Course Listings
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Laboratory course for Physical Geology. Fee.
Co-requisite: GY 111 -
Laboratory course for Earth History.
Co-requisite: GY 112
Pre-requisite: GY 111 Minimum Grade of D and GY 111L Minimum Grade of D. -
Materials that make up the Earth as well as the properties and geological processes that operate in the Earth. Special topics include plate tectonics, mineral chemistry, the rock cycle, sedimentary processes, metamorphism and geological map reading. Core course.
Co-requisite: GY 111L -
The origin and history of the earth as seen in the rocks and their contained life record. Core Course.
Co-requisite: GY 112L -
A two-week field course emphasizing the recognition and understanding of geologic processes in the field environment. The course is based in the Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico, with field trips ranging across northern New Mexico and southern Colorado during the interim session.
Pre-requisite: ( (GY 101 Minimum Grade of D or (GY 111 Minimum Grade of D and GY 111L Minimum Grade of S) and ( (GY 103 Minimum Grade of D or (GY 112 Minimum Grade of D and GY 112L Minimum Grade of S) ). -
Principles of landform development as it relates to specific processes (fluvial erosion, glacial erosion, etc.), construction of topographic base maps with Alidade/Total Station, GPS navigation and surveying, and rock/mineral resource evaluation. Fee.
Pre-requisite: (GY 101 Minimum Grade of D or GY 111 Minimum Grade of D). -
Introduction to elementary crystallography, crystal chemistry, and atomic structure of minerals, as well as the identification, characterization and use of common rock-forming minerals and important ore minerals. Fee.
Pre-requisite: (GY 101 Minimum Grade of D or (GY 111 Minimum Grade of D and GY 111L Minimum Grade of D) ) and (GY 103 Minimum Grade of D or (GY 112 Minimum Grade of D and GY 112L Minimum Grade of D) ) and (CH 131 Minimum Grade of D or CH 115 Minimum Grade of D). CH 131 can be taken concurrently with this course. -
The study of the formation and classification of igneous and metamorphic rocks. Fee.
Pre-requisite: (GY 101 Minimum Grade of D or GY 111 Minimum Grade of D) and (GY 232 Minimum Grade of D or GY 302 Minimum Grade of D or GY 342 Minimum Grade of D). -
The development of the stratigraphic column; correlation and field procedures. Fee.
Pre-requisite: (EH 102 Minimum Grade of C or EH 105 Minimum Grade of C) and (GY 103 Minimum Grade of D or GY 112 Minimum Grade of D). EH 102 can be taken concurrently with this course. -
Application of classical physics to the study of the Earth and the solution of problems in Earth sciences, including analysis of seismic refraction and reflection surveys, earthquakes, gravity and magnetic fields, and electrical geophysical surveys. Fee.
Pre-requisite: GY 111 Minimum Grade of D and GY 301 Minimum Grade of D. -
Study the principles pertaining to the description and classification of sedimentary rocks, with emphasis on sedimentary processes and depositional environments.
Pre-requisite: GY 111 Minimum Grade of D and GY 111L Minimum Grade of D and GY 112 Minimum Grade of D and EH 102 Minimum Grade of C or EH 105 Minimum Grade of C. -
A spatial perspective on major global environmental problems. Topics include population pressure, loss of biodiversity, ozone depletion, global warming, water, energy and mineral resources, food supplies, waste disposal, geological hazards and political/economic forces (identical to GEO 310).
Pre-requisite: GY 111 Minimum Grade of D or GEO 101 Minimum Grade of D or GEO 102 Minimum Grade of D. -
Interpretation of maps, air photos and satellite images (identical to GEO 332). Fee.
Pre-requisite: GEO 102 Minimum Grade of C and GEO 102L Minimum Grade of C and GY 301 Minimum Grade of C. GEO 102 and GEO 102L can be taken concurrently with this course. -
Major invertebrate fossil groups, their identification, and their geologic distribution. Fee.
