The courses listed below are offered by the Department of Geological Sciences. Graduate credit can also be earned for courses taught in other departments as long as the degree requirements are met. A complete list of courses can be found in the Graduate School Announcements. Graduate credit is earned for courses at the 600 and 800 level; courses taken at the 400 level and below do not earn graduate credit.

GEOL 415  Analysis of Geological Processes  3 credits (F)
Introduction to methods for analyzing geological processes.  Mathematical methods will be introduced to solve problems related to stream flow, reaction kinetics, radioactive decay, heat flow, diffusion, fluid flow through geologic media and related processes.
Prerequisite:  MTHSC 206 or consent of instructor.
Instructor:  Dr. Murdoch

GEOL 601  Applied Geophysics  3 credits (S)
Introduction to the most important methods of geophysical exploration and their application to the investigation of subsurface groundwater and mineral resources.  Emphasis is on the principles, techniques, interpretations and limitations of magnetic, gravimetric, electrical, electromagnetic, well-logging and seismic geophysical surveys.
Prerequisite:  GEOL 101 or consent of instructor; PHYS 208 or 221 recommended.
Instructor: 

GEOL 603  Invertebrate Paleontology  3 credits (F-even years)
Life of past geologic ages, as shown by fossilized remains of ancient animals, with emphasis on the invertebrates.
Prerequisite:  GEOL 101 or consent of instructor.
Instructor: 

GEOL 605  Geomorphology  3 credits (S)
Surface features of the Earth - their form, nature, origin, development, and the rates and patterns of changes they are undergoing.  Laboratory studies emphasize a process approach to terrain analysis stressing complex interactions of geologic, climatic and tectonic forces.
Prerequisite:  GEOL 101, 102 or consent of instructor.
Instructor:  Dr. Wagner

GEOL 608  Geohydrology  3 credits (F)
Hydrologic cycle, aquifer characteristics, theory of groundwater movement, mechanics of well flow, experimental methods, and subsurface mapping.
Prerequisites:  GEOL 101, 102.
Instructor:  Dr. Murdoch

GEOL 613  Stratigraphy  3 credits (S)
Analysis of stratified rocks as the repository of earth history and the conceptual framework used to synthesize the world geologic record as a coherent whole; traditional litho-stratigraphy, modern seismic stratigraphy, biostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy and current stratigraphic issues.
Prerequisite:  GEOL 314 or consent of instructor.
Instructor: 

GEOL 621  GIS Applications in Geology  3 credits (S)
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems with applications to current geological and hydrological problems.  Topics will cover the use of Global Positioning Systems, spatial analysis and image analysis.  Hands-on training with GIS software and techniques will be covered in the lab.
Prerequisite:  Graduate standing and strong computer skills.
Instructor:  Mr. Brame

GEOL 651  Selected Topics in Hydrogeology  1-4 credits (F,S,SS)
Selected topics in hydrogeology with emphasis on new developments in the field.  May be repeated for a maximum of six credits, but only if different topics are covered.
Prerequisite:  GEOL 300 or 408/608, or consent of instructor.
Instructor:  Staff

GEOL 801  Field Geophysical Techniques  3 credits (S-odd years)
Project oriented field study of basic geophysical methods used for shallow geological investigations and for environmental site characterization.  Techniques/interpretation include seismic, electrical and electromagnetic sounding, ground-penetrating radar, magnetics, gravity, self-potentials, and borehole geophysics.  Emphasis is on basic principles and physical understanding of the geophysical methods with applications in mind.
Prerequisite:  Consent of instructor.
Instructor: 

GEOL 803  Geostatistics  3 credits (F-odd years)
Numerical and statistical treatment of geological data emphasizing the analysis of spatially and temporally distributed variables and unique aspects of geological variables.  Topics include methods of sampling geological data, quantitative procedures for reducing the dimensionality of geological data sets, and techniques for presentation and interpretation of results.
Prerequisite:  EX ST 301 or MTHSC 301.
Instructor: 

GEOL 805  Advanced Stratigraphy  3 credits (F-even years)
Classification, distribution, chronologic succession and correlation of sedimentary rocks; interpretation of features of strata in terms of their origin, depositional environment, paleogeography and relation to organic evolution; Atlantic Coastal Plain stratigraphy.
Prerequisite:  GEOL 413/613 or consent of instructor.
Instructor: 

