Courses
A Geo 100N Planet Earth (3)
General Education: NS
Introduction to the Geological Sciences, including evidence for the major processes and significant events in the origin, history and present condition of the solid Earth. Major topics include geological time, earthquakes, volcanism, plate tectonics and the origin and movement of continents and oceans, mountain building, evidence for past climate change, including glaciation, formation of the earth-moon system, earth resources and geological constraints and consequences of energy use. Emphasis is placed on understanding why we think we know things about the Earth, to enable the student to understand common features of rocks and minerals and the larger-scale solid Earth, and to provide a lifetime background for making informed judgments on increasing number of public issues requiring geological knowledge. Fall and spring semesters.A Geo 100F Planet Earth (3)
General Education: NS & WI
A Geo 100F is the writing intensive version of A Geo 100N; only one may be taken for credit. Fall semester only.A Geo 105N Environmental Geology (3)
General Education: NS if taken Fall 1997 or thereafter
Introduction to and survey of the geological aspects of the environment, health and disease, waste disposal, water, mineral and energy resources and conservation, land reclamation, land-use planning, and geological hazards. Important scientific principles necessary for the understanding of the geological aspects of environment problems will be emphasized. Three lectures each week. Fall semester only.A Geo 106 Physical Geology Laboratory (1)
Elementary classification of minerals and rocks, and their identification in hand specimen. Introduction to geological maps and sections, both as sources of geological information and as aids in the solution of practical problems. Guided and self-guided field trips to building stones of downtown Albany. This course is required for majors in Geology and Earth Science. One lab each week. Corequisite(s): A Geo 100N or 100F or 105N. Fall and spring semesters.A Geo 190N Earth Resources: Problems and Choices (3)
General Education: NS
Exponential growth of the human population along with the demand for improvements in the quality of life are causing Earth's resources to decline and global pollution to rise. The pro's and con's of various energy sources (e.g., nuclear fission, solar, hydroelectric, burning of fossil fuels), as well as the demand of strategic metals, will be examined from a geochemical perspectives. Optional field-trips occur for extra credit. Prerequisite(s): A Geo 100N or A Chm 120N & 121N or A Phy 105N & 106 or permission of instructor. Spring semester only.A Geo 201 (= A Gog 201) Environmental Analysis (3)
Uses laboratory work and local field excursions to give students "hands-on" experience in physical geography and environmental sciences. Focuses on human impacts on the environment and on problems of environmental contamination. Prerequisite or corequisite: A Gog 101N.A Geo 210 Mineralogy (3)
Crystal structures and crystal chemistry, with emphasis on the major rock- and soil-forming mineral groups. Selected minerals of commercial importance. Examples of mineral-forming processes, and use of mineral properties as indicators of geological conditions. Three lectures, one lab each week. Prerequisite(s): A Geo 100N or 100F or 105N, 106; or permission of instructor. Fall semester only.A Geo 211 Optical Mineralogy Laboratory (1)
Introduction to the petrographic microscope. Optical properties of minerals and their use for mineral identification. One lab each week. Corequisite(s): A Geo 210 or permission of instructor. Fall semester only.A Geo 222 Igneous and Metamorphic Geology (4)
Description, classification, and occurrence of igneous and metamorphic rocks. Introduction to phase diagrams, metamorphic facies, and petrogenetic grids. Laboratory section will involve practical identification of mineralogy and textures in hand specimens and thin sections. Three lectures and one lab per week. Prerequisite(s): A Geo 100N or 100F or 105N, 106, 210, 211; or permission of instructor. Spring semester only.A Geo 230 Stratigraphy (3)
Stratigraphic principles and correlation, identification and classification of sedimentary rocks, introduction to paleontology and historical geology. Two lectures and one lab each week. Offered fall semester only. Geology BS and Earth Science BS majors must also register concurrently for either A Geo 231 or A Geo 231Z, Field Excursions in Stratigraphy. Prerequisite(s): A Geo 100N or 100F or 105N, 106; or permission of instructor. Fall semester only.A Geo 231 Field Excursions for Stratigraphy (2)
