Courses - Spring 2025
GEOL100
Credit only granted for: GEOL100 or GEOL120.
Additional information: CORE Distributive Studies Physical Science Laboratory Course only when taken concurrently with GEOL 110.
A general survey of the rocks and minerals composing the earth, its surface features and the agents that form them, and the dynamic forces of plate tectonics.
GEOL102
Historical Geology
Credits:
4
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: GEOL120 or GEOL100; and GEOL110. Or permission of CMNS-Geology department.
Earth's history as revealed through the principles of stratigraphy and the processes of physical geology. Emphasis on formations and geologic development of the North American continent.
GEOL110
Physical Geology Laboratory
Credits:
1
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F
Prerequisite: Must have completed or be concurrently enrolled in GEOL120 or GEOL100.
Additional information: CORE Distributive Studies Physical Science Laboratory Course only when taken concurrently with GEOL 100.
The basic materials and tools of physical geology stressing familiarization with rocks and minerals and the use of maps in geologic interpretations.
Students must pay a $50.00 lab materials fee.
GEOL120
Environmental Geology
Credit only granted for: GEOL100 or GEOL120.
A review of geologic factors underlying many environmental problems and the interactions between population and physical environment: geologic hazards, land-use planning, conservation, mineral resources, waste disposal, land reclamation, and the geologic aspects of health and disease. The course is aimed at lower division students in education and liberal arts, and should be useful to any student concerned with geologic perspectives of environmental problems.
GEOL123
Cross-listed with: AOSC123.
Credit only granted for: AOSC123, GEOG123, or GEOL123.
Study of the major components of Earth's climate system and climate change history. Discussion of 21st century climate change prediction, mitigation and adaptation efforts.
GEOL204
Dinosaurs, Early Humans, Ancestors, and Evolution; The Fossil Record of Vanished Worlds of the Prehistoric Past
What good is the fossil record? What relevance or insights might the remains of ancient living things have for our modern world? This course examines how the record of ancient life was made, and how we use diverse scientific techniques to reveal the information it contains. We will look at how the various inhabitants of our planet changed through time, and how different ecosystems such as reefs, forests, and grasslands were assembled. We will see how our own species came to be, and of our spread across the world from our ancestral home in Africa. We'll examine how the fossil record contains evidence of climate changes and extinction events far exceeding what we are currently experiencing, and how we can use these as warnings for our future. We'll address who are the owners and stakeholders in the evidence of the fossil world. Students will learn how to read and interpret the primary scientific literature, and how to present scientific information to others through various media.
GEOL322
Mineralogy
Credits:
4
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: GEOL120 or GEOL100; and GEOL110. And CHEM131 and CHEM132; or (CHEM135 and CHEM136); or CHEM103.
Restriction: Permission of instructor is required for non-degree seeking students.
Basic mineralogy for geology majors. The principles of morphologic crystallography, crystal chemistry, and determinative mineralogy.
GEOL340
Geomorphology
Credits:
4
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: GEOL120 or GEOL100.
Restriction: Permission of instructor is required of non-degree seeking students.
Analysis of landforms, organized on the basis of the geologic processes that have operated during the late Cenozoic. Constructional and erosional landforms related to physical systems operating on geologic structures through time.
GEOL393
Geology Senior Thesis I: Proposal
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F
Prerequisite: PHYS141 or (PHYS161 and PHYS174); and MATH141; and (CHEM131 and CHEM132) or (CHEM135 and CHEM136); and must have completed at least two upper-level geology courses and be concurrently enrolled in a third.
Restriction: Junior standing or higher; and must be in Geology program.
The first semester of the two-semester Geology Senior Thesis. Emphasis is on developing a plan for original research in the geosciences and presenting that plan both in writing and in public presentations that adhere to geosciences professional standards.
GEOL394
Geology Senior Thesis II: Research
Prerequisite: GEOL393; and must have completed at least three upper level GEOL courses.
Restriction: Must be in Geology program; and junior standing or higher.
The second semester of the two-semester Geology Senior Thesis. Investigation of specific original research question in geosciences. Emphasis is on completion of original research proposed in GEOL393 and presentation of results both in writing and in public presentations that adhere to geosciences professional standards.
