Ohio University
Graduate Catalog

Geological Sciences

The Department of Geological Sciences welcomes qualified applicants who possess an undergraduate degree in geology or in an allied science field such as chemistry, physics, mathematics, biological science, or engineering. The department offers four separate M.S. degree options: Geology--specializations in sedimentology/stratigraphy, paleontology, structure/tectonics, geomorphology/glacial geology; Hydrogeology; Environmental Geology; Geophysics--emphasis on measurement of seismic properties of rocks and seismic field methods.

Applicants must take the geology subject test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and have the results reported to the Department of Geological Sciences.

All options require a minimum of eight graduate courses approved by the department and completion of a thesis. Specific course requirements depend on the option selected. For additional details on requirements, consult the publication Graduate Program Information Package--Geological Sciences, available upon request from the department.

Prospective graduate students for all options should have demonstrated background in chemistry, physics, and calculus. Minimal background for admission to the geology option without deficiency includes courses in mineralogy, petrography/petrology, structural geology, sedimentology/stratigraphy, geomorphology, paleontology, and field geology. Since the graduate options in hydrogeology, environmental geology, and geophysics are designed to admit candidates with either undergraduate geology degrees or undergraduate degrees in allied sciences, the required background is flexible, and you may take certain undergraduate geology courses for graduate credit on the assumption that a more detailed background exists in a related science.

Applications for financial aid must be received by March 1 for fall quarter admission. You may be admitted to the program in any academic quarter, but financial aid is often NOT available for students who do not enter in fall quarter.

Geological Sciences (GEOL) Courses

501 Advanced Physical Geology (5)
Designed for students with limited background in geology entering the graduate options in environmental geology, geophysics, and hydrogeology. Emphasizes those aspects of minerals, rocks, rock deformation, and surficial processes necessary to pursue a program in applied geology.
Green; F; D.

507 Geological Applications of Remote Sensing (5)
Prereq: 330, 360. Principles of interpretation and analysis of conventional aerial photograph and satellite imagery in resolution of geologic problems. 2 lec, 4 lab.
Smith; Sp; Y.

510 Rocks and Minerals (6)
Principles of crystallography and crystal chemistry, descriptive mineralogy, origin and classification of igneous sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. 4 lec, 4 lab.
Heien; D.

513 Optical Mineralogy (5)
Prereq: 320 or concurrent. Optical characteristics of minerals and identification of minerals with the petrographic microscope. 2 lec, 4 lab.
Heien; F; Y.

522 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology/Petrography (5)
Prereq: 413. Petrogenesis of igneous and metamorphic rocks and their identification in thin section. 2 lec, 4 lab.
Heien; Sp; Y.

524 Sedimentary Petrology/Petrography (4)
Prereq: 350, 413. Petrogenesis of sedimentary rocks and their description and classification in hand specimen and thin section.
Kidder; W; Y.

525 Diagenesis (5)
Prereq: 524. Critical view of diagenetic principles using numerous examples. Many topics are selected from recent journal articles. Readings, presentations, and discussions of current literature are included, as well as a term paper. 4 lec.
Kidder; Sp; A.

526 Principles of Geochemistry (5)
Prereq: 320. Low-temperature solution geochemistry and equilibrium, Eh-pH relationships, applications of thermodynamics to geologic systems, introduction to isotope geochemistry. 4 lec.
Heien; Sp; A.

530 Principles of Geomorphology (6)
Basic concepts of origin and development of land forms. Laboratory study of topographic maps and aerial photographs. Can be taken for graduate credit by students in hydrogeology and geophysics options only. 4 lec, 2 lab.
Smith; F, W; Y.

532 Origin and Classification of Soils (5)
Prereq: 330. Concept of soil and factors of soil formation, introduction to soil morphology and systems of soil classification, discussion of major soil groups of world and soils of Ohio. 3 lec, 2 lab, field work.
Smith; F; A.

537 Depositional Environments (5)
Prereq: 550. Advanced coverage of depositional processes and environments. Latter part of course focuses on global sedimentation and events. Readings, presentations, and discussions of current literature are included, as well as a term paper. 4 lec.
Kidder; Sp; A.

538 Glacial Geology (5)
Prereq: 330. Formation and behavior of glaciers, past and present; glacial processes and causes and implications of ice ages. 3 lec, 2 lab, field trips.
Smith; F; A.

543 Advanced Invertebrate Paleontology (6)
Prereq: 340. Evolutionary trends, geologic history, selected index genera and faunas, and modern methods in study of invertebrate fossils. 3 lec, 4 lab.
Mapes; W; Y.

550 Stratigraphy--Sedimentology (5)
Prereq: 320. Introduction to principles and processes relating to origin of stratified rocks and conventions of their classification and description. Field methods and field trips with emphasis on depositional environments. 4 lec, 2 lab.
Kidder; Sp; Y.

