Courses in Geology (GEOL)
1101/GEOL 1101 Earth Science Laboratory (0-2). The laboratory designed to accompany Geology 1301. This laboratory will include experiments involving topics such as: rocks and minerals, streams, the ocean, groundwater, weather, climate, plate tectonics, and natural hazards. Concurrent enrollment in, or credit for, Geology 1301 is required.
1103/GEOL 1103 Physical Geology Laboratory (0-2). Laboratory activities designed to accompany Geology 1303. The laboratory includes experiments over topics such as Earth materials, structure, landforms, mineral resources, and plate tectonics.
1104/GEOL 1104 Historical Geology Laboratory (0-2). Laboratory activities designed to accompany Geology 1304. The laboratory includes experiments involving the interpretation of four billion years of Earth history recorded in rocks, including evolutionary changes and the use of fossils in time and space.
1191 Freshman Research. This course is for those who have received a freshman research grant. This course fulfills the first semester of that research.
Prerequisite: Instructor approval.
1301/GEOL 1301 Earth Science (3-0). An introduction to the study of the Earth including the atmosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and cryosphere. The course will cover general overview of topics such as: rocks and minerals, streams, the ocean, groundwater, weather, climate, plate tectonics, and natural hazards. Concurrent enrollment in, or credit for, Geology 1101 is required.
1303/GEOL 1303 Physical Geology (3-0). Earth materials, structure, landforms, mineral resources, and the processes that form them. Includes plate tectonics and how humans are affected by Earth processes.
1304/GEOL 1304 Historical Geology (3-0). Application of geological principles to interpret four billion years of Earth history recorded in rocks. Includes evolutionary changes and the use of fossils in time and space.
1347/GEOL 1347 Meteorology (3-0). An introduction to atmospheric properties, physical processes that govern weather and climate, and interactions between the atmosphere and the other components of the Earth system.
1391 Freshman Research II. This course is for those who have received a freshman research grant. This course fulfills the second semester of that research.
Prerequisites: Geology 1191 and instructor approval.
1401/GEOL 1401 Earth Science (3-2). An introduction to the study of the Earth including the atmosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and cryosphere. The course will cover general overview of topics such as: rocks and minerals, streams, the ocean, groundwater, weather, climate, plate tectonics, and natural hazards.
1403/GEOL 1403 Physical Geology (3-2). Earth materials, structure, landforms, mineral resources, and the processes that form them. Includes plate tectonics and how humans are affected by Earth processes.
1404/GEOL 1404 Historical Geology (3-2). Application of geological principles to interpret four billion years of Earth history recorded in rocks. Includes evolutionary changes and the use of fossils in time and space.
3102 Field Methods in Geology (0-3). An introduction to geologic mapping techniques. Tools used include Brunton compass, aerial photographs, and field notebook. Techniques will be applied to construct a geologic map during a required field trip over Spring Break. Should be taken immediately before taking Field Geology (GEOL 3600).
Prerequisites: Geology 3400 and 3402.
3302 Introduction to Hydrogeology (3-0). A quantitative overview of the hydrologic cycle including both surface and groundwater hydrology. Topics to include surface water, aquifer properties, groundwater, modeling, human use and abuse of water resources, contamination, and extraction.
Prerequisites: Geology 1303/1103 or 1304/1104 and Mathematics 1314.
3303 Environmental Geology (3-0). This course emphasizes the complex physical relations between land, sea, atmosphere, and human activity. Topics include geologic hazards, land management, water resources, hazardous waste disposal, energy resources, mineral resources, conservation of resources, and ocean science.
Prerequisites: Geology 1303/1103 or 1304/1104 and Mathematics 1314.
3304 Geomorphology (3-0). Geomorphology is the study of physical, chemical, and biological processes that occur on the surface of a planetary body. This course focuses on the origin, development and relationship of landforms created by fluvial, glacial, aeolian, and karst processes.
Prerequisite: Geology 1303/1103 or 1304/1104.
3308 Physical Oceanography (3-0). An introduction to oceanographic concepts, including the physical geologic setting of the ocean, atmospheric influences and the atmosphere-ocean interface, tropical processes, coastal geologic processes, thermodynamic processes related to waves and currents, and biological oceanography.
Prerequisite: Geology 1303 or 1304.
3310 Geochemistry (3-0). An introduction to the field of Geochemistry including topics of traditional rock Geochemistry, Aqueous Geochemistry, and Isotope Geochemistry using data collection and modeling techniques and scientific software.
Prerequisites: Chemistry 1311/1111 and Geology 1303/1103.
3371 Geomapping Fundamentals (3-0). An overview of geomapping concepts and terminology. Application of geomapping (GIS: Geographic Information Systems) software to analyze geological information. Topics include relational databases, spatial data analysis, and digital mapping.
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or permission from instructor.
3400 Mineralogy and Petrology (3-3). Description, classification, and interpretation of igneous and metamorphic rocks. Interpretations include tectonic setting, processes of formation, and pressure-temperature conditions. Laboratory work consists of hand sample description, examination of thin sections under a petrographic microscope, and field trips.
Prerequisite: Geology 1303/1103 or 1304/1104.
3402 Sedimentology (3-3). Covers the processes that create, deposit, and diagenetically alter sediments, as well as the description of sedimentary rocks and related sedimentary structures.
Prerequisite: Geology 1303/1103 or 1304/1104.
3411 Structural Geology (3-3). A study of ways rocks and continents deform by faulting and folding, methods of picturing geologic structures in three dimensions, and causes of deformation. Includes a weekend field trip project and an introduction to geographic information systems (GIS).
Prerequisite: Geology 1303/1103 or 1304/1104.
3600 Field Geology (0-12). A five or six week summer field course on geologic mapping techniques. Techniques emphasized: measuring stratigraphic sections, collecting and plotting fold and fault data, drafting geologic maps and cross-sections, and preparing reports.
Prerequisites: Geology 3400, 3402, and 3411.
4071 Internship: 1 to 6. Supervised internship with an approved cooperating business or government entity. May be repeated for a total of twelve credit hours.
Prerequisite: Consent of the department chair.
4091 Research: 1 to 6. Supervised research with a faculty member in geosciences. May be repeated for a total of twelve credit hours.
Prerequisite: Consent of the department chair.
4181 Seminar in Geoscience (1-0). A course designed to introduce students to various geoscience topics and to encourage discussion and exchange of ideas amongst the geoscience majors and faculty. May be repeated once when topics vary.
Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission of the instructor.
4191, 4291, 4391 Research. Individual research problems for students seeking a minor in geology. May be repeated for a total of six semester credit hours.
4300 Introduction to Geophysics (3-0). This course is an introduction to the geophysical methods used to explore the Earth’s subsurface with an emphasis on application. Topics include seismicity, ground penetrating radar, magnetics, gravity, and resistivity. (Credit may not be earned for this course and Physics 4300.)
Prerequisites: Geology 1303/1103 and Mathematics 2413.
4303 Planetary Geology (3-0). A capstone study of terrestrial objects including planets, moons, and asteroids to describe and understand the past evolution and current dynamic state of planetary surfaces. Major topics include planetary evolution and differentiation, and surface morphology as an expression of internal dynamics, atmospheres, volcanic activity, and impact cratering.
Prerequisites: Geology 1303/1103.
4304 Introduction to Volcanology (3-0). Introduction to the physical and chemical properties of magma, including magma generation, rise, storage, and eruptive mechanisms. Types of volcanoes, volcanic hazards, volcano monitoring, and the effect of volcanoes on climate change will also be discussed.
Prerequisite: Geology 1303/1103.