GEOL431
Vertebrate Paleobiology
Credits:
4
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: BSCI207, BSCI392, GEOL104, GEOL204, or GEOL331; or permission of CMNS-Geology department.
A survey of the evolution of the vertebrates, encompassing information from the diversity of living members, but concentrating on the contribution of the fossil record. Emphasis is on the phylogenetic systematics, comparative and functional anatomy, developmental biology, and stratigraphic distribution of major extinct and extant groups.
GEOL435
Environmental Geochemistry
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: MATH115; and (GEOL100 or GEOL120); and (GEOL436 or GEOL444). And CHEM131 and CHEM132; or (CHEM135 and CHEM136).
Restriction: Nondegree-seeking students require the permission of the instructor.
Credit only granted for: GEOL489W or GEOL435.
Formerly: GEOL489W.
An understanding of geochemical cycles of Earth's surface systems including soils, rivers, lakes, and estuaries and causes and implications of alteration of geochemical cycles. Topics include chemical weathering, soils, chemical composition of inland waters, hydrologic tracers, salinization, eutrophication, nutrient and metal pollution, and global geochemical cycles.
GEOL443
Petrology
Credits:
4
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: GEOL322. And CHEM131 and CHEM132; or (CHEM135 and CHEM136); or CHEM103. And must have completed or be concurrently enrolled in GEOL423; and (GEOL100 or GEOL120); and GEOL110.
Corequisite: Permission of CMNS-Geology department.
Restriction: Non-degree-seeking students require the permission of the instructor.
Study of igneous and metamorphic rocks: petrogenesis, distributions, chemical and mineralogical relations, macroscopic and microscopic descriptions, geologic significance.
GEOL445
High Temperature Geochemistry
Credits:
4
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: GEOL322, GEOL100, and MATH115. And CHEM131 and CHEM132; or (CHEM135 and CHEM136); or CHEM103.
Restriction: Non-degree-seeking students require the permission of the instructor.
Review of chemical principles and their use in understanding processes of Earth, and solar system formation and differentiation. Topics include nucleosynthesis and cosmochemical abundances of elements, bonding and element partitioning, equilibrium thermodynamics and phase stabilities, radiogenic isotopes and geochronology, kinetics, and diffusion.
GEOL447
Observational Geophysics
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: MATH140 and MATH141; and (PHYS141, PHYS161, or PHYS171).
An introduction to practical signal processing, data analysis, and inverse theory in geophysics.
GEOL457
Seismology
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: GEOL120 or GEOL100; and (MATH141, GEOL110, and MATH140). Or permission of CMNS-Geology department.
Recommended: PHYS171, PHYS141, or PHYS161.
Restriction: Non-degree-seeking students require the permission of the instructor.
Credit only granted for: GEOL457 or GEOL489A.
Formerly: GEOL489A.
General overview of the basics of seismology, starting with wave propagation, seismic reflection and refraction. Applications to the determination of the seismic velocity and anisotropy structure of the Earth. Earthquake generation, postseismic deformation and creep events, relation to faulting and plate tectonics.
GEOL488
Geology Colloquium; Geology Colloquium
Credits:
1
Grad Meth:
S-F
GEOL497
Recent Advances: Geology
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: Must have completed at least 2 upper-level GEOL courses.
Corequisite: GEOL393; and a third upper-level geology course.
Restriction: Must be in Geology program; and GPA of 3.0 or better in both overall and in all courses required for the major; and senior standing; and to be taken as late as possible in the program.
Credit only granted for: GEOL497 or GEOL489H.
Formerly: GEOL489H.
A survey of important recent advances in geological sciences in the context of the methods and practices of scientific research.
GEOL497H
Recent Advances: Geology
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: Must have completed at least 2 upper-level GEOL courses.
Corequisite: GEOL393; and a third upper-level geology course.
Restriction: Must be in Geology program; and GPA of 3.0 or better in both overall and in all courses required for the major; and senior standing; and to be taken as late as possible in the program.
Credit only granted for: GEOL497 or GEOL489H.
Formerly: GEOL489H.
A survey of important recent advances in geological sciences in the context of the methods and practices of scientific research.
