Geology and Geography
Office: 106 Ely Hall, website: depts.vassar.edu/~geo,
Phone: (845) 437-5540, e-mail : geography@vassar.edu,
geology@vassar.edu
Professor: Harvey K. Flad, Brian J. Godfrey
(Associate Chair); Associate Professors: Jill
Schneiderman, Jeffrey R. Walker (Chair); Assistant
Professors: Brian McAdoo, Kirsten Menking, Yu
Zhouab; Visiting Assistant Professors:
Kikombo Ngoy, Friedrich Pflueger.
Geography-Geology
Geography and Geology are unique in combining, within the
same department, the distinctive perspectives of both the
social and natural sciences at Vassar. By examining
societies in their spatial and regional contexts, geography
helps explain the human dimensions of environmental change.
By exploring the many processes shaping the planet, geology
provides an understanding of the physical limits of human
activity. The interdisciplinary geographygeology major
creates a cohesive and rigorous focus on the earth as
humanity's home.
Requirements for Concentration: 12 units,
including a common methods course (Geography 220, 222, or
225), an interdisciplinary senior thesis (GeographyGeology
300b), five units of geology, and five units of geography.
In geography, the five units should include: Geography 105;
two 200level courses; Geography 301; and Geography/Geology
355 or another 300level geography seminar. In geology, the
five units should include: Geology 151, Geology 152, two
200level courses (preferably Geology 230 and 260), and one
300level course.
SeniorYear Requirements: GeographyGeology 300,
Geography 301
Course Offerings
See geography and geology.
300b. Senior Thesis (1)
An original study, integrating perspectives of geography
and geology. The formal research proposal is first developed
in Geography 301, the senior seminar, and then is presented
to a faculty member in either geography or geology, who
serves as the principal adviser. A second faculty member
from the other respective discipline participates in the
final evaluation.
399a or b. Senior Independent Work (1)
Geography
Faculty: see geology-geography
Requirements for Concentration: 10 units,
including an introductory course (105a or b, or 115), 220 or
222, 300, 301 and at least one additional 300-level seminar.
With the consent of the adviser, 2 of the required 10 units
may be taken from cognate fields, such as anthropology,
geology, urban studies, or international studies, if the
courses are clearly related to the student's focus within
geography. After the declaration of the major, no required
courses may be elected NRO.
Senior-Year Requirement: Geography 300; 301.
Recommendations: Geology 151; Field Work (290);
and a study-abroad experience.
Students interested in focusing their geography program
in areas such as environmental design, cultural ecology,
global studies, land-use planning, or historic preservation
should see the department for a list of recommended course
sequences in geography and related disciplines.
Advisers: Mr. Flad, Mr. Godfrey, Mr. Ngoy, Ms.
Zhou.
Correlate Sequence in Geography: Geography offers
correlate sequences which designate coherent groups of
courses intended to complement the curricula of students
majoring in other departmental, interdepartmental, and
multidisciplinary programs. Students pursuing a correlate
sequence in geography are required to complete a minimum of
six courses in the department, including an introductory
course and at least one 300-level seminar. The two suggested
concentrations are outlined in detail below.
Environmental Land-Use Analysis: The correlate
sequence in geography with a concentration in land-use
analysis is intended for students interested in
Environmental Studies. It offers a succinct program in
physical geography for students interested in science
education, urban planning, or environmental policy. With the
consent of the adviser, one unit of geology may be selected.
The six courses taken for this concentration must be
selected from the following list:
Geography 105 Global Geography (1)
Geography 115 Reading the Landscape (1)
Geography 120 Earth Resources and the Environment (1)
Geography 220 Cartography (1)
Geography 222 Geographic Research Methods (1)
Geography 225 Geographic Information Systems (1)
Geography 250 Urban Geography (1)
Geography 255 Environmental Perception and Conservation
(1)
Geography 265 Population, Environment, and Sustainable
Development (1)
Geography 285 Conservation of Natural Resources (1)
Geography 301 Senior Seminar (1)
Geography 355 Environment and Land-Use Planning (1)
Geography 370 Topics in Social and Urban Geography
(1)
Regional Analysis: The correlate sequence in
geography with a concentration in regional analysis is
intended for students interested in area studies. It offers
a succinct program in world regional geography for students
interested in social studies education, international
studies, or foreign language or area study. The six courses
taken from this concentration must be selected from the
following list:
Geography 105 Global Geography (1)
Geography 220 Cartography (1)
Geography 222 Geographic Research Methods (1)
Geography 225 Geographic Information Systems (1)
Geography 230 Africa (1)
Geography 235 East Asia (1)
Geography 240 Latin America (1)
Geography 242 Brazil (1)
Geography 245 North America (1)
Geography 265 Population, Environment, and
Sustainable
Development (1)
Geography 275 Economic Geography (1)
Geography 301 Senior Seminar (1)
Geography 340 Advanced Regional Studies (1)
Geography 370 Topics in Social and Urban Geography
(1)
I. Introductory
105a or b. Global Geography: Cultural, Political, and
Economic Systems (1)
An introduction to human geography through the spatial
analysis of cultural, political, and socioeconomic systems.