One lab per week and five full-day weekend field trips to be taken by Geology BS and Earth Science BS majors concurrently with A Geo 230 Stratigraphy. Corequisite(s): A Geo 230 or permission of instructor.A Geo 231Z Field Excursions for Stratigraphy (2)
General Education: WI
One lab per week and five full-day weekend field trips to be taken by Geology and Earth Science BS majors concurrently with A Geo 230 Stratigraphy. Extended written and illustrated reports must be submitted based on the observations made on each trip. A Geo 231Z is the writing intensive version of A Geo 231; only one may be taken for credit. Corequisite(s): A Geo 230 or permission of instructor.A Geo 315 (= A Ant 310) Human Paleontology (3)
Examination of the human fossil record, and of the major theories dealing with that fossil record. Prerequisite: A Ant 102 or A Geo 230 or 230Z or permission of the instructor.A Geo 317 (= A Gog 317) Geomorphology (3)
A systematic introduction to the study of landforms and the processes that shape them. Laboratory work and field trips are part of the course. Prerequisite(s): A Gog 101N; A Geo 100N or 100F or 105N; or permission of instructor. Fall semester only. May not be offered during 1999-2000.A Geo 330 Structural Geology I (3)
Descriptive structural geology, with emphasis on features seen at outcrop and map scales. Selected examples of rock microstructures and their interpretation. Three lectures each week. Prerequisite(s): A Geo 100N or 100F, 105N, 106. Spring semester only.A Geo 331 Field Excursions for Structural Geology I (1)
Five full-day weekend field trips to be taken by Geology and Earth Science BS majors concurrently with Structural Geology I. Several written and illustrated reports must be submitted based on the observations made. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor; corequisite: A Geo 330.A Geo 332 Structural Geology Laboratory (1)
Structures on maps, on images, and in rock specimens; computer-based presentation of data. One lab each week. Corequisite(s): A Geo 330. Spring semester only.A Geo 335 Sedimentary Geology (3)
Introduction to the formation, physical properties, and geochemistry of sedimentary rocks and environments. Clastic carbonate, and chemical sediment analysis, mineralogy, and diagenesis. Economic, paleoclimatic, and resource aspects of sedimentary deposits. Three lectures per week, with separate class (A Geo 336) for lab. Prerequisite(s): A Geo 100N, 100F or 105N, 106; or permission of instructor. Fall semester only.A Geo 336 Laboratory for Sedimentary Geology (1)
Laboratory class for A Geo 335 (Sedimentary Geology). Laboratory exercises coordinated with the course content of Geo 335. Primarily intended for Geology and Earth Science B.S. majors. May include one or two field trips with required attendance, held on weekends. Corequisite: A Geo 335. Fall semester only.A Geo 395Z Writing in the Geological Sciences (1)
May be taken with any Geo course at the 300 or 400 level to fulfill a writing intensive version of that course. Students will have an opportunity for assistance during writing and revision of written material with the help of editorial assignments from the instructor. Corequisite(s): any A Geo 300 or 400 level course. Fall and spring semesters.A Geo 400 Field Mapping (4)
Supervised geological mapping. Three weeks of field work (camping in the field) followed by independent study and laboratory sessions for preparation of report (in Albany). Field work starts in early August; laboratory sessions once a week in first quarter of fall semester. Prerequisite(s): A Geo 230 or 230Z, 330; or permission of instructor.A Geo 410 Geochemical Thermodynamics (3)
Basic principles of thermodynamics with applications to crystallization and fusion processes and mineral reactions. Treatment of silicate crystalline solutions. Analysis of phase diagrams of geological importance. Prerequisite(s): A Chm 120N, 121N; A Phy 124N; A Mat 113 or 119. Fall semester only. May not be offered during 1999-2000.A Geo 412 General Geochemistry (3)
Origins and histories of major geochemical systems and processes on Earth, including: a) planetary-scale differentiation and origins of the core, mantle, crust, atmosphere/hydrosphere; b) magmatism and igneous rocks; c) chemistry of sedimentary rocks and biosphere; and d) fluid/rock reactions during metamorphism. Prerequisite(s): A Geo 100N or 100F or 105N, 106, 230 or 230Z; A Chm 120N or 121N; or permission of instructor. To be offered alternate years, alternating with A Geo 415. Spring semester only.A Geo 415 Environmental Geochemistry (3)
