Course Descriptions

Graduate | Undergraduate | Field Camp

Undergraduate Courses

GEO 101 The Dynamic Earth. Four hours.
Three lectures and one laboratory. Study of the earth including materials, internal and external processes, deformational events, and plate tectonics. Offered in the fall, spring, and summer semesters.
GEO 102 The Earth Through Time. Four hours.
Three lectures and one laboratory. Survey of earth’s history including origin of the earth, plate tectonics and evolution of the continents and ocean basins, and the development of life. Offered in the fall, spring, and summer semesters.
GEO 105 Sustainable Earth. Four hours
Three lectures and one laboratory. Lecture and laboratory provide an understanding of important earth resources (rocks and minerals, soil, water, fossil fuels, alternative energy) and how their utilization by humans impacts the environment. Includes discussion of water pollution, air pollution and waste disposal as primary issues related to resource utilization. Offered in the spring semester.
GEO 210 Mineralogy. Fours hours.
Prerequisites: GEO 101 and CH 101.
Two lectures and two laboratories. Introduction to crystallography, crystal chemistry, rock-forming minerals, physical properties of minerals, hand sample mineral identification, and optical mineralogy. Offered in the fall semester.
GEO 304 Marine Geology (same as MS 304). Four hours.
Prerequisite: GEO 101. Offered in the summer semester.
GEO 306 Hydrogeology. Three hours.
Prerequisite: GEO 101 or permission of the instructor.
Introduction to the principles of groundwater flow, groundwater exploration, water quality, and groundwater contamination; environmental topics in groundwater. Offered in the fall semester.
GEO 314 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology. Four hours.
Prerequisite: GEO 210.
Three lectures and one laboratory. Megascopic and microscopic study of igneous and metamorphic rocks, with emphasis on identification, classification, genesis, and relationships to tectonism. Offered in the spring semester.
GEO 320 Freshwater Studies (same as BSC 320 and GY 320). Four hours.
Prerequisites: BSC 114:115, GEO 101, or GY 101.
GEO 340 Earthquakes, Eruptions, and Civilizations. Three hours. Writing Course.
Prerequisites: any 100-level geology class.
This course will investigate the development of human perceptions of tectonic events and their impact on civilization. Offered according to demand.
GEO 355 Invertebrate Paleontology. Three hours.
Prerequisite: GEO 102 or BSC 376.
Two lectures and one laboratory. Study of the taxonomy and morphology of major invertebrate fossil groups. Offered in the spring semester.
GEO 363 Geomorphology (same as GY 363). Three hours.
Prerequisite: GEO 101.
Two lectures and one laboratory. Study of landforms with emphasis on the basic geomorphic processes that contribute to their origin. Offered in the fall semester.
GEO 365 Structural Geology. Three hours.
Prerequisites: GEO 101 and PH 101, or permission of the instructor; a working knowledge of trigonometry is assumed.
Two lectures and one laboratory. An introductory study of the deformation of rocks, including mechanical principles, description and identification of folds and faults, map interpretation, and regional tectonics. Offered in the fall semester.
GEO 367 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy. Four hours.
Prerequisites: GEO 101, GEO 102, and GEO 210.
Three lectures and one laboratory. Study of the principles involved in the description and classification of sedimentary rocks and stratigraphic units, with emphasis on sedimentary processes and depositional environments. Offered in the spring semester.
GEO 369 Introduction to Geophysics. Three hours.
Prerequisites: GEO 101, PH 102, and MATH 125 or equivalent.
Introduction to the major fields of exploration geophysics such as seismology, isostasy, heat flow, gravity and magnetic prospecting, and electrical methods. The course includes both principles and applications to petroleum, mining, and environmental problems. Offered in the fall semester.
GEO 399 Undergraduate Research in Geology. One to three hours.
A maximum of three hours can be applied toward the major in geology. Approval of the department chairperson is required prior to registration. Offered according to demand.
GEO 400 Recent Marine Sedimentation. Four hours.
Prerequisites: GEO 101 and GEO 102.
Survey of recent marine processes and depositional environments with emphasis on clastic environments of the Gulf Coast. Offered according to demand during the summer session only.
GEO 401 Climate Change. Three hours.
Prerequisites: GEO 101, GEO 102, or permission of the instructor.
Survey of the variability of global climate through geologic time and investigation of the mechanisms of change. Offered in the fall semester.
GEO 402 Paleoclimatology Three hours.
Prerequisite: GEO 101 or GEO 102.
Survey of the variability of geological, biological, geochemical, and physical methods of measuring past climate change. Offered in the spring semester.
GEO 409 Hydrogeology Field Methods. Two hours.
Prerequisite: GEO 306.
Introduction to the commonly used field and laboratory methods in hydrogeologic studies, including aquifer test design and analysis, water quality sampling, site characterization and remedial investigation. Offered according to demand.
