GEOL 2000 Research and Thesis MS Degree (Thesis Research)
This course is designed to permit graduate students the opportunity to accomplish research necessary for the completion of a Master's Degree in Geology.Offered every term. Variable hours.1-12 Credits
Number of Credits: 12
Prerequisites: None. Department Consent Required.
GEOL 2001 - Scientific Communication
The scientific communication course is a required course for all MS and Ph.D. students in Geology and Environmental Science. It is designed to improve your reading, writing, and speaking skills. Specifically, the class to provide a foundation to understand the importance of narrative in science communication and effective technical writing, increase self-knowledge about areas to improve in your own writing practice, increase comfort and confidence in oral presentation delivery, to adapt a message for multiple audiences, and learn to provide constructive feedback and critical analysis for other scholars.
Number of Credits: 3
Prerequisites: Geology and Environmental Science (Ph.D. or MS) or Geographical Information System (MS)
GEOL 2015 Colloquium
Geology Colloquium is a required course for MS and PhD students in Geology and Planetary Science each term. It is a formalization of the seminar series with weekly guest speakers from industry, academia, and government. Each seminar will focus on a different research topic in the earth sciences and describe active and on-going projects of immediate interest to students. Offered every term. Variable hours.
Number of Credits: 1
Prerequisites: None. Department Consent Required.
GEOL 2021 Advanced Petrology
The origin and characteristics of the common igneous rocks and minerals are studied in light of natural and synthetic rock systems. Main topics covered are equilibria relations of the main silicate systems, petrogenesis of the principal igneous rock types and their relation to plate tectonic regimes, and generation and source of magmas. Offered occasionally. Lecture, 3 hours. No prerequisites.
Number of Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None
GEOL 2049 Paleoclimatology
The goal of this course is to present an overview of the methods used to reconstruct the earth's climate history and the techniques used to determine the timing of environmental changes. Paleoclimate data from proxy records, such as ice cores or tree rings, provides a longer perspective on climatic variability than is possible from instrumental or historical records. Particular emphasis will be given to the climatic changes during the late Cenozoic - the time of the ice ages. Topics to be discussed will include: paleoclimatic reconstruction, climate and climatic variation, dating methods, ice cores, marine sediments and corals, lake sediments, spelothems, soils, pollen analysis, dendrochronology, documentary data, and paleoclimate models. Offered alternate years during spring term. Lecture, 3 hours.
Number of Credits: 3
GEOL 2054 Soils: Geobiochemical Landscapes
Geobiochemical Landscapes serves as an introductory overview to soil science, providing a foundation for subsequent advanced work in chemical weathering, interpretation of paleosols, etc. Lectures will provide a fundamental understanding of soil formation, the resulting chemical and physical properties of these soils, and the interactions of soil with coupled geological, biological, and chemical systems. This course will emphasize the role of soil in earth systems at the landscape scale and include practical exercises in site and soil evaluation. Lab and field components will embrace Pittsburgh as a laboratory and may include exercises such as field soil mapping, chemical analyses of soils, and/or modeling of soil formation and hydrology. Students will be expected to prepare presentations and written documents as part of course participation. Some GIS experience will be helpful. Undergraduates are welcome with permission from the instructor. Offered alternate years during fall term. Lecture, 3 hours; field work, 3 hours.
Number of Credits: 4
GEOL 2110 Plate Tectonics
Historical background of the concept of plate tectonics. Geophysical evidence for reconstructing the motions of continental and oceanic areas. Plate tectonic processes and characteristics of plate boundaries. Dynamics -- the nature of the driving forces. Geosynclines, orogenic belts and crustal evolution will be examined with regard to plate tectonic theory. Types of plate boundaries (divergent and convergent zones, transform faults) will be studied and compared to existing geotectonic features. Offered every other year. Lecture, 3 hours.
