GEOS – Geoscience
Courses Offered
Lower Divison | Upper Divison | Graduate
Lower Division
GEOS 100 FUNDAMENTALS OF GEOLOGY (3-2-4)(DLN). An introduction to the principles of physical and historical geology. Topics include weathering, erosion, glaciation, volcanism, earthquakes, rocks, minerals, maps, and the origin of the earth and its physical and biological development. Open to all students except those with previous credit in geology, or earth science majors and those nonscience majors who plan an eight-hour sequence in geology. Field trips required. Lab fee required. PREREQ: MATH 108.
GEOS 101 GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE (3-2-4)(F/S)(DLN). Physical geographic approach to earth systems science. Overview of global climatology, hydrology, geomorphology, biogeography, and biogeochemical cycles. PREREQ: MATH 108.
GEOS 102 HISTORICAL GEOLOGY (3-3-4)(S). A study of the origin and progressive development of the earth and evolution of plants and animals. Pre-historic life and fossil study as well as field trips to fossil beds are included in the laboratory work. Students may take either GEOS 102 or GEOS 103 for credit, but not both. Field trips required. PREREQ: MATH 108.
GEOS 103 HISTORY OF THE EARTH (3-0-3)(F/S). Exploration of the dynamic history of our planet and evolution of life on Earth for the past three billion years. A nonlab course for nonmajors. Students may take either GEOS 102 or GEOS 103 for credit, but not both.
GEOS 110 INTRODUCTORY GEOLOGY LAB (0-2-1)(Offered as justified). For transfer students who need a laboratory experience to gain Area III Core credit for a lecture-only geology course taken elsewhere. PREREQ: PERM/INST.
GEOS 200 EVOLUTION OF WESTERN NORTH AMERICA (3-V-4)(F). Advanced introduction to geologic sciences. Regional and global tectonics and their relationship to igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary processes, chemical differentiation, and landscape evolution. Emphasis on understanding the rock record by integrating field and analytical observations from various geologic disciplines. Field trips required. PREREQ: GEOS 100 or GEOS 101 and MATH 147.
GEOS 201 INTRODUCTION TO OCEANOGRAPHY (3-0-3)(F/S). A general study of physiography, biological oceanography, and ocean geology, including the physiography, circulation patterns, waves, tides, and the sedimentation and biologic processes that occur in the various ocean environments. PREREQ: GEOG 100 or GEOS 100 or GEOS 101.
GEOS 212 (GEOG 212) WATER IN THE WEST (3-V-4)(F/S). Introduction to hydrologic sciences. Topics include climate, surface and groundwater quality and quantity, surficial geology and the interaction of hydrologic and ecological processes. Emphasis on water issues of the Western United States. PREREQ: GEOG 100 or GEOS 100 or GEOS 101 and MATH 147.
GEOS 242 COMMUNICATION IN THE EARTH SCIENCES (3-0-3)(F/S)(CID). Development of effective written and oral communication skills necessary for professional careers in earth science related fields. Includes researching and evaluating existing literature and the iterative processes involved in evaluating, editing, and revising draft papers. PRE/COREQ: Geosciences, Geophysics, Geoarchaeology, or Earth Science Education major with sophomore standing.
GEOS 280 FIELD GEOLOGY (1-6-3)(F). Techniques of field mapping using topographic maps, stereo-pair air photos, Brunton compass, GPS, and GIS to address a variety of geologic problems. PREREQ: GEOS 100 or GEOS 101, ENGL 102, and declared Geoscience, Geophysics, or Earth Science Education major. COREQ: MATH 147.
Upper Division
GEOS 300 EARTH MATERIALS (3-3-4)(F). Minerals and rocks, focusing on their chemical properties, atomic structures and environments of origin. Labs include identification of minerals and rocks in hand specimens and thin sections. Field trip required. PREREQ: GEOS 200. COREQ: CHEM 111 or PERM/INST.
