Geology

Courses

GEOL 113: Climates Future, Past

Credits 3
Examines Earth's turbulent climatic past in an exploration of its possible futures. Combines the basic tenets of geology with current atmospheric system data in an effort to clarify our concurrently known and unknowable climate system. Designed for students who want to understand the ways in which the Earth we experience comes into being. First-year appropriate. A non-lab course.

GEOL 201: Earth and the Environment

Credits 3 4

Introduces whole-Earth materials and processes with a focus on the formation of and human interaction with surficial environments. Examines phenomena such as volcanoes, earthquakes, wasting, flooding, desertification and climate change. Topics include other elements of environmental geoscience such as sustainable development, water supply, mining, agriculture and waste disposal. Laboratory and field trip exercises employ maps, specimens, real-world datasets, and local geological sites and resources. Specifically designed for students who want to better understand Earth and how it works. 

Note: Earth and the Environment may also be taught without the lab component as a 3-credit course.

GEOL 210: Oceanography

Credits 3
An introduction to the ocean and its currents, waves, tides and coastlines. Emphasizes the interaction between humans and the oceans, and the importance of the ocean to life on the planet. Includes optional trips to local Paleozoic outcrops and the Great Lakes. A non-lab course.

GEOL 211: Physical Geology

Credits 4

An introductory course investigating fundamental Earth materials, plate tectonics and processes changing the surface of the Earth. Lab exercises address mineral and rock identification, topographic and geologic map interpretation and geologic history interpretation. Field trips explore local Paleozoic limestone outcrops, glacial sequences and fluvial systems. 

GEOL 301: Field Studies

Credits 1
This Early Semester Break trip includes hiking, camping, cooking, and general exploration of an area of geologic interest. Tents, cook kits and transportation are provided by the Geology Department. Prerequisite: any GEOL course, including concurrent enrollment.

GEOL 314: Interpreting Earth History

Credits 4
Summarizes Earth's evolution through the past 4.6 billion years and examines the evidence that has allowed us to interpret changes in Earth and its life. Weekly laboratories include study of Earth materials and methods of their analysis. Primary objective: to provide students context for understanding current discussions on the nature, tempo and initiation of change in the natural world. Required Lab and field trips.

GEOL 315: Earth Materials

Credits 4
Focus on the description and occurrence of common rock-forming minerals as well as the genesis, classification and geologic significance of major rock groups. Lab familiarizes students with physical rock and mineral specimens and common optical techniques.

GEOL 316: Earth Cycles

Credits 4
This introduction to the chemical Earth helps students understand geoscientific phenomena and environmental processes by applying thermodynamics and kinetics as fundamental relationships. Students explore the structures and activities of atoms and matter; the formation of planets, rocks and minerals; the nature of Earth's core, mantle, crust and skin; and the impact of human activities and surface conditions on Earth materials and living things. Coursework focuses on scientific literacy by incorporating primary literature and building writing skills through journaling and report- and paper-writing.

GEOL 410: Structural Geology and Tectonics

Credits 4
Examines the architecture of the Earth's crust as well as the principles involved in the formation of primary and secondary earth structures, their historical significance, and their relation to economic resources and landscape features. Lab.

GEOL 412: Petrology

Credits 4
This course focuses on the geologic significance, identification and petrogenesis of igneous and metamorphic rocks. Laboratory time is devoted to the identification of rock types in hand sample and thin section and analysis using mineralogical and geochemical data.

GEOL 420: Earth Surface Processes

Credits 4
Surveys significant continental landscapes through analyses of the processes that form them. Emphasizes understanding of fluid mechanics and sediment transport, and applies those concepts to understanding how fluids shape the surface of the earth. Field trips and outdoor labs examine local landforms.

GEOL 421: Sedimentoloty

Credits 4
Examines the processes that generate, transport, modify, deposit and lithify sedimentary materials and the products that result. Emphasizes understanding modern sedimentary depositional environments as a means of interpreting ancient sedimentary sequences. Laboratory exercises teach the identification and analysis of clastics and carbonates in hand-specimen and thin-section. Field exercises analyze local and regional fluvial environments and glacial sediments, and Paleozoic carbonates.

GEOL 431: Soil & Sustainable Agriculture

Credits 4
Introduces students to the skin of the Earth, examining soil as both a geological material and a natural resource. Explores the awesome complexity of soils from molecular to landscape-scale and examines the particular problems soils pose to human-landscape interaction. Topics include the formation, physics, chemistry, ecology and sustainable management of the world's soils. Laboratory exercises incorporate field description, laboratory analysis and large-scale research questions. One weekend field trip is required.

GEOL 486: Student Research

Credits 3
This student-faculty research experience includes independent laboratory work, literature review, scientific writing, and conference presentation. Students conduct a research project from initial data collection to public communication, providing practical experience in a focused area of Geoscience. Final paper and public presentation are required. Majors who take part in Geology summer research must take this course at least once, but may take it twice.

GEOL 488: Senior Capstone Experience

Credits 1
Requires utilization of technical literature, regular oral presentations, and an independent project. Majors must take this course at least once, but may take it twice.