UC Riverside 2000-2001 - Earth Sciences
EARTH SCIENCES

Subject abbreviation: GEO

Faculty | Program
Undergraduate Curricula | Graduate Curricula
Undergraduate Courses | Graduate Courses | Professional Courses

Michael O. Woodburne, Ph.D., Chair
Department Office, 1432 Geology
(909) 787-3435
http://cnas.ucr.edu/~earth/es.html

Professors
Mary L. Droser, Ph.D.
Harry W. Green, II, Ph.D.
Tien-Chang Lee, Ph.D.
Richard A. Minnich, Ph.D.
Stephen K. Park, Ph.D.
Peter M. Sadler, Ph.D.
Professors Emeriti
Shawn Biehler, Ph.D.
Lewis H. Cohen, Ph.D.
Wilfred A. Elders, Ph.D.
Michael A. Murphy, Ph.D.
Michael O. Woodburne, Ph.D.
Associate Professors
Nigel C. Hughes, Ph.D.
Michael A. McKibben, Ph.D.
Alan E. Williams, Ph.D.
Assistant Professors
Martin J. Kennedy, Ph.D.
David D. Oglesby, Ph.D.
Lewis A. Owen, Ph.D.
••
Adjunct Professors
Douglas M. Morton, Ph.D.
Stephen G. Wells, Ph.D.
Adjunct Associate Professors
Yue-Hong Chou, Ph.D.
Larissa F. Dobrzhinetskaya, Ph.D.
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Thomas A. Scott, Ph.D.
Lecturer
Marilyn A. Kooser, Ph.D.

MAJORS

The Department of Earth Sciences offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Geology and Geophysics. These B.S. degree programs are designed for students with a strong interest in various aspects of the Earth Sciences. The programs in the Department of Earth Sciences place substantial emphasis on field work with field courses, field trips in all appropriate courses, and excursions between quarters.

The Department of Earth Sciences offers the M.S. and Ph.D. in Geological Sciences.

Academic Advising

Undergraduate advising in the Department of Earth Sciences is designed to allow close professional contact with our faculty and staff. Counseling on graduation and departmental requirements as well as counseling on enrollment is handled in the Department Office by the Student Affairs Officer.

Each major will select a faculty mentor who will counsel the student on career goals and research opportunities. The department recommends that each student meet with their faculty mentor at least once each quarter to clarify career objectives and revise the program of study so it is commensurate with the developing interests and objectives of the student.

Teaching Credential

Teachers in the public schools in California must have a credential approved by the State Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The credential requires an undergraduate major, baccalaureate degree, and completion of a graduate credential program such as that offered by the Graduate School of Education at UCR. The latter usually requires three quarters and includes education courses and supervised teaching.

Before admission and student teaching in a graduate credential program, the candidate must pass the California Basic Education Skills Test (CBEST) and demonstrate subject-matter proficiency in the fields which the candidate will teach. The candidate can demonstrate proficiency either by passing the Commission's subject-matter assessment examination, or preferably, by completion of an undergraduate program that is state-approved for teacher preparation.

UCR has an approved undergraduate program for earth science majors who plan to get a Multiple Subjects Credential and teach in the elementary (K-6) grades. A breadth of course work is necessary, in addition to the specified requirements for the major. Students are urged to start early, preferably as freshmen, selecting courses most helpful for this career.

UCR does not yet have a state-approved undergraduate program for earth science majors who wish to teach at the secondary level. The Teaching Credential in Science, geoscience emphasis, is required for geoscience teachers, grades 7-12. Students who plan to get this credential must take the Commission's subject-matter assessment examination and should make certain their academic program includes preparatory course work. The examination includes geoscience in depth and general science with introductory, college-level biology, chemistry, physics, and geoscience (geology, meteorology, oceanography, astronomy).

Further information about courses, requirements, and examinations can be obtained in orientation meetings, the Student Affairs Office (1432 Geology Building), and the Graduate School of Education (1215 Sproul Hall).

Geology Major

The department offers three options for the Geology major: General Geology, Geobiology, and Biogeography. Students who choose the Geology major study the structure, composition, processes, and history of the earth. In particular, the Geology major stresses features of the Earth's surface and interactions between its atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, rocky crust, and interior.

