2008-2009 UNIVERSITY CATALOGUE

GEOL - Geology

102 Oceanography
3 crs (3-0). F, Sp.
GE-IID
Survey of the world oceans with emphasis on geologic processes. Also includes chemical, physical, and biological aspects of the sea. Investigates human interaction with the marine environment.

106 Earth Science
4 crs (2-4). F, Sp.
GE-IID; LS; SL-Optional/Half
P: Limited to elementary education and special education
majors
Credit may be earned in only one of the following: GEOL 106
or GEOL 110 or GEOL 115, or GEOL 130 and 131
Special course fee required
Field trip(s) required
Introduction to basic earth science concepts. Includes study of earth interior and surface processes, earth materials, earth history, earth resources, atmospheric composition and processes, and aspects of the solar system.

110 Physical Geology
4 crs (3-2). F, Sp.
GE-IID; LS
Credit may be earned in only one of the following: GEOL 106
or GEOL 110 or GEOL 115, or GEOL 130 and 131
Special course fee required
Field trip(s) required
A study of earth structure, materials, processes, and history; includes discussion of plate tectonics, volcanism, weathering, glaciation, sedimentation, and metamorphism. The course emphasizes the methods of scientific investigation.

115 Environmental Geology
4 crs (3-2). F, Sp, Su.
GE-IID; LS
Credit may be earned in only one of the following: GEOL 106
or GEOL 110 or GEOL 115, or GEOL 130 and 131
Special course fee required
No credit if taken after previous courses GEOL 101 or 103. Field trip(s) required
Study of the physical environment. Emphasis on earth processes which affect humans such as rivers, erosion, groundwater, landslides, and earthquakes. Methods are examined for reducing or eliminating the harmful effects of human interaction with the geologic environment.

130 Societal Issues in Earth Science
3 crs (3-0). F.
GE-V
Must be taken with GEOL 131
Credit may be earned in only one of the following: GEOL 106
or GEOL 110 or GEOL 115, or GEOL 130 and 131
S/U grade basis not allowed
Audit enrollment not allowed
Field trip(s) required
Examination of social and economic impact of both instantaneous, catastrophic events such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and hurricanes and more inexorable events such as global climatic change and inevitable resource depletion.

131 Societal Issues in Earth Science-Laboratory
1 cr (0-2). F.
GE-IID; LS
Must be taken with GEOL 130
S/U grade basis not allowed
Audit enrollment not allowed
Special course fee required
Field trip(s) required
Lab/field component of Geology 130.

201 Geology of Our National Parks and Monuments
2 crs (2-0). F, Sp.
GE-IID
No credit toward majors or minors
A survey of geologic processes and phenomena as exemplified by features of our national parks and monuments. Designed to develop greater appreciation and understanding of natural phenomena.

291 Special Topics
1-3 crs.
Not for GE
May be repeated - additional restrictions may apply
Geologic topics of current, special interest; includes field excursions.

301 Earth Resources
3 crs (3-0). F, Sp.
GE-IID
P: GEOL 106, or 110, or 115, or 130 and 131; or GEOG 101,
or 104
Special course fee required
Field trip(s) required
Origin, distribution, use, misuse, and conservation of minerals, water, soil, and fuels. Alternative resources and life-styles for the future are evaluated.

303 Rocky Mountain Field Studies
3 crs (1-4). Su.
GE-IID
P: Previous course in GEOL
Special course fee required
Instructor approval required
Field study of geologic features and processes in the Rocky Mountains. One week lecture and laboratory on UW- Eau Claire campus, ten days in the field on Rocky Mountains. Camping equipment and extensive field work (hiking) is required.

308 Water Resources
3 crs (3-0). Sp.
GE-IID
P: GEOL 106 or 110 or 115; or GEOG 101 or 104 or 178
or 185
Field trip(s) required
Origin, nature, distribution, movement, exploitation, and conservation of surface and subsurface waters; problems associated with development of water resources in Wisconsin and the U.S.

312 Mineralogy and Petrology I
5 crs (3-4). F.
Not for GE
P: GEOL 106, or 110, or 115, or 130 and 131; CHEM 103, or
101, or 115
Special course fee required
Field trip(s) required
Study of minerals and rocks with an emphasis on common rocks in field settings, hand sample identification, and description of common rocks and minerals. Origin of rocks and minerals and interpretation of processes is stressed.

313 Mineralogy and Petrology II
4 crs (2-4). Sp.
Not for GE
P: GEOL 312
Study of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks and minerals with an emphasis on laboratory and petrographic analysis.

315 /515 Hydrogeology I
4 crs (3-3). F.
Not for GE
P: GEOL 106, or 110, or 115, or 130 and 131; MATH 112, or
114, or 215
Field trip(s) required
The hydrologic cycle, runoff and streamflow, saturated groundwater flow, contaminant transport, geology of groundwater occurrence, aquifer characterization, groundwater flow to wells, hydrogeologic field techniques, groundwater flow and contaminant transport computer modeling, groundwater development and management.

320 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
4 crs (3-2). Sp.
Not for GE
P: Geol 312
Special course fee required
Field trip(s) required
Origin and evolution of sedimentary rocks, with emphasis on sedimentary processes, stratigraphic principles, and basin evolution.

330 Structural Geology
4 crs (3-2). Sp.
Not for GE
P: GEOL 312
Special course fee required
Field trip(s) required
The description and classification of geological structures and the theoretical and physical analysis of rock deformation. Field and laboratory techniques emphasize mapping and the tectonic analysis of geological structures.