Geographical perspectives on contemporary world issues are
studied at the local, regional, and global scales.
Geography's major themes are introduced, including
population growth and distribution, land use and settlement,
cultural landscapes, natural resources, urbanization,
economic development, and geopolitics, along with the
analytical tools of mapping, cartographic communication, and
spatial data analysis. The impacts of increasing global
interdependence are examined in case studies of selected
world regions. The department.
[115b. Reading the Landscape: Exploration, Travel,
and Sense of Place] (1)
Using the literature of discovery, travel, and regional
description, a variety of primary resources is examined,
including journals, travelogues, essays, photographs,
regional novels, maps, paintings, and field observation.
Major topics in world regional geography are investigated
through these varied perceptions and methodological
approaches with an emphasis on how geographers can use this
data to analyze spatial patterns and processes. Field trips
to selected localities in the Hudson Valley to examine the
natural and cultural Landscape. Mr. Flad.
Open to freshman only: satisfies college requirement for
a Freshman Course.
Alternate years: not offered in 2000/01.
180a or b. Conceptualizing Nature: Environmental
Practices in Social Context
This first-year course examines the ways in which nature
is treated, defined, and interpreted according to prevailing
social relations in different geographical and historical
contexts. In short, the conceptualization of nature is a
socially contested process that brings into question
relations of domination and power structures. Following
ecofeminst theories and other insightful perspectives on the
environment, this course provides a critical introduction to
different practices and approaches that shape the
conceptualization of nature. Using illustrative case
studies, environmentalist approaches and social
constructions of nature are analyzed not only according to
their internal logic, but also relative to the practices
with which they are associated.
"A" semester: Open to freshman only: satisfies college
requirement for a Freshman Course.
II. Intermediate
The prerequisite for 200-level courses is 1 unit of
introductory geography.
220a. Cartography (1)
Cartography, the science and art of map making, is
integral to a geographer's craft. The course reviews the
history of cartography, in particular, the making of maps as
a primary way for people to conceptualize and represent
space around them. While being an ancient discipline,
cartography is being thoroughly revolutionized by
cutting-edge technology. The course is also aimed at
enhancing the ability of students to interpret topographic
maps, and to make thematic maps with the aid of remote
sensing, computer aided graphic design and GIS. Mr.
Ngoy.
Prerequisite: by permission, preference given to students
concentrating in geology and geography and those pursuing an
independent program with a member of the departmental staff
serving as adviser. Satisfies college requirement for
quantitative reasoning.
Two 75-minute periods; one 2-hour lab.
[222a. Geographic Research Methods]
(1)
A comprehensive overview of the most widely used research
methods in collecting, analyzing, and presenting
geographical data, including both qualitative and
quantitative techniques. The course emphasizes hands-on
experience in applying these research methods, and also
critically examines their utilities and limitations. The
topics include archival research, survey design, intensive
nterview, preliminary statistical analysis and an
introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Satisfies college requirement for quantitative reasoning.
Ms. Zhou.
Alternate years: not offered in 2000/01.
225b. Geographic Information Systems (1)
An introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS),
which use computers to organize, store, and map spatial
data. The course introduces various databases and programs
for analysis, along with the visual display of
environmental, urban and social data. Mr. Ngoy.
Two 75minute periods; two-hour laboratory.
230a. Africa: Regional Geographic Perspectives
(1)
(Same as Africana Studies 230) A geographic analysis of
Africa, south of the Sahara. The diversity of the African
continent is stressed by examining its physical environment,
resources, and its social, cultural, economic, and political
systems. Specific attention is given to current problems and
potentials associated with environmental and regional
differences as they affect traditional livelihood patterns,
economic development projects, urbanization, inter- and
intraregional cooperation, territorial and boundary
conflicts, and social and ethnic spatial patterns. Mr.
Ngoy.
Alternate years: offered in 2000/01.
