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The Minor in Geology

Course Requirements for the Minor: 22 units

The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required of all candidates for this minor.

Students majoring in Geology may not pursue a minor in Geology.

5 courses required:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
GEOS 102 Physical Geology Green Leaf Representing that this course is Sustainable 3.0 FS  GE
Prerequisites: High school chemistry or physics is recommended; students with no previous science courses are advised to enroll in GEOS 101. No college credit for those who have passed GEOS 101.
Physical and chemical processes in the earth, including origin and identification of rocks and minerals; earth's interior; movements and major features of the earth's crust; erosion and sedimentation; geological structures; topographic maps; mineral resources. 2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. This is an approved General Education course. (004069)
GEOS 203 Principles of Historical Geology   3.0 FA  
Prerequisites: GEOS 101 or GEOS 102.
Principles of historical geology as they relate to rock sequences and geologic maps. 2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. (004070)
GEOS 306 Mineralogy and Lithology   4.0 FA  
Prerequisites: GEOS 101 or GEOS 102; CHEM 107 or CHEM 111 or equivalent; or faculty permission.
Identification and origins of the more common minerals and rocks. 2 hours lecture, 6 hours laboratory. (004080)
GEOS 307 Stratigraphy   3.0 FA  
Prerequisites: GEOS 203 and GEOS 306 (both may be taken concurrently), or faculty permission.
Basic concepts of stratigraphy. Methods of strata description, correlation, mapping, and interpretation. Sedimentary tectonics and lithic associations. Graphic representation of data. 2 hours discussion, 3 hours laboratory. (004081)
GEOS 360 Field Methods   2.0 SP  
Prerequisites: GEOS 306, GEOS 307 with a grade of C- or higher.
Elementary geologic field methods, descriptive geometry, photogeology, and geologic mapping. Ten days in the field during January intersession. 6 hours laboratory. (004074)

