars • Galaxies, Gravity, and Large-Scale Structure • Evidence for the Big Bang
History of Earth
Fossils, geologic time, Earth’s changing surface
Earth’s Changing Surface
Surface processes, landform development
Earth’s Water
Properties of water, water resources
The Atmosphere
Layers of the atmosphere, weather, climate
History of Earth
Supercontinents, Earth’s timeline, fossil records
Human Impact on Earth
Resource use, sustainability, environmental impact
Earn your 1.0 credit in Earth and Space Science
Accredited. Self-paced. Built for Texas students.
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Excel High School Texas is fully accredited, self-paced, and built for Texas students who want a college-ready diploma without compromise.