Graduate Course Descriptions

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for the course descriptions as they apply to you.

GEOL 5000, 5001 - Geomorphology (3,0)
Two lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week.
Prerequisites: GEOL 1500, 1501; an additional 4 s.h. in introductory GEOL sequences; or consent of instructor.

Advanced study of landforms, stages of their development, and processes which have formed them.

GEOL 5150. The Geologic Component of Environmental Science (3)
Prerequisites: Introductory GEOL course or consent of instructor.

Basic geologic knowledge and insights that support sound, rational, and science-based environmental decisions and policies in regard to land and water use. Topics include pollution abatement, clean up, and prevention; resource extraction, use, and conservation; and hazardous geologic processes.

GEOL 5300 - Geology of Coastal Processes and Environments (3)

Prerequisites: GEOL 1550; 4010, 4011;or consent of instructor.

Modern coastal systems. Diversity and distribution, complexity and dynamics of interacting processes and responses, origin and evolutionary history, and role of man as a major modifying force. May include field trips to various coastal systems.

GEOL 5350 - Marine Geology (3)

Prerequisites: GEOL 1550; 4010, 4011; or consent of instructor.

Geology of world's ocean basins. Impact of geophysical, geochemical, and geobiological principles on concepts of origin and evolution of ocean basins; source, transportation, and deposition of marine sediments and formation of marine stratigraphic record; and role of oceanographic processes affecting earth history such as sea level fluctuation, plate tectonics, paleogeography, and paleoclimatology.

GEOL 5400, 5401 - Optical Mineralogy (3,0)

Two lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week.
Prerequisites: GEOL 3050,3051.

Theory and basic techniques for determining optical constants of crystals using a polarizing microscope and thin sections.

GEOL 5450 - Introduction to Aqueous Geochemistry (3)
Two lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week.
Prerequisites: CHEM 1150, 1151, 1160, 1161; or equivalent.

Application of chemical principles to study of elements at Earth's surface; their transportation in aqueous solutions; and weathering, groundwater and surface-water chemistry, geochemical cycles, and distribution of stable isotopes.

GEOL 5500, 5510, 5520 - Directed Studies in Geology (2,2,2)

Prerequisite: Senior or graduate standing in geology or consent of instructor.

Independent study on a selected topic. May include field work, directed readings, or some combination thereof. Occasionally a special field study or course will be offered using one of these course numbers.

GEOL 5600, 5601 - Economic Geology (3,0)

Two lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week.
Prerequisites: GEOL 3050,3051.

Genesis, mode of occurrence, and utilization of mineral resources. Metals, nonmetals, and basic energy resources, such as petroleum, coal, and uranium. Emphasis on geology of these resources and their relationship to modern technological society.

GEOL 5700, 5701 - Geohydrology of Drainage Basins (3,0)

Two lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week.
Prerequisites: GEOL 1500, 1501; or consent of instructor.

Drainage basin geology and hydrology. Emphasis on quantitative analysis, evaporation, streamflow, and hydrologic parameters of surface water and ground water basins.

GEOL 5710, 5711 - Ground Water Hydrology (3,0)

Two lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week.
Prerequisites: GEOL 1500, GEOL 1501; or consent of instructor.

Origin, occurrence, movement, quality, regional analysis, and management of ground water. Interrelationship of ground and surface water. Lab emphasis on aquifer test data collection and interpretation.

GEOL 6020, 6021 - Magmas and Igneous Rocks (3,0)

Two lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week.
Prerequisites: GEOL 5400, 5401; or equivalent.

Magmas from generation to emplacement as intrusive and volcanic rocks. Lab includes recognition and textural interpretations utilizing rock thin sections and polarized-light microscopes.

GEOL 6040, 6041 - Metamorphic Petrology (3,0)

Two lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week.
Prerequisites: GEOL 5400, 5401; or equivalent.

Advanced course. Emphasis on chemical systems, pressure and temperature of mineral formation, and tectonic significance of metamorphic assemblages. Lab emphasis on petrographic studies.

GEOL 6200, 6201 - Sedimentary Petrology (3,0)

Two lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week. Field trip.
Prerequisites: GEOL 5400, 5401; or consent of instructor.

Terrigenous and carbonate rocks using hand specimen and optical petrographic techniques.

GEOL 6220, 6221 - Carbonate Petrology (3,0)
Prerequisites: GEOL 6200, 6201; or consent of instructor.

Description, classification, and origin of sedimentary carbonate rocks. Examines roles played by various groups of animals and plants in carbonate sediment formation. Special emphasis on sedimentary process and environments that control deposition of modern carbonate sediments.

GEOL 6250 - Stratigraphic Analysis (3)
Prerequisites: GEOL 4020, 4021; or equivalent.

Interpretation of stratified sedimentary rocks. Emphasis on principles and methodology.

GEOL 6300, 6301 - Sedimentary Environments (3,0)
Two lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week.
Prerequisites: GEOL 4010, 4011; 4200, 4201; or consent of instructor.

