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Course Description
Exploration of the role of water in the development of human civilization, focusing on three key periods: prehistory, the rise of scientific advancements, and the future of water management. Students will critically examine historical narratives and…
Exploration of the intricate relationship between human activities and Earth's ecosystems. Uncover the far-reaching effects of consumption and pollution on essential resources, with a targeted focus on pivotal environmental and geological challenges…
Description and identification of minerals and rocks. Interpretation of topographic and geological maps. Identification and interpretation of surficial and structural geologic features. Quantitative evaluation of hydrologic and environmental problems.…
Earth processes and utilization of geological materials (plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanism, hydrology, erosion). Pollution, sustainability, and energy resources related to environmental geology, rocks and minerals, and evolution of landforms.…
Foundations of Earth system history, including the geologic record of life and global change, biodiversity, evolution, ecological changes, extinction, global biogeochemical cycles, sea-level, and climate change, with quantitative analysis of…
Description, identification, and interpretation of sedimentary structures and the fossil remains of organisms. The physical evidence of evolution and climatic change throughout geologic time. Interpretation of geologic features and processes.
Physical geology; characteristics and origins of rocks and minerals; mechanism and processes of volcanism, plutonism, metamorphism, weathering, erosion, sedimentation, and lithification; and evolution of landforms. Tectonic processes of continental…
Earth’s history is fundamental for understanding links among the hydrosphere (oceans, rivers), cryosphere (glaciers, ice sheets), geosphere (Earth), biosphere (life), and atmosphere (greenhouse gases, climate) through time. Innovative discoveries…
Concepts of physics, chemistry, geology, and biology in an integrated fashion. The evolution of the universe from the primordial state to the present time, and considers human interaction with the environment.
Weekend field trips required.…
Environmental geology focusing on understanding global and current environmental problems and their relationships with geological processes. Emphasis on case histories of geologic hazards and environmental impact of resources extraction and use. Requirements for a sustainable society analyzed.…
Characteristics and origins of minerals and rocks. Plate tectonics and structure of the Earth's interior. Geologic processes that affect the Earth's surface: volcanism, earthquakes, coastal erosion, and global climate changes. Mineral, water, and energy…
Measurement of geologic time. Physical and biological history of Earth as recorded in rocks and fossils. Development of the major features of the Earth, with particular emphasis on North America. Human impacts on the Earth system. Rates of global change…
Introduction to the geologic processes on Earth, exploration of our Solar System, and geologic discoveries on all major bodies in our Solar System. Using comparative planetology as a tool to learn about the geology of extraterrestrial worlds, including…
Physical and chemical properties, identification, and modes of occurrence of minerals and mineral assemblages. Mineral crystallography, determinations of optical properties with the petrographic microscope, x-ray diffraction and structural formula…
Surface processes; geohydrological, geochemical cycles; and surface geological structures of the Earth.
Field Trips Required
Institutional Competencies Learning Outcomes
Basic aspects of oceanography: ocean basins and plate tectonics, shallow and deep ocean circulation, waves and tides, marine biology and ecology, marine sediments, chemistry of seawater, paleoceanography, and environmental oceanography.
…
Research methods in the natural sciences to enhance directed study participation and Honors thesis/project preparation.
Weekly seminars focus on individual student research designs. May be held as daily seminars during the May session.
Gem materials, historical, cultural, mineralogical, technological, and scientific aspects. The identification and evaluation of gems.
Consequences of potentially hazardous geologic processes, including volcanic activity, earthquakes, landslides, flooding, shoreline erosion, and ground failure. Emphasis on developing understanding of the underlying geologic processes that result in hazards and delineating risk potential.…
Geological features of selected national parks used as type examples for understanding rock forming processes (igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic) and orogenic processes. Exploitation of mineral resources in and around national parks and conflicts that ensue.
