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GEOS101
EARTH
SCIENCE (f, sp and s; 2/2)
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3 sh
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An introduction to
Earth-system processes in the context of astronomy,
meteorology, geology, and oceanography. Examines
the Earth's relationship to the Sun, Moon, and planets
in the solar system. The Earth's major processes,
including the hydrologic cycle, the rock cycle, plate
tectonics, global wind circulation, ocean circulation,
global climatic phenomena, and human-induced changes in
the environment are examined through lectures and
hands-on laboratory investigations.
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GEOS110
PHYSICAL
GEOLOGY (f and sp; 2/2)
(changed to
GEOS130, effective fall 2008)
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3 sh
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The
Earth its structure, composition, agents of construction
and destruction. Lab
activity designed to train students in the identification
of rocks and minerals and interpretation of topographic
and geologic maps. Fulfills
General Education Requirements.
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GEOS120
OCEANOGRAPHY
(sp odd; 2/2)
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3 sh
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A
comprehensive study of major components of oceans,
including the origin of evolution of ocean floors, energy and mineral resources of oceans,
chemical constituents and reactions in seawater, air-sea
interactions, marine organisms and the relationships
between these organisms and the environments of oceans.
Ocean-related environmental concerns, including beach
erosion, wetland loss, sea-level fluctuations, and point
sources and non-point sources of pollution are
discussed. (This course is required for majors in
Secondary Education/Earth and Space Science, Secondary
Education/General Science, and Biology/Marine Biology.
Therefore they will receive preference for registering
for the course. A required four-day field trip to
Wallops Island, VA for which the students have an out of
pocket expense of $100 at the field station, plus meal
expenses on the trip to and from the Marine Science
consortium station.)
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GEOS130
PRINCIPLES
OF
GEOLOGY I
(changed from
GEOS110, effective fall 2008) |
3 sh
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The
Earth its structure, composition, agents of construction
and destruction. Lab
activity designed to train students in the identification
of rocks and minerals and interpretation of topographic
and geologic maps. Fulfills
General Education Requirements.
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GEOS131
PRINCIPLES OF GEOLOGY II
(changed
from GEOS210, effective fall 2008) |
3 sh
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Designed to gain an
appreciation of the deepness of geologic time and the
vastness of space and to develop an understanding of the
geologic and biologic processes through which the Earth
and life on Earth evolved over geologic time.
Students acquire hands-on experience on the use of
scientific equipment and mapping tools in the field and
in laboratory settings. Applications of
stratigraphic principles to interpret Earth's history
and the trend in evolution of life are emphasized. . Prerequisite:
GEOS130. Fulfills General Education Requirements.
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GEOS210
HISTORICAL GEOLOGY (sp;
2/2)
(changed to
GEOS131, effective fall 2008)
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3 sh
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Designed to gain an
appreciation of the deepness of geologic time and the
vastness of space and to develop an understanding of the
geologic and biologic processes through which the Earth
and life on Earth evolved over geologic time.
Students acquire hands-on experience on the use of
scientific equipment and mapping tools in the field and
in laboratory settings. Applications of
stratigraphic principles to interpret Earth's history
and the trend in evolution of life are emphasized. . Prerequisite:
GEOS110. Fulfills General Education Requirements.
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GEOS213
INTRODUCTION
TO GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS |
3 sh
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An
introduction to geographic information systems (GIS)
with emphasis on capturing, storing, editing, querying,
displaying, and analyzing geographically referenced
data. Lecture and laboratory materials are
designed to provide students with hands-on experience on
real-world applications of GIS in their respective
fields. Restrictions Upon Student Registration:
Minimum of 3 sh of natural sciences (biology or geology.
Familiarity with the Windows operating system.
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GEOS215
ENVIRONMENTAL
GEOLOGY (f; 2/2)
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3 sh
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Students
will traverse the spectrum of applied geology focusing
upon its relation to human activities. Included among
topics are water availability; geologic hazards such as
earth quakes, landslides, and land subsidence; mineral and
energy resources; engineering geology, waste disposal and
pollution; land-use planning; coasts and coastal
management; and medical and legal aspects of geology. Prerequisite:
GEOS110 or GEOS130 or permission of the instructor.
Fulfills General Education Requirements.
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GEOS230
GEOMORPHOLOGY
(f even; 2/2)
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3 sh
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A
study of landforms and the factors involved in their
formation including geologic processes, composition,
structure, and climate.
The laboratory emphasizes the recognition of
various landforms using topographic and aerial
photographs. Prerequisite:
GEOS110 or GEOS130 or permission of the instructor.
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GEOS251-258
GEOLOGY
FIELD TRIP (f
and sp)
(changed to
GEOS260, effective fall 2008)
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1 sh
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Guided
field trips focusing upon various areas of geologic
interest. Successive
trips have different emphases.
Pre-trip meeting required.
Participants should expect to incur expenses for
meals and lodging. Prerequisite:
GEOS110 or GEOS130 or permission of the instructor.
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GEOS260
GEOLOGY
FIELD TRIP
(replaces
GEOS251-258, effective fall 2008) |
1 sh |
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Guided
field trips focusing upon various areas of geologic
interest. Successive
trips have different emphases.