GEO 410 Soil & Groundwater Restoration. Three hours.
Prerequisite: GEO 101, CH 101 & 102.
Methods for restoring contaminated soil and groundwater, including analysis of the processes influencing efficacy of remediation systems. Emphasis is on the scientific principles governing remediation methods. Offered according to demand.
GEO 414 Advanced Igneous Petrology. Three hours.
Prerequisite: GEO 314.
Study of igneous processes with emphasis on phase relations, geochemical evolution, and physiochemical conditions. Offered in the fall semester.
GEO 416 Volcanology. Three hours.
Prerequisite: GEO 101.
Study of the physical properties of magmas, eruptive mechanisms, volcanic products, and the relationship between volcanism and tectonism. Offered in the fall semester.
GEO 420 Petroleum Geology. Three hours.
Prerequisite: GEO 365, GEO 367, or permission of the instructor.
Introduction to the origin, migration, accumulation, and entrapment of petroleum. Emphasis is on sedimentary, geochemical, and hydrodynamic processes. Offered in the spring semester of even-numbered years.
GEO 424 Topics in Geology. One to four hours.
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.
Special topics in the following areas: economic geology, geochemistry, geophysics, geomorphology, hydrogeology, mineralogy, paleontology, petrology, sedimentology, stratigraphy, structural geology, and tectonics. Offered according to demand.
GEO 430 Ore Deposits. One to four hours.
Prerequisite: GEO 210 and permission of the instructor.
Introduction to sedimentary, hydrothermal, metasomatic, and magnetic ore deposits, including geologic setting and genesis. Offered according to demand.
GEO 435 Honors Seminar I. One hour.
Oral presentations on current geological topics. Offered in the fall semester.
GEO 436 Honors Seminar II. One hour.
Oral presentations on current geological topics. Offered in the spring semester.
GEO 445 Multichannel Seismic Processing. Four hours.
Prerequisites: MATH 125 and PH 102.
Introduction to multichannel seismic data acquisition, processing, and interpretation. Includes the theory of wave propagation, time series analysis, and filtering. Lab is problem-based using real-world data and examples. Offered according to demand.
GEO 446 Scientific Computing. Three hours.
Prerequisite: two 200 or 300 geoscience courses.
This course covers a broad range of computational methods used in the geosciences. Topics include data analysis, manipulation and image processing, using a variety of software packages. Offered according to demand.
GEO 453 Introduction to Micropaleontology. Three hours.
Prerequisite: GEO 355.
Introduction to the morphology, classification, and distribution of important microfossil groups. Offered according to demand.
GEO 457 Geologic History of the Vertebrates and Land Plants. Three hours.
Prerequisite: GEO 102.
Geologic history of vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants as they invaded and evolved on the land. Offered according to demand.
GEO 460 Watershed Hydrology. Three hours.
Prerequisite: GEO 363 or permission of the instructor.
Analysis of hydrological processes in watersheds. Emphasis on applying hydrology concepts to evaluate runoff, erosion, fluvial processes, channel stability, ecological impact, and flood prediction in natural and altered watersheds. Offered according to demand.
GEO 462 Quaternary Environments. Three hours.
Prerequisite: GEO 363 or permission of the instructor.
Examination of quaternary glaciations and environmental changes. Emphasis on sedimentologic, geomorphic, and biogeographic evidence of changes in geomorphic, hydrological, and biological processes in response to climatic variations. Offered according to demand.
GEO 470 General Geochemistry. Three hours.
Prerequisite: GEO 314 or permission of the instructor.
Overview of the field of geochemistry (elementary chemical equilibria and thermodynamics, organic geochemistry, isotope geochemistry), with an emphasis on solving geologic problems. Offered in the fall semester.
GEO 476 Analytical Geochemistry. Three hours.
Prerequisite: Senior standing or permission of the instructor.
Theory, techniques, and applications of geochemical methods for the analysis of rocks, soils, and aqueous fluids. Offered according to demand.
GEO 490 Seminar in Regional Geology. One to three hours.
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.
Seminar on and field trip to important geologic localities. May be repeated for credit. Offered according to demand.
GEO 492 Geologic Field and Writing Techniques. Two hours.
Corequisite: GEO 367 or permission of the instructor.
Introduction to the methods of field geology, geology of the southeastern U.S., geological writing, and presentation techniques. Offered according to demand.
GEO 495 Field Geology. Six hours.
Prerequisites: GEO 314, GEO 365, and GEO 367.
Five-week field course involving the application of geologic techniques and principles. Includes geologic mapping, data collection, and report writing. Offered during the first summer term.
GEO 497 - Geological Internships. Three hours
Undergraduate level GEO 101 Minimum Grade of C- and (Undergraduate level GEO 102 Minimum Grade of C- or Undergraduate level GEO 105 Minimum Grade of C-)
Field and laboratory projects with government and industry.
GEO 499 Honors Research in Geology. One to three hours. Offered according to demand.