May also be taught as…
Dinosaur dinners, dates, dallying, and domiciles (or dinosaur habitats and eating, reproductive, and social behavior). Warm- bloodedness versus cold-bloodedness. Relationship to birds, reptiles, and mammals. Evolutionary patterns. Extinction and asteroids. Climate, sea level, and continents…
Dinosaur dinners, dates, dallying, and domiciles (or dinosaur habitats and eating, reproductive, and social behavior). Warm-bloodedness versus cold-bloodedness. Relationship to birds, reptiles, and mammals. Evolutionary patterns. Extinction and asteroids. Climate, sea level, and continents…
Pterodacytls and other pterosaurs are fascinating creatures that were contemporaries of and closely related to dinosaurs. The course will examine basic geologic and paleontologic principles used to determine when they lived and to reconstruct their lifestyles, including how they flew, what they…
The flying dragons of the Mesozoic (pterodacytls and other pterosaurs) are fascinating creatures that were contemporaries of and closely related to dinosaurs. The course will examine basic geologic and paleontologic principles used to determine when they lived and to reconstruct their lifestyles…
Examination of the basic geologic and paleontologic principles used to determine when mosasaurs, plesiosaurs, and ichthyosaurs lived and reconstruction of their lifestyles, including how they swam, what they ate (and what ate them) and how they raised their young.
Students…
Examination of the basic geologic and paleontologic principles used to determine when mosasaurs, plesiosaurs, and ichthyosaurs lived and reconstruction of their lifestyles, including how they swam, what they ate (and what ate them), and how they raised their young.
This course will be…
Principles of paleobiology, including biostratigraphy, paleoecology, taphonomy, and macroevolutionary dynamics.
Student learning Outcomes
Internal processes which are responsible for the formation and physico-chemical evolution of the earth. Study of the basic tools of igneous and metamorphic petrology, geochemistry, thermodynamics and heat-transfer mechanisms and their application in field and laboratory investigations.
Application of geology in the service of agriculture. Critically examine the methods and application of earth minerals and pyrolyzed waste biomass (black carbon) as natural alternatives to restore the health of soils for agro-farming, reforestation, and carbon sequestration.
Application of the fossil record to environmental problem solving for a sustainable future. Using the Holocene and Deep time record to 3.8 billion years ago; emphasis on extinctions, species origination, diversification, and biotic resilience to…
Sedimentary processes in major siliciclastic and carbonate depositional environments. Factors affecting deposition and erosion of sediments on time scales of hundreds of years to hundreds of thousands of years.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:Research…
Stress and strain within the earth, and the mechanical properties and behavior of earth materials. Geologic structures, their recognition and interpretation in the field, and the solution of structural problems. Framework of the Earth's crust; evolution…
Selected problems in the natural sciences which have special or current relevance to members of the University community. Topics will vary to meet interest and demand.
Geomicrobiological processes, astrobiology, applied geomicrobiology in industries, applied geomicrobiology for environmental sustainability, and new methods in geomicrobiology.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:…
The geologic aspects of ocean basins, including morphology, sedimentation processes, and mode of origin.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:More extensive term paper and term project and presentation.
Distribution of elements and isotopes in minerals, rocks, and waters. Principles governing the migration and behavior of elements and isotopes.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:Term paper or project.
Chemical behavior of natural aquatic systems: chemical kinetic and equilibrium relationships controlling the quality of surface and subsurface waters, both pristine and polluted. Distribution and behavior of chemical species in aqueous environments.
Additional Requirements for…
Groundwater in the hydrologic cycle. Examination of flow through porous media, regional flow, influence of wells, water chemistry, and contaminant transport. Emphasis on practical environmental problems.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:More extensive…
Field measurement of geologic parameters, accurate recording of observations, production and interpretation of geologic maps and cross sections, and the recognition of structures and lithologies in the field.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:Graduate…
Supervised work experience with a natural history collection. Students will learn techniques and other procedures for curating materials in a collection of their choice under the direction of collection personnel.
Students will maintain regular, weekly work schedules totaling 7 hours…
Theory and practice of field measurement, large scale planimetric and topographic mapping, and grid surveying. Graphic presentation of field data. Geologic mapping projects, including interpretation of observed geologic features. Summary maps and reports must be prepared and defended in the…
Textures, mineralogy, and classification of the common igneous and metamorphic rocks. Origin of magmas and volcanoes and their impact on civilizations; evolution of continental and oceanic crusts; metamorphic rocks as probes of crustal processes.
