Earth Sciences
Subject abbreviation: GEO
College of Natural
and Agricultural Sciences
| Undergraduate Program |
| Graduate Program |
| Majors |
| Undergraduate Courses |
| Graduate Courses |
| Professional Courses |
Mary L. Droser, Ph.D., Chair
Harry W. Green, II, Ph.D., Vice Chair
Department Office, 1424 Geology
(951) 827-2441; earthscience.ucr.edu
Professors
James H. Dieterich, Ph.D.
Mary L. Droser, Ph.D.
Harry W. Green, II, Ph.D.
Nigel C. Hughes, Ph.D.
Tien-Chang Lee, Ph.D.
Timothy W. Lyons, 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
Martin J. Kennedy, Ph.D.
Michael A. McKibben, Ph.D.
David D. Oglesby, Ph.D.
Alan E. Williams, Ph.D.
**
Adjunct Professors
Larissa F. Dobrzhinetskaya, Ph.D.
Robert C. Finkel, Ph.D.
Douglas M. Morton, Ph.D.
Adjunct Assistant Professors
Katherine J. Kendrick, Ph.D.
Thomas A. Scott, Ph.D.
Lecturer
Marilyn A. Kooser, Ph.D.
The Department of Earth Sciences offers B.S. degrees in Geology and Geophysics. These degree programs are designed for students with a strong interest in various aspects of the Earth Sciences. The programs place substantial emphasis on fieldwork with field courses, field trips in all appropriate courses, and excursions between quarters.
Academic Advising
Undergraduate advising in the Department of Earth Sciences is designed to allow close professional contact with faculty and staff. Counseling on graduation and departmental requirements and on enrollment is handled by the department’s student affairs advisor and the faculty undergraduate advisor for each major.
Each student selects a faculty mentor who counsels the student on career goals and research opportunities. The department recommends that students 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.
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 by passing an examination. All candidates for a multiple subject credential to teach in the elementary grades must pass the Multiple Subjects, California Subject Exam for Teachers (CSET). Students are urged to start early, preferably as freshmen, selecting courses most helpful for this career. Details and counseling on the Bridge to Teaching Program, a program for the multiple subject credential, are available in the Office of Interdisciplinary Programs, 2417 Humanities and Social Sciences, (951) 827-2743. Details and counseling on other programs are available in the Department of Earth Sciences or the Graduate School of Education.
UCR does not yet have a state-approved subject matter undergraduate program for earth science majors who wish to teach at the secondary level. The Teaching Credential in Science, geoscience authorization, is required for teachers who want to teach earth science/geoscience in middle school and high school. Students who plan to get this credential must take the CSET exams in Geosciences 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). CSET test guides are available at www.cset.nesinc.com.
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 (1124 Sproul Hall).
Geology Major
The department offers four options for the Geology major: General Geology, Geobiology, Geophysics, 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 fieldwork (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.
Biogeography Option Students entering the Biogeography option study spatial 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.
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 leaves with a marketable geology degree coupled with special insight into historical aspects of life’s place and role on this planet.
Geophysics Option The Geophysics option allows a student to combine general geological training with geophysical techniques to image the Earth's interior. Students take the geology core but complete additional courses in physics, mathematics, geophysics, and geohydrology. Emphasis is placed on applications of geophysics to hydrological, environmental, and natural resource problems. Graduates are especially suited to enter professional employment in environmental geology and resource exploration or graduate programs in Earth Sciences. Students seeking to enter graduate programs in Geophysics should pursue the Geophysics major.
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.
University Requirements
See Undergraduate Studies section.
College Requirements
See College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Colleges and Programs section.
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.
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 four options to majors in Geology: General Geology, Geobiology, Geophysics, and Biogeography. All students majoring in Geology are normally required to take the core curriculum. The General Geology, Geobiology, and Geophysics options require the Geology core curriculum presented below. The Biogeography option utilizes the lower-division Life Sciences core curriculum, enhanced by inclusion of required and optional Geology course work as indicated below.