 

Graduate Courses

GEO 501 Climate Change. Three hours. Prerequisites: GEO 101, GEO 102 or Instructor's permission. Survey of the variability of global climate through geologic time and investigation of the mechanisms of change. Andrus..

GEO 506 Hydrogeology. Three hours. Prerequisites: GEO 365 and GEO 367, or permission of the instructor. Not open to students who have earned credit for GEO 406. Introduction to groundwater hydrology, including the theory of groundwater flow, groundwater exploration, and groundwater contamination. Offered fall semester. Zheng.

GEO 512 Sedimentary Petrology: Carbonates. Four hours. Two lectures, one laboratory. Prerequisite: GEO 210 or permission of the instructor. Study of the depositional and diagenetic history of carbonate rocks. Offered on demand.

GEO 513 Sedimentary Petrology: Clastics. Four hours. Two lectures, one laboratory. Prerequisite: GEO 210 or permission of the instructor. Study of the depositional and diagenetic history of clastic rocks. Offered on demand.

GEO 514 Advanced Igneous Petrology. Three hours. Study of igneous processes, with emphasis on phase relations, geochemical evolution, and physicochemical conditions. Offered fall semester. Green.

GEO 515 Metamorphic Petrology. Three hours. Study of metamorphic processes, types, textures, and petrogenesis and the use of metamorphic rocks for understanding tectonism. Offered on demand. Stowell.

GEO 516 Volcanology. Three hours. Rheologic properties of magmatic systems and application of these principles to the understanding of volcanic processes. Not open to students who have earned credit for GEO 416. Offered on demand. Green.

GEO 521 Well-Log Analysis. Three hours. Two lectures, one laboratory. Prerequisites: GEO 314 and GEO 367. Analysis and interpretation of geophysical log data, including resistivity, porosity, gamma, and other newly developed logs. Geologic uses of log data and shaly sand interpretation are also discussed. Offered on demand.

GEO 522 Sedimentary Basin Analysis. Three hours. Prerequisites: GEO 561 or GEO 565, and GEO 512 or GEO 513. Examination of the evolution and development of sedimentary basins. Emphasis is on sedimentary, tectonic, and geochemical processes and their influence in petroleum generation, accumulation, and preservation. Offered on demand. Mancini.

GEO 525 Advanced Topics n Geology. Variable credit. Advanced topics in the following areas: economic geology, geochemistry, geohydrology, geophysics, geomorphology, mineralogy, paleontology, petrology, sedimentation, stratigraphy, structural geology, and tectonics. Offered on demand.

GEO 430/530 Ore Deposits. Three hours. Introduction to sedimentary, hydrothermal, metasomatic, and magmatic ore deposits, including geologic setting and genesis. Offered on demand.

GEO 534 Seminar in Tectonics. One hour. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. Discussion of current research in Tectonics and related subjects. May be repeated for credit. Offered fall and spring semesters.

GEO 535:536 Graduate Seminar in Geology. One hour. Oral presentations on current geological topics. Offered fall and spring semesters.

GEO 541 Applied Geophysics. Three hours. Prerequisite: MATH 126 and PH 102:104 or equivalent. The use of physical measurements to infer subsurface structure. Includes seismic reflection and refraction profiling, gravity and magnetic anomalies, electric and electromagnetic prospecting, and borehole geophysics. Offered fall semester.