GEOS 305 EARTH’S CLIMATE: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE (3-0-3)(F/S). Examination of how and why the Earth’s climate changes, and the major driving forces that control the climate on Earth. Concepts include feedback systems and how they influence climate, how climate change in the past is used to understand recent climate changes, and climate change in the future. PREREQ: GEOS 100 or GEOS 101 or GEOG 100.
GEOS 313 GEOMORPHOLOGY (3-V-4)(S). Study of surface processes (physical, chemical, and biological) and landforms. Includes weathering, erosion, fluvial, glacial, coastal and aeolian processes and landforms, history of landform evolution, and climatic and tectonic controls. Field trips and overnight trip required. PREREQ: ENGL 102, GEOS 200, and MATH 147.
GEOS 314 STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY (3-3-4)(S). Fundamentals of descriptive, kinematic, and dynamic analysis of structures within the Earth’s crust, and a theoretical treatment of stress and strain. Field trips required. PREREQ: GEOS 200 and MATH 147.
GEOS 315 SEDIMENTATION AND STRATIGRAPHY (3-V-4)(F). The study of the transportation and deposition of sediments and their depositional environments. Emphasis is placed on the identification and correlation of sedimentary facies and on basin analysis. Field trips required. PREREQ: GEOS 313. COREQ: GEOS 300 or PERM/INST.
GEOS 324 PETROGRAPHY (0-3-1)(S). Principles of optical mineralogy and a study of igneous and metamorphic rocks in thin section utilizing the polarizing microscope. The origins and histories of rocks are interpreted by examining their mineral assemblages, textures, fabrics, and alteration. PREREQ: GEOS 300. COREQ: GEOS 345.
GEOS 330 QUATERNARY GEOCHRONOLOGY (3-0-3)(F/S). Examine the methods used to establish the timing, duration and rates of geological and geoarchaeological events and processes within the last approximately two million years of Earth history, historically referred to as the Quaternary system or period. PREREQ: GEOS 100 or GEOS 101; COREQ: GEOS 200 or PERM/INST.
GEOS 345 IGNEOUS AND METAMORPHIC PETROLOGY (2-2-3)(S). Igneous and metamorphic rocks, emphasizing the physical and chemical processes that control their formation. PREREQ: CHEM 112. COREQ: GEOS 324.
GEOS 351 INVERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY (2-3-3)(Offered as justified). The study of the invertebrate phyla represented in the fossil record. Special emphasis is placed on hardpart morphology, ontogeny, phylogeny, and taxonomy of geologically important groups. Laboratory work based on standard collections. Special project. Field trips required. PREREQ: GEOS 102.
GEOS 370 (GEOG 370) VOLCANOES AND SOCIETY (3-0-3)(F)(Odd years). Impact of volcanic eruptions on human societies in the past and ways that potentially dangerous volcanoes are being studied and monitored today. Aimed at teachers and others interested in the topic; no background in geology is required. This course may be taken for GEOG or GEOS credit, but not both.
GEOS 410 OPTICAL MINERALOGY (1-3-2)(F)(Offered as justified). A study of the behavior of light in crystals and the use of the polarizing microscope in the examination and identification of minerals in immersion media and thin sections. PREREQ: GEOS 324.
GEOS 411 HYDROLOGY: LAND-ATMOSPHERE INTERACTION (3-0-3)(F). Introduction to the hydrologic cycle and connections between the land surface and atmosphere. Atmospheric circulation, global hydrologic budget, atmospheric radiation, meteorology and climatology of rainfall, snow processes, surface energy and moisture balance, turbulent fluxes, and modeling and remote sensing. PREREQ: MATH 175 and GEOS 212 or ENGR 330.
