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Courses offered by
the Department of Earth Science

870:010. Astronomy - 3-4 hours
Introduction to Universe, solar system, stars, and galaxies, including apparent motions of bodies in the sky; development of astronomy and its impact on humankind. Prerequisite: student must have satisfied university entrance requirements in English and Mathematics. (Offered Fall, Spring, and Summer)

870:011. Astronomy Laboratory - 1 hour
Fundamentals of astronomical observation, the use of introductory astronomical instruments, and application of charts and almanacs to finding one's way about the night sky. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Corequisite: 870:010. (Offered Fall, Spring, and Summer)

870:021. Elements of Weather - 3 hours
Meteorological elements and their applications to environment; interpretation of weather maps and weather data; forecasting and briefing on the daily weather. Discussion, 3 periods. No credit for those who have completed 870:121. Prerequisite: student must have satisfied university entrance requirements in English and Mathematics. (Offered Fall, Spring, and Summer)

870:022. Elements of Weather Laboratory - 1 hour
Fundamentals of meteorological observation, use of basic meteorological instruments, and applications of maps and charts to understanding forecasts. Intended for science teaching majors and minors. Lab, 2 periods. Prerequisite or corequisite: 870:021. (Offered Fall and Spring)

870:031. Physical Geology - 4 hours
Introduction to physical environment, emphasizing materials of the Earth and processes that lead to changes within and on the Earth. Lab emphasis includes rocks and minerals, geologic processes, and landscape development. Discussion, 3 periods; lab, 2 periods. Prerequisite: student must have satisfied university entrance requirements in English and Mathematics. (Offered Fall and Spring)

870:035. Earth History - 4 hours
Methods and principles used in deciphering the 4.6 billion-year history of our planet; discussion of the history and evolution of life on Earth and examination of major physical and plate-tectonic events though geologic time. Discussion, 3 periods; lab, 2 periods. Prerequisite: 870:031 or equivalent. (Offered Fall and Spring)

870:037. Field Studies in_________ - 1-4 hours
Field studies in various areas of Earth Science: geology, oceanography, paleontology, meteorology, and astronomy. To be preceded by seminars on proposed study area. Student collection of data in the field and reports on their findings. May be repeated in different study area. Only 4 hours may be applied to the Earth Science minor. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. (Variable)

870:109(g). Fundamentals of Astronomy - 3 hours
Basic principles of astronomy intended primarily for teachers. No credit for students with credit in 870:010 or its equivalent. Prerequisites: one year of high school algebra or equivalent; junior standing; consent of department head. (Offered Fall, Spring, and Summer)

870:111(g). Fundamentals of Weather - 3 hours
Basic principles of meteorology intended primarily for inservice teachers. Prerequisites: junior standing; consent of department head. (Offered Fall and Spring)

870:113(g). Topics in Earth Science - 1-3 hours
Offered both on- and off- campus in flexible format. May include plate tectonics, geomagnetism, naked-eye astronomy, telescope usage, weather forecasting or other topics of current interest. Topics listed in Schedule of Classes. May be repeated on different topic. Application to major requires consent of department head. Prerequisite: junior standing. (Offered Fall, Spring, and Summer)

870:115(g). Volcanology - 3 hours
Origin, classification, eruptive mechanisms and hazards of volcanoes, and related phenomena. Discussion 2 periods; lab, 2 periods. Prerequisites: 870:031 or equivalent; junior standing. (Offered Odd Springs)

870:117. Earthquakes - 2 hours
Study of the causes, measurements, predictions, and preparation for earthquakes and the effects of earthquakes on civilization. (Variable)

870:121(g). Meteorology - 4 hours
Topics of weather observation and prediction; physical basis of cloud formation; radiational heating and cooling; the Earth's energy budget; wind circulation; precipitation processes; storm systems; and maps and charts. Discussion, 3 periods; lab, 2 periods. Prerequisites: 860:044, 870:021; 880:054; junior standing. (Offered Fall)

870:122(g). Weather Analysis and Forecasting - 3 hour
Focus on middle latitude weather systems, principally those of the cold season. Topics include discussion of historical conceptions and models of extratropical cyclones, present understanding of these weather systems and techniques of analysis and prediction. Important component is hands-on forecasting. Discussion/lab, 4 periods. Prerequisite: 870:121; junior standing. (Offered Odd Springs)