[235a. East Asia: People, Culture and Economic
Development] (1)
An examination of the common and contrasting experiences
of East Asian countries since the late nineteenth century.
It emphasizes the regional contexts in which various
environmental, cultural, social, political and economic
forces overlay and interact, constituting the unique path of
each country. Major themes include Japanese industrial
organization, economic development in newly industrialized
countries, transformation of the Chinese economy after 1978,
and regional integration of East Asia. Ms. Zhou.
Alternate years: not offered in 2000/01.
[240b. Latin America: Population, Development, and
Environment] (1)
A study of developmental disparities and environmental
modifications in the making of Latin America's contemporary
regional geography. Special attention is paid to development
theory, the impact of European colonial expansion upon
native societies, land tenure and modernization of the rural
sector, the growth of cities, natural resource use, and the
contemporary development schemes in the Amazon Basin. The
course focuses upon the links between Latin American
landscape change and the region's dependent development
within the larger world system. Mr. Godfrey.
Alternate years: not offered in 2000/01.
[242b. Brazil: Continuity and Change in Portuguese
America] (1)
(Same as Africana Studies 242) An historical geography of
Brazil, by far the largest and the most populous country in
Latin America and a leader in the problems and promise of
Third-World development. The course emphasizes three
interrelated themes: the political-economic linkages between
Brazil and the outside world, the distinctive cultural
characteristics of Portuguese America, and the evolution of
Brazilian society in time and space. Specific topics for
study include the legacies of colonial Brazil, race
relations and Afro-Brazilian culture, contemporary
urban-industrial growth, regional differentiation versus
national integration, and Brazil's prospects of becoming a
world power. Mr. Godfrey.
Alternate years: not offered in 2000/01.
[245b. The American Landscape: An Historical
Geography (1)
of the United States and Canada]
The cultural landscape of the United States and Canada is
examined through studies in historical, physical, regional,
and social geography. The natural environment of North
America, as perceived in early descriptions and as a
formative basis for resource and economic development, is
studied with relation to historical settlement patterns,
agriculture, urbanization, and transportation. Regional
diversity is shown both through physical habitat
differentiation and cultural-ethnic patterns. Attitudes
towards the North American environment evolve through a
study of the history of conservation as well as current
regional environmental issues. Mr. Flad.
Alternate years: not offered in 2000/01.
250b. Urban Geography: Spatial Structure of the
Metropolis (1)
A geographical exploration of the modern American
metropolis, focusing on the development and transformation
of urban space. Emphasis is given to analysis of the
changing geographies of production and consumption,
transportation, residence, community, and the built
environment. Topics for study include: the historical
geography of American urbanization; contemporary changes in
urban form and land-use patterns; social space and mental
mapping; suburbs, edge cities, and urban decentralization;
urban renewal and gentrification; urban segregation by race,
ethnicity, and gender; discrimination in urban design;
ecological and sustainable communities; and current issues
in urban planning and social policy. Mr. Godfrey
[255a. Environmental Perception and Conservation
History] (1)
The complex interrelationships and interpretations of
nature and society are explored through literary,
philosophical, and scientific works on conservation,
wilderness, preservation, ethics, and aesthetics. The
history of the United States and international conservation
and environmental movements, including legislation and
NGO's, is examined. In addition, studies of environmental
perception focus on the meanings of space and place. Mr.
Flad.
Alternate years: not offered in 2000/01.
[265b. Population, Environment, and Sustainable
Development] (1)
Complex philosophical and ethical issues surrounding
population, economic development, and their interaction are
considered. Geographical perspectives emphasize the spatial
and temporal diversity of demographic experience in the
context of a global network of production and distribution.
Women's role in production and reproduction is investigated
in diverse cultural, political, and economic environments.
Themes include: historical and contemporary demographic
patterns; Malthusian-Marxist debate; the population/resource
problem; governments as family planners; domestic and
international migration; and concepts and practices of
sustainable development. Ms. Zhou.
Not offered in 2000/01.
[275a. Economic Geography: Globalization and
Regional Development] (1)
The spatial patterns and dynamics of the world economy
are examined in diverse industrial and regional settings.
The focus is on the spatial distribution of economic
activities, the use of resources, and development of
regional economies. Topics may include the global shift of
manufacturing activities, the spatial organization of
post-Fordist production, the spread and impact of
agribusiness, globalization of services, foreign direct
investment and multi-national corporations, and the
interdependency between developed and developing economies.
Ms. Zhou.
Alternate years: not offered in 2000/01.
