Catalog

GEOL 1403

Physical Geology - Earth Materials, structures, tectonics, landforms, mineral resources and processes that formed them.

GEOL 1404

Historical Geology - History of the development of our planet and its inhabitants. PREQUISITE: GEOL 1403

GEOL 2376

Regional and Economic Geography - Regional, national, and continental units considered from the viewpoint of economic resources, resource development, organizaiton, politics, economy, and physical landscape.

GEOL 2377

Physical Geography and Geomorphology - Fundamental concepts of local, regional, and global physical geography and geomorphology, including landform features and soils. Geology and Earth Science majors are required to take an additional laboratory component (GEOL 4101 - Geomorphology Lab) to meet degree requirements (CC No. 1301). PREREQUISITE: GEOL 1403 and Sophomore Standing.

GEOL 2471

Mineralogy-Petrology - Classification, properties, occurrence, identification, and optical properties of minerals. PREQUISITE: GEOL 1403 and CHEM 1411 or 1405.

GEOL 3101

Physical Geology Lab Instruction - Advanced laboratory techniques in physical geology. May be repeated for credit. PREREQUISITE: GEOL 1403 and consent of instructor.

GEOL 3102

Historical Geology Lab Instruction - Advanced laboratory techniques in historical geology. May be repeated for credit. PREREQUISITE: GEOL 1404 and consent of instructor.

GEOL 3390

Environmental Geography and Geology - The relationship between human activities, geologic resources and processes, and environmental quality. Topics include the consumption of geologic resources and its impact on the environment. The relationship between human populations and geologic hazards. Field trip and special fee required. PREREQUISITE: GEOL 1403 or 2377.

GEOL 3410

Statistics and Data Processing - Application of digital computer and statistical techniques to the analysis of Earth Science data. PREREQUISITE: COSC 1371.

GEOL 3411

Integrated Sciences I - An integrated approach to understanding the dynamic systems interacting throughout the universe, with special focus on solar system and planetary systems. Emphasis on the lithologic, hydrologic, and atmospheric cycles within the context of plate tectonics theory and geologic time. The fossil record, evolution, and global planetary change also will be investigated. Field trip and course fee required. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 2411 and CHEM 2411.

GEOL 3420

Structural Geology - Rock deformation and geologic structures. Field trip and special fee required. PREREQUISITE: GEOL 2471.

GEOL 3450

Petrology - Classification, properties, occurrence and origin of rocks. Macro and micro techniques for the identification of rocks. Field trip and special fee required. PREREQUISITE: GEOL 2471.

GEOL 3600

Summer Field Course - Description of stratigraphic sections, preparation of geologic maps and field reports. Conducted off-campus at various field locations. Special field trip fees required. PREREQUISITE: GEOL 3420, 3450, 3460, 4420.

GEOL 4101

Applied Geoscience semenar. Faculty supervised oral presentations and written reports on various geologic topics. May be repeated for credit when area of study is different. PREREQUISITE: 20 or more hours of Geology is recommended.

GEOL 4101

Optical Minerology and Petrography - Introduction to the use of the polarizing microscope for identification of rock-forming minerals and and rock analysis. PREREQUISITE: GEOL 2471.

GEOL 4270, 4280

Special Project - An individual library, laboratory, or field project. To recieve credit, an acceptable report is required. May be repeated for credit. PREREQUISITE: GEOL 1403, 1404, and 2471 plus consent of instructor.

GEOL 4301

Hydrogeology - The study of the occurance, distribution, flow, and chemestry of groundwater, including contaminant transport. PREREQUISITE: Pre-Calculus or higher mathematics.

GEOL 4301

Petroleum and Subsurface Geology - The study of the occurance and distribution of petroleum resources including source, traps, and reservoirs. Subsurface methods and exploration techniques including well-log interpretation and subsurface mapping. PREREQUISITE: GEOL 3420 and GEOL 4410.

GEOL 4301

Seismic Data Processing - Hands-on project-based computer processing of reflection seismic data for oil, environmental, and other subsurface applications. PREREQUISITE: GEOL 4330 and Calculus I or higher mathematics.

GEOL 4301

Seismic Data Interpretation - Hands-on project-based geologic interpretation of reflection seismic data. Includes 2D and 3D interpretation for oil, environmental, and other subsurface applications. PREREQUISITE: GEOL 1403 and GEOL 4330.