870:123(g). Air Quality - 4 hours
Topics from atmospheric dynamics, atmospheric chemistry, physical meteorology, and micrometeorology; atmospheric transport processes in time and space; local and regional concentrations of pollutants; implications of air pollution control strategies; numerical modeling techniques with application to air quality issues; field studies and remote sensing of atmospheric transport. Discussion, 4 periods. Prerequisite: 800:060; 870:121; junior standing. (Offered Even Springs)

870:124(g). Air Dispersion Modeling - 4 hours
Fundamentals of numerical weather prediction; data assimilation; parameterization techniques; estimating emissions; puff and trajectory models; dispersion of dense gases; statistical models; atmospheric chemical transport models; urban and regional regulatory models. Discussion, 3 periods; lab, 2 periods. Prerequisite: 800:061; 800:072; 810:035 or 810:036; 870:123; junior standing. (Offered Even Falls)

870:125. Fossils and Evolution - 4 hours
Topics in paleontology, including fossil preservation, systematics, functional morphology, paleoecology, paleobiogeography, and biostratigraphy, with special emphasis on mass extinctions and the role of paleontology in reconstructing evolutionary history. Laboratory studies of major groups of fossil invertebrates. Discussion, 3 periods; lab, 3 periods. (Offered Spring).

870:128(g). Fundamentals of Geology - 4 hours
Basic principles of physical geology intended primarily for inservice teachers. Prerequisite: junior standing; consent of department head. (Offered Fall and Spring)

870:129(g). Structural Geology - 4 hours
The origins and mechanics of rock deformation. Plate tectonics and the deformation of Earth's crust. Field trip. Discussion, 2 periods; lab, 4 periods. Prerequisites: 870:031; 870:035; junior standing. (Offered Even Springs)

870:130. Crystallography - 2 hours
Morphologic, structural, and x-ray crystallography. Laboratory exercises emphasize identification of unknown compounds, determination of space lattices, space groups, and cell parameters by x-ray diffraction. Discussion, 2 periods; lab, 6 periods (half-semester course). (Offered Fall)

870:131. Systematic Mineralogy - 2 hours
Crystal chemistry, determinative methods, and systematic description of naturally-occurring compounds with emphasis on rock-forming minerals. Laboratory exercises emphasize determinative techniques. Discussion, 2 periods; lab, 6 periods (half-semester course). Prerequisites: 870:031; 870:130. (Offered Fall)

870:135. Optical Mineralogy-Petrography - 4 hours
Optical properties of minerals and use of the petrographic microscope with emphasis on identification of minerals in this section. Introduction to the description and classification of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. Discussion, 2 periods; lab, 6 periods. Prerequisite: 870:131. (Offered Spring)

870:136(g). Stratigraphy and Sedimentation - 4 hours
Investigation of layered rocks, sedimentary processes, sedimentation, environments of deposition, correlation procedures, and classification and description of common sedimentary rocks. Field trips. Discussion, 2 periods; lab, 4 periods. Prerequisite: junior standing. Prerequisite or corequisite: 870:035. (Offered Fall)

870:137(g). Field Studies in ___________ - 1-4 hours
Field studies in various areas of Earth Science including geology, oceanography, paleontology, meteorology, and astronomy. To be preceded by seminars on proposed study area. Student collection of data in the field and reports on their findings. May be repeated for credit in different study area. Only 4 hours may be applied to the Earth Science minor. Prerequisite or corequisite: an 870:1xx course appropriate to the specific field studies and approved by department head; junior standing; consent of instructor. (Variable)

870:141(g). Geomorphology - 3 hours
Classification, description, origin, and development of landforms and their relationship to underlying structure and lithology; emphasis on geomorphic processes. Includes fluvial, glacial, periglacial, eolian, karstic, weathering, and mass-movement processes and features. Discussion, 2 periods; labs and field trips, 2 periods. Prerequisites: 870:031 or 970:026; junior standing. (Offered Fall)

870:142(g). Igneous Petrology - 4 hours
Description, classification, and genesis of igneous rocks. Discussion, 2 periods; lab, 6 periods. Field trip. Prerequisite: 870:135; junior standing. (Offered Odd Falls)

870:143(g). Geochemistry - 4 hours
Distribution of elements in the Earth and chemical laws governing these distributions. Discussion, 2 periods; lab, 6 periods. Prerequisites: 860:048 or 860:070; junior standing. (Offered Even Falls)

870:151. Planets - 2 hours
Examination of the Sun's family of nine planets, attendant satellites, and interplanetary debris; processes at work in the Solar System; search for planets elsewhere in the Galaxy. Discussion, 2 periods. Prerequisites: 870:010 or equivalent. (Offered Spring)