Number of Credits: 3
GEOL 2120 - Basin Analysis
The integrated study of sedimentary basins as geodynamic entities, including tectonic environment, geologic history and associated strength of the lithosphere, rock weathering and erosion, and sediment transport. The class will give students a background in driving mechanisms for basin formation and subsidence, sedimentary record preservation and alterationk, sedimentary geometry, facies and petrology and provide a basic understanding of the continuum mechanics equations that approximate basin formation.
Number of Credits: 3
Prerequisites: GEOL 1100 AND GEOL 1020
GEOL 2151 Groundwater Geology
This course serves as an introduction to physical and chemical processes controlling movement and composition of groundwater. The course will emphasize both theoretical (e.g., derivation of governing equations from first principals) and practical aspects (e.g., tools for characterizing groundwater contamination) of groundwater. Most of the class will be devoted toward physical process in geologic context, with the remainder devoted to geochemical aspects of groundwater quality. Whenever possible, class examples and problems will focus on regionally important facets of groundwater, ranging from fractured bedrock flow to coal mine hydrology to urban sewer-groundwater cross-connections. Offered every spring term. Lecture, 3 hours laboratory, 2 hours.
Number of Credits: 4
Prerequisites: None
GEOL 2150 Surface Water Hydrology
This course shall provide an Earth systems science overview of the processes that govern the hydrologic cycle including precipitation, evapotranspiration, runoff and discharge, infiltration, and groundwater. The course shall emphasize the movement of water through the atmosphere, over the land surface, and within the unsaturated and saturated zones.
Number of Credits: 4
Prerequisites: (GEOL 0800 or 0820 or 0840) and (MATH 0120 or 0220)
GEOL 2446 Advanced Geographical Information System
Using advanced geographical information systems technologies and geospatial analysis techniques students will extend their knowledge of geographical information systems to include raster, geostatistical, network, model, and 3d/4d based analysis completing complex analysis of real world data sets. Offered every spring term. Lecture, 3 hours.
Number of Credits: 3
GEOL 2447 Geophysical Well Logging
The goals of this course are to develop an understanding of the principles and applications of well logging, an understanding of geological lithology, unit and stratigraphic characteristics, structure geology, fault structure and other geological concepts relevant to well log analysis. We focus on the student's ability the ability to interpret well logs and field analysis based upon well logs, including formation structure, fluid characteristics, production zones, and uncertainty.
Number of Credits: 3
GEOL 2449 GIS, GPS, and Computer Methods
The goal of this course is to gain expertise in the methods of Geographic Information Systems using the GeoTRANS and ArcGIS software packages on PC based workstations. No previous computer classes are required. Students will be graded on the basis of approximately 5 computer assignments, in-class exercises, a project, and final exam. This course is a core course for the GIS Certificate. Offered every fall term and in the summer if there is student demand. Lecture, 3 hours.
Number of Credits: 3
GEOL 2460 Applied Remote Sensing & GPS Techniques
Designed as a follow on to the introduction to remote sensing course currently offered, this advanced class emphasizes field-oriented problems, data collection, and verification. The ultimate goal is to explore the connection between remotely-gathered imagery and the real-world factors which influence those data. Students will come away with an appreciation of current remote sensing issues, an understanding of the geologic and human processes that impact remotely-gathered data, and how those processes can be observed and measured with remote sensing and GPS. Students taking the course should have had at least 1 semester of high school or college Physics.
Offered alternate years in the spring term. Lecture, 3 hours.
Number of Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None. Department Consent Required.
GEOL 2461 - Advanced Remote Sensing
This course is offered in conjunction with the introduction to remote sensing (geol-1460) - this course provides a foundation in the theory and techniques of remote sensing and geospatial data visualization spanning the electromagnetic spectrum from the ultraviolet to microwave wavelength region. Topics will include light/matter interaction, optics and sensor design, image analysis using commercial software, as well as current applications of remote sensing to science and engineering problems. The course and integrated image-processing laboratory are designed to provide you with an appreciation of current remote sensing issues, the geologic and human processes that impact remotely-gathered data, and how those processes can be measured using remote sensing. students taking this course will participate in an independent research project involving remote sensing theory/data analysis. Students with no prior remote sensing background will also be required to participate in the geol-1460 lecture and computer labs.