Emphasis on the recent environments of sediment deposition. Products of sedimentary processes as related to their analogs in stratigraphic record.

GEOL 6310, 6311 - Principles of Paleoecology (3,0)

Two lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week.
Prerequisites: GEOL 4200, 4201.

Interpretation of ecological relationships of ancient organisms and their environments. Emphasis on principles and methodology. Importance of ecological studies of modern animals and plants and extrapolation of such information to similar ancient groups.

GEOL 6350 - Environmental and Global Change (3)

Field trips required.
Prerequisites: GEOL 4010, 4011; or consent of instructor.

Geologic history of past two million years. Emphasis on global and regional environmental changes associated with Quaternary glaciations and sea-level fluctuations. Investigation on interactions between land, sea, and ice; geologic evidence used for reconstructing Quaternary environments; dating methods; and ways in which living organisms (including humans) have responded to past environmental change.

GEOL 6400 - Geochemistry (4,0)

Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week.
Prerequisites: CHEM 1150, 1151; 1160, 1161; or equivalent.

Introduces principles that determine distribution, organization, and abundance of elements.

GEOL 6500 - Tectonics (3)

Features, styles, and processes of deformation and tectonic evolution studied in plate-edge terranes and intraplate tectonic regions.

GEOL 6522, 6532 - Readings in Selected Geology Topics (1,1)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing in geology or consent of instructor.

Directed readings of topics not covered in regular course offerings or advanced study of previously covered topic.

GEOL 6523, 6533 - Readings in Selected Geologic Topics (1,1)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing in geology or consent of instructor.

Directed readings of topics not covered in regular course offerings or advanced study of previously covered topic.

GEOL 6550, 6551 - Principles of Geophysics (3,0)

Two lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week.
Prerequisites: GEOL 3300, 3301; PHYS 1250, 1260; or equivalent.

Seismology, gravity, rock magnetism, and heat flow, as applied to the whole earth. Emphasis on relationships between large scale features of Earth and their geophysical characteristics. Lab introduces geophysical instrumentation, data processing, and interpretation.

GEOL 6703 - Seminar in Geology (1)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing in geology or consent of instructor.

Selected topics of current geological interest.

GEOL 6704 - Seminar in Geology (2)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing in geology or consent of instructor.

Selected topics of current geological interest.

GEOL 6705 - Seminar in Geology (3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing in geology or consent of instructor.

Selected topics of current geological interest.

GEOL 6900 - Preparation of Geological Manuscripts (3)

Prerequisites: Consent of instructor.

Emphasis on grammatical style, syntax, and organization of manuscripts. Supplementary exercises develop skills in preparing illustrations (computer graphics, drafting, photographic techniques). Steps of publication process presented in detail.

GEOL 6950 - Geological Data Analysis (3,0)

Two lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing in geology or consent of instructor.

Discusses and implements various methods of geological data analysis. Emphasis on methods most applicable to research topics in geology. Topics include data collection and project design, box models, and uni- and multi-variate analysis of geological data, and time-series analysis.

GEOL 6998 - Research Project (3)

May be repeated once. May count a maximum of 3 semester hours.

Prerequisite: Non-thesis geology major; consent of advisor.

Formulate research project demonstrating principles and procedures used to recognize, state, solve, and write problems of geological importance. Requires formal seminar presentation of completed project and paper.

GEOL 7000 - Thesis (3)

May be repeated. May count a maximum of 6 semester hours.

GEOL 7001 - Thesis: Summer Research (1)

May be repeated. No credit may count toward degree.

Students conducting thesis research may only register for this course during the summer.

GEOL 7830 - Principles of Biogeochemical Interactions (3) Formerly GEOL 6830

Prerequisite: CHEM 1160.

General introduction to life's effects on chemistry of Earth's surface. Examines interactions between atmosphere, land surface, and oceans. Stresses human impact on global environmental chemistry.

GEOL 7910 - Sediment Transport and Depositional Processes (4)

Prerequisite: GEOL 4010; or consent of instructor.

Exams processes involved in transport and deposition of sediment. Focus on fundamental principles and how they apply to active processes, recent sediment, and environmental applications.

GEOL 7920, 7921 - Advanced Surface Water/Groundwater Hydrology (4,0)

Prerequisite: GEOL 5710, 5711; or consent of instructor.

Advanced hydrologic topics with emphasis on computer applications and modeling. Evaluates steady-state and nonsteady-state models and applied aspects of hydrology related to management of water resources.

GEOL 7930 - Biogeochemical Processes (4) Formerly GEOL 6930

Prerequisite: CHEM 1160.

Overview of life's effects on chemistry of Earth's surface. Examines interactions between atmosphere, land surface, and oceans. Biotic mechanisms in these habitats followed by synthesis of global cycles of biologically relevant elements (C,N,O,P,and S).