280a. Eastern Europe: A Region of Transitions
This regional geography course introduces the students to
the political-economic dynamics shaping what has been called
Eastern Europe. The cultural diversity of Eastern European
peoples are examined in connection with pivotal historical
events from the earliest viable evidence available to the
present. Special attention is devoted to Jewish and Romany
histories in the region. The primary chronological emphasis
is on the series of drastic shifts that have deeply affected
and differentiated this region during the twentieth century.
These include the impacts of World War I and the failed
socialist revolutions, the eviscerating effects of World War
II and the Holocaust, the succession of different forms of
state-socialism, and the variegated results of recent
systemic change.
282a. Cities and Urbanization in Latin America
(Same as Latin American Studies, Sociology and Urban
Studies 282)
285b. Conservation of Natural Resources (1)
Sustainable development requires an understanding of
ecosystem complexity and new ways of managing existing
resources. This course provides a geographic perspective on
global ecology and resource management. Emphasis is placed
on global and regional environmental issues, including
population growth, soil conservation, sustainable
agriculture, pollution of water and air, and forest and
rangeland management. Mr. Ngoy.
290a or b. Field Work (1/2 or
1)
The department.
Reading Courses
297.01a or b. Geography in the Elementary and
(1/2)
Secondary School Curriculum
An introduction to the study of geography in both elementary
and secondary schools as part of the social studies
curriculum, stressing world regional differentiation, and in
the earth sciences curriculum with a focus on the field of
environmental education. Mr. Flad.
Prerequisite: permission of instructor.
297.02a or b. Geography, Ecology, Culture
(1/2)
A geographic perspective on the environment and man,
examining primitive and peasant subsistence patterns, their
processes of resource utilization, and the resulting
modification of the landscape. Mr. Flad.
Prerequisite: permission of instructor.
298a or b. Independent Work (1/2
or 1)
Open to qualified students in other disciplines who wish
to pursue related inde-pendent work in geography. The
department.
III. Advanced
300b. Senior Thesis (1)
The department.
301a. Senior Seminar: Issues in Geographic Theory and
Method (1)
A review of the theory, method, and practice of
geographical inquiry. The seminar traces the history of
geographic thought from early episodes of global exploration
to modern scientific transformations. The works and
biographies of major contemporary theorists are critically
examined in terms of the changing philosophies of geographic
research. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches are
discussed, along with scientific, humanist, radical,
feminist, and other critiques in human geography. Overall,
alternative conceptions of geography are related to the
evolution of society and the dominant intellectual currents
of the day. The student is left to choose which approaches
best suits his or her own research. The seminar culminates
in the presentation of student research proposals. The
department.
One 2-hour period.
340a. Advanced Regional Studies (1)
(Same as Geography 384a and American Culture 384a.) This
seminar examines a selected world region, regions, or global
regional interactions. Topics may vary from year to year.
Previous seminar themes include: culture clash in Latin
America, Central Asia in transition, imaging Asia, and the
Asian diaspora. May be repeated for credit if the region or
topic has changed.
340b. Advanced Regional Studies (1)
This seminar examines a selected world region, regions,
or global regional interactions. Topics may vary from year
to year. Previous seminar themes include: culture clash in
Latin America, Central Asia in transition, imaging Asia, and
the Asian diaspora. May be repeated for credit if the region
or topic has changed.
Topic for 2000/01b: Inequality, Land, Technology, and
Food: The Political Ecology of Agriculture. Mr.
Engel-DiMauro.
350a. New York City as a Social Laboratory]
(1)
(Same as Urban Studies 350) In a classic essay on urban
studies, sociologist Robert Park once called the city "a
laboratory or clinic in which human nature and social
processes may be conveniently and profitably studied." The
scale, dynamism, and complexity of New York City make it a
social laboratory without equal. This seminar provides a
multidisciplinary inquiry into New York City as a case study
in selected urban issues. Classroom meetings are combined
with the fieldbased investigations that are a hallmark of
Urban Studies. Site visits in New York City allow meetings
with scholars, officials, developers, community leaders and
others actively involved in urban affairs. Mr. Godfrey.
Prerequisite. Geography 250 or permission of
instructor.
One 3hour session; field trips to N.Y.C.
Alternate years: not offered in 2000/01.
355a. Environment and Land-Use Planning (1)
(Same as Geology 355) This seminar focuses on such
land-use issues as social and environmental impact studies,
open-space planning, conservation and resource management,
agriculture, housing, and recreation and tourism. Case
studies may be drawn from either North America or the Third
World; local examples will include analysis of state and
federal regulations and field work. Topics for study may
include the changing rural American landscape, including
farmland preservation; local and state environmental review
in locational conflicts, such as water quality or the siting
of landfills; or sustainable development and ecotourism.