GEO 542 Geodynamics. Three hours. Prerequisite: PH 102:104, MATH 126, GEO 314, GEO 365, or permission of the instructor. Introduction to the structure of the earth's interior and theory of plate tectonics. Quantitative analysis of the physical processes governing the formation of major tectonic and magmatic features on the earth. Emphasis is on understanding geodynamic processes in orogenic belts, volcanic arcs, intraplate magmatism, sedimentary basins, and continental extensional provinces. Offered spring semester.

GEO 545 Multichannel Seismic Processing. Four hours. Prerequisite: Math 126 and PH 102:104. Introduction to multichannel seismic data acquisition, processing and interpretation. Includes the theory of wave propagation, time series analysis, and filtering. Problem-based lab using real-world data & examples.

GEO 546 Scientific Computing. Three hours. Prerequisite: two 200 or 300 geoscience courses or by permission of the instructor. This course covers a broad range of computational methods used in the geosciences. Topics include data analysis, manipulation and image processing, using a variety of software packages. Goodliffe.

GEO 555 Advanced Paleontology. Three hours. Prerequisite: GEO 355. Detailed examination of selected fossil groups. Offered on demand. Stock.

GEO 557 Geologic History of the Vertebrates and Land Plants. Three hours. Prerequisite: GEO 102 or permission of the instructor. Not open to students who have earned credit for GEO 457. Geologic history of vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants as they invaded the land and evolved through time. Offered alternate years. Stock.

GEO 559 Paleoecology. Three hours. Prerequisite: GEO 355 or permission of the instructor. Examination of the relationships between fossil organisms and their depositional environments. Offered on demand. Mancini, Stock.

GEO 560 Watershed Hydrology. Three hours. Prerequisite: GEO 363 or permission of the instructor. Analysis of hydrological processes in a watershed. Emphasis on applying hydrology concepts to evaluate runoff, erosion, fluvial processes, channel stability, ecological impact, and flood prediction in natural and altered watersheds. Not open to students who have earned credit for GEO 460. Offered alternate spring semesters or on demand.

GEO 561 Sequence and Seismic Stratigraphy. Three hours. Prerequisite: GEO 367. A review of lithostratigraphic principles and an examination of the sequence stratigraphic paradigm. Students also study methods of using lateral and vertical changes in seismic facies to interpret the lithology and depositional history of subsurface stratigraphic units. Offered on demand.

GEO 562 Quaternary Environments. Three hours. Prerequisite: GEO 363 or permission of the instructor. Examination of quaternary glaciations and environmental changes. Emphasis on sedimentologic, geomorphic, and biogeographic evidence of changes in geological, hydrological, and biological processes in response to climatic variations. Not open to students who have earned credit for GEO 462. Offered alternate spring semesters or on demand.

GEO 564 Structural Validation and Modeling. Three hours. Theory and techniques for validating and modeling maps and cross-sections. Includes balance and restoration of cross-sections, and derivation and use of predictive geometric and kinematic models. Practical problem solving is emphasized. Offered on demand.

GEO 565 Comparative Structural Geology. Three hours. Analysis of the original literature on structural families and deformation-mechanism associations, emphasizing the low-temperature environment. Offered on demand.

GEO 567 Clastic Depositional Environments: Processes and Facies. Three hours. Prerequisite: GEO 367. An examination of the relationships between sedimentary processes and facies. Emphasis is on use of lateral and vertical changes in sediment composition, texture, and structures to identify environments of deposition within the various clastic depositional systems. Offered on demand.

GEO 570 General Geochemistry. Three hours. Prerequisite: GEO 314 or permission of the instructor. Not open to students who have earned credit for GEO 470. Overview of the field of geochemistry (elementary chemical equilibria and thermodynamics, organic geochemistry, isotope geochemistry), with an emphasis on solving geologic problems. Offered fall semester. Donahoe.

GEO 571 Thermodynamics for Geologists. Three hours. Prerequisite: MATH 126 or permissions of the instructor. Semi-derivational approach to understanding the thermodynamic relations most useful to geologists. Emphasis is on using the derived relations to solve common geologic problems. Offered alternate fall semesters. Donahoe.

GEO 575 Petrochemistry. Three hours. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. Principles and techniques in geochemical modeling of magmatic, hydrothermal, and metamorphic processes. Offered on demand . Green, Stowell.

GEO 576 Analytical Geochemistry. Three hours. Theory, techniques, and applications of geochemical methods for the analysis of rocks, ores, and aqueous fluids. Offered on demand. Stowell, Donahoe.

GEO 577 Microanalysis in Geology. Three hours. Prerequisites: GEO 314 and GEO 470. Application of microprobe, scanning electron microscopy, and other microanalytical techniques in geology. Offered on demand.

GEO 582 Advanced Stratigraphy. Three hours. Examines stratigraphic nomenclature, principles, and concepts. Lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, allostratigraphy, chronostratigraphy, and geochronology are studied. Offered on demand. Mancini.

GEO 590 Seminar in Regional Geology. One hour. Prerequisites: GEO 314, GEO 365, and GEO 367. Literature and field study of the geology of selected areas. Offered on demand .

GEO 598 Research Not Related to Thesis. Variable credit. Offered on demand.

GEO 599 Thesis Research. Variable credit. Offered on demand.

GEO 607 Introduction to Groundwater Modeling. Three hours. Prerequisites: GEO 506, MATH 253, and CS 226; or permission of the instructor. Introduction to the theory and application of groundwater modeling. Offered spring semester. Zheng.

GEO 608 Contaminant Hydrogeology and Modeling. Three hours. Prerequisite: GEO 607 or permission of the instructor. Introduction to concepts and models in contaminant hydrogeology. Offered fall semester. Zheng.

GEO 610 Fluvial Geomorphology. Three hours. Analysis of fluvial processes, channel morphology, and channel responses. Emphasis on flow hydraulics, sediment transport, depositional mechanics, geomorphic effectiveness, and channel form adjustment. Offered fall semester.

GEO 626 Advanced Topics in Geology. Variable credit. Advanced topics in the following areas: economic geology, geochemistry, geohydrology, geophysics, geomorphology, mineralogy, paleontology, petrology, sedimentation, stratigraphy, structural geology, and tectonics. Offered on demand.

GEO 634 Seminar in Tectonics. One hour. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. Discussion of current research in Tectonics and related subjects. May be repeated for credit. Offered fall and spring semesters.

GEO 635:636 Graduate Seminar in Geology. One hour. Oral presentations on current geological topics. Offered fall and spring semesters.

GEO 650 Isotope Geology. Three hours. Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor. Principles of stable and radiogenic isotope geochemistry, and applications to economic geology, geochronology, petrology, and tectonics. Offered on demand. Stowell.

GEO 652 Isotope Hydrology. Three hours. Prerequisite: GEO 570. Study of the distribution, production, and usage of naturally occurring and anthropogenically introduced stable and radioactive isotopes in the earth 's surficial environment. Emphasis introduced stable and radioactive isotopes in the earth's surficial environment. Emphasis will be place on the application of isotopes in solving hydrologic and geomorphic problems. Offered on demand.

GEO 663 Structural Geology Seminar. Three hours. Prerequisite: GEO 564, GEO 565, or permission of the instructor. Topics in quantitative structural geology. Offered on demand. May be repeated for credit.

GEO 669 Carbonate Depositional Environments. Three hours. Prerequisite: GEO 512 or permission of the instructor. Study of modern and ancient carbonate depositional systems, with emphasis on facies analysis and depositional modeling.

GEO 673 Aqueous Environmental Geochemistry. Three hours. Prerequisite: GEO 570. Advanced treatment of the topics of low-temperature aqueous geochemistry important for understanding inorganic processes controlling the chemical quality of surface and subsurface waters. Emphasis is on solving problems in environmental geochemistry. Offered alternate spring semesters. Donahoe.

GEO 674 Organic Geochemistry. Three hours. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. Study of the distribution, fate, and geochemical interactions of both natural and anthropogenic organic compounds in the environment.

GEO 676 Chemical Diagenesis. Three hours. Study of chemical processes controlling diagenetic changes in carbonate and clastic rocks. Topics include dissolution/precipitation, porosity modification, secondary porosity, biologic diagenesis, pressure solution, mineral alternation, dolomitization, artificial diagenesis, and applications to oil exploration and production. Offered on demand. Donahoe.

GEO 681 Paleozoic Biostratigraphy and Paleobiogeography. Three hours. Prerequisite: GEO 582 or permission of the instructor. Examination of the principles and techniques of biostratigraphy and paleobiogeography using examples from the Paleozoic Era. Offered on demand. Stock.

GEO 698 Research Not Related to Dissertation. Variable credit. Offered on demand.

GEO 699 Dissertation Research. Variable credit. Offered on demand.

UA Department of Geological Sciences | Box 870338 | Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 | Phone: (205)348-5095 | Fax: (205)348-0818