General Geology Option

Students entering the General Geology option study the nature, distribution, age, and origin of minerals, rocks, and their contained fossils, placed within a global framework of the Earth as an evolving geologic system. The option entails a broad range of geologic training including geology, geophysics, geochemistry, and paleontology. An emphasis is also placed on field work (mapping, sampling) and thoughtful analysis of geologic data (including statistical and graphical analysis with computers). Though broadly based, the option provides the student some flexibility to pursue specific geologic areas of interest at the upper-division level. Graduates of the General Geology option are qualified to pursue almost any professional career in the Earth Sciences and are well-suited to tackle graduate research at the M.S. or Ph.D. level.

Geobiology Option

The Geobiology option offers broad-based geological training combined with a special emphasis on paleontology and organism/time interactions. Students take the geology core but at the undergraduate upper-division level focus on courses related to the fossil record, evolution and biodiversity, sedimentology, stratigraphy, and biogeography. The graduate will leave with a marketable geology degree coupled with special insight into historical aspects of life's place and role on this planet.

Biogeography Option

Students entering the Biogeography option study spacial and temporal distribution, structure, dynamics, and conservation of natural communities and ecosystems. Biogeography has foundations both in biological and earth sciences. The biogeography of species is studied to determine evolutionary and dispersal history over long time scales as well as recent, local, and regional distributions in relation to our contemporary environment and impacts by people. Students in this option receive training in ecology, vegetation analysis, resource conservation, and management of natural lands.

Geophysics Major

Students who choose the Geophysics major apply the principles and concepts of physics, mathematics, geology, and engineering to the study of the physical characteristics of the earth and other planets. They make measurements of gravity and magnetic fields, seismic waves, temperatures, and natural electric current. Geophysicists study these topics from the standpoint of the physics of solid bodies, gases, and fluids. Some geophysicists are field oriented, some laboratory oriented, some theoretical, and some combine these areas.

Degree Requirements

University Requirements

See the Undergraduate Studies section for requirements that all students must satisfy.

College Requirements

See Degree Requirements, College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences in the Undergraduate Studies Section, for requirements that students must satisfy.

Some of the following requirements for the major may also fulfill some of the College's breadth requirements. Consult with a department advisor for course planning.

Major Requirements

Geology Major

All courses in Geosciences that are prerequisites for other courses in the major must be passed with a grade of "C-" or better before proceeding in the sequence. For example, GEO 001 is a prerequisite for GEO 030.

The Department offers three options to majors in Geology: General Geology, Geobiology, and Biogeography. All students majoring in Geology are normally required to take the core curriculum. Both General Geology and Geobiology options require the Geology core curriculum presented below. The Biogeography option utilizes the Life Sciences core curriculum, enhanced by inclusion of required and optional Geology course work as indicated below.

General Geology and Geobiology Options

Core Requirements

1.  Lower-division requirements

2.  Upper-division requirements

Option Requirements

1.  Upper-division requirements

Biogeography Option

The Biogeography Option utilizes the Life Sciences core curriculum, enhanced by inclusion of both required and optional Geology course work as indicated below.

1.  Lower-division requirements

2.  Upper-division requirements

Geophysics Major

The following are major requirements for the B.S. in Geophysics. All students majoring in Geophysics are normally required to take this core curriculum.

1.  Lower-division requirements

2.  Upper-division requirements

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Graduate education in the Geological Sciences emphasizes general geology combined with specialization in fields such as evolutionary paleobiology, invertebrate and vertebrate paleontology, Quaternary geology, neotectonics, applied geophysics, geotectonics, crustal processes, geochemistry, geothermal resource investigations, groundwater, mineral deposits, stratigraphy, sedimentology, sedimentary geochemistry, basin analysis, landscape ecology, fire ecology, natural resource conservation, and GIS. Integrated field and laboratory studies are encouraged. An undergraduate degree in geology or geophysics is the normal preparation for graduate work; however, a degree from a related field of science or engineering is often appropriate. Applicants to graduate status must supply Graduate Record Examination scores for the General Test (verbal, quantitative, analytical) prior to their admission.

Master's Degree

The normative time to a master's degree is seven quarters. In addition to the general requirements listed under the Graduate Studies section of this catalog, the requirements for the M.S. are as follows:

  1. A student is required to make up any deficiency in preparation. The background required is course preparation equivalent to the bachelor's degree in Geology or Geophysics at UCR. Courses taken to remedy background deficiencies are not applicable to the graduate degree. Such courses will be designated in the letter of admissions to the program sent to the student by the Dean of the Graduate Division.
  2. Biannual reviews by the departmental Graduate Progress Committee are required for all students. A student's progress is assessed in these reviews, and the Committee may recommend changes in a student's plans after these reviews.
  3. All students must enroll each quarter in the Graduate Seminar in Geosciences (GEO 250). Students are also required to attend the weekly Hewett Club lecture series.
  4. A minimum of 36 units of course work in the major and related subjects and advance approval of a coherent plan of study by the graduate advisor are required.
    A maximum of 12 upper-division units beyond the requirements for the bachelor's degree may be applied to the 36-unit requirement. A minimum of 12 units of graduate courses, which must include at least four graduate-level instructional courses taught by four different faculty members as approved by the graduate advisor, are required. Before the end of the third quarter of study and before embarking on research, a student must submit a written thesis proposal to the departmental Graduate Progress Committee. After approval of the proposal, a thesis based on original work must be submitted to and approved by a thesis committee. A maximum of 12 units of thesis research may be counted toward the 36-unit minimum.
  1. A final oral examination will consist of an open research seminar, presented by the candidate and advertised to all the students and faculty in the Earth Sciences Department.

Subject to the approval of the graduate advisor, a limited number of upper-division courses in the major and related sciences, if not required for the bachelor's degree and not taken previously, may be accepted for graduate credit.

Doctoral Degree

In addition to the general University requirements of the Graduate Division as found in the Graduate Studies section of this catalog, the Ph.D. in Geological Sciences normally requires

  1. Biannual Reviews. All students meet with the Graduate Progress Committee during their first week at UCR to discuss general interests, goals, and plans. The committee will recommend courses designed to prepare a student for research and to correct deficiencies in background. This committee will also review a student's progress biannually and may recommend transfer to the master's program if normal progress is not maintained.
  2. All students must enroll each quarter in the Graduate Seminar in Geosciences (GEO 250). Students are also required to attend the weekly Hewett Club lecture series.
  3. Course Work. At least four graduate-level instructional courses taught by four different faculty members as approved by the Graduate Advisor are required. Course work used in satisfaction of the M.S. degree may be accepted with the Graduate Advisor's approval.
  4. Written Qualifying Examination. Two research proposals must be written by the student. The proposal topics must be approved by an exam committee in order to insure breadth. The proposal will be reviewed by the exam committee and, if acceptable, the faculty will recommend that the student proceed to the Oral Qualifying Examination.
  5. Oral Qualifying Examination. An Oral Examination Committee appointed by the Dean of the Graduate Division will examine the adequacy of the student's preparation to conduct the proposed research. Advancement to candidacy in the Ph.D. program follows successful completion of the oral examination.
  6. Dissertation. A dissertation normally evolves from the research proposal. The dissertation must present original scholarly work and be approved by a dissertation committee before the student may take the final oral examination.
  7. Final Oral Examination. Satisfactory performance on a final oral examination given by the dissertation committee is required. Major emphasis in this examination will be placed on the dissertation and related topics.

Normative time to the Ph.D. degree from the B.S. degree is 17 quarters.

LOWER-DIVISION COURSES

GEO 001. The Earth's Crust and Interior. (4)

Lecture, three hours; laboratory, three hours; one one-day field trip. An introduction to the physical development of the Earth. Emphasis will be on Earth materials (rocks and minerals), processes (weathering, erosion, mountain building), structures (folds and faults), and current theories regarding the Earth's crust and interior.

GEO 002. The Earth's Dynamic Surface. (4)

Lecture, three hours; laboratory, three hours; one two-day field trip. Prerequisite(s): none. Introduction to physical processes operating at the Earth's surface, emphasizing the interaction of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere. Focus given to development of landforms (such as rivers, glaciers, and deserts), dynamics and geological consequences of water movement and storage at the Earth's surface, and the role of climate and climate change in the formation and evolution of Earth's landscapes.

GEO 003. Headlines in the History of Life. (4)

Lecture, three hours; laboratory, three hours. Prerequisite(s): none. Evolution of life beginning with precellular life. Topics include the origin of sex, multicellularity, vertebrate classes, morphological specializations, adaptive radiations, extinction dynamics, and the biology of dinosaurs. Cross-listed with BIOL 010.

GEO 004. Natural Hazards and Disasters. (4)

Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Application of basic principles of climate and geology to recognition of natural hazards and their mitigation. Topics will include fires, freezes, floods, winds, landslides, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis. Emphasis will be placed on confronting hazards of concern to home-buyers, planners, and conservationists in the western United States, especially southern California.

GEO 005. The Cosmos Factory. (4)

Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. A survey of selected topics in the earth and planetary sciences as applied to the present concepts of the cosmos, the nature and origin of the universe, and emphasizing recent problems in geophysics, geology, geochemistry, and planetary sciences.