Topic for 2000/01: Environmental impact assessment.
This seminar analyzes principles of environmental impact
assessment in the context of land-use changes in both the
developing and developed worlds. In the U.S., the seminar
focuses on forest management in the Pacific Northwest and on
the environmental impacts of urban sprawl in the Hudson
Valley of New York. Developing-world issues concentrate on
Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in terms of irrigation
schemes, sustainable agriculture, forestry, and other
resource uses as they relate to the needs of human
populations. Mr. Ngoy.
Prerequisite: Geography 245, 255, 265 or permission of
instructor.
One 2-hour period.
Alternate years: offered in 2000/01.
370b. Topics in Social and Urban Geography (1)
An inquiry into the spatial expressions of social
relations in modern urban societies. The seminar focuses on
the socio-spatial interrelationships of such phenomena as
class, race, ethnicity, gender, and politics. The specific
topic of study varies from year to year. Previous seminar
themes include the urban-industrial transition, the urban
frontier, urban poverty, cities of the Americas, segregation
in the city, and global migration. May be repeated for
credit if the topic changes.
(same as Urban Studies 370) Topic for 2000/01:
Cyber-Cities: The Internet, New Media, and Urban
Geography: The internet and its associated "new Media"
operations in finance, retail, and entertainment are now
reshaping urban centers around the world. Not only are
high-technology applications changing the way we do things,
they are also beginning to transform the very social fabrics
and geographical settings of our lives and where and with
whom we work, live, consume, and recreate. This seminar
focuses on the emergence of cyber-cities: the impacts of
high-tech applications and internet activities on
contemporary urban settlements. Topics for study include:
urban life in the "space of flows"; e-commerce and new
consumption patterns; "dot-com" gentrification in
central-office-parks, congestion, and planning for suburban
growth; and local community resistance to internet-led
growth and displacement. Mr. Godfrey.
Prerequistie: either Urban Studies 100, Geography 105, or
Geography 250.
One 2-hour period.
Alternate years: offered in 2000/01
384a. Interpreting American Landscapes:
Representations of (1)
Nature and Culture
(Same as American Culture 384a and Geography 340a) This
seminar examines some of the most distinctive cultural
landscapes of America from the eighteenth century to the
present, including the "wilderness", New England villages,
the West, southern plantations and African-American
home-yards, the metropolis, suburbia, tourist sites and
other spaces of production and consumption. Using prints,
drawings and photographs in the Frances Lehman Loeb Art
Gallery as a primary source for understanding nineteenth
century conceptions of landscape depiction, we also
incorporate films, maps, city plans, urban views, and
literature of the twentieth century. The class includes
field trips to representative sites in the Hudson Valley as
well as participation in an exhibit of landscape prints and
drawings from the Magoon collection. Mr. Flad, Ms. Lucic
Prerequisite: permission of director.
One 2-hour seminar
399a or b. Senior Independent Work
(1/2 or 1)
The department.
Geology
Faculty: see geology-geography.
Requirements for Concentration: 10 units including
151, 152, 201, 2 units of graded work at the 300-level, and
not more than 1 additional unit at the 100-level. With
consent of advisor, one 200-level course may be substituted
for by 200- or 300-level work in Biology, Chemistry,
Mathematics or Physics. After declaration of the major,
required courses in geology may not be taken NRO.
Senior-Year Requirement: One graded 300-level
course.
Recommendations: Students interested in graduate
study in geology or environmental science should also take
one year of laboratory biology, chemistry and/or physics. In
addition, calculus is highly recommended. Appropriate
courses include: Biology 151, 152; Chemistry 108/109,
110/111; Math 101, 102; Physics 113, 114. Analysis of
spatial data using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in
becoming increasingly important so Geography 225 is strongly
recommended. All geology majors are urged to attend a
six-week geology summer field camp. The choices of
locations, times, and university sponsors of such field work
are numerous, and geology department faculty will help
select an appropriate summer field experience.
Independent Research: The geology department
encourages students to engage in ungraded independent
research with faculty advisers and offers 198 (for freshmen
and sophomores), 298 (for juniors), and 399 (for seniors).
Geology majors are encouraged to engage in senior-year
research, and the department offers 300-301, an ungraded
research-based senior thesis experience. Only those who
complete 300-301 are eligible for departmental honors upon
graduation.