GEOL 4301

Remote Sensing and GIS - Remote sensing and global information system (GIS) application to a variety of scientific topics, including Earth Science, Space Science, and Biology. PREREQUISITE: GEOL 1403 and GEOL 4330.

GEOL 4330

Geophysics - Application of the principles of physics to geologic problems. Use of geophysical techniques in exploration. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 1402 or 2426, MATH 2414.

GEOL 4360

Field Geology of Texas - Geologic history, topography, physiography, structure and mineral deposits of Texas observed on location at classic geologic exposures across Texas and adjacent states. Camping on and hiking across geologic outcrops will be an integral part of this field experience. Field trip and special fee required. May be repeated for credit as field trip locations change. PREREQUISITE: GEOL 2471 or permission of instructor.

GEOL 4361

Geochemistry - Application of chemistry to the solution of geological problems. PREREQUISITE: CHEM 1412, GEOL 2471.

GEOL 4370

Meteorology - Composition and processes of the atmosphere. Weather and climate and their effect on human activities. Air pollution and other human induced changes to the atmosphere. PREREQUISITE: Eight hours of science.

GEOL 4371

Economic Resources - A survey of soil, water, energy, metal, and nonmetal resources of the Earth including their distribution and uses. Geology and Earth Science majors are required to take an additional concurrent laboratory component (GEOL 4101 - Economic Resources Lab) to meet degree requirements. Field trip and special fee required. PREREQUISITE: GEOL 1404 and permission of instructor.

GEOL 4380

Oceanography - Structure, properties and processes of the hydrosphere emphasizing geologic aspects. Role of the seas and oceans in the total environment. PREREQUISITE: Eight hours of science.

GEOL 4390

Rocks & Stars - A conceptual introduction to space science with emphasis on planetary exploration. Visual programs and guest speakers from NASA and other space research facilities are included. For both non-science and science majors. PREREQUISITE: Eight hours of science.

GEOL 4410

Stratigraphy and Sedimentology - Fundamental principles of outcrop, subsurface and sequence stratigraphy. Derivation and deposition of sediments, and environmental interpretation of sedimentary strata. PREREQUISITE: GEOL 1404 and permission of instructor.

GEOL 4411

Integrated Science II - This capstone course uses an integrated approach to understanding the systems through which the environment affects humans and conversely, the impact human activities have on the environment. Emphasis on human populations and their impacts on the carbon, nitrogen, hydrologic and atmospheric cycles and how they relate to local and global changes; and natural impacts on human population through climatic changes and short term meteorologic and geologic events, such as floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and drought. Other topics include energy choices, waste disposal and inappropriate site locations based on environmental settings. Field trip and course fee required. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 2411, CHEM 2411, BIOL 3411 and GEOL 3411.

GEOL 4420

Paleontology - Principles of paleontologic interpretation including classification, morphologic analysis and identification of invertebrate and vertebrate fossils. Application of paleontology to stratigraphic correlation. Field trip and special fee required. PREREQUISITE: GEOL 1404 and permission of instructor.

Space Science Courses

SPSC 1401

Space Science - An introduction to the sciences behind robotic and human exploration of space with laboratory.

SPSC 3301

Microgravity - A study of physical, chemical, and biological phenomena under the conditions of reduced gravity. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 1406 or 2425.

SPSC 3302

Space Transportation Systems - Introduction to space transportation systems and their payloads. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 1406 or 2425.

SPSC 3303

Orbital and Celestial Mechanics - The mechanics of movement of bodies in space under the influence of gravity. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 1406 or 2425.

SPSC 4301

Special Topics in Space Science - An individual library or laboratory project in conference with faculty. With permission of the department chair, student may repeat the course for credit when the area of the study is different. PREREQUISITE: Permission of instructor and department chair.

SPSC 4302

Space Vacuum Physics - The physics of vacuum as applied to phenomena in space. Introduction to production and measurement of vacuum in laboratories on Earth. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 1407 or 2426.

SPSC 4303

Planetary Materials - A study of the chemistry and mineralogy of extraterrestrial materials including moon samples and meteorites. Introduction to the laboratory techniques used to examine these materials. PREREQUISITE: CHEM 1411 or GEOL 2471.