Course Descriptions and Current Course Syllabi
Fall1401 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.
1401 (Lecture) - Satterfield,1401(Lab) - Satterfield, 1401 (Lecture) - Stewart,1401 (Lab) - Stewart
1402 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.
3302 Hydrology (3-0). A quantitative overview of the hydrologic cycle including both surface and groundwater hydrology. Topic to include surface water, aquifer properties, groundwater, modelling, human use and abuse of water resources, contamination, and extraction.
Prerequisite: Geology 1401 or 1402 and Math 1302.
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 1401 or 1402 and Math 1302.
3400Petrology (3-3). Description, classification, and interpretation of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. Descriptions include tectonic setting, sedimentary environment, and pressure-temperature conditions. Laboratory work consists of hand sample description, examination of thin sections under a petrographic microscope, and field trips.
Prerequisite: Geology 1401 or 1402
3411 Structural Geology (3-2). 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 1401 or 1402 .
3600 Field Geology (0-12). A five or six week summer field course on geologic mapping techniques. Techniques emphasized: measuring stratigigraphic sections, collecting and plotting fold and fault data, drafting geologic maps and cross-sections, and preparing reports.
Prerequisites: Geology 3411 and Geology 3333.
4191, 4291, 4391 Research. Individual research problems for students seeking a minor in geology. May be repeated for a total of six semester hours credit.
4300 Introduction to Geophysics (3-0). Application of physics to the study of geologic and environmental problems. Theory and application of seismic, gravity, magnetic, and electrical methods in the exploration of the Earth's subsurface. Topics in earthquake and exploration seismology, magnetic and gravitational fields of the earth and their use in interpretation, and geodetic methods.
Prerequisites: Geology 1401 or 1402 and Physics 2442.
4310 Geophysical Signal Analysis (3-0). Construction, analysis, and interpretation of geophysical signals. Theory and application of Fourier transforms, filter theory and application, spectral analysis, signal-to-noise enhancement, seismic wave propagation, seismic array processing and computer applications.
Prerequisites: Geology 1401 or 1402 and Physics 2331.
1402 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.
1402 - Satterfield,1402 - Seidensticker
3302 Hydrology (3-0). A quantitative overview of the hydrologic cycle including both surface and groundwater hydrology. Topic to include surface water, aquifer properties, groundwater, modelling, human use and abuse of water resources, contamination, and extraction.
Prerequisite: Geology 1401 or 1402 and Math 1302.
