Exploration of a topic (to be determined) not covered by the standard curriculum but of interest to faculty and students in a particular semester.

Laboratory exploration of the Earth Sciences. Topics include: principles of rock and mineral identification, plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, geologic time, and field trips. Students may not receive credit for both EAR 104 and 110.

Processes that shape Earth and affect humans: Earth's structure; plate tectonics; geologic time; and surficial processes. Students needing laboratory credit must register for EAR 104. Students may not receive credit for EAR 105 and 110.

Investigation of Earth processes that create geohazards, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, climate change, and environmental contamination, and how specific research can inform policy and decision-making to mitigate their impact on humans.

Chemical, physical and biological processes and principles affecting the history and development of the Earth. Lectures, laboratory, and field trips. Students may not receive credit for both EAR110, EAR101, and 105. Recommended for majors.

Introduction to the science of climate change from the geological record of the last century. Major drivers of global climate, measuring change, and forecasting future climate. Role of human activities in present climate.

A comprehensive introduction to the geology, physics, chemistry, and biology of the world ocean and its impact on global climate and environmental concerns.

Offered through SUAbroad by educational institution outside the United States. Student registers for the course at the foreign institution and is graded according to that institution's practice. SUAbroad works with the SU academic department to assign the appropriate course level, title, and grade for the student's transcript.

Exploration of a problem, or problems, in depth. Individual independent study upon a plan submitted by the student. Admission by consent of supervising instructor(s) and the department.

Exploration of a topic (to be determined) not covered by the standard curriculum but of interest to faculty and students in a particular semester.

An introduction to basic data analysis, quantitative and computer skills necessary to succeed in geoscience careers. Topics include basic statistics, working with data and visualization, databases, surface contouring and modeling, basic GIS principles, and simple modeling of geologic processes.

An integrated view of interactions among Earth's systems (lithosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere) and the timescales over which they operate. Topics covered in this course include: plate tectonics, atmospheric circulation, oceanic circulation, the greenhouse effect, the carbon cycle, the origin of the earth and life, and climate.

Introduction to field methods in earth and environmental sciences. Topics include basic field observation, description of geological features and collection of data. Students learn traditional methods and are introduced to modern approaches involving digital data collection/analyses.

Investigates origin, occurrence, chemistry and hydrology of water on earth. Includes climate change, contamination and water supply issues within context of water sustainability.

Major transitions in the surface environments of our planet and the life that occupies them over the last 4.5 billion years. Evolutionary radiations, mass extinctions, climate change, plate tectonics, mountain building. Lectures, labs, field trip.

Examination of the geologic nature of volcanoes and earthquakes as they are related to plate tectonic activity in the Earth. Discussion of related societal hazards.

Participation in a discipline or subject related experience. Student must be evaluated by written or oral reports or an examination. Permission in advance with the consent of the department chairperson, instructor, and dean. Limited to those in good academic standing.

Offered through SUAbroad by educational institution outside the United States. Student registers for the course at the foreign institution and is graded according to that institution's practice. SUAbroad works with the S.U. academic department to assign the appropriate course level, title, and grade for the student's transcript.

Exploration of a problem, or problems, in depth. Individual independent study upon a plan submitted by the student. Admission by consent of supervising instructor(s) and the department.

Exploration of a topic (to be determined) not covered by the standard curriculum but of interest to faculty and students in a particular semester.

Science of energy in the 21st century, from an Earth Science perspective: Climatology of wind/solar energy; Hydrocarbons-conventional/unconventional resources; Geothermal power; Geology of Uranium; Oceanography of tidal power; Hydroelectric power; Ocean/Lake Source Cooling; Carbon Capture, Utilization and Sequestration: Critical Minerals for the Energy Transition

Selected topics under guidance of senior staff members. Open only to students in the Honors Program.

An introduction to the study of the Earth's near surface using geophysical methods and quantitative data analysis, specifically: seismic reflection and refraction, gravity, magnetic, electrical and electromagnetic methods. Participation in geophysical field survey is required.

Introduction to the distribution of minerals within the Earth, mineral properties (crystallography, crystal chemistry and structure), and the processes that form them. Methods used to identify minerals in hand specimens and an introduction to the techniques of optical mineralogy. Lecture, laboratory and fieldtrips.