GEOL 806  Aquifer Characterization  3 credits (F-even years)
Characterization of aquifers from the microscopic scale to the regional scale.  Geological origin of aquifers and modification by diagenetic and deformational processes.  Application of subsurface geological techniques to data acquisition and interpretation.  Prediction of fluid occurrence and flow by integrating results of subsurface analysis.
Instructor:  Dr. Castle

GEOL 807  Tectonics  3 credits (F-odd years)
Deformational processes and features of the Earth's crust at the regional to global scale; characteristic structures of active rift, transform, and convergent margins; origin of mountain belts and sedimentary basins within a plate-tectonic framework.
Prerequisite:  GEOL 302 or consent of instructor.
Instructor:  Dr. Castle

GEOL 808  Groundwater Modeling  3 credits (F)
Mathematical and computer modeling of groundwater flow and nonreactive solute transport through geological formations; conceptual flow models for geologic systems; formulation of governing mass and energy conservation equations; application of analytical, numerical and stochastic models to real-world problems.
Prerequisite:  GEOL 415/615 or consent of instructor.
Instructor:  Dr. Falta

GEOL 809  Subsurface Remediation Modeling  3 credits (S)
Lectures and computer exercises involving subsurface remediation methods, including groundwater extraction, soil vapor extraction, steam flooding and a variety of other techniques; modeling flow of multiphase and multicomponent mixtures in porous medium.
Prerequisite:  GEOL/EE&S 808 or consent of instructor.
Instructor:  Dr. Falta

GEOL 810  Analytical Methods for Hydrogeology  3 credits (F-odd years)
Analytical mathematical methods for modeling subsurface fluid flow and transport processes including saturated water flow, unsaturated gas zone flow, chemical transport, and heat transfer, emphasizing the derivation and solution of governing equations for modeling subsurface flow and transport.
Prerequisite:  GEOL/EE&S 808 or a graduate groundwater course or consent of instructor.
Instructor:  Dr. Falta

GEOL 811  Rock Physics  3 credits (S-even years)
Experimental and theoretical rock physics taught at an advanced level.  Electrical, fluid-transport, and seismic properties are covered in detail.  Special emphasis is placed on the rock/solution interface and how that interface affects electrical, fluid transport, and seismic properties.  Other topics such as magnetic, mechanical and thermal responses are discussed briefly.
Prerequisite:  Consent of instructor.
Instructor: 

GEOL 813  Environmental Geochemistry  3 credits (S-odd years)
Inorganic geochemistry, specifically the distribution of trace elements in rocks, regolith, water.  Topics include micronutrients and concepts of essentiality; health problems related to natural occurrence of toxic elements; environmental pollution arising from non-ferrous metal mining, coal mining and coal use, gasoline additives; urban and regional geochemistry.
Prerequisite:  GEOL 318 or consent of instructor.
Instructor: 

GEOL 816  Aquifer Systems  3 credits (S-odd years)
Hydrogeologic characteristics of selected major aquifer systems in the US and elsewhere;  conceptual models for the controls of recharge, discharge, and flow through aquifers in different geologic settings; development of numeric models to simulate natural and stressed aquifers.
Prerequisite:  GEOL 408/608; GEOL/EE&S 808 or consent of instructor.
Instructor:  Dr. Murdoch

GEOL 818  Hydrogeology of Fractured Aquifers  3 credits (S-even years)  Processes and characteristics of fluid flow through naturally and artificially fractured subsurface formations; principles of flow in dual porosity materials, characterizing fractures and fractured aquifers, mechanics of fracture formation, methods of inducing fractures from wells; case studies and applications.
Prerequisite:  GEOL408/608; GEOL/EE&S 808 or consent of instructor.
Instructor:  Dr. Murdoch

GEOL 850  Selected Topics in Environmental Geology  1-4 credits (F,S)
Selected topics in environmental geology emphasizing subsurface contamination.  May be repeated for a maximum of six credits, but only if different topics are covered.
Prerequisite:  Consent of instructor.
Instructor:  Staff

GEOL 851  Geology Seminar  1 credit (F,S)
Students review current topics in geology and make oral presentations.
Instructor:  Staff

GEOL 875  Hydrogeology Summer Field Camp  6 credits (SS)
Groundwater geology field techniques including examination of surface exposures, analysis of cores and geophysical well logs, subsurface mapping, aquifer performance tests and groundwater remediation.
Prerequisite:  Consent of instructor.
Instructor:  Dr. Murdoch

GEOL  891  Master's Thesis Research (F,S,SS)
Credit to be arranged.
Instructor:  Staff