Because there are many applications of geology to a
variety of different careers, we urge potential majors to
consult with a faculty member in the geology department as
soon as possible upon arrival at Vassar in order to decide
on the most appropriate sequence of required and recommended
courses. Also, each year the geology department offers
courses at the 100-level designed for students who may not
intend to pursue geology at more advanced levels. These
courses are appropriate for students curious about the earth
and its life. They are especially relevant for students with
concerns about environmental degradation and its impact on
people living in both urban and rural settings.
Advisers: Mr. McAdoo, Ms. Menking, Mr. Pflueger,
Ms. Schneiderman, Mr. Walker.
Correlate Sequence in Geology: Geology offers a
correlate sequence which can complement the curricula of
students majoring in other departmental, interdepartmental,
and multidisciplinary programs. Students pursuing a
correlate sequence in geology are required to complete a
minimum of five courses in the department including 151,
152, and at least one 300-level course. Students should
carefully note the prerequisites required for enrollment in
some of the courses within the correlate sequence.
I. Introductory
100a. The Earth Around Us
(1/2)
(Same as Environmental Studies 100)
101a. The Nature of Science (1)
This course explores the question, "what is science?" by
looking at examples from the history of natural sciences and
questions such as: How is science portrayed by the press? Do
biased results "count" as science? Is the history of science
a history of mistakes? Is bad science different from biased
science? Where are the women and minority scientists? Topics
include views of geologic time, the formation of the earth,
development of plate tectonic theory, the size and
morphology of organisms, creationism, craniometry, and the
geography of research laboratories. Ms. Schneiderman.
Open to freshmen only: satisfies college requirement for
a Freshman Course.
[102a. Landscape and History of the Hudson
Valley] (1)
Geology controls the landscape, and Landscape has a
profound influence on history. Through readings drawn from
history, literature, science, and contemporary observers,
supplemented by writing, discussions, and field trips, this
course explores the relationships between geology,
landscape, and cultural history in the midHudson Valley
region. Topics to be explored include: changing patterns of
settlement; changing vegetation patterns in response to
climate change; land use and resource exploitation; and
current environmental issues such as power generation and
disposal of municipal and toxic wastes. Mr. Walker.
Open to freshmen only: satisfies college requirement for
a Freshman Course.
Not offered in 2000/01.
103b. Earth System Science and Environmental Justice
(1)
(Same as Environmental Studies 103) Exploration of the
roles that race, gender, and class play in contemporary
environmental issues and the geology that underlies them.
Examination of the power of governments, corporations and
science to influence the physical and human environment. We
critique the traditional environmental movement, study cases
of environmental racism, and appreciate how basic geological
knowledge can assist communities in creating healthful
surroundings. Examples come from urban and rural settings in
the United States and abroad and are informed by feminist
analysis. Ms. Schneiderman.
Two 75-minute periods.
[104b. Oceanography] (1)
The world's oceans make life on Earth possible. By
studying the interactions among atmosphere, water, sediment,
and the deep inner-workings of the earth, we gain an
understanding of where the earth has been, where it is now,
and where it is likely to go. Topics include: historical
perspectives on the revolutionary discoveries in marine
exploration; seafloor and ocean physiochemical structure;
air-sea interactions from daily and seasonal weather
patterns to climate change and El Niño cycles;
earthquakes and tsunamis; waves and coastal processes; and
critical biologic communities unique to the marine
environment. Mandatory field trip to the beach. Mr.
McAdoo.
Not offered in 2000/01
151a and b. Earth, Environment, and Humanity
(1)
(Same as Environmental Studies 151) An introductory level
course covering basic physical processes of the earth
including plate tectonics, atmospheric and oceanic
circulation, and biogeochemical cycles, geologic hazards
such as earthquakes, floods, and volcanic eruptions, human
impacts on the environment including ozone depletion and
acid rain, and sustainability. Ms. Menking, Mr. Walker.
Two 75-minute periods; one 3-hour laboratory. Several
laboratory sessions are devoted to off-campus field
trips.
152b. The Evolution of Earth and its Life (1)
An examination of the origin of the earth and the
evolution of life on this planet particularly in relation to
global environmental change today. Topics include systematic
paleontology, evolution and creationism, the profound depth
of geologic time and its ramifications for life on earth,
and mass extinctions of dinosaurs and other organisms. Mr.
Pflueger.
Two 75-minute periods; one 3-hour laboratory. Several
laboratory sessions are devoted to off-campus field
trips.
182a. A Place Like No Other (1)
A journey in time and space introducing planet earth: how
it formed, and which processes and events are responsible
for its dynamic history. This investigation includes the
origin and evolution of life, revolutions, catastrophes and
extinctions, how they relate to environmental change.
