Terrascope began as an educational component of MIT's Earth System Initiative. Terrascope's goals are:  to provide first year students with experiential learning as an alternative to the traditional lecture format of MIT’s core program; to show that Earth Systems provide a context for learning how to frame and solve complex problems using an integration of science, engineering and the humanities; to teach students how to do independent research and work in teams; to improve all types of communications skills; and foremost to create and provide a community of scholars that will nurture and support one other throughout their MIT career. In 2002, Terrascope incorporated the class Solving Complex Problems (12.000) as a required class for the fall semester and to establish the Terrascope theme for the year. Also in 2002, the class 1.016 was initiated for the Spring semester with the goal of teaching students how to communicate complex scientific issues to the public by designing and building museum exhibits.

Terrascope joined MIT's cluster of learning communities when it admitted its first group of freshmen in the fall of 2002. Terrascope’s home is on the first floor of Building 16 where the administrative offices are located as well as the Terrascope learning center (Room 16- 177). In 2002-3, students focused on ways to monitor the ecological systems of the rainforest and devise strategies for ensuring its future health. The highlight of the year was a spring break trip to the Brazilian Amazon. In 2003-4, students turned their attention to an issue that has captured significant media attention: proposed drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The year culminated in a weeklong visit to Alaska. In 2004-5, protecting the delicate ecology of the Galapagos became the focus of attention. Students balanced their classroom work with a week in the Galapagos under sponsorship of the Luce Foundation. In 2005-6 students focused their work on developing an early warning system for tsunamis in the Pacific region, followed by a weeklong field visit to Chile. Most recently, they proposed a redevelopment plan for New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and visited New Orleans.

Three years ago Terrascope developed Terrascope Radio (MIT subject SP 360). This subject satisfies the Institute humanities communication requirement. Student teams work to produce, assemble, narrate, record and broadcast/webcast radio programs on topics related to the theme of the year.

Terrascope is sponsored by the Office of the Dean for Undergraduate Education and draws its administration and faculty from the departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth and Planetary Sciences. The Directorship of Terrascope is on a two year rotation. For 2006-2008 it is Professor Rafael L. Bras, Edward A. Abdun-Nur Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering. For 2008-2010 it will be Samuel Bowring of Earth Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences.