45 courses with the subject GEOL, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
GEOL 101Dinosaurs4
Dinosaurs dominated Earth’s landscapes for nearly 200 million years, and then seemingly vanished in one of the “big-five” mass extinctions that punctuate the history of life. In this course we’ll “dig in” to explore dinosaurs in their world and examine their evolution, biology, and behavior. Along the way we’ll meet the supporting cast of non-dino neighbors that live alongside dinosaurs within their Mesozoic ecosystems. We’ll examine the dramatic diversification and astounding ecological success of dinosaurs, and investigate theories for their sudden disappearance 66 million years ago. Far from being dimwitted icons of extinction, they are the ultimate survivors – dinosaurs still populate your backyard bird feeder! Three 1-hour lectures per week. Offered every year.
Recent planetary missions have provided a wealth of new and exciting information about our solar system and beyond. This course examines the science behind these recent discoveries. Readings and discussions focus on a variety of topics, including: (1) processes of planetary formation, (2) the geology of the Earth, Moon, Sun, and other planets, (3) planetary interiors and atmospheres, (4) asteroids, meteorites, comets, and the newly appreciated role of impacts, (5) the seemingly unique status of the Earth as a habitable planet, and (6) the potential for extraterrestrial life. Course projects make extensive use of internet resources, computer software, satellite imagery, and solar system materials (rocks from the Moon, Mars, and asteroids). Three 1-hour lectures per week. Offered occasionally.
Lights, camera, ACTION! Geologists think planet Earth is incredibly exciting, but nowhere is the story of the behavior of our planet more dramatized and misrepresented than in movies! Whether they are big-budget thrillers like Jurassic Park, San Andreas, or The Day After Tomorrow, or low-brow science fiction like Boa, movies tend to stretch the reality of natural hazards and earth processes to great dramatic effect. In this course, we will have the opportunity to watch a variety of movie clips that focus on geologic hazards (such as volcanoes, earthquakes, avalanches, floods, and tsunamis) and other earth processes (origins of life, evolution, mass extinction, climate change, and glaciers). We will examine the scientific features and processes depicted in films, learn about their scientific basis, and critique the film’s portrayal of earth process. The final project gives you the opportunity to develop your own script for a movie that does the geology correctly. This course will cover quantitative concepts relevant to earth processes, such as describing the world quantitatively, understanding uncertainty and risk, and evaluating quality and sources of data. Three 1-hour lectures per week. Offered every year.
Geohazards is an introductory course for students of all backgrounds aimed at: 1) understanding the geology behind disasters, including earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, sinkholes, landslides, climate change, asteroid impacts, and changes in Earth’s magnetic field; 2) investigating the intersection of risk with society (e.g., how communities and governments evaluate risk and implement risk-appropriate mitigation strategies) and at a personal level (e.g., understanding hazards you may face as homeowners or renters and determining your level of risk aversion). Three 1-hour meetings (lectures, movie clips, discussions, and activities) per week, one fieldtrip to view sinkholes, landslide debris, and spelunk in the Twin Cities, no lab. Offered alternate years.
Volcanic eruptions are the awe-inspiring expression of a planet’s internal dynamics. They supply the source materials for scientific studies of rocky planets, inspire works of art and literature, feature prominently in sacred traditions, and provide some of the most fertile ground on Earth. They are also destructive and agonizingly uncertain in duration, wreaking havoc on local to global scales via clouds of ash, lava flows, and secondary hazards (e.g., mudflows, famine). This course will cover volcanoes broadly: where and why they occur; what drives eruptions; monitoring; impacts; hazard mitigation; “reading the rocks”; volcanoes in art and culture; and perspectives from local populations. Three 1-hour lectures per week, including in-class demos and labs. Offered spring semester only.
This course provides an overview of the Earth for the past 4.6 billion years. Students explore the concept of geologic time as they delve into the vast past of our evolving planet. Major emphasis is placed on tracking the evolution of life, from the simplest single-celled organisms of the ancient Earth to today’s diverse ecosystems. Another major focus is the linkage among abiotic and biotic systems, the lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere did not and do not evolve independently. The laboratory component of this course is designed to familiarize students with the rocks and fossils that archive the history of Earth. The class includes a fossil-collecting field trip. Required for geology majors. Three 1-hour lectures and one 3-hour lab per week. Offered every year.
GEOL 160 or GEOL 165 or permission of instructor. Alternate years. (2 Credits)
GEOL 201Geological Excursions2
This course focuses on the geology of a foreign country or a region of the U.S. It also includes a study of the geography and culture of the region. It is designed as a January course. Participants meet prior to departure in order to learn necessary background information. The field excursion generally spans two to three weeks. The region to be studied will be different each year and a student may take the course more than once for credit. This course is offered as S/N grading.
Permission of instructor(s). Offered occasionally. (2 Credits)
GEOL 220Environmental Geology4
Cross-Listed as GEOG 220 and ENVI 220 The physical environment has begun to show signs of our earth’s expanding population and the increasing need for natural resources. Geologic materials such as soil, water, and bedrock, and geologic processes such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, and running water often pose constraints on land use. This course is designed to introduce students to the relationship between humans and their geologic environment: the earth. We will focus on understanding the processes that shape the surface of the earth, and how these processes affect human activity. We will use current scientific methods to collect and analyze data. Topics include surface-water dynamics and flooding, groundwater and groundwater contamination, pollution and waste management, landslides, volcanic and earthquake hazards, and global climate change. Format: the course will include local field excursions, lectures, discussions and hands-on exercises; evaluation will be based on homework/classroom activities, short writing assignments, and exams. Three 1-hour lectures per week. Offered occasionally.
GEOL 160 or GEOL 165 *; CHEM 111 or equivalent recommended but not required. *If you have taken GEOL 165 but not GEOL 160 , you must be enrolled in GEOL 160 concurrently with this course. Offered fall semester. (4 Credits)
GEOL 255Structural Geology
This course focuses on recognizing and interpreting the significance of geologic structures in the Earth’s outermost layers. Discussions focus on the formation of major rock fabrics (e.g., fractures, joints, faults, shear zones, folds, foliation/cleavage, and lineations) from microscopic (thin section) to regional (mountain belt) scales. Problem sets use graphical techniques to solve structural problems. This course also provides an introduction to map interpretation and mapping techniques. Local and regional field trips. Three 1-hour lectures and one 3-hour lab per week.
Hydrology is the study of physical, chemical, and biological processes that occur as water interacts with the earth. In this course we will focus on the near-surface cycling of water and the physical processes that drive this motion. We will discuss the dynamics of water as it flows across the surface of the landscape, moves through channels, and passes into the shallow subsurface. Open channel flow, hydrographs, floods, and arid region water scarcity will be the focus of the first portion of the course. The bulk of the course will look at the flow of water through permeable, saturated media, heterogeneity of flow, and several equations used to describe flow dynamics in aquifers. Flow through fractured and karst systems will be discussed. Importantly, we will spend time on the methods used by scientists and engineers (and consultants!) to understand the details and timescales of groundwater flow: wells, slug tests, pump tests, and geochemistry. Contaminant transport via groundwater flow will be examined in case studies. The use of quantitative tools such as calculations, numerical modeling, and estimation will be used to better understand the dynamics of water transport on our planet. Three 1-hour lectures and one 3-hour lab per week.
Geology majors and minors conducting research in the geosciences frequently utilize a variety of analytic and other laboratory equipment. This course provides students with guidance, mentorship and hands-on experience using the equipment and analytic tools they require to conduct their capstone and independent research projects. Students may take this course during any semester they are conducting research. S/N grading only. Offered occasionally.
Closely supervised individual or small group study with a faculty member. A student may explore, by way of readings, short writings, etc., an area of study not available through the regular catalog offerings. The department chair will determine if this course may be applied toward the major.
Permission of instructor and department chair. Every semester. (1 Credits)
GEOL 602Tutorial2
Closely supervised individual or small group study with a faculty member. A student may explore, by way of readings, short writings, etc., an area of study not available through the regular catalog offerings. The department chair will determine if this course may be applied toward the major.
Permission of instructor and department chair. Every semester. (2 Credits)
GEOL 603Tutorial3
Closely supervised individual or small group study with a faculty member. A student may explore, by way of readings, short writings, etc., an area of study not available through the regular catalog offerings. The department chair will determine if this course may be applied toward the major.
Permission of instructor and department chair. Every semester. (3 Credits)
GEOL 604Tutorial4
Closely supervised individual or small group study with a faculty member. A student may explore, by way of readings, short writings, etc., an area of study not available through the regular catalog offerings. The department chair will determine if this course may be applied toward the major.
Permission of instructor and department chair. Every semester. (4 Credits)
GEOL 611Independent Project1
Independent study of geologic problems or preparation of senior research thesis. The department chair will determine if this course may be applied toward the major.
Junior or senior standing and permission of the instructor and department chair. Every semester. (1 Credits)
GEOL 612Independent Project2
Independent study of geologic problems or preparation of senior research thesis. The department chair will determine if this course may be applied toward the major.
Junior or senior standing and permission of the instructor and department chair. Every semester. (2 Credits)
GEOL 613Independent Project3
Independent study of geologic problems or preparation of senior research thesis. The department chair will determine if this course may be applied toward the major.
Junior or senior standing and permission of the instructor and department chair. Every semester. (3 Credits)
GEOL 614Independent Project4
Independent study of geologic problems or preparation of senior research thesis. The department chair will determine if this course may be applied toward the major.
Permission of instructor. Work with Internship Office. Every semester. (4 Credits)
GEOL 631Preceptorship1
A student works with a faculty member in the planning and teaching of a course. The department chair will determine if this course may be applied toward the major.
Permission of instructor. Work with Academic Programs. Every semester. (1 Credits)
GEOL 632Preceptorship2
A student works with a faculty member in the planning and teaching of a course. The department chair will determine if this course may be applied toward the major.
Permission of instructor. Work with Academic Programs. Every semester. (2 Credits)
GEOL 633Preceptorship3
A student works with a faculty member in the planning and teaching of a course. The department chair will determine if this course may be applied toward the major.
Permission of instructor. Work with Academic Programs. Every semester. (3 Credits)
GEOL 634Preceptorship4
A student works with a faculty member in the planning and teaching of a course. The department chair will determine if this course may be applied toward the major.
