Professor: Harvey K. Flad, Brian J. Godfrey
(Associate Chair); Associate Professors: Jill
Schneiderman (Chair), Jeffrey R. Walker; Assistant
Professors: Kirsten Menking, Kikombo Ngoy, Yu Zhou.
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. Pending NYSED approval.
Requirements for Concentration: 12 units,
including a common methods course (Geography 220, 222, or
225), an interdisciplinary senior thesis (Geography/Geology
300b), five units of geology, and five units of geography.
In geography, the five units should include: Geography 105;
two 200-level courses; Geography 301; and Geography/Geology
355 or another 300-level geography seminar. In geology, the
five units should include: Geology 105, Geology 106, two
200-level courses (preferably Geology 235 and 260), and one
300-level course.
Senior Year Requirements: Geography/Geology 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 120; 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 250 Urban Geography (1)
Geography 255 Environmental Perception and Conservation
(1)
Geography 265 Population, Environment, and Sustainable
Development (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 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: offered 1999/00.
[120a. Earth Resources and the Environment]
(1)
(Same as Geology 120a)
Not offered in 1999/00.
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
interview, preliminary statistical analysis and an
introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Satisfies college requirement for quantitative reasoning.
Ms. Zhou.
Alternate years: offered in 1999/00.
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 75-minute periods; two-hour laboratory.
[230b. 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. The
department.
Alternate years: not offered in 1999/00.
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: offered in 1999/00.
[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: offered in 1999/00.
[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 1999/00.
[245b. The American Landscape: An Historical
Geography of the United States and Canada]
(1)
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: will be offered in 2000/01.
250a. 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: offered in 1999/00.
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.
[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 1999/00.
284b. Africa and the World (1)
(Same as Africana Studies 284) Taking a multidisciplinary
approach, this course analyzes the interaction between
Africa and other regions of the world by focusing on
European and American Engagement in Central Africa. Although
Western involvement in the slave trade, colonial conquest,
and continuing economic contact have profoundly affected the
region, Western understanding of Central Africa has advanced
little since the publication of Joseph Conrad's notorious
Heart of Darkness nearly 100 years ago. This course
uses a wide range of sources, including novels, oral
literature, diaries, and historical and social scientific
texts, to examine the nature and impact of foreign
involvement in Central Africa. African resistance to foreign
domination, and ways in which Europeans and Africans have
regarded one another. Topics include the legacies of the
"red Rubber regime" in Leopold's Congo, the environmental
impact of engagement, President Mobutu's rise and fall,
religious innovation, Central Africa in the world economy,
and ethnic conflict in Rwanda and Burundi. Mr. Longman, Mr.
Ngoy
Two 75-minute periods
286b. Designing the American Suburb (1)
(Same as Urban Studies 286) The course reviews the form
and function of the American suburb. Cultural associations
of suburbs are put into the broader historical context of
U.S. urbanization. Intentional communities, retrofits and
new urbanist concepts are examined and applied in real life
settings.
290a or b. Field Work (1/2 or
1)
The department.
Reading Courses
297.01a or b. Geography in the Elementary and
Secondary School Curriculum
(1/2)
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.
[340b. Advanced Regional Studies] (1)
This seminar examines a selected world region, regions,
or global regional interactions. Topics may vary from year
to year. May be repeated for credit if the region or topic
has changed.
This seminar examines a selected world region, regions,
or global regional interactions. Topics may vary from year
to year. May be repeated for credit if the region or topic
has changed.
Not offered in 1999/00.
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.
Topic for 1999/00: Urban redevelopment and
gentrification. An examination of urban redevelopment
projects and related processes of gentrification in the
historical contexts of social change, immigration, economic
restructuring, and planning in New York City. The seminar
focuses on the impacts of government and corporatesponsored
urban renewal in Lower Manhattan, Greenwich Village, Times
Square, Harlem, the South Bronx, and Brooklyn. After
visiting these areas and discussing relevant issues with
experts, students carry out independent field research. Mr.
Godfrey.
Prerequisite. Geography 250 or permission of
instructor.
One 3-hour session; field trips to N.Y.C.
355b. 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. Mr.
Flad.
Prerequisite: Geography 245, 255, 265 or permission of
instructor.
One 2-hour period.
Alternate years: offered in 1999/00.
[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 geographic interrelationships of class, ethnicity, race,
gender, and sexuality. The specific topic for 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.
Prerequisite: One of the following: Geography 250,
Sociology 262 or 361, an Urban Studies course, or permission
of instructor.
One 2-hour period.
Alternate years: will be offered in 2000/01.
382b. Advanced Regional Studies (1)
(Same as Anthropology 382 and Asian Studies 382) This
seminar examines a selected world region, regions, or global
regional interactions. Topics may vary from year to year.
May be repeated for credit if the region or topic has
changed.
Topic for 1999/00: Asian Diasporas. Focusing on
Asian Diasporas, this course engages the current surge of
interest in diaspora studies from both anthropological and
geographical perspectives. Attention will be given to issues
of colonial and post colonial struggles, formation and
transformation of ethnic identities, roles of middlemen
minorities, and nationalism and transnationalism of Asian
diasporas. The principal cases will be drawn from East Asian
and South Asian communities in Southeast Asia, the Pacific
islands, and the United States. Students will write a
substantial research paper on a topic of their choice. Ms.
Zhou and Ms. Kaplan.
One 2-hour period.
385a. Seminar in Urban Planning (1)
(Same as Urban Studies 385)
399a or b. Senior Independent Work
(1/2 or 1)
The department.
