100 - Minnesota's Rocks and Waters (3 S.H.)
Introduction to Minnesota's geological history focusing on such topics as Minnesota's rock record and history, fossils, mining, soils, lakes, rivers, and ground water. Lecture; no laboratory. Offered with sufficient demand. Back to top

102 - Resources of the Earth (3 S.H.)
An investigative exploration of significant global resources with emphasis on fossil fuels, non-fossil fuels, water, and other energy resources. Geologic processes governing each are explored. Prediction, impacts, economic, and political scenarios are examined. Offered with sufficient demand. Back to top

103 - Natural Disasters (3 S.H.)
An investigative exploration of significant geohazards impacting the earth with emphasis on volcanoes, earthquakes, landslides and other hill slope failures, hurricanes, and tornadoes, pollution and floods. Geologic processes governing each type of disaster are explored. Prediction, impacts and mitigation potential for each hazard are examined. Lecture; no laboratory. Offered yearly. Back to top

104 - Catastrophes and Extinctions (3 S.H.)
Over 99% of the animal species that once inhabited the Earth are now extinct.  Remarkably, most of these extinctions have been associated through time with significant geologic events that are considered by many to be catastrophic.  In this course, students will explore the major extinctions that have taken place through geologic history.  These include the extinction of numerous marine invertebrate species, the extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago, the extinction of large mammals during the last ice age, and many others.  Weekend (overnight) field trip required.  Lecture only.  Prerequisites:  None.  Offered with sufficient demand.  Back to top

105 - Astronomy with Laboratory (4 S.H.)
History of astronomy. Study of the planets, their moons, comets, asteroids, meteors, and other planetary bodies. Origin of the universe, solar system, sun, and other stars. Lecture, laboratory, and observation required.  Offered yearly, usually in the fall semester. Note:  Students may enroll in either GEOS 105 or GEOS 106, but they cannot earn credit for both courses. Back to top

106 - Astronomy (3 S.H.)
History of astronomy. Study of the planets, their moons, comets, asteroids, meteors, and other planetary bodies. Origin of the universe, solar system, sun, and other stars. Lecture only.  Offered yearly, usually in the fall semester. Note:  Students may enroll in either GEOS 105 or GEOS 106, but they cannot earn credit for both courses. Back to top

108 - Geology of the Mississippi River (3 S.H.)
Investigation of the geologic history, river processes, and resource management of large rivers, particularly focusing on the Mississippi River.  Topics include an exploration of the relationship between the Mississippi River and its watershed, soils, groundwater, bedrock geology, and humans.  Concepts emphasized will include the hydrologic cycle, plate tectonics, river morphology, river dynamics, resource management, and public policy issues.  Lecture; no laboratory.  Prerequisites:  None.  Offered alternate years.  Back to top

110 - Oceanography with Laboratory (4 S.H.)
Introduction to oceans including the ocean floor, marine sediments, composition of sea water, ocean currents, waves and tides, marine biology, and oceanic resources. Lecture and laboratory required.  Offered alternate years,  usually in the spring semester.  Note:  Students may enroll in either GEOS 110 or GEOS 111, but they cannot earn credit for both courses. Back to top

111 - Oceanography (3 S.H.)
Introduction to oceans including the ocean floor, marine sediments, composition of sea water, ocean currents, waves and tides, marine biology, and oceanic resources. Lecture only. Offered alternate years, usually in the spring semester.  Note:  Students may enroll in either GEOS 110 or GEOS 111, but they cannot earn credit for both courses. Back to top

115 - Meteorology with Laboratory (4 S.H.)
Study of earth's dynamic weather system including atmospheric structure, composition, and processes; origin and development of storms and related phenomena. Lecture and laboratory required. Offered alternate years, usually in the spring semester. Note:  Students may enroll in either GEOS 115 or GEOS 116, but they cannot earn credit for both courses. Back to top

116 - Meteorology (3 S.H.)
Study of earth's dynamic weather system including atmospheric structure, composition, and processes; origin and development of storms and related phenomena.  Lecture only.  Offered alternate years, usually in the spring semester.  Note:  Students may enroll in either GEOS 115 or GEOS 116, but they cannot earn credit for both courses. Back to top