870:152. Stars - 2 hours
Study of structure and the evolution of stars; the Sun, protostars, red giants, white dwarfs, variable stars, supernovae, pulsars and black holes. Discussion, 2 periods. Prerequisites: 870:010 or equivalent. (Offered Odd Springs)

870:153. Galaxies and Cosmology - 2 hours
Study of the Milky Way Galaxy and other galaxies. Examination of active galaxies and radio galaxies, quasars and galactic black holes. Discussion of the structure, origin and fate of the Universe. Discussion, 2 periods. Prerequisite: 870:010 or equivalent. (Offered Even Springs)

870:154(g). Observational Astronomy - 2 hours
Use of astronomical instruments, (telescopes, cameras, and spectroscopes), along with observing aids, (charts, catalogs, and ephemerides), for collection, analysis, and interpretation of astronomical data. Prerequisites: 870:010 (4 semester hours) or equivalent; junior standing. (Offered Fall)

870:165(g). Oceanography - 3 hours
Basic principles of geological, biological, chemical, and physical oceanography; emphasis on marine geology. Physiographic features of ocean basins, coastal features and processes, oceanic sediments, biological and geological resources, and ocean management. Discussion, 3 periods. Prerequisites: 870:031 or equivalent; junior standing. (Offered Even Springs)

870:171(g). Environmental Geology - 3 hours
Emphasis on geology's relation to social, economic, and political realms through team preparation of simulated environmental-impact statements or planning documents. Analysis of issues or problems of local concern where possible. Discussion, 3 periods. Prerequisites: 870:031 or equivalent; junior standing. (Offered Odd Falls)

870:173(g). Environmental Hydrology - 3 hours
Introduction to environmental aspects of watershed hydrology. Surface water hydrologic processes, pollution of surface water resources, surface water - ground water interactions, unsaturated zone hydrologic processes, movement of chemicals in soils, site characterization, and soil remediation techniques. Discussion, 3 periods. Prerequisites: 800:060; 870:031; junior standing. (Offered Even Springs)

870:175(g). Hydrogeology - 3 hours
Principles and applications of hydrogeology including study of runoff, stream flow, soil moisture, and ground water flow. Examination and analysis of ground water flow to wells, regional ground water flow, geology of ground water occurrence, water chemistry of ground water, water quality and ground water contamination, ground water development and management, field methods, and ground water models. Discussion, 3 periods. Prerequisites: 800:060; 870:031; junior standing. (Offered Odd Springs)

870:177(g). Measurement and Analysis of Air Quality - 4 hours
Fundamentals of air sampling and monitoring; estimating errors; collection and analysis of gases and particulates; olfactometry; remote sensing with satellites and lidar; indoor air quality. Discussion, 3 periods; lab 2 periods. Prerequisites: 800:060; 860:132; 870:123; junior standing. (Offered Odd Springs)

870:180. Undergraduate Research in Earth Science - 1-3 hours
Research activities under direct supervision of Earth Science faculty member. Credit to be determined at registration. May be repeated for maximum of 6 hours. Prerequisite: consent of instructor and department head. (Offered Fall, Spring, and Summer)

870:181. Investigations in Earth Science - 4 hours
Introduction to significant concepts and theories of earth science and a model of effective teaching strategies related to the elementary school level. Topics include geologic materials and processes acting on them and fundamentals of earth history, weather, and astronomy. Discussion and/or lab, 5 periods plus arranged. Prerequisites: 820:031. (Offered Odd Springs)

870:189(g). Readings in Earth Science - 1-3 hours
Maximum of three hours may be applied to earth science or geology majors or minors. Prerequisites: junior standing; consent of instructor and department head. (Variable)

870:191. Undergraduate Practicum - 1-2 hours
Practical experience in teaching; participation in laboratory and instructional assistance under direct supervision of staff member. May be repeated for maximum of 4 hourst. Prerequisites: junior or senior standing; consent of instructor and department head. (Offered Fall and Spring)

870:195. Internship - 1-6 hours
Supervised work experience in approved work situation. Offered on credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisites: consent of department head. (Offered Fall, Spring, and Summer)

870:292. Research Methods in Earth Science - 3 hours
Methods and evaluation of research in the earth sciences. Individual exploration of possible research or thesis project in the earth sciences. Discussion, 3 periods. (Variable)

870:297. Practicum.
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870:299. Research.
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