General Geology, Geobiology, Geophysics, and Biogeography Options
Core Requirements
1. Lower-division requirements (64–65 units)
a) GEO 001, GEO 002, GEO 003/BIOL 010, GEO 020, GEO 030
b) BIOL 002 or both BIOL 005A and BIOL 05LA
c) CHEM 001A, CHEM 001B, CHEM 001C, CHEM 01LA, CHEM 01LB, CHEM 01LC
d) MATH 008B or MATH 009A, MATH 009B, MATH 009C
e) PHYS 040A, PHYS 040B, PHYS 040C
2. Upper-division requirements (38 units)
GEO 100, GEO 101, GEO 102, GEO 115, GEO 116, GEO 123
Biogeography Option (119-120 units)
The Biogeography Option utilizes the lower-division curriculum presented below, enhanced by the inclusion of both required and optional Geology course work as indicated below.
1. Lower-division requirements (63 units)
a) GEO 001, GEO 002, GEO 003/BIOL 010, GEO 020
b) BIOL 005A, BIOL 05LA, BIOL 005B, BIOL 005C
c) CHEM 001A, CHEM 001B, CHEM 001C, CHEM 01LA, CHEM 01LB, CHEM 01LC
d) MATH 008B or MATH 009A, MATH 009B
e) PHYS 002A, PHYS 002B, PHYS 002C; PHYS 02LA, PHYS 02LB, PHYS 02LC; or PHYS 040A, PHYS 040B, PHYS 040C
2. Upper-division requirements (56–57 units)
a) GEO 115, GEO 157, GEO 167, GEO 168, GEO 169
b) Two courses from GEO 151, GEO 152/BIOL 152, GEO 153
c) STAT 100A or STAT 120A
d) Eight (8) units of upper-division courses approved by the undergraduate advisor
e) Sixteen (16) additional units of related upper-division courses approved by the undergraduate advisor
General Geology Option (33 units)
1. GEO 118, GEO 124
2. One course from GEO 157, GEO 161, GEO 162, GEO 168, GEO 169
3. GEO 132 or GEO 137
4. One course from GEO 140, GEO 144, GEO 145
5. GEO 151 or GEO 152/BIOL 152
6. Eight (8) additional units of related upper-division courses approved by the undergraduate advisor
Geobiology Option (41 units)
1. BIOL 005B, BIOL 005C
2. GEO 118
3. Three courses from GEO 151, GEO 152/BIOL 152, GEO 168, GEO 169
4. Sixteen (16) additional units of related upper-division courses approved by the undergraduate advisor
Geophysics Option (41 units)
1. MATH 046
2. PHYS 040D, PHYS 040E
3. GEO 132, GEO 140, GEO 144, GEO 145
4. One additional 4-unit upper-division course in Geosciences
5. Two upper-division physical science courses approved by the undergraduate advisor
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 (72 units)
a) CHEM 001A, CHEM 001B, CHEM 001C, CHEM 01LA, CHEM 01LB, CHEM 01LC
b) GEO 001, GEO 030
c) MATH 008B or MATH 009A, MATH 009B, MATH 009C, MATH 010A, MATH 010B, MATH 046
d) PHYS 040A, PHYS 040B, PHYS 040C, PHYS 040D, PHYS 040E
2. Upper-division requirements (53–54)
a) GEO 115, GEO 116, GEO 140, GEO 145
b) Two of GEO 144, PHYS 111, PHYS 177
c) PHYS 130A, PHYS 130B, PHYS 135A, PHYS 135B, PHYS 136
d) PHYS 139L or 4 units of PHYS 142L
e) Four (4) units of upper-division physical science courses, which may include up to 4 units of Senior Thesis (GEO 195A, GEO 195B, GEO 195C) or up to 4 units of independent internship (GEO 198-I).
The department of Earth Sciences offers the M.S. and Ph.D. in Geological Sciences.
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, groundwater, mineral deposits, stratigraphy, sedimentology, sedimentary geochemistry, basin analysis, landscape ecology, fire ecology, and natural resource conservation. Integrated field and laboratory studies are encouraged.
Admission 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 GRE General Test (verbal, quantitative, analytical) scores before admission.
Master’s Degree
In addition to the general requirements listed under the Graduate Studies section of this catalog, the requirements for the M.S. degree in Geological Sciences, under the Plan 1 (Thesis), are as follows.
Admission Students must 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 are designated in the letter of admission to the program sent by the dean of the Graduate Division to the student.
Biannual Reviews All students must undergo biannual reviews by the departmental Graduate Progress Committee. A student’s progress is assessed in these reviews, and the committee may recommend changes in a student’s plans after these reviews.