7 units selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
GEOS 303 Invertebrate Paleontology   3.0 SP  
Prerequisites: GEOS 102 or course in Biology.
Study of main groups of invertebrate fossils and their uses in biostratigraphy, paleobiogeography, and paleoecology. 2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. (004138)
GEOS 361W Preparation of the Geological Report (W)   1.0 SP  GW  W
Prerequisites: GE Written Communication (A2) requirement.
{Corequisite: GEOS 360.] This course is a continuation of the writing experience that is initiated in GEOS 360. It deconstructs scientific writing through a re-writing of the GEOS 360 field report and analysis of other examples of geologic articles. 1 hour lecture. This is an approved Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement course; a grade of C- or higher certifies writing proficiency for majors. This is an approved Writing Course. (004075)
GEOS 402 Optical Mineralogy   1.0 SP  
Prerequisites: GEOS 306 with grade of C- or higher.
 Corequisites: GEOS 403.
Theory and practice of identification of minerals with the petrographic microscope. Emphasis on the common rock-forming silicates. 3 hours laboratory. (004096)
GEOS 403 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology   4.0 SP  
Prerequisites: GEOS 306 with grade of C- or higher.
 Corequisite: GEOS 402.
Physical-chemical development and geotectonic settings of igneous and metamorphic rocks. Analysis of rock thin sections. Field trip required. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. (004097)
GEOS 408 Structural Geology   4.0 FA  
Prerequisites: High school or college trigonometry; GEOS 203; GEOS 307 with grade of C- or higher.
Behavior of geologic materials. Folds, faults, small-scale structures in sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks. Graphic methods. 2 hours lecture, 4 hours activity. (004082)
GEOS 415 Hydrogeology Green Leaf Representing that this course is Sustainable 3.0 SP  
Prerequisites: CHEM 111, GEOS 306, GEOS 380, MATH 120; PHYS 202A or PHYS 204A. Recommended: GEOS 307.
Theory and analysis of groundwater flow, including fluid physics, aquifer properties, soil water, groundwater recharge, hydrogeologic environments, aquifer mechanics, and water quality degradation. 2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. (004102)
GEOS 436 Volcanology   3.0 S1  
Prerequisites: GEOS 101 or GEOS 102, GEOS 306, or faculty permission.
An introduction to physical processes associated with terrestrial and extraterrestrial volcanoes and their products. Specific topics include volcano monitoring, rheologic properties of magma and volcanic flows, experimental volcanology, theoretical and analog flow modeling, as well as in-depth examination of local volcanoes and various eruptions (past, present, and future). This course includes an extended (4-5 days) field trip, required for all students. Students participate in the field by collecting data for future course projects, presenting prepared information at various field trip stops, or both. Students also complete research projects throughout the semester. 3 hours lecture. (020293)
GEOS 455 Sedimentary Basin Analysis   3.0 FA  
Prerequisites: GEOS 307, GEOS 403 both with a grade of C- or higher.
Study of the paleographic evolution of sedimentary basins. Includes stratigraphic and paleontologic correlation, facies analysis, sedimentary petrology, depositional systems, and the tectonic framework of sedimentary basins. 2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. (004114)
GEOS 471 Field Geology   2.0 SP  
Prerequisites: GEOS 360, GEOS 361W, GEOS 402, GEOS 403, GEOS 408 all with grade of C- or higher.
Mapping, recording, and interpreting data in the field; use of Brunton compass and topographic maps emphasized. Reports required. Field work during January Intersession totaling at least 10 days. 6 hours laboratory. (004105)
GEOS 565 Geochemistry   3.0 F2  
Prerequisites: CHEM 111, GEOS 102. Recommended: GEOS 306.
Investigation of the chemistry of minerals, rocks, and natural waters. Provides students with interests in geology, hydrology, environmental science, and other disciplines a background on the chemical compositions of rocks, minerals, and natural waters; chemical processes in the formation of rocks and waters; principles of reaction chemistry, thermodynamics, and kinetics applied to geochemical systems; and migration of chemical contaminants in the environment. 3 hours lecture. (004115)
GEOS 572W Advanced Field Geology (W)   2.0 SP  W
Prerequisite: GEOS 403 with a grade of C- or higher.
 Corequisite: GEOS 471 (winter field - grade of C- or higher).
Independent geologic mapping of a difficult area. Report required. Field work on weekends or during spring recess, totaling at least 10 days. 6 hours laboratory. This is an approved Writing Course. (004107)
GEOS 580 Geological Evolution of North America   3.0 SP  
Prerequisites: GEOS 408, GEOS 455 (with grade of C- or higher for both).
Group study of topics related to the geological evolution of North America. Student presentations and group discussion will focus on common themes or geologic regions. 3 hours lecture. (004170)
GEOS 649 Economic Geology   3.0 F2  
Prerequisites: GEOS 306, GEOS 307, GEOS 402, GEOS 403; or faculty permission.
The integrative course dealing with origins and occurrences of metallic and non-metallic mineral deposits, including factors in their use. This course involves scholarly presentation of independent study research. 3 hours discussion. (004111)
GEOS 670 Environmental and Engineering Geology Green Leaf Representing that this course is Sustainable 3.0 F1  
Prerequisites: GEOS 102, GEOS 203, GEOS 306. For majors in related sciences and technical fields, GEOS 102 only.
Practical application of techniques to solve geological engineering and environmental problems. Techniques of surface investigations and remote sensing; borehole and surface geophysics; soil descriptions and properties; landslide mapping, mechanics and remediation, subsurface investigation of rock masses; mapping of discontinuities, establishing rock quality, tunneling techniques. Seismic studies; surface and trench mapping of faults, seismic risk analysis. Ground water monitoring, site assessment, techniques of hazardous waste cleanup, state and federal regulations on hazardous waste, siting of landfills. Students in this course apply these theories to new ideas. 3 hours lecture. (004116)
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