This course covers the formation and internal structure of the Earth, plate tectonics, earthquakes,volcanism, minerals, and rocks.

Formation and internal structure of the Earth, plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanism, minerals and rocks. Includes a laboratory component.

This course focuses on the Earth’s surface and sedimentary environments, hydrologic cycle, environmental geology, energy resources, geologic time, evolution and the fossil record, geology of Georgia and North America.

This course focuses on the Earth’s surface and sedimentary environments, hydrologic cycle, environmental geology, energy resources, geologic time, evolution and the fossil record, geology of Georgia and North America. Includes a laboratory component.

This course examines Earth’s natural and energy resources and how individuals and society affect these resources as an ever-growing population raises concerns for an environmentally friendlier and sustainable future of energy resources.

This course examines the basic geological processes behind environmental hazards and natural processes, and explores how humans’ activities and climate change turn these natural processes into disasters.

This course is designed to ensure that students can demonstrate foundational skills within the geosciences disciplines. Each concentration offered by the department will be featured so that students can confirm an appropriate path for their careers. It will be required for all majors and should be completed as soon as a student has declared the major and completed an introductory course in geosciences.

Overview of the principles of hydrogeology and their application, including the hydrological cycle, geology of groundwater occurrence, mathematical development of flow equations, surface-groundwater interaction, flow to wells, and advection-dispersion theory, contaminant geochemistry, and aquifer restoration methods.

This course will cover the principles of environmental geochemistry and their applications to the understanding of low-temperatures environmental and geological problems. Primary topics include: elementary thermodynamics; geochemistry of natural waters; oxidationreduction reactions; mineral-water interaction; cycling of biogeochemical elements; and introduction to isotope geochemistry and geochronology for low temperature systems.

This course will focus on the applications of quantitative methods of physicochemical, kinetics and thermodynamics to understand natural systems and solve practical problems in environmental geochemistry.

Geology of Georgia, a study of the influence of geology and geologic history on biology and biodiversity, is an intense field trip-based laboratory science course designed for science majors and minors and for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers who have a natural science background.

Properties of sediments; origin, classification, and description of sedimentary rocks; principles of stratigraphy; analysis of sedimentary facies and environments of deposition.

Formation and analysis of rock fracture, heterogeneity, and anisotropy and their effects on the hydraulic properties of shallow dual porosity aquifers, flow equations, hydraulic testing of fractured rock, and karstification. Applications to the methods of detection and analysis of fractured aquifers.

Concentrated study of 1) principles of fluid mechanics that apply to groundwater flow, 2) water-storage properties of geologic media, 3) field and analytical methodologies for quantifying hydraulic properties of geologic media, 4) applications of Darcy’s Law and Conservation of Mass principles for modeling water flow in aquifers and variably-wetted soils during groundwater recharge.

An introduction to the principles of paleontology including taphonomy, taxonomy, evolution, and extinction by examination of the fossil record. Study of commonly preserved organisms and their use in paleoecology, paleoenvironmental reconstruction, biostratigraphic correlation, and conservation paleobiology will be stressed as well.

Introduction to the principles of structural geology including theories and methods of analysis of stress, strain, rheology, fractures, folding, faulting, foliation, and lineation. The study of geologic maps and cross sections.

Principles of crystallography and optical mineralogy. Laboratory study of minerals using the polarizing microscope.

Nature, distribution, and origin of igneous and metamorphic rocks in relation to tectonic setting and experimental studies. Laboratory study of igneous and metamorphic rocks in hand specimen and thin section.

Application of geological and geochemical concepts to the study of Earth’s near surface environment. Topics may include water supply and pollution, global warming, ozone depletion, soil contamination, natural disasters, mineral resources, environmental management, and selected regulations. Quantitative treatment of population growth and water resources. Global Scholars course.

Review of the development US environmental regulatory framework including the key or legacy hazardous waste sites that lead to the environmental movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Principles of toxicology, common contaminant geochemistry, environmental risks and hazards, and personal protective equipment.

Theoretical and practical aspects of analytical instrumentations and methodologies used for modern-day analysis of environmental samples (water, soils, sediments, biological tissues, etc.) including the basis for each analysis, limitations and potential sources of errors.

This course will cover the theoretical and practical aspects of analytical instrumentations and methodologies used for modern-day analysis of environmental solid media (soils, sediments, rocks and minerals) including the basis for each analysis, limitations and potential sources of errors.

This course will focus on the applications of quantitative methods of physicochemical, kinetics and thermodynamics to understand natural systems and solve practical problems in environmental geochemistry.

Current research topics in geosciences. May be repeated once.

Detailed presentation of a selected topic in geological sciences. May be repeated for credit for a maximum of six credit hours if topic is different.

Six laboratory hours a week. It is normal for the research to span more than one semester.

Nine hours a day, six days a week, for three weeks. Introduction to field geology in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, with emphasis on basic concepts and field methods. Construction of simple geologic maps, cross sections, and stratigraphic columns, using topographic maps and aerial photographs in the field. Includes a seven-day excursion to geologically interesting areas of the Western U.S.
This course may include a Signature Experience component.

Nine hours a day, six days a week for three weeks. Intensive geologic mapping and interpretation in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, with particular emphasis on complexly deformed areas. Includes mapping in folded and faulted sedimentary rocks, intrusive and volcanic igneous rocks, and high-grade metamorphic basement terrain. Construction of multiple cross sections for complex structures and advanced interpretation of geologic history of complex areas. Involves extensive, rough, off-trail hiking. This course may include a Signature Experience component.

Fundamentals of geoscience knowledge representation applying Semantic Web technologies of OWL, RDF, and RDFS. Design and development of spatial and process ontologies. Application of Python to data science and machine learning.

This course introduces the environmental context, principles, and approaches to water quality and treatment. The course includes multi-disciplinary perspectives on water and wastewater, including biology, chemistry, engineering, hydraulics, and quantitative methods. Students will be able to identify the major processes of treatment systems, factors that influence their efficacy, and methods of collection, conveyance, and analysis.

Development of fieldwork skills in the geosciences, including project design, data collection, and analysis and presentation. Fieldwork projects are designed to aid in the development of future research projects, including senior papers, practicums, and theses. Extensive travel may be required. This course may include a Signature Experience component.

Examines contemporary problems and issues, and traditional research skills in the geosciences. Data acquisition and processing, analysis, writing, and presentation of research findings. Intended to serve as a capstone to the undergraduate curriculum. This course is only offered during the fall semester and should be completed in the fall prior to graduation. Serves as the Critical Thinking Through Writing (CTW) course required of all geosciences majors.

Academic training and professional experience through short-term internships at public or private agencies. Paper and related deliverables required to the department aside from internship responsibilities. Students should find internship experiences first and then contact the department for approval to enroll in this course. May be taken more than once, but only six credits may be applied toward major requirements. Signature Experience course.

Readings or research preparatory to honors thesis project. Signature Experience course.

Writing or production of honors thesis or project. Signature Experience course.

This course may satisfy the junior and/or senior-level Critical Thinking Through Writing requirements.