Course Work All students must enroll each quarter in the Graduate Seminar in Geosciences (GEO 250). Students must attend the weekly Hewett Club lecture series.
Students must complete a minimum of 36 units of course work in the major and related subjects and obtain advance approval of a coherent plan of study from the graduate advisor.
A maximum of 12 upper-division units beyond the requirements for the bachelor’s degree may be applied to the 36-unit requirement. Students must complete 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.
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.
Thesis and Final Oral Examination Before the end of the third quarter of study and before embarking on research, the student must submit a written thesis proposal to the graduate progress committee. After approval of the proposal, the student must submit a thesis based on original work for approval by a thesis committee. A maximum of 12 units of thesis research may be counted toward the 36-unit minimum.
Students present an open research seminar as a final oral examination, which is advertised to all the students and faculty in the Earth Sciences Department.
Normative Time to Degree 7 quarters
Doctoral Degree
The Department of Earth Sciences offers the Ph.D. in Geological Sciences. 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 the following.
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 recommends courses designed to prepare a student for research and to correct deficiencies in background. This committee also reviews a student’s progress biannually and may recommend transfer to the master’s program if normal progress is not maintained.
Course Work Students must complete at least four graduate-level instructional courses taught by four different faculty members as approved by the graduate advisor. Course work used in satisfaction of the M.S. degree may be accepted with the graduate advisor’s approval. 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.
Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations Students must write two research proposals. The proposal topics must be approved by an examination committee to ensure breadth. The committee reviews the proposals and, if acceptable, recommends proceeding to the oral qualifying examination. An oral examination committee appointed by the dean of the Graduate Division examines 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.
Dissertation and Final Oral Examination A dissertation normally evolves from one of the research proposals. The dissertation must present original scholarly work and be approved by a dissertation committee before the student may take the final oral examination. Students must have satisfactory performance on the final oral examination given by the dissertation committee. Major emphasis in this examination is on the dissertation and related topics.
Normative Time to Degree from the B.S. 17 quarters
GEO 001. The Earth’s Crust and Interior (4) Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 3 hours; one 1-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, 3 hours; laboratory, 3 hours; one 2-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, 3 hours; laboratory, 3 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, 3 hours; discussion, 1 hour. Prerequisite(s): ENGL 001A or equivalent (may be taken concurrently). Application of basic principles of climate and geology to recognition of natural hazards and their mitigation. Topics include fires, freezes, floods, winds, landslides, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis. Emphasis is 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, 3 hours; discussion, 1 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 006. The Violent Universe (4) Lecture, 3 hours; discussion, 1 hour. An introduction to violent phenomena that power the universe, specifically phenomena that illustrate basic astrophysical principles. Topics include impacts in our planetary system: explosions of stars, bursts of star formation, galaxy collisions, black holes, quasars, cosmic jets, and the “Big Bang.” Cross-listed with PHYS 006.
GEO 007. Minerals and Human Health (4) Lecture, 2 hours; discussion, 1 hour; field, 30 hours per quarter. Prerequisite(s): none. An introductory overview of the role of minerals in human life and industrial activities. Discusses basic concepts of mineralogy and modern methods of mineral studies. Topics include the impact of minerals on human health, the role of minerals in modern biotechnologies, asbestos and silica problems, occupational diseases caused by inhalation of mineral dust, and environmental protection in California.
GEO 008. Earthquake Country (4) Lecture, 3 hours; discussion, 1 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 009. Oceanography (4) Lecture, 3 hours; discussion, 1 hour. Prerequisite(s): none. A general introduction to the geological, physical, chemical, and biological processes related to the characteristics and evolution of the ocean system. Students gain an understanding of the important role oceans play in regulating climate and the cycling of elements on the Earth’s surface and how the ocean system has been, and continues to be, one of the most important influences on life.
GEO 010. Minerals, Energy, and Society (4) Lecture, 3 hours; discussion, 1 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. Introduction to Geostatistics (1) Lecture, 5 hours per quarter; laboratory, 15 hours per quarter. Prerequisite(s): a grade of "C-" or better in one of the following courses: BIOL 010/GEO 003, GEO 001, GEO 002. Introduces basic statistical techniques used in descriptive and inferential data analysis in geology, geophysics, geochemistry, and paleobiology. Stresses the geological application of statistics by using data acquired and analyzed within laboratory sessions.