120 - Dynamic Earth with Laboratory (4 S.H.)
An introduction to geologic principles and the processes shaping planet Earth. Composition and distribution of earth materials; examination of internal processes and their relationship to the distribution of continents over time; surficial processes and environmental problems. Lecture and laboratory. Offered each semester. Note: Students may enroll in either GEOS 120 or GEOS 121, but they cannot earn credit for both courses. Back to top

121-Dynamic Earth (3 S.H.)
An introduction to geologic principles and the processes shaping planet Earth. Composition and distribution of earth materials; examination of internal processes and their relationship to the distribution of continents over time; surficial processes and environmental problems. Lecture only.  Note: Students may enroll in either GEOS 120 or GEOS 121, but they cannot earn credit for both courses. Back to top

130 - Earth and Life through Time (4 S.H.)
Traces the physical, chemical, and biological evolution of the Earth from the origin of the solar system to the present including origin and evolution of earth's crust, interior, hydrosphere, and atmosphere; plate tectonics and mountain building; absolute age dating; paleomagnetism. Focuses on the assembly and evolution of North America as a model for global processes. Lecture and laboratory. Weekend field trip required. Prerequisite: GEOS 120 or equivalent. Offered yearly in the spring semester. Back to top

220 - Minerals and Rocks (4 S.H.)
Introduction to minerals as naturally occurring inorganic chemical compounds. Physical and chemical properties of minerals, classification and description of minerals, with emphasis on rock-forming minerals. Classification, description, and interpretation of major rock groups. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: GEOS 120 or instructor's permission. Offered yearly in the fall semester. Back to top

240 - Watershed Science (4 S.H.)
Examination of the hydrologic cycle and surface-water and ground-water relationships. Study of interrelationship of water and earth materials, including ground-water occurrence, movement and determination of aquifer characteristics. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: GEOS 130. Field trips required.  Offered yearly, usually in the fall semester.  Back to top

280 - Field and Analytical Methods I (2 S.H.)
Basic geologic field techniques including sampling methods, rock identification, field descriptions, and use of Brunton compass. Measurement and description of stratigraphic sections. Prerequisite: ENG 111 and instructor's permission.  Corequisite:  GEOS 220.  Field trips required.  Offered yearly in the fall semester. Back to top

320 - Optical Mineralogy and Petrology (4 S.H.)
Theory of optical mineralogy. Optical properties of minerals determined by petrographic microscope. Introduction to major sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks; mineral equilibria and stability, mineralogic phase rule and metamorphic facies. Rock identification by megascopic and petrographic techniques. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: GEOS 220. Field trips required.  Offered alternate years in the spring semester.  Back to top

325 - Environmental Geoscience (3 S.H.)
Study of the environmental implications of human interactions with natural geological systems. An emphasis is placed on understanding environmental science concepts and how scientific findings ultimately shape public policy and political decisions. Topics typically include climate change, water resources, alternative energy resources, soils and weathering, and coastal processes. Course is taught from an Earth systems perspective. Discussion-oriented lecture format.  Lecture only.  Prerequisite: Any University Studies Natural Science laboratory course or instructor's permission. Offered alternate years, usually in the spring semester. Back to top

330 - Structural Geology (4 S.H.)
Study of faulting, folding, mechanics of rock deformation and structural techniques. Principles of plate tectonics and mountain building. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: GEOS 220.  Field trips required. Offered yearly in the spring semester.  Back to top

340 - Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (4 S.H.)
Physical, chemical, and biological processes that affect sedimentation and depositional systems. Study of stratigraphic nomenclature and correlation, facies models and depositional sequences, eustatic changes of sea level, and plate tectonics. Lecture, laboratory and required field trips. Prerequisites: GEOS 220 and ENG 111. Offered yearly in the fall semester. Back to top

370 - GIS and Imaging Techniques (3 S.H.)
Techniques of using aerial photographs, remote sensing, and GIS for geological applications. Prerequisites: CMST 191, GEOS 130, and instructor's permission. Offered alternate years in the spring semester. Back to top

385 - Geology of North America (3 S.H.)
Study of the physiographic provinces of the North American continent with emphasis on geomorphology, structural history, stratigraphy and mineral deposits of each province. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: GEOS 220. Offered with sufficient demand. Back to top

399 - Internship (1-3 S.H.)
Supervised governmental agency, business, industrial or research institution experience designed by Geoscience faculty advisor, work supervisor, and student. Open only to Geoscience students with junior or senior standing, math/science GPA 2.5 or better, and approval by the Geoscience Department. Offered each semester. Back to top