GEOS 412 (CE 412) HYDROLOGY: FLOW IN GEOLOGIC SYSTEMS (3-0-3)(S). Introduction to the hydrologic cycle focusing on subsurface water and its relationship to surface water. Physics of flow through porous media, physical properties of aquifer systems, methods to determine aquifer characteristics, groundwater modeling and relationships between groundwater and streamflow. May be taken for either CE or GEOS credit, but not both. PREREQ: MATH 175 and GEOS 212 or ENGR 330.
GEOS 414 ADVANCED STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY (2-3-3)(F)(Alternate years). A study of the geometric properties of deformed rocks, their measurement, and analysis. Course will emphasize structural analysis of folded and faulted terrains and metamorphic tectonics, mapping procedures, map interpretation, and data analysis. Study will include review and comparison of tectonic styles of deformation of different geologic provinces throughout North America. Field trips required. PREREQ: GEOS 314.
GEOS 415 ADVANCED STRATIGRAPHY (3-0-3)(Offered as justified). Study of the formation and evolution of sedimentary basins; emphasis on the concepts and qualitative and quantitative tools necessary to understand how sedimentary basins are formed, their specific stratigraphic architectures, and on modern approaches to correlation. PREREQ: GEOS 315. COREQ: GEOS 314.
GEOS 416 (CE 416)(GEOPH 416) HYDROLOGY (3-0-3)(F). Interdisciplinary earth science concerned with movement and occurrence of water. Watershed-based hydrologic phenomena including hydrologic water-cycle analysis, precipitation, evapotranspiration, snow/snowmelt, streamflow, floods, routing and surface runoff events. Application of analytical techniques to solve water resource problems. May be taken for GEOS, GEOPH, or CE credit, but not in more than one department. PREREQ: MATH 175 or PERM/INST.
GEOS 421 ORE DEPOSITS (1-3 credits)(Offered as justified). Modern theories of ore deposition, the origin and migration of ore-bearing fluids, the processes of alteration and secondary enrichment, the controls of ore occurrence, and the economics of exploration, development and use of ores. Labs consist of detailed studies of ore and alteration suites using hand specimens and transmitted and reflected-light microscopy. Filed trips required. PREREQ: GEOS 300.
GEOS 423 ADVANCED GEOMORPHOLOGY(3-0-3)(F/S). Advanced study of Quaternary dating methods, applications of geomorphology to environmental problems, mapping and landscape analysis using GIS, soils, geomorphic response to Quaternary climate change, and climatic, tectonic and autocyclic controls on geomorphic processes. Field trips and a field-based research project required. PREREQ: GEOS 313 and GEOG 360.
GEOS 425 WHOLE EARTH GEOCHEMISTRY (3-0-3)(F/S). Basic tools and topics of modern geochemistry with an emphasis on solid-earth applications. Essentials of thermodynamics, kinetics, radiogenic and stable isotopes, and trace element chemistry necessary to study Earth processes in the crust, mantle, hydrosphere and atmosphere. Completion of or co-enrollment in MATH 175 is recommended. PREREQ: GEOS 300, CHEM 112, MATH 170.
GEOS 426 (CE 426) AQUEOUS GEOCHEMISTRY (3-0-3)(F/S). Basic tools and topics of aqueous geochemistry with an emphasis on low temperature process in natural waters Essentials of thermodynamics, kinetics, aqueous speciation, mineral-water interaction, and elemental cycling in the context of surficial earth processes and environmental challenges. Completion of or co-enrollment in Math 175 is recommended May be taken for CE or GEOS credit, but not both PREREQ: CHEM 112, MATH 170.
GEOS 429 FIELD HYDROGEOLOGY (0-3-2)(Offered as justified). Field observations and data collection at applied projects in the area. Water-well design and construction, geologic data collection from drill holes, borehole geophysics, well testing, operation of municipal water systems, water rights, and water quality considerations. PRE/COREQ: GEOS 412 or PERM/INST.
GEOS 431 PETROLEUM GEOLOGY (2-3-3)(F)(Offered as justified). A study of the nature and origin of petroleum, the geologic conditions that determine its migration, accumulation and distribution, and methods and techniques for prospecting and developing.
