Curriculum
Courses
Faculty

• GEOL-G 502 Trace Element and Isotope Geochemistry (3 cr.) P: CHEM C360 or C361 or GEOL G406. Principles governing the distributions of trace elements, radioisotopes, and stable isotopes in igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary environments. Emphasis on applications to petrology and geochronology.

• GEOL-G 519 Phanerozoic Stratigraphy of North America (3 cr.) P: G334 and G404, or equivalent. Lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, correlation, tectonic setting, and depositional environment of North American Phanerozoic rocks.

• GEOL-G 525 Glacial Geology (3 cr.) Formation, dynamics, and regimen of glaciers. Erosional and depositional processes and land­forms. Glaciation of North America with emphasis on stratigra­phy, soils, climates, and physical changes resulting from glacial processes and environments. Field investigations and a student research project required.

• GEOL-G 527 Geological Oceanography (3 cr.) P: Graduate standing, G334, and G413. Geological features and processes operating in the oceans; continental shelf, slope and ocean-basin geo­morphology, sedimentology, structure, and composition; origin and geologic history of seawater and ocean basins.

• GEOL-G 535 Quaternary Geology (3 cr.) P: G415 or consent of instruc­tor. Characteristics, distribution, and origin of Pleistocene and recent deposits; stratigraphy and chronology; formation of associated landforms, landscapes, paleosols, and soils; Quater­nary environments. Core: environmental geoscience.

• GEOL-G 545 Applied Analytical Techniques in Geology (3 cr.) Princi­ples of advanced analytical techniques including X-ray analysis, electron beam imaging and analysis, and mass spectrometry, with applications in geosciences. Lectures on theory followed by laboratory exercises. Students will complete individual or collaborative research projects.

• GEOL-G 546 Earth Observation from Space (3 cr.) P: Previous course in college physics, or consent of instructor. Principles and applications of satellite and airborne remote sensing for mapping and monitoring of vegetation, soil, water and solid earth.

• GEOL-G 547 Planetary Geology (3 cr.) P: G110 or equivalents. Origin, volcanism and impact cratering, surface dynamics, water, and climate of individual planets in the solar system.

• GEOL-G 550 Surface Water Hydrology (3 cr.) P: G451 and M216, or consent of instructor. Mechanics of surface runoff and open channel flow. Rainfall-runoff equations, probability analysis of stream flow, and watershed simulation models. Chemistry of surface waters and stream pollution. Core: environmental geoscience.

• GEOL-G 551 Advanced Hydrogeology (3 cr.) P: G451. Basic principles and quantitative aspects of physical flow systems and chemistry of ground water and surface water. The relationships between water and geologic materials. Core: environmental geoscience.

• GEOL-G 561 Paleoecology (3 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. Introduction to the principles and methods of analyzing fossil and modern organisms and their relation to the physical, chemical and biological environment.  Analysis of large-scale, cohesive environmental influences on past life.  Application of concepts to extra-terrestrial life.

• GEOL-G 583 Isotope Geochemistry (3 cr.) P: G406 or consent of instructor. Introduction to the theory and application of radiogenic and stable isotopes to a variety of sub-disciplines in the earth sciences. Topics include: geochronology, tracers, mass balance and mixing, hydrology and environmental applications, water-rock interaction, and biogeochemical cycles.

• GEOL-G 585 Environmental Geochemistry (3 cr.) Aquatic and environ­mental geochemistry, including freshwater and marine systems, natural and human-induced changes to geochemical systems, and the geochemical record of palaeoceanographic and paleocli­matic variations.

• GEOL-G 587 Hyperspectral Remote Sensing of Global Change (3 cr.) P: G436 or equivalent. Data analysis and methods underlying the application of hyperspectral remote sensing for monitoring terrestrial environments such as agricultural and forest ecology, hydrology and soil sciences, terrestrial and aquatic ecology and urban landscapes.

• GEOL-G 595 Data Analysis Techniques in Geoscience (3 cr.) P: STAT 301 and CSCI 207, or equivalent. Application of statistical and numerical analysis techniques to geoscience data, includ­ing sampling methods, confidence intervals, least squares methods, correlation, time series analysis, and multivariate techniques. Emphasis on using a computer to solve geoscience problems.

• GEOL-G 596 Topics in Applied Environmental Geology (3 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. Application of geologic principles to common environmental problems.  Topics covered include waste site assessment, flood hazard analysis and mitigation, slope stability, and hydrogeology.  Application of principles to problems pertaining to urban planning, earthquake-resistant design, and waste site/landfill development.

• GEOL-G 600 Advanced Techniques (3 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. Training in special geologic methods such as exploration seismology. experimental petrology, x-ray spectroscopy, electron probe microanalysis, isotopic and organic mass spectroscopy. Variable titles, may be taken five times without duplicating title.

• GEOL-G 621 Modeling Hydrological Systems (3 cr.) Introduction to ground water flow and solute transport modeling. Includes development of equations describing ground water flow and applied ground water/contaminant transport modeling using a variety of current software packages.

• GEOL-G 622 Urban Geology (3 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. Consideration of geologic factors in land-use planning in the urban setting.  Availability and use of geologic resources, building and road materials, water supply, waste disposal, and geologic hazards.  Emphasis on applications of principles to problem solving.

• GEOL-G 635 Soil Geomorphology (3 cr.) Application of geomorphic principles in evaluation of weathering and soil formation; sys­tems analysis of soil-landscape models; paleogeomorphology and paleopedology. Lectures and discussion; field and labora­tory problems.

• GEOL-G 640 Fluvial Geomorphology (3 cr.) Survey of fluvial processes including sediment transport, bed and bank erosion, and river metamorphosis. Examination of the controls on channel form. Analysis of landform genesis with an emphasis on feature sedimentology and stratigraphy. Application of fluvial geomor­phic principles to land management and restoration of riparian ecosystems.

• GEOL-G 645 Carbonate Sedimentology (3 cr.) P: G334 or consent of instructor. Course focuses on origin and generation of carbonate grains, description of modern carbonate deposi­tional environments, interpretation of ancient limestone and dolomite sequences, and carbonate diagenesis. 

• GEOL-G 677 Climate Change and Society (3 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. This course introduces observations, physical mechanisms， and consequences of climate change. Particularly, we will discuss the impacts of climate change on the nexus of food, energy， and water systems.

• GEOL-G 686 Advanced Soil Biogeochemistry (3 cr.) P: G406 or equivalent or consent of instructor. This course examines the chemical, biological and physical factors controlling the weathering of minerals and the formation of soils. Topics covered include: biological and chemical properties of soils, soil classification, carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus cycling in relation to food production and environmental quality.

• GEOL-G 690 Advanced Geology Seminar (arr cr.) P: Consent of instructor. Seminars on critical research issues and topical themes. S/F grading.

• GEOL-G 700 Geologic Problems (1-5 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. Consideration of special geological problems. **This course is eligible for a deferred grade.

• GEOL-G 810 Research (arr cr.) **This course is eligible for a deferred grade.