GEOL499
Special Problems in Geology
Credits:
1 - 3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisites: GEOL100 or GEO120, GEOL110, GEOL102; or equivalent; and permission of department. In addition, non-degree-seeking students require the permission of the instructor. Intensive study of a special geologic subject or technique selected after consultation with instructor. Intended to provide training or instruction not available in other courses which will aid the student's development in his or her field of major interest.
GEOL635
Environmental Geochemistry
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud, S-F
Prerequisite: MATH115; and (GEOL100 or GEOL120); and (GEOL436 or GEOL444). And CHEM131 and CHEM132; or (CHEM135 and CHEM136).
Restriction: Nondegree-seeking students require the permission of the instructor.
Jointly offered with GEOL435.
Credit only granted for: GEOL635, GEOL789W, GEOL435 or GEOL489W.
Formerly: GEOL789W.
Geochemical cycles of Earth's surface systems including soils, rivers, lakes, and estuaries and causes; and implications of their alteration. Topics include chemical weathering, soils, chemistry of inland waters, hydrologic tracers, salinization, eutrophication, nutrient and metal pollution, and global geochemical cycles.
GEOL647
Observational Geophysics
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud, S-F
Prerequisite: MATH140, MATH141, and PHYS141; and (PHYS161 or PHYS171).
Credit only granted for: GEOL789O or GEOL647.
Formerly: GEOL789O.
Introduces graduate students to instrument design and performance, signal processing, data analysis and inverse theory in geophysics.
GEOL654
Fluvial Geomorphology Seminar
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud, S-F
Recommended: GEOL452 and GEOL340.
Restriction: Non-degree-seeking students require the permission of the instructor.
Credit only granted for: GEOL654 or GEOL789B.
Formerly: GEOL789B.
Fluvial geomorphology is the study of the movement of water and sedimentin stream channels. This includes: formation of channels, open channel hydraulics, sediment transport or bedload and suspended load, river morphology and landscape evolution. The course is designed for graduate students and advanced undergraduates.
GEOL657
Seismic Wave Propagation
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
Prerequisite: MATH140 and MATH141; and (PHYS141, PHYS161, or PHYS171); and permission of CMNS-Geology department.
Recommended: GEOL100 or GEOL120; and (MATH241 and MATH246); and (PHYS260 or PHYS273).
Restriction: Non-degree-seeking students require the permission of the instructor.
Credit only granted for: GEOL657 or GEOL789A.
Formerly: GEOL789A.
A description of the physics of seismic wave propagation and their applications to the determination of the structure of the Earth and the mechanics of earthquakes.
GEOL680
Geodynamics
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud, S-F
Prerequisite: Permission of CMNS-Geology department; or (MATH241, MATH462, and GEOL446).
Recommended: Familiarity with MATLAB or MATHEMATICA.
Credit only granted for: GEOL680 or GEOL789J.
Formerly: GEOL789J.
The mechanics and dynamics of the Earth's interior and their applications to problems of Geophysics. This course considers several rheological descriptions of Earth materials (brittle, elastic, linear and nonlinear fluids, and viscoelastic) and emphasizes analytical solutions to simplified problem.
GEOL683
Cosmochemistry
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
Recommended: GEOL650.
Credit only granted for: GEOL683 or GEOL789K.
Formerly: GEOL789K.
Introduction to current theories behind the origin, age and evolution of our solar system. The primary focus will be on the interpretation of petrologic, chemical and isotopic data obtained from meteorites, and planetary materials collected by sample return missions to the Moon and asteroids. Includes in-depth discussion of the mechanisms of formation of the asteroids and planets and the origin of the Moon and Mars. Includes hands-on examination of lunar samples from the Apollo missions as well as various types of meteorites.
GEOL688
Geology Colloquium; Geology Colloquium
Credits:
1
Grad Meth:
S-F
GEOL789J
Recent Advances in Geology; Mantle Dynamics
Credits:
2 - 4
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud, S-F
GEOL789R
Recent Advances in Geology; Geoscience Communication
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud, S-F
GEOL798
Seminar in Geology
Credits:
1 - 3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
GEOL799
Master's Thesis Research
Credits:
1 - 6
Grad Meth:
S-F
GEOL898
Pre-Candidacy Research
Credits:
1 - 8
Grad Meth:
Reg
GEOL899
Doctoral Dissertation Research
Credits:
6
Grad Meth:
S-F
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