Industrial pollution and fossil fuel waste- products are major sources of biotoxic and phytotoxic heavy metals (e.g., As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Tl) in the environment. The mobilities and pathways of these elements into-and-through soil and groundwater are examined. To be offered alternate years, alternating with A Geo 412. Prerequisite(s): A Chm 120N or the historical trends Prerequisite(s): A Geo 100N or 100F or 105N, 106; A Chm 120N or 121N; or permission of instructor. Spring semester only.A Geo 416 Laboratory for Environmental Chemistry (1)
Analytical methods and sampling strategies for tracing the historical trends of heavy metal fluxes in specific geographic regions. Corequisite(s): A Geo 415. One two-hour lab per week. Spring semester only.A Geo 435 Geohydrology (3)
Classification, origin and properties of surficial materials; sampling and exploration methods; groundwater and hydrologic properties; groundwater flow systems and introduction to modeling; hydrochemistry, geological factors in remediation and regulatory policy; laboratory exercises in surficial well logging and pump test analysis with brief research papers. One or two optional half-day field trips. Spring semester only. Prerequisite(s): A Geo 335 or permission of instructor. Spring semester only.A Geo 440Z Structural Geology III (3)
General Education: WI
Structural analysis, mechanisms of rock fracture and flow, interpretation of regional stress and strain history from structural features. Three lectures each week with some field work. Prerequisite(s): A Geo 330 or permission of instructor. Spring semester only. May not be offered during 1999-2000.A Geo 450 Special Topics (2-3)
A structured program of reading and seminars leading to an in-depth understanding of a chosen topic in geology. Prerequisite(s): A Geo 210, 230 or 230Z. Students may repeat course once for an additional two or three credits. Fall or spring semester.A Geo 470 Tectonics (4)
Seismologic basis for plate tectonics, kinematics of plate motions, paleomagnetism. Study of modern mid-ocean ridges, magmatic arcs, transforms, and collisional belts. Three lectures and one lab per week. Prerequisite(s): A Geo 230 or 230Z, 330; or permission of instructor. Fall semester only.A Geo 470Z Tectonics (4)
General Education: WI
A Geo 470Z is the writing intensive version of A Geo 470; only one may be taken for credit. Three lectures and one lab each week. Prerequisites(s): A Geo 230 or 230Z, 330; or permission of instructor. Fall semester only.A Geo 480 World Historical Geology (3)
Integrated survey of the geologic history of the earth. Three lectures each week. A Geo 480Z is the writing intensive version of A Geo 480; only one may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Geo 230 or 230Z, 330, or permission of instructor. Spring semester only.A Geo 480Z World Historical Geology (3)
A Geo 480Z is the writing intensive version of A Geo 480; only one may be taken for credit. Three lectures each week. Prerequisite(s): A Geo 230 or 230Z, 330, or permission of instructor. Spring semester only.A Geo 497 Independent Study (1-3)
Field or laboratory investigation of a chosen geologic problem, including the writing of a research report to be undertaken during the senior year. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor. Students may repeat this course once for additional credits. Fall or spring semesters.A Geo 498 Undergraduate Honors Research (3)
Supervised research for undergraduates admitted to the Department Honors Program. To be taken summer and/or fall semester at beginning of senior year. Written proposal for research must be approved no later than end of spring semester of junior year. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor and chair. Fall and spring semesters.A Geo 499 Seminar in Geology (1)
Oral presentation by students of a research topic: attendance at weekly seminar given by other students in this course, and A Geo 500, and regular attendance at geological science seminars given by outside speakers [approximately once weekly in semester]. Students admitted to the Departmental Honors Program must take this course in the last three semesters of their degree program. Fall and spring semesters.