GEO 008. Earthquake Country. (4)

Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. An introduction to the study of earthquakes and the problems of living in earthquake country. Why earthquakes occur, how they are recorded, and what the effects are on man and his structures. The scientific and social consequences of earthquake prediction.

GEO 010. Minerals, Energy, and Society. (4)

Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): MATH 005 or equivalent. An introduction to the occurrence, availability, marketing, and usage of metals, minerals, petroleum, and other geologic resources, including both historic and recent trends. Conflicts between modern society's need for increasingly scarce resources and mounting environmental problems. Political and economic influences on international mineral and energy markets. Designed for non-geology majors, particularly those in economics, business administration, political science, education and environmental science.

GEO 020. Numerical Methods in the Earth Sciences. (4)

Lecture, three hours; laboratory, three hours. Prerequisite(s): BIOL 010/GEO 003, GEO 001, and GEO 002 with grades of "C-" or better; MATH 009A or MATH 09HA (MATH 009A or MATH 09HA may be taken concurrently). Examines the mathematical, statistical, and computational techniques used in data collection and analysis in geology, geophysics, geochemistry, and paleobiology. Provides an overview of the geoscientific context for numerical methods.

GEO 030. Mineralogy. (5)

Lecture, three hours; laboratory, five hours; two half-day and one one-day field trips per quarter. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 001B or CHEM 01HB (may be taken concurrently); GEO 001 with a grade of "C-" or better. A study of common and important minerals and their identification using modern analytical methods. Stresses distinctive structural and chemical features, diagnostic physical and optical properties, and the growth and development of minerals in various geologic environments.

UPPER-DIVISION COURSES

GEO 100. Introductory Petrology. (5)

Lecture, three hours; laboratory, six hours; three one-day field trips per quarter. Prerequisite(s): GEO 020 and GEO 030 with grades of "C-" or better. Introduction to the nomenclature and classification of igneous and sedimentary rocks and their metamorphosed equivalents. Topics include identification of the major rock-forming minerals and common rocks in hand samples and thin sections, and interpretation of rock fabrics and textures. Explores tectonic setting and the origins of major rock types.

GEO 101. Field Geology. (5)

Lecture, two hours; weekly one-day field trips. Prerequisite(s): GEO 100 and GEO 116 with grades of "C-" or better or consent instructor for concurrent enrollment. Introductory course in field geology. Covers methods of mapping igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. Includes construction of planimetric and topographic maps, use of aerial photographs, and instruction in basic surveying techniques.

GEO 102. Summer Field Geology. (14)

Field, six weeks. Prerequisite(s): GEO 101 with a grade of "C-" or better or consent of instructor. Geological mapping and interpretation; writing of geological reports.

GEO 116. Structural Geology. (5)

Lecture, two hours; laboratory, six hours; three half-day field trips; two one-day field trips per quarter. Prerequisite(s): GEO 001 (may be taken concurrently); MATH 005. Description and field examination of geologic structures. Graphical solution of structural problems and laboratory map study. Genesis of rock structures and physics of rock deformation. Mohr diagrams and elementary stress analysis.

GEO 118. Sedimentology and Stratigraphy. (5)

Lecture, two hours; laboratory, six hours; two one-day and one two-day field trips. Prerequisite(s): GEO 100 with a grade of "C-" or better. The study of the principles of sedimentology and the comparative study of the origins of sediments and sedimentary rocks from various modern and ancient clastic, carbonate, and mixed siliciclastic-carbonate depositional environments. Emphasis is placed on field and stratigraphic relationships as well as on petrographic and hand specimen identification.

GEO 123. Advanced Mineralogy. (4)

Lecture, three hours; laboratory, three hours. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 001C or CHEM 01HC; GEO 030 with a grade of "C-" or better or CHEM 150A is recommended. A study of the instrumental techniques used in advanced studies in mineralogy and petrology. Topics include optical mineralogy, electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy.

GEO 124. Advanced Petrogenesis. (4)

Lecture, two hours; laboratory, three hours; three one-day field trips. Prerequisite(s): GEO 100 with a grade of"C-" or better. Explores advanced topics in the petrogenesis of igneous and metamorphic rocks in the Earth's crust and mantle. Examines field and structural relationships of crystalline rocks and how thermodynamics, experimental phase equilibria, and computer modeling are used to study petrogenesis.