336 /536 Introduction to Geochemistry
3 crs (3-0). Sp.
Not for GE
P: GEOL 312; CHEM 104 or 115
Application of chemistry to geologic problems. Principles of isotope geochemistry, thermodynamics, chemistry of natural waters, and computer modeling of geochemical systems.

337 /537 Analytical Geochemistry Laboratory
1 cr (0-2).
Not for GE
P: GEOL 336 or concurrent registration
Theory and application of geochemical instrumentation including x-ray diffraction, x-ray microanalysis, scanning electron microscopy, atomic absorption spectrometry, mass spectrometry, and neutron activation analysis.

343 Geological Field Excursion
1-2 crs.
GE-IID
P: One Geology course
S/U grade basis not allowed
Audit enrollment not allowed
Course may be taken for a maximum of 4 credits
Special course fee required
Extended travel to study field geology. Students record notes and data in the field and submit final written and/or oral reports. Special course fee to cover costs. Travel proposal must receive approval of department faculty.

345 Geomorphology and Aerial Photography Interpretation
3 crs (2-2).
Not for GE
P: GEOL 312 or GEOG 304
Field trip(s) required
A process-oriented analysis of landforms and applied geomorphology. Interpretation of landforms using topographic maps and aerial photographs will be emphasized. Communicating scientific material to expert audiences also will be stressed.

365 Economic Mineral Deposits
3 crs (2-2).
Not for GE
P: GEOL 312
Field trip(s) required
Origin, association, and exploitation of metallic and nonmetallic mineral deposits. Study of ore suites from selected mining districts and methods of evaluating ore deposits.

395 Directed Studies
1-3 crs.
Not for GE
May be repeated - additional restrictions may apply
Use of this course to fulfill department capstone experience requires department approval. See department office for Capstone Proposal form.
Get form from department office
Individual research or study for the advanced geology major who seeks to develop specialized knowledge and skills. Course proposals are student-initiated.

399 Independent Study - Juniors
1-3 crs.
Not for GE
Minimum junior standing
May be repeated - additional restrictions may apply
Get form from department office
Individual research or studies of distinctive nature.

416 /616 Hydrogeology II
4 crs (3-2). Sp.
Not for GE
P: GEOL 315
Field trip(s) required
Review of principles of groundwater flow and contaminant transport, reactive groundwater contamination, groundwater remediation, chemical evolution of natural groundwater, flow in the unsaturated zone, advanced groundwater flow and contaminant transport computer modeling, water law.

418 Earth History
4 crs (3-2). F.
Not for GE
P: GEOL 312 and 320
Special course fee required
Field trip(s) required
Origin and evolution of the earth, with emphasis on the physical, biologic, and tectonic history of the planet. Analysis of the concepts of geologic time and biologic evolution. Concentration on geologic field relations and determination of relative geologic history.

420 Glacial Geology
3 crs (2-2).
Not for GE
P: GEOL 106, or 110, or 115, or 130 and 131; MATH 112, or
114, or 215
Field trip(s) required
A process-oriented analysis of glacial landforms and sediments. Topographic maps, aerial photographs, and field mapping projects will be used to interpret glacial landforms, sediments, and to solve glacial geologic problems.

425 Paleontology
3 crs (2-2). Sp, even-numbered years.
Not for GE
P: GEOL 418
Field trip(s) required
Description and classification of phyla that most commonly occur as fossils. Survey of methods for using fossils to determine ages of rocks and ancient environments.

445 /645 Engineering Geology and Geophysics
5 crs (4-2). Sp.
Not for GE
P: GEOL 312; PHYS 211 or 231; MATH 114 or consent of
instructor
Field trip(s) required
Application of geological and geophysical principles to solve human problems. Discussion of soil and rock mechanics, slope stability, earthquake analysis and seismic planning, and geophysical techniques including seismic, gravity, magnetic, electrical, and electromagnetic surveying.

470 Field Geology I
3 crs. Sp.
Not for GE
P: GEOL 312 and 320
Special course fee required
Three week field course in west Texas and New Mexico.
Instructor approval required
Introduction to geologic mapping techniques, with an emphasis on construction of geologic maps and cross- sections in mildly deformed sedimentary and volcanic rocks.

471 Field Geology II
3 crs. Su, odd-numbered years.
Not for GE
P: GEOL 330 and 470
Special course fee required
Use of this course to fulfill department capstone experience requires department approval. See department office for Capstone Proposal form. Three week field course in southwestern Montana.
Instructor approval required
Introduction to advanced geologic field techniques, with an emphasis on construction of geologic maps and cross- sections in deformed plutonic, volcanic, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks.

491 /691 Advanced Special Topics
1-4 crs.
Not for GE
P: Limited to geology majors and minors
May be repeated - additional restrictions may apply
Topics of special interest and current relevance to the advanced geology student; includes field excursions. Topics vary.

499 Independent Study - Seniors
1-3 crs.
Not for GE
Minimum senior standing
May be repeated - additional restrictions may apply
Get form from department office

793 Directed Studies
1-4 crs.
May be repeated - additional restrictions may apply
Instructor approval required
Permits groups of students to study topical areas in an intensive way under the direction of department faculty members.

797 Independent Study
1-3 crs.
May be repeated - additional restrictions may apply
Get form from department office
Independent study projects under direction of faculty members.