• Courses offered at multiple levels are listed under their first occurrence in the catalog.

• Courses at the 50000 or greater level require graduate status or permission of the instructor to enroll.

• Courses at the 70000 or greater level require doctoral status to enroll.

50000 Level Courses

GEOL 50093/70093  Variable Title Workshop in Geology
1-8 Credits
Workshop or training program focused on a specific professional or disciplinary topic within geology. Repeat registration permitted. S/U grading. Prerequisite: Permission.

GEOL 50095/60095  Selected Topics in Geology
3 Credits
Selected topics presented by visiting professors or one-time offerings presented by regular faculty.

Recent titles for Selected Topics courses in Geology include:

                  Fluvial Processes

                  Coastal Processes

                  Light Isotope Geology

                  Marine Sedimentary Processes
                  Paleoecological Systems

                  Inquiry-Based Earth System Science I

For more information on these courses, please contact the Department Office.

GEOL 51025  General Geophysics
3 Credits
Physics of earth. Seismology; geomagnetism; heat flow, radioactivity, geochronology, gravity and isostasy, geotectonic models. Lecture 3 hours weekly. Required field trip. Prerequisite: GEOL 31070 and 31080, MATH 12002, PHY 13001 or PHY 23001.

GEOL 51080  Tectonics and Orogeny
3 Credits
Introduces advanced concepts of plate tectonics and mountain building with emphasis on western United States and Appalachians. Required field trip to New England. Prerequisite: GEOL 31080.

GEOL 51092  Summer Field Camp
6 Credits
Five weeks devoted to geologic mapping and solving structural and stratigraphic problems in Black Hills, South Dakota. IP permissible. Prerequisite: GEOL 31070 and 31080 or permission. Special fee: On actual cost basis.

GEOL 52030/72030 Remote Sensing
3 Credits
Cross-listed with GEOG 5/79030. Emphasis on computer analysis of LANDSAT data using multivariate statistical tools. Introduces statistical methods and use of the computer. Problems in earth sciences are stressed.

GEOL 52035/72035 Scientific Method in Geology
3 Credits
Applying scientific method in the field and lab; models and sampling procedures. Collecting and analyzing data. Formulating and testing hypotheses. Lecture 3 hours weekly. Required field trip.

GEOL 52067  Introductory Hydrogeology
3 Credits
Occurrence of groundwater in geologic materials; emphasizing utilization, conservation and management of groundwater resources. Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 2 hours weekly. Prerequisite: GEOL 31070 and 32066, MATH 12001 and 12002 or permission.

GEOL 52068  Contaminant Hydrology and Hydrogeology
3 Credits
An introduction to the basic principles of chemical and physical behavior of contaminants introduced by humans into the environment. Students are expected to understand concepts and work practical quantitative problems. Prerequisite: GEOL 4/52067, CHEM 10060, 10061, 10062, 10063.

GEOL 52069/72069  Hydrogeochemistry
3 Credits
Processes and evolution of the chemical composition of water in the natural hydrologic cycle. Methods of hydrochemical interpretation applied to groundwater and pollution problems. Lecture 3 hours weekly. Prerequisite: 10 hours of chemistry.

GEOL 52074  Environmental Core and Wireline Logging
3 Credits
Examination of subsurface processes and the distribution of stratigraphic layers using core and well logging techniques based on analysis of physical properties of sediment, rock and pore fluids. Applications to paleoclimate, hydrogeology, engineering geology, oil and gas exploration and environmental remediation. Prerequisite: GEOL 31070.

GEOL 52078  Engineering Geology
4 Credits
Engineering properties of soils and rocks. Site evaluation for building foundations, dams, tunnels and highways. Slope stability. Lecture 3 hours, laboratory 2 hours weekly.

GEOL 53040  Principles of Geochemistry
3 Credits
Introduction to chemical thermodynamics and its applications in solving geochemical problems. Distributions of elements and isotopes in the earth and laws governing these distributions. Prerequisite: GEOL 31070, MATH 12002, and one year of college chemistry or permission.

GEOL 53066  Optical Petrography
3 Credits
Theory of optical crystallography and the microscopic examination and identification of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks in thin section. Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 2 hours weekly. Prerequisite: GEOL 31070.

GEOL 54070  Principles of Stratigraphy
4 Credits
Students are introduced to the principles regarding the systematics of sedimentary rocks and the relationships between geologic formations at various spatial and temporal scales. Lectures are integrated with readings from the open literature and required labs and field trips. Prerequisites: GEOL 31070 and 34061.

GEOL 54074  Paleoceanography
3 Credits
A broad spectrum of geological approaches, including paleontology, geochemistry and stratigraphy, is employed to interpret the history of Earth’s oceans.

60000/70000 Level Courses

GEOL 60080/70080  Research Orientation
1 Credit
Faculty research presentations; thesis/dissertation proposal preparation; discussion of professional organizations, preparation of manuscripts, and oral presentation of papers. S/U grading.

GEOL 60091/70091 Seminar
1 or 2 Credits
Specialized topics in geology. Precise title to be inserted in Schedule of Classes.

GEOL 60094/70094  College Teaching of Applied Geology
1 Credit
Training and experience in presentation of data and college teaching of applied geology, as well as a discussion forum on professional ethics and responsibilities.

GEOL 60095  Selected Topics in Geology
3 Credits
Selected topics presented by visiting professors or one-time offerings presented by regular faculty.

GEOL 60098  Research
1-15 Credits
Research for master’s-level students. Credits earned may be applied toward degree if department approves. Repeat registration permitted. S/U grading; IP permissible.

GEOL 60199  Thesis I
2-6 Credits
Thesis students must register for a total of 6 hours, 2 to 6 hours in a single semester, distributed over several semesters if desired. S/U grading; IP permissible.