556 Earth Systems Evolution (5)
Prereq: 320, PHYS 201. Synthesis of the coupled histories of the earth's interior, surface, and life. 3 lec, 2 lab.
Worsley; W; Y.

560 Structural Geology (6)
Prereq: 320. Principles of rock deformation and interpretation of folding and faulting and related topics. Stress and strain; their application and derivation in natural structures. Field-oriented structural problems, structural maps, and use of stereographic projections. 3 lec, 2 lab, field work.
Nance; F; Y.

562 Geodynamics: The Earth's Interior (5)
Prereq: 320. Structure of earth's interior and plate tectonics. Solid earth geophysics; gravity, magnetics, heat flow, velocity structure and seismicity. 4 lec.
Green; Sp; Y.

564 Regional Tectonics (5)
Prereq: 360. Global tectonics and structure of continental cratons and margins, mid-ocean ridges, island arcs, and major orogenic belts. 4 lec.
Nance; W; A.

565 Basin Tectonics and Hydrocarbon Exploration (6)
An examination of the tectonics, structural style, and hydrocarbon potential of sedimentary basins, their role in the exploration of petroleum provinces, and their appearance and interpretation on conventional exploration data.
Nance; F; Y.

569A Earth Science for Teachers (5)
Seminars, laboratory work, and field trips dealing with topics in the earth sciences. Controversial subjects such as global warming, destruction of natural habitats, and evolution discussed. Goals include understanding process of science and limitations of scientific inquiry.
Mapes; Su; D.

569B Classroom Applications in Earth Science (1)
Prereq: 569A concurrent. Examines selected fundamental problems in earth science and the development of hypotheses and theories. Reports detailing adaptation of topics in earth science to classroom lessons are written and presented.
Mapes; Su; D.

570 Mineral Deposits (5)
Prereq: 320. Geologic and geochemical processes by which mineral deposits form and their relationship to plate tectonics. 4 lec.
Heien; Sp; A.

576 Subsurface Methods (5)
Prereq: PHYS 202 or 253. Drilling practices, drill stem test, electric, sonic, and radioactivity logging applied to subsurface exploration. 3 lec, 2 lab.
Ahmad, W; Y.

580 Hydrogeology I (5)
Prereq: MATH 163B or 263B, PHYS 202 or 253, CHEM 123 or 153. Principles governing occurrence, movement, and recovery of water in soil and aquifers, water budget, water pollution, water chemistry. 3 lec, 2 lab.
Ahmad F; Y.

581 Hydrogeology II (5)
Prereq: 580. Design of well construction and well fields. Pumping tests, analysis, interference. Study of groundwater basins. 3 lec, 2 lab.
Ahmad; W; Y.

582 Theory of Groundwater Motion (5)
Prereq: 581, MATH 340. Basic principles and fundamental equations; D.E. of groundwater motion, solution of boundary value problems for different types of aquifer. Analytical and numerical methods in subsurface hydrology with emphasis on finite difference method; digital model. 4 lec.
Ahmad; Sp; Y.

583 Field Hydrology (6)
Prereq: water resources background. Field training in techniques of hydrology and water resources evaluation.
Ahmad; Su; Y.

585 Introduction to Applied Geophysics (5)
Prereq: PHYS 202 or 253. Introductory course in environmental and geotechnical geophysics. Survey of applied geophysical methods including seismic, gravity, magnetic, electrical, and electromagnetic techniques. 3 lec, 2 lab.
Green; F; Y.

586 Applied Seismology (4)
Prereq: 585. Field methods and analysis techniques for seismic characterization of shallow subsurface, multichannel digital data acquisition, generalized reciprocal refraction, and common offset reflection techniques as practiced in environmental and geotechnical industries.
Green; Sp; Y.

621 Advanced Metamorphic Petrography (4)
Prereq: 413. Petrogenesis of metamorphic rocks and their description and classification in hand specimen and thin section. 2 lec, 2 lab.
Nance; Sp; A.

661 Advanced Structural Geology (5)
Prereq: 360. Deformation, stress, and strain: their application and derivation in natural structures. Regional structural associations and geometric analysis. 4 lec, 2 lab.
Nance; W; A.

690 Advanced Seminar in Geology (1-2)
Intensive study of selected geologic topics by special groups. (Several seminars may be held concurrently.)
Staff; F, W, Sp, Su; Y.

691 Geologic Studies (1-6, max 12)
Individual or small-group independent study arranged with faculty members.
Staff; F, W, Sp, Su; Y.

693 Research in Geology (1-3, max 6) Staff; F, W, Sp, Su; Y.

695 Thesis (1-15) Staff; F, W, Sp, Su; Y.

Return to 1995-1997 Graduate Catalog Table of Contents

University Publications and the Computer Services Center revised this file ( https://www.ohio.edu/~gcat/95-97/area/geology.html ) April 13, 1998.

Please e-mail comments or suggestions to " gcat@www.cats.ohiou.edu ."