Classification and origin of base and precious metal ore deposits; relationships between ore deposits, host rocks, and plate tectonics; principles of ore deposit exploration and evaluation.
Geological understanding of petroleum, including its origin, its migration, the reservoir rocks in which it is found, the mechanisms by which it is trapped in the subsurface, the techniques by which it is found and extracted, and its geochemical and…
Evolution of North American continent through time. Stratigraphic, sedimentary, and magmatic history and tectonic development of various regions since the early Precambrian. Paleontological record of environmental and biological changes. Origin of energy, mineral, soil, and water resources.…
Methods of archaeometric analysis including chronometric and instrumental techniques. Absolute age dating and characterization of archaeological materials by physico-chemical analysis.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:More extensive term paper/project and…
A rigorous and quantitative study of the physiochemical underpinning of planetary processes and applications to specific planetary bodies.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:Quantitative research project, and oral presentation of the results.
Introduction to the brittle field of rock deformation, the rock mass concept, and its role for site characterization and engineering design. Understanding rock as a material, the relationship between stress and strain, and deformation and failure of…
A hands-on course on the use of computer algebra systems to solve analytical and numerical problems from many areas within the Earth and Planetary Sciences.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:An independent and original research project focused on…
The literature, research procedures, and instrumental techniques applicable to planetary geology and exploration.
This is a directed study course and credit hours will involve undergraduate research.
The literature, research procedures, and instrumental techniques applicable to archeogeology.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:More extensive term paper or project as appropriate.
Taught as a directed study, but traditional…
The literature, research procedures, and instrumental techniques applicable to geochemistry.
Taught as a directed study, although traditional…
The literature, research procedures, and instrumental techniques applicable to geophysics.
Taught as a directed study but traditional lecture…
The literature, research procedures, and instrumental techniques applicable to hydrogeology.
The literature, research procedures, and instrumental techniques applicable to mineralogy.
Taught as a directed study, but traditional lecture…
The literature, research procedures, and instrumental techniques applicable to paleontology.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:More extensive term paper or term project as appropriate.
Taught as a directed study but traditional…
The literature, research procedures, and instrumental techniques applicable to petrology.
The literature, research procedures, and instrumental techniques appropriate to sedimentation and stratigraphy.
Taught as a…
The literature, research procedures, and instrumental techniques applicable to structural geology and/or tectonics.
Taught as a directed study but…
Interpretation and origin of sediments and sedimentary rocks, with an emphasis on grain production, sediment transport, diagenesis, facies models, sequence stratigraphy, and sedimentary basins. Emphasis is placed on the analysis of sedimentary rocks in…
Geologic history and applications of marine microfossils, especially foraminifera, calcareous nannoplankton, radiolaria, and diatoms.
The ecological factors affecting the distribution and abundance of fossil organisms, with emphasis on marine invertebrates. Invertebrates as a guide to environments of the past and as indicators of environmental change. Taphonomy of invertebrates.
Provides quantitative rigorous hands-on-exercises on the applications of geographic information system (GIS) techniques in geological and environmental sciences, especially used to solve pressing environmental water resource issues. Students will master image processing and spatial analysis…
Soils as a natural component of the ecosystem, including morphology, landscape distribution, formation, identification of diagnostic horizons and features, and classification.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:Graduate students…
Clay minerals with emphasis on x-ray diffraction analysis and identification of mixed layer systems. Geochemical factors for clay origin and uses including applications to soils, petroleum, archeological, environmental and economic ore deposit studies.
Global cycling of major elements. Rock-water interactions. Kinetics of mineral dissolution and growth in soil, marine, freshwater, sedimentary basins and hydrothermal systems. Geochemical models for estimating reaction rates and reservoir capacities/fluxes are considered.
Analysis of Earth's gravity, magnetic, and seismic wave fields applied to the investigation of the structure and dynamics of the Earth's interior. The course will cover theory, methods of analysis, and results of geophysical investigations. Emphasis on…
Geophysical methods for imaging the subsurface. Course will focus on gravity, magnetic, resistivity, seismic refraction, and seismic reflection surveys. Applications discussed include exploration for hydrocarbons and characterization of the shallow…
Geochemical dispersion and survey of common pathfinder elements; methods of instrumental analysis used in geochemical exploration. Background theory of gravity, magnetic, electromagnetic, and electrical techniques used in resource exploration. Field based projects.