GEO 126. Sedimentary Basin Analysis. (4)

Lecture, two hours; laboratory, six hours; one one-day field trip. Prerequisite(s): GEO 118 and GEO 123 with grades of "C-" or better or consent of instructor. The study of the principles of sedimentary basin analysis with an emphasis on provenance studies, clastic and carbonate diagenesis, burial history, regional and global stratigraphic cycles, sedimentation, and plate tectonics. Laboratory will emphasize the use of the petrographic scope and the cathodoluminoscope for provenance and diagenetic studies.

GEO 132. Groundwater Geology. (4)

Lecture, three hours; laboratory, three hours. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 001B, MATH 009B, PHYS 040A. The nature and behavior of waters in geologic media; chemical nature of groundwaters and geothermal fluids; principles of fluid flow in sediments and rocks; chemical reactions between solutes and geologic media; geologic aspects of contaminant migration in groundwaters; behavior of geothermal fluids; elementary computer modeling of groundwater and geothermal fluid flow in geologic media.

GEO 137. Environmental Geochemistry. (4)

Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 001C or equivalent; GEO 001 with a grade of "C-" or better or GEO 002 with a grade of "C-" or better. Examines the chemical principles of geologic processes at and near the Earth's surface. Topics include geochemical cycles of the elements during chemical interactions of the Earth's crust, hydrosphere, and atmosphere; applications of thermodynamics and kinetics to the study of low-temperature geologic processes; and the use of isotopic techniques in age dating and tracing geologic processes.

GEO 138. Soil Morphology and Classification. (4)

Lecture, three hours; laboratory, normally three hours; two one-day field trips. Prerequisite(s): ENSC 100; GEO 001 or GEO 002; or consent of instructor. The study of soils as they occur in the field and their relations to current and past environmental conditions. Use of field and laboratory data to understand soil genesis, causes of soil variability, fundamentals of soil classification, and land use potentials. Laboratory emphasizes the description and interpretation of soils and landscapes in the field. Cross-listed with ENSC 138 and SWSC 138.

GEO 140. Introduction to the Physics of the Earth. (4)

Lecture, three hours; laboratory, three hours. Prerequisite(s): GEO 001 with a grade of "C-" or better; MATH 009C or MATH 09HC; PHYS 040C. Application of classical physics to the study of the Earth. Origin of the Earth, its gravitational, geomagnetic, and geothermal characteristics, seismicity and the dynamics of the Earth's crust, plate tectonics, and continental drift.

GEO 141. Principles of Field Geophysics. (4)

Lecture, two hours; laboratory, eight hours; one three-day field trip; two two-day field trips. Prerequisite(s): GEO 116 and GEO 140 with grades of "C-" or better or consent of instructor. An integrated field geophysics course. Application of seismic refraction techniques, gravimetric measurements, magnetic surveys, and electrical surveys to the solution of geologic problems.

GEO 145. Shallow Subsurface Imaging. (4)

Lecture, three hours; laboratory, three hours. Prerequisite(s): GEO 001 with a grade of "C-" or better; MATH 009A or MATH 09HA; MATH 009B or MATH 09HB; PHYS 002A or PHYS 040A; PHYS 002B or PHYS 040B; PHYS 002C or PHYS 040C; or consent of instructor. Covers techniques of geophysical investigation of the shallow subsurface as they apply to solving groundwater, environmental, archaeological,and engineering problems. Emphasizes methods, survey design, and interpretation with focus on case studies. Laboratory consists of both field training and computer exercises using geographic information systems for analysis of spatial data.

GEO 151. Principles of Paleontology. (4)

Lecture, three hours; laboratory, three hours. Prerequisite(s): BIOL 010/GEO 003 with a grade of "C-" or better or BIOL 005C. Emphasis on understanding fossils as living organisms. Topics include fundamentals of evolution and the fossil record; introductory morphometrics and biosystemic theory; functional morphology; and metazoan organization and classification.

GEO 152. Principles of Invertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoecology. (4)

Lecture, two hours; laboratory, three hours; three one-day field trips. Prerequisite(s): BIOL 005C with a grade of "C-" or better or BIOL 010/GEO 003 with a grade of "C-" or better. Topics include evolution and the fossil record, paleoecology, classification theory; the nature of adaptive radiations, and extinctions. Cross-listed with BIOL 152.

GEO 153. Biodiversity through Time. (4)

Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): BIOL 010/GEO 003 with a grade of "C-" or better or BIOL 005C. Focuses on the history of biodiversity and the responses of organisms to episodes of profound environmental change. Outlines the major features of evolutionary history chronicled by fossils, the dynamics of evolutionary radiations and extinctions, and the implications of paleontological data for current issues in biodiversity.