Pre-trip meeting required.
Participants should expect to incur expenses for
meals and lodging. Prerequisite:
GEOS130 or permission of the instructor.
(This course may be taken multiple times for credit.)
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GEOS301
INVERTEBRATE
PALEONTOLOGY (sp
even; 2/2)
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3 sh
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An
introduction to the study of invertebrate fossils
including: system
of classification, types of fossil preservation,
nomenclature, characteristic structures, ecology and
evolution of the paleontologically important invertebrate
phyla. Prerequisite:
GEOS 131 or
GEOS210 or BIOL240 or permission of the instructor.
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GEOS305
MINERALOGY
AND PETROLOGY |
4 sh |
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An
introduction to the origin, occurrence, crystallography,
and chemical and physical properties of geologically
important minerals. Includes a study of the
classification and interpretation of igneous and
metamorphic rocks. Prerequisite:
GEOS110 or GEOS130
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GEOS313
ADVANCED
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS |
3 sh |
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Deals with advanced topics
in geographic information systems (GIS), including
spatial reference data, geometric transformation, raster
data analyses, terrain mapping, viewsheds and
watersheds, spacial interpolation, geocoding, dynamic
segmentation, path analyses, geostatistics, mobile GIS,
and GIS models and modeling. Lecture and laboratory
exercises are designed to provide students with hands-on
experience with real-world applications of GIS in
solving problems in diverse fields.. Prerequisite:
BIOL213 or GEOS213 or permission of instructor |
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GEOS315
Sedimentology
(f even; 3/3)
(change from 4.0
sh to 3.0 sh effective fall '08)
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3 sh
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Studies sedimentary materials, processes, depositional
environments, and the products of sedimentation.
Laboratories focus upon collection, analysis, and
presentation of field data and the description and
interpretation of both consolidated and unconsolidated
sedimentary materials applying various petrologic and
petrographic techniques.
Prerequisite:
GEOS131 or
GEOS210.
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GEOS328/628
Geoscience
Seminar (f and sp odd)
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3 sh
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The
course looks at how scientists search for knowledge and
try to gain an understanding of natural phenomena.
Students explore the roles science and technology
play in human activities both locally and globally.
Specific topics vary and are based on the expertise
and interest of the faculty member responsible for
teaching the course that semester.
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GEOS360
HYDROGEOLOGY
(f odd; 3/3)
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4 sh
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A
course that emphasizes practical hydrogeologic principles,
stressing interactions between geology and both surface
and underground water.
Topics include occurrence, production, and
management of groundwater, water quality, flooding and
flood control, and sources of information for the
practicing hydrogeologist.
Prerequisites:
GEOS110 (or GEOS130) and MATH114 or permission of the
instructor.
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GEOS361
AQUEOUS
ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY
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3 sh
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An
upper-level course designed to help students develop
in-depth knowledge of geochemical processes and factors
controlling chemical composition and chemical reactions
that impact the quality of both surface water and
groundwater in natural and anthropogenically
disturbed/perturbed geological systems.
Prerequisites:
GEOS110 (or GEOS130) and CHEM121 or permission of the
instructor.
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GEOS369
Internship
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Students
are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to
gain practical experience in the geosciences.
Application for an internship must be approved
prior to participation. See Geoscience faculty for
details.
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GEOS415
Stratigraphy
(sp odd; 3/3)
(change from 4.0
sh to 3.0 sh effective spring '09)
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3 sh
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Studies the
principles of lithostratigraphy and biostratigraphy.
Geochronology and the recently developed techniques
of seismic, magnetic, and isotopic stratigraphy supplement
those classical principles.
Laboratories emphasize the field identification and
interpretation of vertical and lateral relationships of
sedimentary sequences.
Prerequisite:
GEOS315 or permission of the instructor.
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GEOS420
Geology
of Energy and Mineral Resources (f even, 3/3)
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4 sh
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Geologic
occurrence and methods of locating, mining, evaluating,
and processing fossil fuels and industrial and ore
minerals. Geology
of major, worldwide fuel and mineral deposits and
environmental problems associated with their exploitation.
Prerequisite:
GEOS221 or permission of the instructor.
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GEOS430
Structural
Geology (sp even; 3/3)
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4 sh
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The
constant movements of lithospheric plates relative to one
another throughout the immensity of geologic time account
for the regional and local displacement and deformation of
the Earth's outer layers.
These deformational processes along with the
changes in the size and shape of the coherent rock masses
and the internal arrangement of their constituent elements
are the focus of this area of geological investigation.
Prerequisite:
GEOS131 or
GEOS210.
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GEOS450
Geophysics
and Tectonics (sp odd; 3/3)
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4 sh
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Geophysical
methods used to study the Earth and other planetary
bodies, including geophysical foundations of
plate-tectonic theory. The course includes geophysical techniques used in
mineral-resource exploration, engineering, and
characterization of waste-disposal sites.
Prerequisite:
GEOS131 or
GEOS210.
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GEOS499
INDEPENDENT
STUDY
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