GEO 030. Introductory Mineralogy (5) Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 5 hours; two half-day and one 1-day field trips. Prerequisite(s): either CHEM 001B and CHEM 01LB or CHEM 01HB (CHEM 001B, CHEM 01LB and 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 structural and crystallographic 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, 3 hours; laboratory, 6 hours; four field trips per quarter. Prerequisite(s): GEO 030 and GEO 123 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, 2 hours; weekly 1-day field trips. Prerequisite(s): GEO 100 and GEO 115 with grades of “C-” or better or consent of 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, 6 hours. Prerequisite(s): GEO 101 with a grade of “C-” or better or consent of instructor. Geological mapping and interpretation; writing of geological reports.
GEO 115. Geologic Maps and Landforms (5) Lecture, 2 hours; laboratory, 6 hours; field, 30 hours per quarter. Prerequisite(s): GEO 001 (may be taken concurrently); MATH 004 or MATH 005, or MATH 008A. Examines characteristic patterns of bedrock outcrops, surficial deposits, the related landforms, and their representation on maps. Covers unconformities, folds, faults, intrusions, alluvial fans, river terraces, and landforms indicative of glaciers, volcanoes, landslides, and earthquakes. Applies map information to resource and hazard evaluation.
GEO 116. Structural Geology (5) Lecture, 2 hours; laboratory, 6 hours; three .5-day field trips; two 1-day field trips. Prerequisite(s): GEO 115 with a grade of “C-” or better; PHYS 040A. Examines geological structures in the field. Covers the graphical solution of structural problems and laboratory map study, the genesis of rock structures and physics of rock deformation, and Mohr diagrams and elementary stress analysis.
GEO 118. Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (5) Lecture, 2 hours; laboratory, 6 hours; two 1-day and one 2-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. Analytical Mineralogy (5) Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 6 hours. Prerequisite(s): Either CHEM 001C and CHEM 01LC or CHEM 01HC; GEO 030 with a grade of “C-” or better. Advanced techniques in mineralogy. Covers optical crystallography, with an introduction to X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and other analytical techniques.
GEO 124. Advanced Petrogenesis (4) Lecture, 2 hours; laboratory, 6 hours; two 1-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. Each student completes a field and laboratory research project and prepares a written and oral report on the project.
GEO 132. Groundwater Geology (4) Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 3 hours. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 001B and CHEM 01LB or CHEM 01HB; MATH 009B or MATH 09HB; PHYS 040A. Covers the nature and behavior of waters in geologic media; including the 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, 3 hours; discussion, 1 hour. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 001C, CHEM 01LC, or equivalents; 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, 3 hours; laboratory, normally 3 hours; two 1-day field trips. Prerequisite(s): ENSC 100/SWSC 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, 3 hours; laboratory, 3 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 144. Earthquake Seismology (4) Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 3 hours. Prerequisite(s): MATH 010A, MATH 010B, MATH 046, PHYS 040A, PHYS 040B, PHYS 040C; or consent of instructor. Introduction to the theories and observations of earthquake seismology. Students use physical principles and mathematical techniques to study the earthquake process, wave propagation, and ground motion. The laboratory emphasizes computer-assisted analysis of various types of seismic data, as well as simple modeling techniques.
GEO 145. Shallow Subsurface Imaging (4) Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 3 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, 3 hours; laboratory, 3 hours; one 1-day field trip. Prerequisite(s): BIOL 010/GEO 003 with a grade of “C-” or better or BIOL 005C. Emphasis is 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, 2 hours; laboratory, 3 hours; three 1-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, 3 hours; discussion, 1 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, 2 hours; laboratory, 6 hours. Prerequisite(s): upper-division standing. Review and analysis of automated geographic information systems, data structures, databases, 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 161. Quaternary Paleoenvironmental Change (4) Lecture, 2 hours; laboratory, 2 hours; two 2-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, 2 hours; laboratory, 6 hours; one 2-day field trip. Prerequisite(s): upper-division standing or 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 Biogeography (4) Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory and field, 3 hours. Prerequisite(s): BIOL 005C with a grade of “C-” or better or BIOL 010/GEO 003 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 168. Biogeography (4) Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 3 hours. Prerequisite(s): BIOL 005C with a grade of “C-” or better or BIOL 010/GEO 003 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 169. California Vegetation (4) Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 3 hours; two 1-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. Survey of the flora, distribution, and ecology of California ecosystems, including Mediterranean shrubland, conifer forests, desert scrub, valley forbfields, and exotic grasslands. Discusses vegetation in relation to climate, physiography, fire, landscape steady states, biological invasions, paleobotany, and broad-scale change due to land development, invasive species, grazing, and fire suppression.