GEO 157. Automated Geographic Information Systems. (4)

Lecture, two hours; laboratory, six hours. Prerequisite(s): upper-division standing. Review and analysis of automated geographic information systems, data structures, data bases, and coordinate systems. Techniques of spatial partitioning, interactive map editing and design, and computer graphics. Computation and display of map projections. Analysis of trends in earth resources data handling.

GEO 160. Atmospheric Circulation. (4)

Lecture, three hours; laboratory, three hours. Prerequisite(s): GEO 002 with a grade of "C-" or better or consent of instructor. A study of the fundamentals of atmospheric circulation. Topics include radiant energy exchange, atmospheric stability, moisture, cloud and precipitation processes, local winds, polar front jet stream, and tropical circulations.

GEO 161. Quaternary Paleoenvironmental Change. (4)

Lecture, two hours; laboratory, two hours; two two-day field trips. Prerequisite(s): GEO 001 with a grade of "C-" or better or GEO 002 with a grade of "C-" or better. Examines geological evidence of environmental change throughout Quaternary times ("Ice Age") to provide a framework for understanding natural environmental change and for predicting future change.

GEO 162. Geomorphology. (4)

Lecture, two hours; laboratory, six hours; field trip, two days. Prerequisite(s): upper-division standing; consent of instructor. A study of surficial processes related to the development and evolution of landforms and landscapes at the Earth's surface. Emphasis is on weathering regimes, mass wasting and hillslope development, river process, and form. Examines erosional and depositional processes in tectonic, volcanic, arid, karst, glacial, and coastal landscapes.

GEO 167. Conservation and Land Use. (4)

Lecture, three hours; laboratory and field, three hours. Prerequisite(s): GEO 168A with a grade of "C-" or better. Application of biogeographic and ecological theories in the conservation of plants, animals, and wildlands. Topics include biological preserve design, ecological consequences of land development, and wildlife-habitat relationships.

GEO 168A. Biogeography. (4)

Lecture, three hours; laboratory, three hours. Prerequisite(s): BIOL 010/GEO 003 with a grade of "C-" or better or GEO 002 with a grade of "C-" or better or consent of instructor. Analysis of world vegetation patterns, migrations, and ecological considerations at scales ranging from geologic to historical. Topics include plant migration, endemism, continental species patterns, ecological convergence, island biogeography, and world species diversity.

GEO 168B. Landscape Ecology. (4)

Lecture, three hours; laboratory, three hours. Prerequisite(s): GEO 168A with a grade of "C-" or better. Examines the ecology and distribution of California ecosystems as related to landscape models that integrate fire regimes with climate, vegetation structure, and topography. Minnich.

GEO 180. Senior Seminar in Earth System History. (3)

Seminar, three hours. Prerequisite(s): senior standing in Geology. A study of the history of the integrated Earth system through geologic time. Covers interactions and feedback among the major tectonic, volcanic, climatic, and biologic events in Earth history. Includes discussion of controversial topics in the geologic history of the Earth and its organisms.

GEO 190. Special Studies. (1-5)

Individual study, three to fifteen hours. Prerequisite(s): upper-division standing; consent of instructor and Department Chair. Individual study to meet special curricular needs. Course is repeatable to a maximum of 9 units.

GEO 191. Undergraduate Seminar in Geological Sciences. (1)

Seminar, one hour. Prerequisite(s): open to upper division Geological Sciences majors only. For undergraduate students who desire formal participation in the weekly departmental seminar. In addition to attending the seminar, students must write abstracts describing two of the presentations. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). May be repeated to a total of 6 units.

GEO 195A-GEO 195B-GEO 195C. Senior Thesis. (3-5, 3-5, 3-5)

Hours per week to be established by supervisor. Prerequisite(s): senior status; consent of instructor. Preparation of a thesis based upon supervised field and/or laboratory research and literature review in the geological sciences. The thesis may be undertaken as a one, two, or three quarter sequence. In the case of a two or three quarter sequence, the final grade will be deferred until completion of the last quarter. Total credits may not exceed 9 units.

GEO 198-I. Independent Internship. (1-12)

Field, three to thirty-six hours. Prerequisite(s): consent of instructor, undergraduate advisor, and department chairman. Independent study in a surrogate job condition under non-university supervision. Internships are normally in public or private institutions such as planning departments, research labs, or industry. Position, task, method of reporting completion and accomplishments, and units must have prior agreement among student, instructor, and supervisor. One unit for every three hours per week spent in internship. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC).