This course fulfills the Freshman Course Requirement.
198a or b. Special Projects in Geology
(1/2 or 1)
Execution and analysis of a laboratory or field study.
Project to be arranged with individual instructor. The
department.
Open to first-year students and sophomores only.
II. Intermediate
Geology 151 and 152 are prerequisites for entry into
200-level courses unless otherwise stated.
201b. Earth Materials: Minerals, Rocks, and Soils
(1)
The earth is made up of many different materials,
including minerals, rocks, soils, and ions in solution, all
of which represent the same atoms recycled continually by
geological and biogeochemical cycles. This course takes a
wholistic view of the earth in terms of the processes which
lead to the formation of different materials. The class will
involve study in the field as well as in the laboratory
using hand specimen identification along with the optical
microscope, X-ray diffractometer, and electron microscope.
Mr. Walker.
Two 75-minute periods; one 3hour laboratory, field
trips.
[230. Soils and Terrestrial Ecosystems]
(1)
Soils form an important interface between the
lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. As
such, they are critical to understanding terrestrial
ecosystems. This course studies soil formation, and the
physical and chemical properties of soils especially as
related to natural and altered ecosystems. One important
topic of discussion is the relationship between soils and
agriculture with emphasis on the possibilities and
limitations implied by the notion of "sustainable
agriculture." Field trips and laboratory work focus on the
description and interpretation of local soils. Mr.
Walker.
Prerequisite: one introductory course in Geology,
Biology, or Chemistry.
Two 75-minute periods; one 3hour laboratory/field
session.
Alternate years: not offered in 2000/01.
240b. Global Geophysics and Tectonics (1)
What can physics and simple math tell us about the earth?
By utilizing an array of techniques, geophysicists gain an
understanding of the processes that shape our planet.
Reflection and earthquake seismology give us insight into
deep earth structure, plate tectonic mechanisms, mountain
building, basin formation, and hazard mitigation. Variations
in the earth's gravitational field yield information on
density contrasts beneath the surface, from the scale of
mountain ranges to buried artifacts. Heat flow variations
are useful in determining regional subsurface thermal
structure, fluid advection, and climate variation.
Laboratories are designed to use the skills required in most
geology related fields. They involve the use of Geographic
Information System (GIS) software, and construction of
simple computer models. Mr. McAdoo.
Two 75minute periods; one 3hour laboratory.
250a. Sediments, Strata, and the Environment
(1)
Detailed study of modern sedimentary environments and
their use in interpreting ancient sedimentary rocks. The
chemical and physical processes leading to weathering,
erosion, transport, deposition, and lithification of
sediments are considered. Field interpretation of local
Paleozoic, Pleistocene, and Holocene sediments are carried
out through field study. Laboratories include the study of
sediments in hand sample and using the petrographic
microscope. Mr. Pflueger.
Prerequisite: Geology 201.
Two 75-minute periods; one 3-hour laboratory/field
session, one weekend field trip.
260a. Geomorphology: Surface Processes and Evolution
of Landforms (1)
Quantitative study of the geological processes and
factors which influence the origin and development of
Earth's many landforms. Topics include hillslope and channel
processes, sediment transport, physical and chemical
weathering and erosion, role of regional and local tectonics
in the construction of marine terraces, mountain ranges and
basins, and the role of climate in landscape modification.
Ms. Menking.
Two 75-minute periods; one 3-hour laboratory/field
session.
[270b. Structural Geology and Tectonics]
(1)
The study of the processes and products of crustal
deformation and study of the plate tectonic paradigm. Topics
include the mechanics of deformation, earthquakes,
mountain-building, geophysical principles, and neotectonics.
Ms. Menking.
Two 75-minute periods; one 3-hour laboratory/field
session.
280b. Oil (1)
As we enter the twenty-first century, our society is
firmly rooted both culturally and economically, in oil. For
the hydraulic civilizations of Mesopotamia, it was water.
For the Native Americans of the Great Plains, it was
buffalo. This class looks into almost every aspect of oil.
Starting at the source with kerogen generation, we follow
the hydrocarbons along migration pathways to a reservoir
with a suitable trap. We look at the techniques geologists
and geophysicists use to find an oil field, and how
engineers and economists get the product from the field to
refineries, paying particular attention to environmental
concerns. What is involved in the negotiations between
multinational corporations and developing countries over
production issues? What are the stages in refining oil from
the crude that comes from the ground to the myriad of uses
it sees today, including plastics, pharmaceuticals, and
fertilizers, not to mention gasoline? We also discuss the
future of this rapidly dwindling, non-renewable resource,
and discuss options for an oil-less future. Mr. McAdoo.
