Courses in Geological Sciences
A GEO 105 (= A ENV 105) Introduction to Environmental Science (3)
Survey of contemporary environmental issues related to health and disease, nuclear waste disposal, water resources, energy use and conservation, land reclamation, global climate change, and industrial pollution. Scientific principles and data needed for gaining an understanding of environmental challenges on local, regional, and global scales will be emphasized. Three lectures per week. Only one version of A GEO 105 may be taken for credit. Offered Fall semester only.
A GEO 110 The Search for Life Beyond Earth (3)
The search for life beyond the Earth is a topic that has engaged many scholars for all of recorded human history. Is life common in the Universe? With NASA’s decision to define one of its strategic goals as the search for the origin and distribution of life in the Universe, scientific progress has been rapid. These investigations involve collaborations among geochemists, astrophysicists, and biochemists. This course will explore how scientists are successfully detecting planets orbiting other stars, determining the environments that led to the origin of life on Earth, and chemical processes and pathways that may have led to the origin of life on Earth and beyond. Offered Fall semester only.
A GEO 111 Discussion Section for A GEO 110 (1)
Development of strategies and concepts associated with the search for life beyond the Earth. Brief weekly writing assignments dealing with the assignments precede each week’s class discussion of the latest scientific discoveries announced by NASA and the European Space Agency. One 90-minute class per week. Corequisite(s): A GEO 110. Offered Fall semester only.
A GEO 201 (= A ENV 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. Only one version of A GEO 201 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s) or corequisite(s): A GOG 101.
A GEO 221 Minerals, Rocks and Geological Time (4)
Physical properties, composition and structure of common rock-forming minerals; processes controlling the origin, composition, and emplacement of common igneous rocks, weathering and downslope transport, depositional facies and origin of common sedimentary rocks, formation and exhumation of metamorphic rocks; physical and bio-stratigraphy, quantitative methods for geological age determination. Students taking the Geology concentration of the Environmental Science B.S. must also enroll in A GEO 223. Three lectures and one lab each week. Prerequisite(s): A CHM 120 or 130 or T CHM 130; A ENV/A GEO 105; or permission of instructor. Offered Fall semester only.
A GEO 223/223Z Introductory Field Geology (1)
One lab per week and five full-day weekend field excursions. Students enrolled in this course should concurrently enroll in A GEO 221. Extended written and illustrated reports must be submitted based on the observations made on each excursion. Only one version of A GEO 223 can be taken for credit. Corequisite(s): A GEO 221, or permission of instructor. Offered Fall semester only.
A GEO 250 (= A ENV 250) Sustainable Development: Energy and Resources (3)
Examination of energy production using non-renewable (coal, oil, natural gas, uranium) versus renewable resources (hydroelectric, solar, wind, geothermal) relative to present and future environmental and societal impacts. Fields trips to energy producing facilities (e.g., Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Plant; Fenner Wind Power Project). Only one version of A GEO 250 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A ENV 105 or A ATM 100; A CHM 120 or 130 or T CHM 130 or A PHY 105 or A PHY 140 or 141 or T PHY 141; A MAT 111. Offered Spring semester only.
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 221. Offered Spring semester only. May not be offered in 2010-2011.
A GEO 331 Field Excursions for Structural Geology I (1)
Five full-day weekend field trips to be taken by Geology and Earth Science B.S. 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(s): A GEO 330. Offered Spring semester only. May not be offered in 2010-2011.
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. Offered Spring semester only. May not be offered in 2010-2011.
A GEO 350Y (= A ENV 350Y) Environmental Geochemistry (4)
Contemporary topics are used to develop concepts of geochemical processes operating in Earth’s environmental system. These topics (a) PCBs in the Upper Hudson River, (b) biogeochemical cycles in the global climate system, and (c) geochemical constraints on long-term disposal of high-level, nuclear wastes. Three hours per week in classroom setting +1 hour per week of oral presentations by students. Only one version of A GEO 350Y may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A ENV 250. Offered Spring semester only.
A GEO 395Z (= A ENV 395Z) Writing in Environmental or Geological Sciences (1)
May be taken with any A ENV or A 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 ENV or A GEO course at the 300 or 400 level. Offered Fall and Spring semesters.
A GEO 435 (= A ENV 435) Geohydrology (3)
Introduction to surface water hydrology and ground water hydrogeology. Topics to be covered include, stream hydrograph analysis, flood plain determination, drainage basin analysis, aquifer characterization, pump test analysis, groundwater chemistry and tracers, contaminant hydrogeology, regulatory policy, and introduction to groundwater modeling. Only one version of A GEO 435 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A MAT 112 or 118 or T MAT 118, A CHM 120 or 130 or T CHM 130, A GEO 221 or permission of instructor. Offered Spring semester only.
A GEO 450 (= A ENV 450) Paleoclimatology (3)
Introduction to the field of Paleoclimatology. Focus will be on the use of sediments and other biological and geological archives to reconstruct environmental, climatic, and oceanographic change over a range of time scales. Lecture will also provide an introduction to the fields of climatology, age dating techniques, climatic environmental proxies (tracers), micropaleontology, and time-series analysis. In addition to lectures, the class will involve review of current scientific studies, class presentations by each student, and a review paper on a relevant topic of choice. 3 lectures each week and 2 hours each week of oral presentations by students. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite(s): A CHM 120 or 130 or T CHM 130, A MAT 108, or permission of instructor. Offered Fall semester only.
A GEO 455 (= A ENV 455) Special Topics in Environmental or Geological Science (2-3)
A structured program of reading and seminars leading to an in-depth understanding of a chosen topic in environmental science or geology. May be repeated once for credit. Prerequisite(s): A ATM 210, A GEO 221, and permission of instructor. Offered Fall and Spring semesters.
A GEO 466 (= A ENV 466) Marine and Estuary Systems (3)
Interdisciplinary study of marine and estuary systems with a focus on marine/estuary sedimentology and biogeochemistry. Additional study of lacustrine systems will be integrated into the class. In addition to lectures, the class will involve review of current scientific studies, a class presentation by each student, and a review paper on a relevant topic of choice. Three lectures each week. Only one version of A GEO 466 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A ENV 105, A CHM 120 or 130 or T CHM 130, A ENV/A GEO/A GOG 201, A ATM 210, A GEO 221, or permission of instructor.
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 221, or permission of instructor. Offered Fall semester only.
A GEO 497 (= A ENV 497) Independent Study (1-3)
Field or laboratory investigation of a chosen environmental or geologic problem, including the writing of a research report to be undertaken during the senior year. May be repeated once for credit. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor. Offered Fall or Spring semesters.
A GEO 498 (= A ENV 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. May be repeated once for credit. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor and chair. Offered Fall or Spring semesters.