Number of Credits: 3
Prerequisites: PLAN: Geology and Planetary Science(PHD or MS) or Geographical Information Sys(MS)
GEOL 2468 Quantitative Research Methods in Earth Science in MATLAB
Quantitative methods are essential for solving problems in Geologic and Environmental Sciences and are often implemented by programming in specialized software. This course focuses on methods for quantitative data exploration and hypothesis testing with Mat lab. The course will introduce students to programming with Mat lab, and use Mat lab to implement and explore a variety of quantitative methods, including: uni- and multi- variate statistics, dimensional analysis, signal processing, spatial extrapolation, and numerical modeling. Classes will include lectures and group assignments that will use various methods to detect patterns in data, pose hypotheses regarding these patterns, and test them.
Number of Credits: 3
GEOL 2470 - Conservation Laws and Earth Surface Dynamics
Earth's topography is shaped by interactions between surface, tectonics and climatic processes. This course combines literature reviews with analytical and numerical models to examine how these processes act to modify Earth's surface over long time periods.
Number of Credits: 4
GEOL 2501 - Organic Geochemistry
This is mainly a lecture course that will examine the carbon cycle and the life cycle of the organisms that are responsible for the eventual accumulation of organic materials in sediments. The processes involved in the simultaneous preservation and transformation of organic materials into coal, petroleum, natural gas, kerogen and other dispersed organics will be reviewed in light of modern concepts of thermal maturation processes. The structures of naturally-occurring organic materials in sediments will be discussed.
Number of Credits: 3
GEOL 2510 Aquatic and Sedimentary Geochemistry
This course will examine the chemistry and geochemistry of modern and ancient aquatic and sedimentary systems, including oceans and fresh waters. Students will gain an understanding of the biogeochemical processes occurring in aquatic systems, and the geochemical signatures they leave in the sedimentary record.
Number of Credits: 3
Prerequisites: (CHEM 0110 and GEOL 0055) or GEOL 0800 or 0860
GEOL 2520 Radiogenic Isotope Geology and Geochronology
Introduction to isotope systematics (including mass dependent fractionation, radioactive decay, generation of cosmogenic nuclides, and nucleosynthesis), and application of isotope systems to problems in geochronology, geology, hydrology, oceanography, biology, and Cosmo chemistry.
Number of Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None
GEOL 2525 Stable Isotope
This course will provide students with a thorough introduction to the stable isotope systematics of light elements (hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur). The course examines the fundamental concepts of isotope equilibrium and kinetics, physiochemical and biogenic mechanisms of isotope exchange, and the principles of mass spectrome try and stable isotope extraction techniques.
Number of Credits: 3
Prerequisites: CHEM 0110 and GEOL 2520
GEOL 2640 Advanced Geohazards and Risk Management
The geological and natural processes that affect the human environment in catastrophic ways are examined in this class in terms of science, prediction, mitigation, avoidance and the policy/safety issues involved. These problems commonly result from human activity modifying and impinging the natural geologic processes. Detailed topics covered include the four primary hazards that are common in the United States: earthquakes, hurricanes, wildfires, and flooding. Students taking this course should have taken Natural Disasters (GEOL 0820) or the permission of the instructor.
Offered alternate years in the Spring term. Lecture, 3 hours.
Number of Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None. Department Consent Required.
GEOL 2750 Volcanology
This is an introductory course in physical volcanology offered at the graduate level (although advanced undergraduates may enroll with instructor permission). Main topics covered are the geomorphology of volcanic landforms, physical properties and appearance of lava flows; the mechanisms of explosive eruptions, their associated transport and depositional processes and the nature of the products Requirements: There will be one mid term and one final exam, each consisting of multiple choice, short answer essay and problem-solving questions. Graduate students will also have a final project focusing on an aspect of volcanology. Offered alternate years in the fall term. Lecture, 3 hours.