Additional…
Techniques for the geophysical propsection of near-surface geology, geohydrology, and geomorphology. Techniques include electro-magnetic, radar, sonar, and magnetism.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:Graduate students will be expected to prepare and…
Lecture and laboratory course emphasizing principles and practical experience in chemical analysis of sediments, rocks and water, with particular emphasis on environmentally important organic and inorganic contaminants.
Archaeological geology examines the use of earth science methods and theories in the study of archaeological sites and their contents. The four major areas covered include: (1) the archaeological site and geology; (2) age determination techniques; (3) exploration techniques; (4) artifact…
Fundamentals of earth sciences for middle school teachers. Map interpretation; minerals and rocks; principles of astronomy, meteorology and oceanography. Processes at the surface and inside the Earth. Emphasis on plate tectonics; geologic time scale, evolution of life, and a study of fossils.…
The course focuses on the geoscience knowledge and skills essential for transitioning to a low-carbon economy. Topics encompass CO2 sequestration, energy storage, hydrogen production, and geothermal energy, among others. Lecture and activities cover…
Current and classical studies in geohydrology.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:Oral presentation.
S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory)
Current and classical studies in geochemistry.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:Oral presentation required.
Discussion of the delivery of geology laboratory material, including presentation techniques, attendance policy, grading, and support systems.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:This course is offered only to those Graduate Students who are teaching…
Fundamentals of eruption dynamics from the field and geochemical perspective, the state-of-the-art of volcano monitoring, and the challenges of volcanic eruption forecast.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:Taught as a directed study, but traditional lab…
Reviews and discussions of current research topics.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:Graduate students will be required to submit one abstract per presentation.
Faculty-supervised independent or collaborative inquiry into fundamental and applied problems within a discipline that requires students to gather, analyze, and synthesize and interpret data and to present results in writing and other relevant communication formats.
This…
These courses…
Faculty-supervised independent or collaborative inquiry into fundamental and applied problems within a discipline that requires students to gather, analyze, and synthesize and interpret data. Students will write or produce a thesis or other professional capstone product, such as a report or…
Individual research in the field of geology or in a closely related field.
Students in this course meet with a supervising Geology faculty member as needed to successfully complete research assignments and a written thesis. Oral presentation of research results in a public forum is…
This course will be taught 95% or…
This course will be taught 95% or more online.
Provides quantitative, rigorous hands-on-exercises on the applications of geographic information system (GIS) techniques in geological and environmental sciences, especially used to solve pressing environmental water resource issues. Students will master image processing and spatial analysis…
This course explores the theory and application of different methods to effectively convey complex scientific information to diverse audiences, with a focus on written and visual approaches.
Research while enrolled for a master's degree under the direction of faculty members.
Non-Traditional Format
Independent research under the direction of a faculty member.
Grading System
S/U (Satisfactory…
Advanced supervised experience in an applied setting. This course may not be used to satisfy a student's approved program of study.
Thesis writing under the direction of the major professor.
Course Objectives
Thesis writing with supervision of the major professor…
Introduction to the craft of effective scientific communication for graduate students in Geosciences. Students will learn standard format, content, and style of scientific papers, research proposals and theses. Students will also be trained in the use of relevant computer programs for creating…
Intensive study under the direction of staff members on approved topics.
Taught as a directed study using traditional lecture and lab exercises when appropriate.
Taught as a directed study but traditional lectures and lab exercises may be utilized when appropriate.
Taught as a directed study but traditional lectures and lab exercises may be used when appropriate.
Intensive study under the direction of a staff member on approved topics.
Taught as a directed study but traditional lectures and lab exercises may be utilized when applicable.
Pattern, process and causal mechanisms of modern and fossil biodiversity issues.
Note: each time this class meets, a new topic will be discussed. For Fall 2002, we will be examining endosymbiosis and diversity of eukaryotic organisms by reading seminal papers and book on this subject. The…
Geologic history and paleoecology of fossil associations through time with emphasis on the marine fossil record.