Ancient sedimentary rocks and their modern analogs. Physical and chemical aspects of sedimentation and diagenesis. Introduction to sedimentary basins. Economic resources of sedimentary systems. Lecture, laboratory, and field trips. Students should have background knowledge of mineralogy and the history of Earth and life.

Patterns and processes of evolution as expressed in the fossil record. Macroevolution, diversification of major skeletonized phyla, evolutionary paleoecology, and mass extinctions. Lecture, laboratory, and field trips.

Concepts of structural analysis of rocks, stress and strain, rock deformation mechanisms, geologic structures, their properties, and how they are formed. Three lectures and one laboratory a week, field trips including some weekends. Knowledge of trigonometry and geometry required.

Offered through SUAbroad by educational institution outside the United States. Student registers for the course at the foreign institution and is graded according to that institution's practice. SUAbroad works with the S.U. academic department to assign the appropriate course level, title, and grade for the student's transcript.

Exploration of a topic (to be determined) not covered by the standard curriculum but of interest to faculty and students in a particular semester.

Fundamentals of groundwater hydraulics. Aquifer flow systems analysis and evaluation. Groundwater-surfacewater relationships. Groundwater chemistry. Additional work required of graduate students.

Numerical methods and data analysis in geosciences using MATLAB. Topics will include basic statistics for univariate and bivariate datasets including linear regression and interpolation, time-series analysis, the discrete Fourier transform, numerical integration and finite differences. Additional work required of graduate students.

Landscape formation and evolution as a function of hydrogeologic, glacial, eolian, and tectonic processes acting on Earth materials. Lecture, labs, and field trips, including some weekends. Additional work required of graduate students.

Selected topics in structural geology and tectonics focusing on the mechanics and kinematics of lithospheric deformation. Fundamentals of stress, strain, brittle and ductile deformation, microstructures and rheology. Additional work required of graduate students

The geologic record provides perspective for evaluating future global change. This course will focus on the evolution of climate through Earth's 4.6 billion years and how this record is preserved in ancient rocks and sediments.

Students will develop a working understanding of the strengths and pitfalls of the method through classroom lectures, exercises, and hands-on data processing using PROMAX seismic processing software. Prerequisites: coursework/experience in geophysics/permission of instructor. Additional work required of graduate students.

This course considers the influence of long term climate changes on hominid evolution and human adaptation, as well as how abrupt climate events and transitions may have impacted the distribution of human populations, the development of agriculture, human conflict and societal change. Additional work required of graduate students.

Analysis of sedimentary basins in various tectonic settings, including the study of crustal and surficial processes. Uses techniques of subsurface analysis including the interpretation of seismic reflection data sets. Additional work required of graduate students.

Independent, hypothesis-driven research involving investigative tools and techniques in the Earth Sciences. Students must submit a written thesis to the department and give a public seminar.

Introduction to some of the many uses of image and topographic data within a geographic information system (GIS) to extract information relevant to the study of the Earth. Additional work required of graduate students.

Fundamentals of watershed hydrology presented from a physical hydrology perspective; course topics include: the water cycle, hydrologic processes, streamflow generation, groundwater-surface water interactions, and introduction to hydrologic modeling concepts. Additional work required of graduate students.

This course introduces students of all disciplines to the science behind our understanding of Earth¿s climate and environmental changes during the past 12,000 years. Lectures and discussions focus on interactions between climate, landscapes, and humans. Additional work required for graduate students.

The course introduces the physical principles underlying the climate system. Topics include Earth's energy balance; circulation; climate variability; climate feedbacks and climate change, observational evidence of climate change. Additional work required for graduate students.

Being able to effectively communicate is an essential part of being a successful scientist. In this practicum you will learn techniques to refine your scientific communication skills (oral, written, and graphical). Additional work is required for graduate students.

Chemistry of Earth processes, including basic thermodynamics, solution chemistry, isotopic chemistry, and kinetics; magmatic crystallization, isotope fractionation, formation of carbonate and evaporitic sediment, ion exchange in clays, and Cosmochemistry.

Introduction to the origin of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. Classifications, compositions, tectonic setting, and processes governing the distribution of rocks within the Earth. Lecture, laboratory, and fieldtrips. Additional work required of graduate students.

Fundamentals of aqueous geochemistry in ground water and surface water in the context of carbonate and silicate dissolution, reactions governing metal oxidation and reduction, mixing of waters and isotopic characterization. One year of college chemistry required. Additional work required of graduate students.