GRADUATE COURSES

GEO 201. Quantitative Analysis of Surficial Process. (4)

Lecture, two hours; laboratory, five hours; one two-day field trip. Prerequisite(s): GEO 162 or consent of instructor. Advanced studies of the basic concepts, quantitative approaches, and modern research in processes operating on the Earth's surface. Emphasizes fluvial and hillslope hydrology, drainage basin process and form, channel morphology and adjustments, and valley floor evolution. Group research project involves data collection and quantitative analysis of river or hillslope processes.

GEO 203. Mineral Equilibria. (4)

Lecture, four hours. Prerequisite(s): GEO 137 or consent of instructor. Applications of thermodynamics and kinetics to evaluating equilibria among minerals and fluids in geological environments. Emphasis placed on equilibria in geothermal systems, ore deposits, metamorphic and igneous rock, and groundwater.

GEO 205. Geohydrology. (4)

Lecture, three hours; laboratory, three hours; one one-day field trip. Prerequisite(s): GEO 132 or ENSC 163. Fluid flow in geologic media; resource evaluation; and relevant geologic hazards and geotechnical problems.

GEO 206A-GEO 206B. Stratigraphy. (4-4)

Lecture, two hours; laboratory, six hours. Prerequisite(s): GEO 118; consent of instructor. Covers rock stratigraphy, time stratigraphy, and biostratigraphy with an emphasis on their principles, history, and methods. Includes reading and analysis of pertinent literature and field trips.

GEO 212. Ecological Systems in Space and Time. (4)

Lecture, two hours; discussion, one hour; field, thirty hours per quarter. Prerequisite(s): BIOL 117 or BIOL 152/GEO 152 or equivalent or consent of instructor. Focuses on how ecological systems are interpreted and reconciled at the community, landscape, and paleontological scales and on the role of extrinsic factors operating at each of these scales. Examines the historical development of our understanding of ecological systems at various scales. Cross-listed with BIOL 212 and ENTM 212.

GEO 219. Theory of Systematics. (4)

Lecture, two hours; discussion, two hours. Prerequisite(s): BIOL 112/BPSC 112/ENTM 112 or equivalent or consent of instructor. Examines topics developed around a series of classical and recent papers on the principles, philosophy, and methodology of modern systematics and phylogenetic methods. Cross-listed with BIOL 219 and ENTM 219.

GEO 222. Geothermics. (4)

Lecture, three hours; discussion, two hours. Prerequisite(s): consent of instructor. Geology, geophysics, and geochemistry applied to geothermal resource investigations. Selected case histories illustrating exploration, assessment, and utilization of geothermal fields.

GEO 225A. Geology of Carbonate Rocks. (4)

Lecture, two hours; laboratory, six hours. Prerequisite(s): GEO 118; consent of instructor. Covers characterization, recognition, and interpretation of carbonate rocks. Laboratory work includes study of polished and thin sections of selected suites of rocks.

GEO 225B. Geology of Detrital Rocks. (4)

Lecture, two hours; laboratory, six hours. Prerequisite(s): GEO 118; consent of instructor. Covers characterization, recognition, and interpretation of detrital rocks. Laboratory work includes study of polished and thin sections of selected suites of rocks.

GEO 239. Advanced Topics in Ore Petrology. (4)

Lecture, two hours; laboratory, six hours. Prerequisite(s): GEO 100; consent of instructor. Covers advanced topics in ore petrology, including ore microscopy, ore mineral phase equilibria, fluid inclusion techniques, and thermodynamic calculations relevant to ore genesis. Course content varies from year to year. Course is repeatable to a maximum of 8 units.

GEO 241. Advanced Field Geophysics. (14)

Lecture, ten hours; laboratory, sixteen hours; field, fourteen hours. Prerequisite(s): GEO 141 or equivalent; knowledge of Fortran or equivalent. Advanced applications of modern geophysical field techniques to the solution of complex geological problems, using seismic refraction and reflection, electrical and electromagnetic, potential field, and well logging methods.

GEO 242. Potential Fields. (4)

Lecture, three hours; laboratory, three hours. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 130A, GEO 140 or consent of instructor. A study of classical and modern geodesy, the Earth's gravitational and magnetic field from surface and satellite data. The reduction and interpretation of gravity and magnetic measurements and their relationship to major tectonic features. The gravity and magnetic field of the moon and other planets and their relation to surface features.