Principles of sequence stratigraphy. Roles of sediment supply, subsidence, and eustasy in the accumulation of sediments on time scales of tens of thousands of years and longer.
Geochemical principles, materials, and processes related to the near-earth-surface environment. Systems studied include weathering and shallow groundwater; rivers, lakes, and oceans; diagenesis and deep groundwater; and the linkage of the rock and water cycles.
Mineralogy, petrology, and chemical compositions of igneous rocks. Origin and evolution of magmas and the causes and characteristics of volcanic eruptions including effects on climate and societies.
One weekend field trip is required.
Petrographic analysis and interpretation of stony archaeological materials, including rocks, minerals, ceramics, slags, and glass using the petrographic microscope.
Petrology, mineralogy, and geochemistry of limestones, dolostones, speleothems, travertines, and other carbonate-bearing geological materials. Precipitation of carbonate minerals, origin of carbonate grains, neomorphism, diagenesis, dolomitization, silicification, porosity, and permeability in…
Mechanics of plate motion on a sphere; analysis of earthquake focal mechanisms and state of stress in the lithosphere; paleomagnetism; true polar wander; geologic processes at plate boundaries; forces driving plates. Discussion of papers covering models for convection, fate of slabs, recent…
The principles of data analysis, including data collection methods, graphical presentation, and basic statistics.
Through lectures, in-class demonstrations, and computer-based homework problems, students will learn the fundamentals of statistics as applied to common geological problems.…
Theory of isotope fractionation and radioactive decay. Analytical methods for measurement of isotope ratios. Applications of isotope methods in the earth sciences including age dating, studies of chemical cycles in the environment, and evolution of inorganic and organic systems.
Clay minerals with emphasis on X-ray diffraction analysis and identification of mixed layer systems. Geochemical factors for clay origin and uses, including applications to soils, petroleum, archeological, environmental, and economic deposits.
Topics in theoretical and observational seismology. Wave propagation, time series analysis, geophysical data processing, inverse theory, and seismic array studies of the lithosphere, mantle and core. Topics to vary from year to year.
Intended for graduate students interested in exploring a broad range of topics in hydrogeology. A selection of papers will be used to expand the student's knowledge in the discipline as well as examine and discuss current ideas and breakthroughs in hydrogeological research. Lectures and papers…
The science, technology, and policy aspects of watershed-scale modeling. There will be multiple assignments that will require the use of the Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model and a project chosen by the student (including a term paper). A midterm will cover science and policy readings.…
Hands-on-exercises on the applications of remote sensing techniques in geological and environmental sciences. Students will master image processing and spatial analysis techniques (e.g., radiometric and geometric enhancement, image classifications, and spatial interpolation). The course will…
Mechanics of flow through subsurface media, including flow in confined, water table, and leaky aquifers, delayed yield, partially penetrating wells, boundaries, multiple wells, dual porosity media, and fractured rock; use of aquifer tests to estimate aquifer hydraulic properties.
Solutions of surface and subsurface flow and transport problems including finite difference, finite element, and boundary integral methods. Analytic techniques include Laplace-, z-, and Fourier-transform, complex variable, and separation of variables methods. Application to problems commonly…
Origin and distribution of organic compounds in rocks, soils, and water. Biochemistry of major classes of organic compounds found in rocks, soils, and minerals. Emphasis on anthropocentric contamination and geochemistry of remediation.
Physical and chemical processes controlling the mobility and fate of organic contaminants in soils, sediments, surface, and ground waters. Processes include biotic and abiotic (hydrolysis, volatilization, sorption, redox, and photochemical) reactions in the natural systems. Relationships between…
The current state of environmental pollution and the application of innovative technologies in clean-up of contaminated soil, sediment, and groundwater. Evaluate the performance and limitations of existing technologies due to site heterogeneity.
This course will be taught 95% or more…
This course provides research experience in environmental geology, including instruction on the fundamental elements of scientific research with subsequent application to create a unique scientific research product.
Environmental geological problems such as sanitary landfills, underground storage tank contaminated sites, mine land pollution areas, and hydrological assessment of wetlands.
Field trip participation is required.
Research while enrolled for a doctoral degree under the direction of faculty members.
Dissertation writing under the direction of the major professor.
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