Number of Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None
GEOL 2990 Independent Study
Number of Credits: 1-12 This course permits graduate students to explore specific topics in the geological sciences. The course is designed in a more flexible format than a directed study, stressing a higher degree of independent library research. Offered every term. Variable hours.
Prerequisites: None. Department Consent Required.
GEOL 3000 Research and Dissertation PHD (Thesis Research)
This course is designed to permit graduate students the opportunity to accomplish research necessary for the completion of a PhD Degree in geology. Offered every term. Variable hours.1-12 Credits
Number of Credits: 12
Prerequisites: None. Department Consent Required.
GEOL 3410 Exploration Geophysics
Various geophysical techniques‑‑seismic, gravimetric, magnetic, and electro‑magnetic‑‑are frequently utilized in the exploration of the Earth's crust for mineral or petroleum deposits of economic value. The basic principles of these techniques, the interpretation of geophysical data, and their application to geology will be discussed in quantitative detail. Offered every other year. Lecture, 3 hours.
Number of Credits: 3
GEOL 3971 - Topics in Remote Sensing: Orbital Imaging of the Earth
Orbital remote sensing of the earth has been a reality since the first imaging satellites were launched in the early 1960's. Hundreds of satellites and thousands of sensors are now currently in orbit measuring diverse data sets important for geological, weather, environmental, and climate processes. This graduate-level, seminar style course will explore many of these missions and sensors by the way of directed journal articles and in-depth discussions. Students will also complete an independent project using one or more of these datasets and present the results at the end of the semester.
Number of Credits: 3
GEOL 3902 Directed Study
This is a course designed to permit graduate students an opportunity to explore facets of research possibly leading to project/thesis/dissertation topic. Offered every term. Variable hours. Number of Credits: 1-12
Number of Credits: 1
Prerequisites: None. Department Consent Required.
GEOL 3904 Directed Study: INF SCI Systems
This is a course designed to permit graduate students an opportunity to explore facets of research possibly in the area of information science systems related to their project/thesis/dissertation topic. Offered every term. Variable hours. Credits: 1-12
Number of Credits: 12
Prerequisites: None. Department Consent Required.
GEOL 3908 Topics in Geology
This course allows the flexibility of exploring, in depth, a new topic in geology each time it is taught. The instructor teaching the course in any given term will select the specific topic for that term.
Prerequisites: None
GEOL 3925 Topics in Geology: Paleolimnology
This graduate class will focus on the study lake sediments as archives of climatic change. Lake deposits form a significant part of the geologic record and contain high resolution records of past climatic and environmental changes in continental environments. Because lake deposits are the product of diverse geochemical experiments they provide a framework to discuss numerous problems, which are of general interest in both chemical sedimentology and general sedimentology. Readings assigned from current journal articles. Offered upon student demand. Lecture, 3 hours.
Number of Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None. Department Consent Required.
GEOL 3931 Topics in Paleoenvironmental
This course will provide students with a review of recent advances in the field of paleoenvironmental analysis. Scheduled course meetings will consist of brief lectures and/or student presentations addressing specific paleoenvironmental indicators and discussion of significant developments in the use of the environmental archive. The pace and depth of material covered will be determined by interest level and time needed for comprehensive treatment of techniques. Offered every fall and spring term. Lecture/discussion, 2 hours.
Number of Credits: 1
Prerequisites: None. Department Consent Required.
GEOL 3946 Python Scripting
The goal of this course is to gain expertise in programming methods using environmental systems research incorporated arcobjects and the visual studio .net programming environment of Microsoft. Arcobjects is a software technology based on the com protocol and can be used within any com-compliant programming language. Our goal in this class is to gain fundamental skills in visual basic programming using the Microsoft developers studio visual basic environment through applied examples and homeworks. After students have gained some programming expertise they will immediately begin programming the arcgis desktop using arcobjects technology.