Geology
Faculty: see geology-geography.
Requirements for Concentration: 10 units including
105, 106, 232, 2 units of graded work at the 300-level, and
not more than 1 additional unit at the 100 level. After
declaration of the major, required courses in geology may
not be taken NRO.
Senior-Year Requirement: One graded 300-level
course.
Recommendations: At least one course in geography
and one course in computer science. Students interested in
graduate study in geology or environmental science should
also take one year of laboratory chemistry and one year of
laboratory biology or physics, depending on whether one's
interests tend toward the biogeochemical or the geophysical.
In addition, calculus is highly recommended. Appropriate
courses from these departments include: Biology 151, 152,
241; Chemistry 108/109, 244, 245; Computer Science 122;
Geography 105, 220, 222, 265, 355; Math 115, 116; Physics
111, 112. 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).
The department also offers 300, a graded research-based
senior thesis experience for majors. Geology majors are
encouraged to engage in such senior-year research. Only
those who do so are eligible for department honors upon
graduation.
Because there are so 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: Ms. Menking, 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 105,
106, 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
105a and [b]. Earth, Environment, and Humanity
(1)
(Same as Environmental Studies Development Project 105a)
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.
Two 75-minute periods; one 3-hour laboratory. Several
laboratory sessions are devoted to off-campus field
trips.
106b. 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. Ms.
Schneiderman.
Two 75-minute periods; one 3-hour laboratory. Several
laboratory sessions are devoted to off-campus field
trips.
115b. Oceanography (1)
Marine provinces, major features of ocean basins and
evolution of individual oceans within the framework of
global plate tectonics. Distribution of marine sediments,
properties of seawater, waves and tides, and the influence
of air-sea interaction and oceanic circulations on regional
climate changes are discussed. Instructor to be
announced.
Three 50-minute periods.
[120a. Earth Resources and the Environment]
(1)
(Same as Geography 120) An introduction to the basic
principles needed to understand humankind's use and abuse of
soil, water, fuels, and other resources. Mr. Walker.
Three 50-minute periods.
Not offered in 1999/00.
130a. Geology and Society (1)
(Same as Environmental Studies Development Project 130)
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.
One 2-hour discussion period.
150a. Earth System Science and Environmental Justice
(1)
(Same as Environmental Studies Development Project 150a)
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.
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
232b. 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.
Instructor to be announced.
Prerequisite: Geology 105 or 106 or permission of
instructor.
Two 75-minute periods; one 3-hour laboratory, field
trips.
[235b. Geology of 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: Geology 105 or 106 or permission of
instructor.
Two 75-minute periods; one 2-hour laboratory/field
session.
Not offered in 1999/00.
240a. Global Geophysics and Tectonics (1)
Examination of the physical phenomena that control the
composition, structure, properties, and dynamics of the
solid Earth. Students learn about geophysical techniques
used to probe Earth's deep interior, such as gravity
measurements, seismology, and measurements of Earth's
magnetic field; in addition, how earthquakes and past
reversals in the magnetic field led to the discovery of the
plate tectonic paradigm on which modern geology is grounded.
Instructor to be announced.
Prerequisite: Geology 105 or 106 or permission of
instructor.
Two 75-minute periods; one 3-hour 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. Ms. Schneiderman.
Prerequisite: Geology 106 and 232 or permission of
instructor.
Two 75-minute periods; one 3-hour laboratory/field
session.
[260b. 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.
Instructor to be announced.
Prerequisite. Geology 105 or 106 or permission of
instructor.
Two 75-minute periods; one 4-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.
Prerequisite: Geology 105 or 106 or permission of
instructor.
Two 75-minute periods; one
31/2-hour laboratory/field
session.
280a. Geology and Field Ecology of the Bahamas
(1)
(Same as Environmental Sciences 280a.)
290a or b. Field Work (1/ 2or 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.
300a or b. Senior Research and Thesis (1)
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. Work on the thesis should begin in the
fall semester. The department.
Permission of instructor is required.
[320a. 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.
Prerequisite: 232, 250, 260 or permission of
instructor.
Two 75-minute periods; one 3-hour laboratory/field
session.
Not offered in 1999/00.
330b. Mineral Structures and Geochemistry (1)
This course teaches the techniques of crystal structure
analysis including X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy,
and surface-analytical methods in order to understand how
the internal and surface structures of minerals control
chemical reactions at all scales. Mr. Walker.
Prerequisite: Geology 232.
Two 75-minute periods; one 3-hour laboratory.
340b. Field Geophysics (1)
Applied geophysical techniques are used to solve a
variety of environmental problems. For example, shallow
seismic refraction and measurements of electrical
conductivity can be used to unearth leaking underground
storage tanks and buried landfills, and gravity measurements
reveal underground void spaces such as caves, allowing
developers to determine if sites are suitable for
construction. This course introduces these and other methods
of geophysical investigation; also included are field
exercises, computer work, and special projects.
Prerequisite: Geology 240 or permission of
instructor.
Two 75-minute periods; one 3-hour laboratory.
[350a. Advanced Sedimentology] (1)
This course will focus on the petrographic and
geochemical aspects of a current environmental problem that
can be approached sedimentologically. We will 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 will give hands on practice with the
collection and evaluation of sedimentologic and geochemical
data. Instructor to be announced.
Prerequisite: Geology 232 and 250 or permission of
instructor.
Two 75-minute periods; one 3-hour laboratory or field
session.
Not offered in 1999/00.
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 232, 250, and 260 or permission of
instructor.
One 3-hour laboratory or field 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.
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