400 - Directed Research-Geoscience (1-3 S.H.) Independent study of selected geologic field and/or laboratory problem with subsequent preparation of written report and oral seminar. May be repeated up to 6 credits. Prerequisite: Department chairperson's permission. Offered each semester. Back to top

405 - Current Topics in Geoscience (1-3 S.H.)
Analysis of current topics and issues relevant to Geosciences. Subject matter and prerequisites will be announced in advance by the department. May be repeated as topics change. Offered with sufficient demand.  Back to top

415 - Advanced Geomorphology (4 S.H.)
Study of the nature and evolution of land forms and materials at or near earth's surface. Analysis of land forms using topographic maps and aerial photographs. Soil-forming processes and soil classification. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: GEOS 130. Offered alternate years in the fall semester.  Field trips required. Back to top

420 - Applied Hydrogeology (4 S.H.)
Application of hydrologic principles to ground-water flow problems, aqueous geochemistry, and contaminant studies. Techniques of water-well development, aquifer tests, determination of ground-water chemistry. Use of computer models and other analytical tools. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisites: GEOS 240 and MATH 155 or MATH 160.  Field trips required.  Offered alternate years in the spring semester. Back to top

425 - Global Climate Change (3 S.H.)
Exploration of the Earth's most recent glacial/interglacial cycles: geological and faunal evidence, the sequence of historical events, potential causative factors, environmental responses and rates of change, and pertinence to contemporary global change.  An emphasis will be placed on understanding the mechanisms of climate change in relation to geological processes.  Prerequisite: GEOS 325 or the instructor's permission. Offered in alternate years, usually in the spring semester. Back to top

450 - Travel Study in Costa Rica (2 S.H.)
This course will focus on student-based field research to assist the municipalities of Playa Dominical and Playa Uvita in developing their natural resources, tourism products, and associated services.  Students will engage in the inventorying of natural resources, the gathering of tourism demand and supply data, and the construction of a data base to help local officials make better tourism-related decisions.  Prior to the research study, students will be exposed to basic tourism and natural resources development concepts that have applications in Playa Dominical and Playa Uvita.  Post-study work will focus on report development and the assessment of other tourism products and services in Costa Rica.  Prerequisites: Permission of the Instructors and concurrent enrollment in MKTG 450 and PER 450. Back to top

470 - Geological Research Strategies (2 S.H.)
Instruction in designing, planning, and conducting geological research. Students will gain experience in background research using scientific literature, writing a research proposal, planning a research budget, project management, data quality control and assurance procedures, conducting field and laboratory research, and setting realistic goals and deadlines for project completion. Course activities and lectures will be adapted to specific student projects. Includes some lecturing; however, the course delivery style will emphasize the value and importance of peer-to-peer review, discussion, and collaboration in completing scientific research. Usually taken before or concurrently with GEOS 400. Prerequisite: Instructor's permission. Offered each semester, subject to sufficient student interest. Back to top

475 - Geoscience Seminar (1 S.H.)
Critical reading, discussion, and oral presentation of current topics and controversies in geosciences. Focus on professional journals and other scientific media. Prerequisite: Senior standing in department or instructor's permission. Offered yearly in the spring semester. Back to top

 

 

201 - Investigative Science I: Earth - The Water Planet (4 S.H.)
A field-based integrated experience designed specifically for elementary education majors. Inquiry-based exploration of biological, chemical, geological, and physical characteristics of water in the community. Focus on development of pre-service student pedagogical content knowledge and connections to state and national science education standards as relates to teaching science in elementary schools. Field trips are required. Enrollment limited to elementary education majors. Lecture and laboratory combined. Prerequisites: None. Offered yearly. Back to top

203 - Investigative Science III: Scientific Investigation of Your Environment (4 S.H.)
A field-based, integrated experience designed specifically for elementary education majors. Inquiry-based exploration of biological, chemical, geological, and physical characteristics of environmental problems facing the local community. Focus on development of pre-service student pedagogical content knowledge and connections to state and national science education standards as relates to teaching science in elementary schools. Field trips required. Enrollment limited to elementary education majors. Lecture and laboratory combined. Prerequisites: SCIE201, EDUC335, and admission to teacher education program. Offered yearly. Back to top