Number of Credits: 3
Prerequisites: GEOL 2449
GEOL 3948 Topics in GIS 2
This is a course designed to permit the teaching of new and significant development in the field of GIS. It permits maximum flexibility enabling presentation of subject matter not normally treated in formal geology courses. Credits 1 - 3
Number of Credits: 1
Prerequisites: GEOL 2449
GEOL 3950 Principles of Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry
This specialized course provides students with a basic introduction to isotope ratio mass spectrometry and sample preparation techniques for light stable isotopes. Scheduled course meetings consist of brief lectures addressing the fundamental operation of gas source mass spectrometers (vacuum and ion source systematics, cryogenics, etc.) and hands-on, technical training in the use of isotope ratio mass spectrometers and associated peripheral instruments. Offered upon student demand. Lecture, 3 hours.
Number of Credits: 2
Prerequisites: GEOL 2525
GEOL 3951 Topics in Geochemistry: Catchment Science
An informal course for those interested in catchment science, hydrology, and biogeochemistry. The format of the course will vary each semester dependent on interests of those enrolled in the course and current research directions. The course will generally include critical reading and discussion of journal articles, presentation of laboratory and field results, group editing of manuscript preparation, etc. as interest dictates. Offered every fall and spring term.
Number of Credits: 1
Prerequisites: None
GEOL 3951 Topics in Geochemistry 2
This is a course designed to permit the teaching of new and significant developments in the field of geochemistry. It permits maximum flexibility enabling presentation of subject matter not normally treated in formal geology courses.
Number of Credits: 1
GEOL 3952 - Topics in Biogeochemistry and Geobiology
This is a course designed to permit the teaching of new and significant developments in the field of geochemistry. It permits maximum flexibility enabling presentation of subject matter not normally treated in formal geology courses.
GEOL 3953 Topics in Geochemistry
This is a course designed to permit the teaching of new and significant developments in the field of geochemistry. It permits maximum flexibility enabling presentation of subject matter not formally treated in formal geology courses. Offered Occasionally. Lecture, 3 hours.
Number of Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None
GEOL 3953 Topics in Geochemistry: Naturally Occurring Isotopic Tracers
This course will focus on the application of novel techniques, including isotopic tracers, to characterize water-rock interactions and identify and quantify natural and anthropogenic inputs to soil, surface waters and groundwater. Examples of topics that may be covered include interactions of subsurface sedimentary rocks with brine, AMD and CO2-enriched groundwater, and in situ weathering vs. eolian inputs to soil. The course will involve readings from the literature and student-led discussions. Offered Occasionally. Lecture, 3 hours.
Number of Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None
GEOL 3954 Topics in Hydrology
This is a course designed to permit the teaching of new and significant developments in the field of hydrology. It permits Maximum flexibility enabling presentation of subject matter not formally treated in formal geology courses. Offered upon student demand. Lecture, 3 hours.
Number of Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None
GEOL 3955 Stable Isotopes in Paleoclimatological, Paleoecological, and Archaeological Studies
This course will provide students with a basic introduction to light stable isotope systems and, more importantly, their application to paleoclimatological, paleoecological, and archaeological problems. Specifically, the course will examine stable isotope variations within the hydrosphere, stable isotope fractionation within carbonates, and oxygen isotope paleothermometry. In addition, the course will explore carbon isotope fractionation during photosynthesis, oxygen and hydrogen isotope fractionation by plants, trophic relationship, diet, and migration studies using stable isotopes, and forensic applications of light stable isotopes. Scheduled course meetings will consist of brief lectures addressing the fundamental concepts of stable isotope geochemistry and discussion of assigned readings on the use of specific analytical techniques. The pace and depth of material covered will be determined by interest level and time needed for comprehensive treatment of techniques. Offered upon student demand. Lecture, 3 hours.