GEOS 435 INTRODUCTION TO GEOINFORMATICS (3-0-3)(F/S). Explores the theory and practice of digital information systems as applied to the geosicences. Looks at databases, GIS, schemas, standards and protocols, and examples of systems that are operating. GEOS 314 recommended. PREREQ: GEOG 360, GEOS 315.
GEOS 441 PLATE TECTONICS (3-0-3)(F/S)(Offered on demand). Reviews and identifies geologic and geophysical foundations of plate tectonic theory and characteristics of modern tectonic environments and their use in interpreting Earth’s geologic history. PREREQ: GEOS 314.
GEOS 451 PRINCIPLES OF SOIL SCIENCE (3-0-3)(F/S)(Offered as justified). Major aspects of soil science, including the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of soils, will be presented in the classroom lectures. Demonstration laboratory exercises and field trips will be required. PREREQ: Background in geology and chemistry.
GEOS 460 VOLCANOLOGY (3-0-3)(F)(Offered on demand). A study of volcanic processes and the deposits of volcanic eruptions. Emphasis is on the origin and interpretation of the physical features observed in volcanic rocks. Field trip required. PREREQ: GEOS 300.
GEOS 470 (GEOG 470) EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE AND GLOBAL WARMING (3-0-3)(F/S). Survey of interactions among physical biogeochemical processes involved in climate and climate feed back. Explore global warming scenarios for the next century and their reliability. This course may be taken for GEOG or GEOS credit, but not both. PREREQ: GEOS 201 or GEOG 331.
GEOS 471 FIELD SEMINAR (1-3 credits)(F/S). Field trips and field exercises to study geology of selected localities in North America. Review of pertinent literature and maps, recording of geologic observations, and the preparation of a comprehensive report on the geology of the areas visited. May be repeated for credit. PREREQ: GEOS 200 and PERM/INST.
GEOS 472 ISOTOPE GEOCHEMISTRY AND GEOCHRONOLOGY (3-0-3)(F/S). Comprehensive overview of theory, methods, and applications of isotope geochemistry and geochronology to a wide range of earth science problems. PREREQ: GEOS 425.
GEOS 480 RESEARCH IN GEOSCIENCES (1-3 credits)(F/S). Individual research project carried out by the student in collaboration with and directed by a supervising member of the Geoscience faculty. May be repeated for up to 6 credits maximum. PREREQ: GEOS 100 or GEOS 101; COREQ: GEOS 200 or GEOS 212.
GEOS 482 GEOLOGY SUMMER FIELD CAMP (0-0-6)(SU). Study of geology in its natural environment – the field. Geologic mapping, collection, plotting and analysis of data and mapping on aerial photograph and topographic base to solve field problems. Student should expect to be in the field 8-10 hours per day, 6 days per week for 4 weeks. Final product is professional quality comprehensive geologic report, map, and cross-section. PREREQ: PERM/INST.
GEOS 486 GEOSCIENCES CAPSTONE (3-6 credits)(Offered as justified). Student-specific research or field project in the geosciences. Student initiated proposals for the course must be approved prior to initiation of work. PREREQ: PERM/INST.
GEOS 493 INTERNSHIP (4-6 credits).
GEOS 495 SENIOR THESIS (4-6 credits). Field study involving an original investigation in geology or geophysics, carried out independently, but supervised by one or more faculty members. Problem must be well-stated and method of study designed to give a conclusive result. Project may be substituted for GEOS 480 upon approval of a written proposal by a committee of three department faculty members. PREREQ: Senior standing.
GEOS 498 GEOLOGY SENIOR SEMINAR (1-0-1)(S)(FF). Culminating capstone experience to prepare for professional life in the geosciences. Practice evaluating, synthesizing, and presenting information from scientific literature through individual and group assignments. PREREQ: Geophysics, Geosciences, or Earth Science Education major with senior standing.