GEO 247. Electrical Exploration Methods. (4)

Lecture, three hours; laboratory, four hours. Prerequisite(s): MATH 009A-MATH 009B-MATH 009C, PHYS 040C; or consent of instructor. Study of electrical properties of Earth's materials. Galvanic resistivity methods in a multilayered medium. Potential distribution and interpretation of empirical data. Electrical well logging. Elements of telluric and magneto-telluric sounding.

GEO 249. Field Methods in Quaternary Geology. (4)

Discussion, two hours; laboratory, six hours; three two-day field trips. Prerequisite(s): GEO 101 or GEO 162 or consent of instructor. Geologic field problems and associated techniques for reconstructing Quaternary geologic, climatologic, and hydrologic events recorded in the landforms, stratigraphy, and weathering profiles of selected regions. Field techniques include relative and calibrated dating analysis, section measurements, morpho- and lithostratigraphic analysis, and map constructions in fluvial, lacustrine, glacial, coastal, and eolian environments.

GEO 250. Graduate Seminar in Geological Sciences. (1)

Seminar, one hour. Prerequisite(s): graduate student status. Oral reports by graduate students, faculty, and visiting scholars on current research topics in geological sciences. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable.

GEO 251 (E-Z). Advanced Topics in Paleontology. (3-5)

Seminar, three hours; laboratory, zero to six hours. Prerequisite(s): consent of instructor. Selected advanced topics from paleontology. Course content will vary from quarter to quarter. Flexible units (3, 4, or 5) allows the instructor to decide whether or not an individual student will be required to take the laboratory. Course is repeatable.

GEO 253. Advanced Topics in Petrology and Geochemistry. (3-5)

Seminar, three hours; laboratory, zero to six hours. Prerequisite(s): consent of instructor. Selected advanced topics from petrology and geochemistry of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. Course content varies from year to year. Course is repeatable to a maximum of 6 to 10 units.

GEO 255. Advanced Topics in Sedimentary Petrology. (4)

Seminar, two hours; laboratory, six hours. Prerequisite(s): GEO 225A, GEO 225B. Selected advanced topics from sedimentary petrology and physical stratigraphy. Course content varies from year to year. Course is repeatable.

GEO 257 (E-Z). Advanced Topics in Geophysics. (4)

Seminar, four hours. Prerequisite(s): consent of instructor. Selected advanced topics from geophysics. Course content varies from quarter to quarter. Courses are repeatable with separate letter designation.

GEO 259. Tectonics of California. (4)

Lecture, two hours; seminar, two hours. Prerequisite(s): consent of instructor. Geological, geophysical, and paleontological bases of interpreting tectonic development of California, with special emphasis on southern California. Interdisciplinary approach will be emphasized. Weekly reading assignments, active participation in discussions, and appropriate field and library research will be required. Participants will prepare two papers and give presentations.

GEO 268. Seminar in Biogeography. (4)

Seminar, two hours; research; six hours. Prerequisite(s): GEO 168B or consent of instructor. Topics from Mediterranean ecosystems, fire ecology, naturalization of exotic species, succession and ecosystem steady state theory, mapping of vegetation. Course is repeatable to a maximum of 8 units.

GEO 283 (E-Z). Seminar in Advanced Topics in Systematic Geography. (4)

Seminar, two hours; research, six hours. Prerequisite(s): GEO 157 or consent of instructor. G. Location Analysis; H. Transportation Geography; I. Quantitative Geography.

GEO 290. Directed Studies. (1-6)

Prerequisite(s): consent of instructor. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable.

GEO 297. Directed Research. (1-6)

Prerequisite(s): consent of instructor. Research for individual graduate students in geological sciences. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable.

GEO 299M. Research for Master's Thesis. (1-12)

Research, three hours per unit. Prerequisite(s): consent of instructor. Thesis research. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable.

GEO 299P. Research for Dissertation. (1-12)

Research, three hours per unit. Prerequisite(s): consent of instructor. Research for dissertation, arranged in consultation with the staff. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable.

PROFESSIONAL COURSES

GEO 301. Teaching of Geosciences at the College Level. (1)

Seminar, one hour. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing in Geological Sciences. A program of weekly meetings and individual formative evaluation required of new Teaching Assistants for Geosciences courses. Covers instructional methods and classroom/section activities most suitable for teaching Geosciences. Conducted by the Teaching Assistant Development Program. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable.

GEO 302. Teaching Practicum. (1-4)

Seminar, one to four hours; practicum, two to eight hours. Prerequisite(s): restricted to those graduate students appointed as Teaching Assistants. Supervised teaching of upper and lower-division courses in Geosciences. Required of all Teaching Assistants. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable for credit but units not applicable toward degree unit requirements.