GEO 190. Special Studies (1-5) Individual study, 3-15 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, 1 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. Senior Thesis (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 for GEO 195A, GEO 195B, and GEO 195C may not exceed 9 units.
GEO 195B. Senior Thesis (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 for GEO 195A, GEO 195B, and GEO 195C may not exceed 9 units.
GEO 195C. Senior Thesis (3-5) 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 for GEO 195A, GEO 195B, and GEO 195C may not exceed 9 units.
GEO 198-I. Independent Internship (1-12) Field, 3-36 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).
GEO 203. Mineral Equilibria (4) Lecture, 4 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, 3 hours; laboratory, 3 hours; one 1-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. Stratigraphy (4) Lecture, 2 hours; laboratory, 6 hours. Prerequisite(s): GEO 118; consent of instructor. Covers rock stratigraphy and time stratigraphy with an emphasis on their principles, history, and methods. Includes reading and analysis of pertinent literature and field trips.
GEO 206B. Stratigraphy (4) Lecture, 2 hours; laboratory, 6 hours. Prerequisite(s): GEO 118; consent of instructor. Covers 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, 2 hours; discussion, 1 hour; field, 30 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, 2 hours; discussion, 2 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 221. Electron Microscopy and Microanalysis (4) Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 3 hours. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing or consent of instructor. Introduction to electron microscopy and microanalysis of inorganic solids including minerals and synthetic materials. Students learn the physical principles, strengths, and limitations of the method. Laboratory provides hands-on experience with scanning and transmission electron microscopes and interpretation of images and data.
GEO 223. Seminar in Geobiology (1) Seminar, 2 hours. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing or consent of instructor. Lectures, discussions and demonstrations by students, faculty and invited scholars on current research topics in Geobiology. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable.
GEO 225A. Geology of Carbonate Rocks (4) Lecture, 2 hours; laboratory, 6 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, 2 hours; laboratory, 6 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 226. Soil Geomorphology (4) Lecture, 2 hours; laboratory, 6 hours; two saturday field trips per quarter. Prerequisite(s): ENSC 138/GEO 138/SWSC 138, GEO 162, or equivalents. Examines the interaction of pedogenic and geomorphic processes during the Quaternary, with an emphasis on the rate of these processes. Group research includes field data collection and analysis. May be taken Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC) with consent of instructor and graduate advisor. Cross-listed with SWSC 226.
GEO 239. Advanced Topics in Resource Geology (4) Seminar, 4 hours. Prerequisite(s): GEO 100; consent of instructor. Covers topics in nonrenewable mineral and energy resources, such as petroleum resources; nuclear energy and waste disposal; toxic metals and groundwater contamination; and coal resources and global warming. Discusses geologic and environmental aspects of these resource issues. Content may vary from year to year. Requires oral and written research reports. Course is repeatable to a maximum of 8 units.
GEO 241. Advanced Field Geophysics (14) Lecture, 10 hours; laboratory, 16 hours; field, 14 hours. Prerequisite(s): GEO 140; proficiency in a word processing, spread sheet, or programming language. 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 243. Earthquake Physics (4) Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 3 hours. Prerequisite(s): GEO 144, MATH 010A, MATH 010B, MATH 046, PHYS 040A, PHYS 040B, PHYS 040C; basic computer programming experience; or consent of instructor. MATH 146A, MATH 146B, and MATH 146C are recommended. An exploration of the physics of the earthquake process. Students use both numerical models and theoretical and analytical tools to learn about the processes of fault fracture, rupture propagation, and slip, and their relation to ground motion in earthquakes. Requires an independent project in computer earthquake modeling.