Number of Credits: 3
Prerequisites: GEOL 2525
GEOL 3956 - Topics in Nitrogen Biogeochemistry
This is a course designed to permit the teaching of new and significant developments in the field of nitrogen biogeochemistry. It permits maximum flexibility enabling presentation of subject matter not normally treated in formal geology courses.
Number of Credits: 2
GEOL 3970 Topics in Planetary Science: Geology of Venus
This course is a graduate level course which explores the geology and geologic history of the planet Venus, including the history of its exploration and comparisons of geologic processes on the Earth and Venus. For all students, there will be 2 regularly scheduled meetings each week, including one formal lecture and one seminar addressing a specific aspect of the course. Students who enroll for 3 credits must also complete an independent research project and meet with the instructor on a regular basis throughout the term for assistance in designing and accomplishing this project. Offered upon student demand. Lecture, 3 hours.
Number of Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None. Department Consent Required.
GEOL 3970 Topics in Planetary Science: Remote Exploration of the Moon & Mars
This course focuses on the theory, technology and science of the recent and upcoming remote sensing data sets of Mars. NASA's current Mars Exploration Program has the overarching goal of collecting surface and atmospheric data in order to better understand where water was and may still be on the planet as well as looking for evidence of life. This has led to numerous missions from rovers to orbiters that contain remote sensing data sets that span the electromagnetic spectrum. These data have already led to important discoveries of the geologic and atmospheric processes on the planet, and will be the focus of this graduate-level, seminar-style class. Students taking this course should have had a Remote Sensing Course and will work as a group to complete a scientific study utilizing Mars remote sensing data. Offered upon student demand. Lecture, 3 hours.
Number of Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None. Department Consent Required.
GEOL 3975 Topics in Volcanology
This course will provide a firm grounding in the critical study of pyroclastic rocks, deposits (unconsolidated) and pyroclasts erupted in various subaerial, subaqueous and subvolcanic settings on Earth. The course content assumes that the student is familiar with the basics of pyroclast eruption and emplacement. The course will focus on interpreting eruption mechanisms, transport processes and depositional processes of all types of pyroclastic material, using field and laboratory data. We will be particularly concerned with these questions: a) What information on eruption mechanisms can we get from studying pyroclastic material?, b) How do we distinguish explosively-generated rocks/deposits from other very similar volcaniclastic rocks?, c) How do we recognize juvenile clasts?, and d) How do we distinguish subaqueous from subaerial emplacement? The course will include discussion in the classroom, especially of recent volcanological literature, and microscope study of thin-sections.Offered upon student demand. Lecture, 3 hours. Prerequisites: GEOL 2750. Department Consent Required.2-3 Credits
Number of Credits: 3
Prerequisites: GEOL 2750
GEOL 3975 Topics in Volcanology: Glaciovolcanism
This course will focus on the most important volcanological aspects of the interaction of volcanoes with surrounding ice, including lava flows, pyroclastic rocks, and associated resedimented clastic rocks. We will discuss how such rocks record evidence of the former ice and how they differ from similar shallow submarine rocks. The class will include lectures, study of samples and discussion time. Offered upon student demand. Lecture, 3 hours.
Number of Credits: 3
Prerequisites: GEOL 2750
GEOL 3975 Topics in Volcanology: Exploring Explosions
This course will focus on the physics of natural and man-made explosions, and in particular on how they relate to our understanding of volcanic explosions and jets. There will be some math in the course, but much of the material is conceptual. The class will include lectures, study of samples and discussion time. Offered upon student demand. Lecture, 3 hours.
Number of Credits: 3
Prerequisites: GEOL 2750
GEOL 3980 - Topics in Igneous Petrology
This course is designed to permit the teaching of new and significant developments in the field of geophysics. It permits maximum flexibility enabling presentation of subject matter not normally treated in formal geology courses.
Number of Credits: 2