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University Bulletin: Undergraduate Programs 2003-2004 The George Washington University  

 
   
 

GEOSCIENCE


Committee on Geological Sciences G.C. Stephens, H. Teng, R.P. Tollo, J.M. Clark, C.A. Forster

Bachelor of Arts with a major in geological sciences—The following requirements must be fulfilled:
1. The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences.
2. Prerequisite courses—Geol 1 or 2, or 2 and 5.
3. Required courses in related areas—BiSc 13 or, with prior approval of the instructor, one 100-level BiSc course; Chem 1112.
4. Required courses for the major—Geol 111, 112, 122, 126, and 195, plus three courses chosen with approval of the program advisor from a list of designated courses.

Bachelor of Science with a major in geological sciences—The following requirements must be fulfilled:
1. The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences.
2. Prerequisite courses—Geol 1 or 2, or 2 and 5.
3. Required courses in related areas—BiSc 13 or, with prior approval of the instructor, one 100-level BiSc course; Chem 1112; Phys 1112 or Astr 12; Math 2021 or 31 or Stat 91. Students who wish to focus their study on geobiology must include BiSc 14 in their program.
4. Required courses for the major—Geol 111, 112, 122, 126, and 195, plus four courses chosen with approval of the program advisor from a list of designated courses.

Minor in geological sciences—Prerequisite: Geol 1 or 2, or 2 and 5. The minor consists of Geol 111, 112, 122, 126, and 195.

1 Physical Geology (3) Tollo
  Lecture, laboratory. An introduction to the principal features of the composition and structure of the earth. Topics include the nature of minerals and rocks, surface and deep earth processes, mineral and energy resources, and plate tectonics. Laboratory fee, $50. Credit will not be given for both Geol 1 or 5. (Fall and spring)
2 Historical Geology (3) Staff
  Lecture, laboratory. An introduction to the history of the earth. Topics include sedimentary environments, plate tectonics, origin of life, and evolution. Laboratory fee, $50. Prerequisite: Geol 1 or 5. (Fall and spring)
5 Environmental Geology (3) Teng
  Lecture, laboratory. An introduction to the impact of geology on the environment, with emphasis on the relation of people and society to natural environments; population evolution, natural hazards, and mineral resources. Laboratory fee, $50. Credit will not be given for both Geol 1 or 5. (Fall and spring)
6 Science and the Environment (3) Teng
  The large-scale processes operating within the atmosphere, oceans, and solid Earth. Prerequisite: Geol 1 or 5. (Spring)
105 Geological Hazards in Land-Use Planning (3) Staff
  Lecture and laboratory. An analysis of geological hazards and related factors that affect land-use planning. Field trip. Prerequisite: Geol 1 or 5 or permission of instructor. Laboratory fee, $50. (Spring)
111 Mineralogy (4) Tollo
  Lecture and laboratory. Introduction to the crystallography and chemical systematics of rock-forming and ore minerals. Exercises emphasize the analysis of mineralogic data and the paragenesis of mineral assemblages. Prerequisite: Geol 1 or 5 or permission of instructor. Laboratory fee, $50. (Fall)
112 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (4) Tollo
  Lecture and laboratory. Introduction to basic light theory and the identification and characterization of minerals through optical properties. Laboratory exercises provide an introduction to petrologic analysis of igneous and metamorphic mineral systems. Prerequisite: Geol 111 or permission of the instructor. Laboratory fee, $50. (Spring)
122 Structural Geology (3) Stephens
  Lecture and laboratory. Study of natural and experimental rock deformation and the relationships between stress and strain as recorded by geologic structures. Prerequisite: Geol 1 or 5. Laboratory fee, $50. (Fall)
126 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (4) Forster
  Lecture and laboratory. Introduction to sedimentation and stratigraphy; origin and classification of sediments and sedimentary rocks; introduction to clastic and carbonate depositional environments and stratigraphic principles. Laboratory fee, $50. Prerequisite: Geol 2, 111. (Fall)
128 Geomorphology (4) Stephens
  Understanding the nature, origin, and development of landforms in the field and through the use of maps and aerial photos. Prerequisite: Geol 1. Laboratory fee, $50. Same as Geog 128. (Spring, even years)
131 Global Climate Change (3) Staff
  Fundamental causes and patterns of climate change. Methods of reconstruction of past climates; modeling and predicting climate change. (Spring)
140 Geochemistry (3) Teng
  Chemical systems and processes on the planet Earth; origins and interactions among and within the Earth's lithosphere, oceans, and atmosphere; origin, distribution, and behavior of the elements; radioactive and stable isotope systems. Aqueous geochemistry; geochemical cycles. Prerequisite: Geol 1 or 5; Chem 1112 or equivalent. Same as Chem 140.
151 Paleontology (3) Forster
  Lecture and laboratory. Theory and methods of paleontological investigation; systematics, biostratigraphy, and paleoecology of major divisions of life. Prerequisite: Geol 1 or 2 or BiSc 130. Laboratory fee, $50. (Fall)
159 Geobotanical Ecology of the Central Appalachians (4) Tollo, Wells
  A multidisciplinary approach to Appalachian ecology involving application of scientific principles from both geology and botany, stressing interrelationships between geological, geochemical, and biological processes. Field trips. Laboratory fee, $50. Prerequisite: Geol 1 or 5 and BiSc 1314; or equivalent with permission of instructor. Same as BiSc 159. (Spring, odd years)
189 Environmental Geophysics (3) Stephens
  Principles of magnetic, gravity, seismic and electrical methods applied to geological problem-solving. Prerequisite: Geol 122 or permission of instructor. (Spring)
195 Geological Field Methods (4) Tollo
  Weekend field trips. Methods of outcrop analysis, geologic mapping, and data interpretation. The geological evolution of the central Appalachian mountains is emphasized. Laboratory fee (field trip fee), $50. (Spring)
199 Undergraduate Research or Reading (arr.) Staff
  Problems approved by the staff. May be repeated for credit.
 

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Information in this bulletin is generally accurate as of fall 2007. The University reserves the right to change courses, programs, fees, and the academic calendar, or to make other changes deemed necessary or desirable, giving advance notice of change when possible.