Pre-requisite: (GY 103 Minimum Grade of D or (GY 112 Minimum Grade of D and GY 112L Minimum Grade of D) ). -
Study of the deformation of the internal Earth and the structures that result. Fee.
Pre-requisite: (GY 101 Minimum Grade of D or GY 111 Minimum Grade of D) and (GY 301 Minimum Grade of D or GY 325 Minimum Grade of D) and ( (PH 112 Minimum Grade of D or PH 114 Minimum Grade of D) or (PH 201 Minimum Grade of D or PH 216 Minimum Grade of D) ). -
A review of soil formation, processes and properties (identical to GEO 411).
Pre-requisite: (GEO 102 Minimum Grade of D and GEO 102L Minimum Grade of D and GY 301 Minimum Grade of D). -
An introduction to coastal sediment processes and their applied coastal geomorphology with emphasis on waves, tides, sediments, and their interactions including the impacts of anthropogenic influences. Taught only at Dauphin Island Sea Lab.
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Applied bivariate and multivariate statistics to problems in Geography, Geology, and Meteorology; parametric and non-parametric procedures in correlation, regression, analysis of variance, etc. Time series analysis, trend surface analysis, kriging and analysis of spatial (map) data. Identical to GEO 420. Fee.
Pre-requisite: (GY 111 Minimum Grade of C and GY 112 Minimum Grade of C) and (MA 112 Minimum Grade of C or ST 210 Minimum Grade of C). -
A geological applications course designed to familiarize students with techniques used by environmental and engineering geologists in their studies of land use, land development and assessment of geological hazards. Material is illustrated with case studies from the Mobile area. Fee.
Pre-requisite: (GY 101 Minimum Grade of D or GY 111 Minimum Grade of D) and (EH 102 Minimum Grade of C or EH 105 Minimum Grade of C). -
A course examining sedimentation with emphasis on environments of deposition, sea-level and other controls on sedimentation in the rock record, and petroleum exploration. Credit for both GY 422 and GY 522 will not be allowed. Fee.
Pre-requisite: (GY 101 Minimum Grade of D or GY 111 Minimum Grade of D) and (GY 103 Minimum Grade of D or GY 112 Minimum Grade of D). -
Principles of sources, occurrences, and movement of groundwater. Surface and subsurface investigations of groundwater and elementary groundwater hydrology and chemistry. Credit for both GY 425 and GY 525 will not be allowed. Fee.
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Flow systems, mass transport in the vadose and saturated zones; advection and dispersion; transformation, retardation and attenuation of solutes; low temperature geochemical processes and kinetics of chemical reactions; contaminant modeling using finite difference-finite element methods. Credit for both GY 426 and GY 526 will not be allowed. Fee.
Pre-requisite: (GY 425 Minimum Grade of D or GY 475 Minimum Grade of D). -
Theory and use of the petrographic microscope in the recognition and identification of crystallographic and optical properties in non-opaque minerals. Fee.
Pre-requisite: (GY 232 Minimum Grade of D or GY 302 Minimum Grade of D or GY 342 Minimum Grade of D). -
Theory and use of x-ray diffraction systems as applied to crystallography, mineralogy, chemistry, and metallurgy. Fee.
Pre-requisite: GY 302 Minimum Grade of D. -
A study of the geology of the ocean basins, with special emphasis on the continental shelves, their sediments, and sedimentary processes at work there.
Pre-requisite: (GY 101 Minimum Grade of D or GY 111 Minimum Grade of D) and (GY 103 Minimum Grade of D or GY 112 Minimum Grade of D). -
A laboratory based course illustrating techniques employed by geologists to prepare thin-sections from geological materials. Students will produce thin-sections and write up reports detailing the petrography of the samples examined. Fee.