Prerequisite: Any introductory physical science
course.
290a or b. Field Work (1/2 or
1)
298a or b. Independent Work (1/2
or 1)
Execution and analysis of a field, laboratory or library
study. The project, to be arranged with an individual
instructor, is expected to have a substantial paper as its
final product. The department.
Permission of instructor is required.
III. Advanced
Prerequisite: 2 units of 200-level geology; see
specific additions or exceptions for each course.
300-301. Senior Research and Thesis
(1/2)
Critical analysis, usually through observation or
experimentation, of a specific research problem in geology.
A student electing this course must first gain, by
submission of a written research proposal, the support of a
member of the geology faculty with whom to work out details
of a research protocol. The formal research proposal and a
final paper and presentation of results are required parts
of the course. A second faculty member participates in the
final evaluation. The department.
Permission of instructor is required.
[320. Advanced Topics in Environmental
Geology] (1)
Selected topics in environmental geology such as
quaternary geology, climate change, water in environmental
planning, contaminant transport in aqueous systems, and the
geology of natural resources. Mr. Walker.
One 3-hour classroom/laboratory session.
Not offered in 2000/01.
340a. Field Geophysics (1)
This project-based course examines one field area
throughout the course of the semester, collecting data in
the beginning, compiling and analyzing the data in a
Geographic Information System (GIS) framework, and
synthesizing towards the end, culminating in a presentation
of the results. Using an array of geophysical tools
including an electrical resistivity meter, a Cesium-vapor
magnetometer, and a simple heat flow probe, we survey
various anthropogenic and natural structures. Possible field
locales include archaeological sites (living structures,
burial grounds), both historical and pre-European, and sites
of environmental concern to both citizens and developers,
such as leaking underground storage tanks. Mr. McAdoo.
Prerequisite Geology 240 or permission of instructor.
One 3-hour classroom and laboratory session.
350a. Advanced Sedimentology (1)
This course focuses on the petrographic and geochemical
aspects of a current environmental problem that can be
approached sedimentologically. We use the primary literature
to discover the wide range of tools available to the modern
sedimentologist and their application to one of many
significant problems in the field. Laboratory gives hands-on
practice with the collection and evaluation of
sedimentologic and geochemical data.
Topic for 2000/01: Organism-Sediment Interaction.
Life is a fundamental force in sedimentary processes.
Using sediments as their habitat or food source, living
organisms physically and chemically alter their environment.
After death, an array of different processes may lead to the
preservation of fossil hard and/or soft parts in the rock
record. Field studies and laboratories teach an
understanding of the biology, paleontology, and
sedimentology with examples reaching from modern to
Precambrian times. Mr. Pflueger
Prerequisite: Geology 201 and 250 or permission of
instructor.
Two 75-minute periods; one 3-hour laboratory or field
session.
355b. Environment and Land Use Planning (1)
(Same as Geography 355b)
[360b. Paleoclimatology: Earth's History of
Climate Change] (1)
This course discusses how Earth's climate system operates
and what natural processes have led to climate change in the
past. We examine the structure and properties of the oceans
and atmosphere and how the general circulation of these
systems redistributes heat throughout the globe. In
addition, we study how cycles in Earth's orbital parameters,
plate tectonics, and the evolution of plants have affected
climate. Weekly laboratory projects introduce students to
paleoclimatic methods and to real records of climate change.
Ms. Menking.
Prerequisite: Geology 201, 250, and 260 or permission of
instructor.
One 3-hour classroom/laboratory session.
Not offered in 2000/01.
380b. Computer Methods and Modeling in Geology
(1)
Computer models have become powerful tools in helping us
to understand complex natural systems. They are in wide use
in geology in climatic change research, prediction of
groundwater and contaminant flow paths in sediments, and
seismic hazard prediction, among other applications. This
course introduces students to conceptual modeling with the
use of the Stella box-modeling software package. Taking
readings from the geological literature, we create and then
perform experiments with simple computer models. Students
also learn how to code their conceptual models in the
programming language Fortran, the most widely used language
in geology today. Ms. Menking.
One 3-hour classroom/laboratory session
399a or b. Senior Independent Work
(1/2 or 1)
Execution and analysis of a field, laboratory, or library
study. The project, to be arranged with an individual
instructor, is expected to have a substantial paper as its
final product. The department.
Permission of instructor is required.