GEOL 60299  Thesis II
2 Credits
Thesis students must continue registration each semester until all degree requirements are met. S/U grading; IP permissible. Prerequisite: GEOL 60199.

GEOL 61050/71050 Precambrian Geology
3 Credits
Study of earth history and processes during the Precambrian, including role of plumes, meteorite bombardment, and tectonic processes on crustal evolution. Covers age of the Earth, formation and growth of crust, superplumes and supercontinents.

GEOL 62011/72011 Hydrology
3 Credits
Introduction to hydrologic measurements, properties of water, precipitation, evapotranspiration, runoff computations, streamflow and flood routing. Prerequisite: GEOL 32066 or equivalent.

GEOL 62065/72065 Hydrogeological Systems
3 Credits
Advanced study, construction and application of a variety of modeling techniques to solve groundwater-related problems. Design, construction, programming and operation of analog and numerical models. Prerequisite: GEOL 4/52067 and 6/72068

GEOL 62067/72067  Geophysical Fluid Dynamics
3 Credits
Consideration of basic physical equations of fluid flow. Application to hydraulics, atmosphere, oceans and mechanics of ice motion. Numerical and computer implementation. Prerequisite: MATH 12002 and 12003 or equivalent.

GEOL 62068/72068  Advanced Hydrogeology
3 Credits
Quantitative approach to occurrence of groundwater; methods of investigation, evaluation and development of groundwater resources, emphasizing optimization and maximal exploitation without environmental changes. Prerequisite: GEOL 4/52067; MATH 12001 or 12003 or permission.

GEOL 62079/72079  Advanced Engineering Geology
3 Credits
Role of geology in site selection, design and construction relative to dams, tunnels, highways, slope stability and nuclear power plants. Selected case histories. Lecture 3 hours weekly. Field trip and term paper required. Prerequisite: GEOL 4/52078.

GEOL 62082/72082  Introduction to Soil Mechanics
4 Credits
Engineering properties and engineering behavior of soils including classification properties, compaction, permeability, strength and compressibility. Lecture 3 hours, laboratory 2 hours weekly. Prerequisite: GEOL 31080.

GEOL 62083/72083  Rock Slope Stability
3 Credits
Provide information used to recognize, avoid, design for, control and correct slope movements in rocks; determination of shear strength along rock discontinuities; stability analysis of rock slopes. Prerequisite: GEOL 4/52078.

GEOL 62084/72084  Foundation Engineering
3 Credits
Seepage and drainage of foundation soils. Subsurface investigations. Principles, design and construction of shallow and deep foundations. Earth-retaining structures. Lecture 3 hours weekly. Prerequisite: GEOL 4/5/72082.

GEOL 63046/73046  Radiogenic Isotope Geology
3 Credits
Distribution and production of radiogenic isotopes in the Earth’s crust. Principles of isotopic geochronology in selected mineral-rock systems, including: Rb-Sr, U-Th-Pb, and K-Ar. Modern instrumental methods of isotopic analysis and in-situ geochronology of rocks and minerals. Prerequisite: GEOL 43040/53040 or equivalent.

GEOL 63063/73063  Sedimentary Petrology
3 Credits
Classification, texture, composition, provenance and diagenesis of sandstones and carbonates, following review of optical mineralogy. Petrographic microscopy and other laboratory techniques are emphasized. Prerequisite: GEOL 31070.

GEOL 63067/73067 Carbonate Rocks
3 Credits
Basic principles of carbonate sedimentology including composition, classification origin and distribution of carbonate sediments, their diagenesis and lithification. Prerequisite: GEOL 43066/53066.

GEOL 64028/74028  Paleoecology
3 Credits
Relationships between ancient organisms and their environments, as interpreted from fossils, enclosing rock strata and recent analogs. Field and laboratory studies. Saturday field trips. Prerequisite: GEOL 34061 or equivalent.

GEOL 64030/74030 Systematic Invertebrate Paleontology I
3 Credits
Detailed investigation and examination of important literature concerning taxonomic characters of invertebrate phyla: Protista, Porifera, Cnidaria and Bryozoa. Numerous oral reports, specimen examination. Prerequisite: GEOL 34061 or equivalent.

GEOL 64032/74032 Systematic Invertebrate Paleontology II
3 Credits
Detailed investigation and examination of important literature concerning taxonomic characters of invertebrate phyla: Brachiopoda, Mollusca, Arthropoda and Echinodermata. Numerous oral reports, specimen examination. Prerequisite: GEOL 34061 or equivalent.

GEOL 64065/74065  Sedimentology
3 Credits
Fluid dynamics, grain transport, sedimentary structures, granulometry, bedform and facies sequences, and facies architecture. Interpretation of continental and marine clastic depositional environments and processes.

80000 Level Courses

GEOL 80091  Seminar in Applied Geology
1 Credits
Specialized topics in applied geology. Precise title to be inserted in Schedule of Classes.

GEOL 80095  Advanced Topics in Geology
3 Credits
Advanced topics presented by visiting professors or one-time offerings presented by regular faculty. Prerequisite: Permission.

GEOL 80098  Research
1-15 Credits
Research for doctoral students. Credits earned may be applied toward degree if department approves. Repeat registration permitted. S/U grading; IP permissible.

GEOL 80199  Dissertation I
15 Credits
Doctoral dissertation, for which registration in at least two semesters is required, first of which will be semester in which dissertation work is begun and continuing until the completion of 30 hours. S/U grading; IP permissible. Prerequisite: Admission to candidacy for doctoral degree.

GEOL 80299  Dissertation II
1 or 15 Credits
Continuing registration required of doctoral students who have completed the initial 30 hours of dissertation, continuing until all degree requirements are met. S/U grading; IP permissible. Prerequisite: GEOL 80199.