Pre-requisite: (GY 232 Minimum Grade of D or GY 302 Minimum Grade of D or GY 342 Minimum Grade of D) and (GY 233 Minimum Grade of D or GY 303 Minimum Grade of D or GY 343 Minimum Grade of D) and (GY 344 Minimum Grade of D or GY 402 Minimum Grade of D). GY 402 can be taken concurrently with this course. -
A six-week, summer field course on the methods of geologic surveying, the nature and construction of geologic maps and cross-sections, measurements of stratigraphic sections and preparation of geologic reports. This course serves as a capstone class for geology majors.
Pre-requisite: (GY 303 Minimum Grade of D and GY 403 Minimum Grade of D and GY 402 Minimum Grade of D and HS 170 Minimum Grade of P). -
Geological topics not covered in current geology courses. Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing.
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Departmental seminar investigating a selected field of geology (topic announced prior to registration). May be repeated when content varies for a maximum of 3 credits
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Independent research in the field or laboratory under the direction of a member of the Geology faculty. Students must have an acceptable project approved before registering for this course. Prerequisite: Permission of the Chair, Junior or Senior standing. No more than 8 hours of directed study is allowed.
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On-the-job training through occupational or professional work through an approved geological organization. Only open to geology majors. Prerequisite: Permission of chair; Junior or Senior standing. No more than 3 hours of internship is allowed.
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Applied bivariate and multivariate statistics to problems in Geography, Geology, and Meteorology; parametric and non-parametric procedures in correlation, regression, analysis of variance, etc. Time series analysis, trend surface analysis, kriging and analysis of spatial (map) data. Identical to GEO/GY 420. Credit for both GY 420 and GY 520 will not be allowed.
Pre-requisite: (ST 175 Minimum Grade of B or ST 210 Minimum Grade of B) or (MA 125 Minimum Grade of C or MA 132 Minimum Grade of C). -
Theory and use of the petrographic microscope in the recognition and identification of crystallographic and optical properties in non-opaque minerals. Graduate credit will require an additional project specified by the instructor. Credit for both GY 431 and GY 531 will not be allowed. Fee.
Pre-requisite: (GY 232 Minimum Grade of D or GY 302 Minimum Grade of D or GY 342 Minimum Grade of D). -
Theory and use of x-ray diffraction systems as applied to crystallography, mineralogy, chemistry, and metallurgy.
Pre-requisite: (GY 231 Minimum Grade of D or GY 341 Minimum Grade of D). -
A study examining sedimentation with emphasis on environments of deposition, sea-level and other controls on sedimentation in the rock record, and petroleum exploration. Credit for both GY 444 and GY 544 will not be allowed.
Pre-requisite: MAS 603 Minimum Grade of C or GY 344 Minimum Grade of D. -
Principles of sources, occurrences, and movement of ground water. Surface and sub-surface investigations of ground water and elementary ground water hydrology and chemistry.
Pre-requisite: (GY 232 Minimum Grade of D or GY 342 Minimum Grade of D). -
Flow systems, mass transport in the vadose and saturated zones; advection and dispersion; transformation, retardation and attenuation of solutes; low temperature geochemical processes and kinetics of chemical reactions; contaminant modeling using finite difference-finite element methods. Credit for both GY 426 and GY 576 will not be allowed. Fee.
Pre-requisite: GY 425 Minimum Grade of D or GY 475 Minimum Grade of D or GY 575 Minimum Grade of D. -
An in-depth course for advanced students in geology. Topics and titles will be selected to examine the subject matter in an area of current interest to students and in an area of particular faculty expertise. To include specializing topics not currently listed in Bulletin course offerings.
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Students and faculty meet weekly in an interactive discussion of current literature in geological sciences. The focus will be on 'state of the art' theories and methodologies as they occur in the primary literature. Student presentation is required to receive credit.
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Independent research under the direction of a member of the graduate faculty. May be used to learn new techniques or to explore research questions of special interest. A maximum of 6 hours may be earned for this course.