Fundamentals of solute transport, major classes of groundwater contamination, remediation strategies, natural attenuation characterization, fingerprinting of contaminant types. Additional work required of graduate students.

Learn practical aspects of sample preparation, perform electron probe microanalysis for research projects, develop theoretical background of electron specimen interactions for imaging and X-ray spectroscopy, and interpret results. Additional work for graduate students.

A survey of the chemical, physical and biological factors controlling stable isotope distributions with applications to the Earth and environmental sciences. Additional work for graduate students.

This course introduces students to the art and science of statistics in the Earth and environmental sciences. Students will explore and analyzing data using a variety of statistical methods with data and practical examples from the earth and environmental sciences. The course introduces statistical computing in the R language. Additional work required of graduate students.

Seminar for students following the environmental science curriculum. Students will work together to critically evaluate, and propose solutions to, current environmental problems using a combination of reading, class discussion, written analyses, and oral presentations.

Current research in paleobiology with a topical focus. Subjects might include macroevolution, evolutionary paleoecology, extinctions and radiations, stratigraphic paleontology, etc. Additional work required of graduate students.

Seminar will focus on research topics in thermochronology and tectonics from current literature. Additional work required of graduate students.

Tectonic development of the Earth; definition of plates, their boundaries, motions, and driving forces. Analysis and modeling of plate motions. Additional work required of graduate students.

An investigation of the products and processes of seafloor spreading from the perspective of geological and geophysical studies of mid-ocean ridge spreading centers, oceanic lithosphere and ophiolite complexes. Additional work required of graduate students.

The use of modern methods to study tectonic processes along active plate margins, focusing on the evolution of topography expressed in orogen and basin development, including the style and accommodation of crustal and mantle deformation. Additional work required of graduate students

Fundamental geophysical parameters; seismology and Earth structure; gravity and magnetic fields with application of potential theory; terrestrial rotation and shape; heat flow, thermal state, and evolution of the Earth. Additional work required of graduate students.

This course presents selected papers from the literature that contribute to current thought in geomorphology and later focus on a topic that can vary from year to year. Additional work required of graduate students.

Methods used in Earth Sciences to determine temperature-time histories of crustal terranes including 40Ar/39Ar, fission track, and U-Th/He techniques. Diffusion theory and applications of thermochronology to tectonics and landscape evolution, P-T-t paths of crustal terranes. Additional work required of graduate students.

Insights gained from the geochemistry of fossils and sedimentary sequences into the history of the Earth's surface. Emphasis on relationships between the biological world and the physical environment as revealed through stable and radiogenic isotopes and elemental chemistry. Additional work required of graduate students.

Participation in a discipline- or subject-related experience. Students must be evaluated by written or oral reports or an examination. Limited to those in good academic standing.

Isotope geochemistry is used in all branches of Earth Sciences. This course covers the following topics: Radioactive decay, Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd, and Lu-Hf isotope geochemistry; U-Pb geochronology, 14C dating; O, H, and C isotope geochemistry. Additional work required of graduate students.

Introduction to UAV operations, including FAA airspace, platforms and sensors; flight planning, data collection, image processing, and data analysis for geospatial mapping. Applications and societal impacts, including legal, safety, privacy, ethical issues. Additional work required of graduate students.

Offered through SUAbroad by educational institution outside the United States. Student registers for the course at the foreign institution and is graded according to that institution's practice. SUAbroad works with the S.U. academic department to assign the appropriate course level, title, and grade for the student's transcript.

Students attend the Department of Earth Sciences colloquium lectures and write up summaries of a subset of talks. Provides exposure to current research in a wide array of Earth Science disciplines. Additional work required of graduate students.

In-depth exploration of a problem or problems.  Individual independent study upon a plan submitted by the student. Admission by consent of supervising instructor or instructors and the department.

Completion of an Honors Capstone Project under the supervision of a faculty member.

Exploration of a topic (to be determined) not covered by the standard curriculum but of interest to faculty and students in a particular semester.

The records of environmental change contained within lake sediments. Basic background in limnology followed by field/laboratory research projects and presentations. Upper division undergraduate science majors.

Proxy records from marine, lacustrine, glacial, and terrestrial environments for climate and environmental change during the Quaternary. Comparison with numerical models of atmosphere and oceans. Discussion of current literature and the potential for future global change.

Exploration of a problem, or problems, in depth. Individual independent study upon a plan submitted by the student. Admission by consent of supervising instructor(s) and the department.