GEO 245. Principles and Applications of Geochronology (4) Lecture, 2 hours; laboratory, 3 hours; field, 30 hours per quarter. Prerequisite(s): consent of instructor. Examines methods of dating Quaternary successions, including isotopic, physical, chemical, and stratigraphic techniques. Fieldwork and laboratory emphasize the collection, preparation, and analysis of samples using modern methods.
GEO 247. Electrical Exploration Methods (4) Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 4 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, 2 hours; laboratory, 6 hours; three 2-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, 1 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, 3 hours; laboratory, 0-6 hours. Prerequisite(s): consent of instructor. Selected advanced topics in paleontology. Content varies from quarter to quarter. After consultation with the instructor, students enroll in only the seminar (3 units) or in both the seminar and laboratory (4-5 units). May be taken Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC) with consent of instructor and graduate advisor. Course is repeatable.
GEO 252. Marine Paleoecology (3) Lecture, 1 hour; discussion, 1 hour; two 1-day field trips. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing. Examines fundamental principles of paleoecology and the measurement of biodiversity, abundance, and biomass from the fossil record. Covers the significance of mass extinctions, diversification events, and environments on the Earth’s changing marine ecosystem. Includes taphonomy, ichnology, and field studies. Course is repeatable to a maximum of 6 units.
GEO 253. Advanced Topics in Petrology and Geochemistry (3-5) Seminar, 3 hours; laboratory, 0-6 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, 2 hours; laboratory, 6 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 256. Earth’s Deep Interior: Frontiers in Mantle Petrology and Mineralogy (4) Lecture, 2 hours; discussion, 2 hours. Prerequisite(s): GEO 001 or GEO 030 or equivalent. Discusses mineral reactions in extreme conditions in the Earth’s mantle and at the core-mantle boundary, the possible fate of continental and oceanic plates subducted to Earth’s deep interior, and new models of the origin and evolution of mantle convection and plumes. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable to a maximum of 8 units.
GEO 257 (E-Z). Advanced Topics in Geophysics (4) Seminar, 3 hours; outside research, 3 hours. Prerequisite(s): consent of instructor. Selected advanced topics from geophysics. Course content varies from quarter to quarter. Each segment is repeatable to a maximum of 12 units.
GEO 259. Tectonics of California (4) Lecture, 2 hours; seminar, 2 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 260. Global Climate Change (4) Seminar, 3 hours; term paper, 3 hours. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 002C or PHYS 040C or consent of instructor. Explores global climate change in historic and geologic time scales. Topics include ocean-atmosphere feedbacks, El NiÒo, Pacific decadal oscillation, anthropogenic CO2, volcanism, cosmic rays, polar ozone depletion, global climate modeling, stable isotopes, “ice house” Pleistocene climates, “greenhouse” climates of the Mesozoic and Tertiary, plate tectonics, and the “snowball” Earth.
GEO 264. Biogeochemical Cycles through Time (3) Lecture, 3 hours; two to three 2-day field trips. Prerequisite(s): BIOL 010/GEO 003; CHEM 001C or equivalent; GEO 001; GEO 002; or consent of instructor. A comprehensive exploration of the major biogeochemical cycles at and near Earth’s surface. Emphasis is on microbially mediated cycling of elements and isotopes within diverse sedimentary environments and the cause-and-effect relationships with the ocean and atmosphere. Explores 4 billion years of biospheric evolution in light of these cycles. May be taken Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC) with consent of instructor and graduate advisor.
GEO 265. Special Topics in Earth and Environmental Sciences (1-3) Seminar, 1-3 hours. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing. Involves oral presentations and small-group discussions of selected topics in the areas of biogeochemistry, global climate change, geomicrobiology, earth surface processes, and interplanetary life.† Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable as content changes to a maximum of 10 units. Cross-listed with ENSC 265.
GEO 268. Seminar in Biogeography (4) Seminar, 2 hours; research, 6 hours. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing. Topics include Mediterranean ecosystems, fire ecology, naturalization of exotic species, succession and ecosystem steady state theory, and mapping of vegetation. Course is repeatable to a maximum of 8 units.
GEO 290. Directed Studies (1-6) Prerequisite(s): consent of instructor. Research and special studies in the geological sciences. 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, 3 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, 3 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.
GEO 301. Teaching of Geosciences at the College Level (1) Seminar, 1 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, 1-4 hours; practicum, 2-8 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.