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Course Criteria
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3.00 Credits
W. Peck This course deals with the origin and evolution of igneous and metamorphic rocks and their plate tectonic setting. The origin of magmas is examined as well as the processes involved in their differentiation. Metamorphic facies, mineral assemblages, and thermobarometry are studied. Petrology and melting of the upper mantle is discussed. These topics are unified by concepts of plate tectonics. Laboratories involve the study of rock suites from classic areas around the world. Three meetings and one laboratory per week, plus a weekend field trip. The required credit-bearing laboratory session GEOL 202L must be taken and passed concurrently with GEOL 202. Prerequisite: GEOL 201 or equivalent.
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3.00 Credits
K. Harpp The focus of this interdisciplinary laboratory and field-based course is the development of practical skills essential to the study of natural systems. Through a series of local projects, students learn how to address environmental questions, including experimental design, collection and analysis of samples, interpretation of data, and presentation of conclusions. Specific skills include techniques for the chemical analysis of natural materials including rock, soil, and water (e.g., atomic, ultraviolet, and x-ray spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, wet chemistry techniques), statistical analysis, sample collection, and methods of data presentation. Laboratory and lecture are fully integrated and meet twice a week. Occasional day-long sampling and field trips. The required credit-bearing laboratory session GEOL 203L must be taken and passed concurrently with GEOL 203. Prerequisite: CHEM 101 or permission of instructor.
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3.00 Credits
B. Selleck The geologic materials nearest the Earth's surface are those that interact with the biosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere. This course explores the nature of surficial geologic materials and processes by using geographic information system (GIS) tools and hydrological modeling software. Major topics are landform development, chemical weathering, soil development and quality, and surface and groundwater hydrology. Three meetings and one laboratory per week. The required credit-bearing laboratory session GEOL 210L must be taken and passed concurrently with GEOL 210. A previous earth science or geology course is recommended.
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3.00 Credits
C. Soja This course considers the fossil record of marine life from its origin to the present, emphasizing the evolution of invertebrate animals through time. During classroom discussions, labs, a field trip, and museum visit, students will explore the anatomy, ecology, fascinating behaviors, life-sustaining ecosystem services, and evolutionary history of an amazing array of shelly animals and associated marine organisms that co-existed in reefs and adjacent habitats. Evolutionary events, including the Cambrian "explosion" and mass extinctions, will be linked to dramatic physical (tectonic) and climatic changes that occurred in Earth's past. The required credit-bearing laboratory sessi on GEOL 21 5L must be taken and passed concurrently wi th GEOL 21 5. An optional spring-break field trip to the tropics may be offered in alternate years to students who have already taken or are currently enrolled in this course. Prerequisite: one course in geology or biology. (Former ly GE OL 315/315L, Invertebrate Paleontology and Paleoecology.
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3.00 Credits
P. Pinet A study of coastal geomorphology, sediments, and wave-related processes active in the present and geologic past. Major topics to be considered include beach, nearshore, and estuarine processes, barrier-island and salt-marsh development, Pleistocene sea-level fluctuations, human modifications and impacts, and erosional-depositional patterns induced by the interaction of physical and biological factors of the coastal environment. The required credit-bearing laboratory session GEOL 217L must be taken and passed concurrently with GEOL 217. Prerequisite: GEOL 135 or equivalent.
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3.00 Credits
K. Harpp Our fascination with volcanoes stems primarily from their awesome powers of destruction; yet their constructive role in shaping our landscape, atmosphere, and oceans has been crucial in Earth's history. This course explores the fundamental concepts of volcanology, from the geological, chemical, and physical processes that generate volcanoes to the implications of volcanic activity on humankind. Through a series of case studies, this course examines the tectonic environments that generate volcanoes and what they tell us about Earth's internal processes; eruptive styles and volcanic forms; volcanic rocks, minerals, and volatiles; properties and generation of magmas; features of lava and pyroclastic flows; volcanic hazards, including their prediction and mitigation; and what extraterrestrial volcanism can reveal about the history of the solar system. Two lectures and one laboratory session per week. The required credit-bearing laboratory session GEOL 220L must be taken and passed concurrently with GEOL 220. Prerequisite: one geology course.
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3.00 Credits
Staff Scientific problems in the geosciences require integrating a number of different perspectives, data types, and models in order to understand the causes and effects of change in dynamic systems. Global climate change, volcanic hazards, and natural resource management are examples of complex systems that benefit from the use and interpretation of large-scale, multidimensional dataset analysis. This course covers the steps of the scientific process in light of new technology and advanced computing tools to solve problems that are really about rocks, soil, water, and air. Beginning with remote and hands-on field data collection, students investigate the best approaches to manipulating digital scientific data, and incorporate these into computer models of geologic processes and environmental systems. The required credit-bearing laboratory session GEOL 230L must be taken and passed concurrently with GEOL 230. Prerequisite: one course in geology, geography, or environmental science.
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3.00 Credits
Sophomores, juniors, and seniors by permission of instructor, with department chair approval.
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3.00 Credits
B. Selleck A detailed study of modern sedimentary environments and their use in interpreting ancient sedimentary rocks. The chemical and physical processes leading to weathering, erosion, transport, deposition, and lithification of sediments are considered. Field interpretation of local Paleozoic, Pleistocene, and Holocene sediments is carried out through field study projects. Economic aspects of sedimentary rocks, such as the occurrence of oil, natural gas, and coal, are discussed. Three lectures and one laboratory period per week. The required credit-bearing laboratory session GEOL 302L must be taken and passed concurrently with GEOL 302. Prerequisite: one geology course or permission of instructor.
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3.00 Credits
M. Wong Mountain ranges, rifting continents and earthquakes show that the Earth's crust is constantly deforming. Structural geology is the study of how and why deformation occurs. Students discuss deformational structures such as faults, folds, and ductile flow and why the Earth deforms in different ways. Students examine deformation at all scales, from the microscopic to mountain belts and examine the stresses that ultimately cause the Earth to deform. Labs emphasize using 3D geometric analysis and geologic maps as tools for unraveling deformational histories. Lectures and one laboratory per week, plus a required weekend field trip. GEOL 305L must be taken and passed concurrently with GEOL 305. Prerequisites: one 100-level and one 200-level geology class or permission of instructor.
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