MSAG Course List

NOTES: This is a comprehensive list of courses offered in the Department of Earth & Environmental Science that may be taken to fulfill Foundation and Concentration requirements in the MSAG curriculum.  The brackets indicate the semester when the course is typically offered.  Not all courses are offered every year.  Check current course listings for which courses are offered each semester.

GEOL 418 Geochemistry {Spring}

Fulfills Geochemistry requirement.

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to theory and applications of chemistry in the earth and environmental sciences. Theory covered will include nucleosynthesis, atomic structure, acid-base equilibrium, thermodynamics, oxidation-reduction reactions. Applications will emphasize oceanography, atmospheric sciences and environmental chemistry, as well as other topics depending on the interests of the class. Although we will review the basics, this course is intended to supplement, rather than to replace, courses offered in the department of Chemistry. It is appropriate for advanced undergraduate as well as graduate students in Geology, Environmental Science, Chemistry and other sciences, who wish to have a better understanding of these important chemical processes

GEOL 420 Introduction to Geophysics {Spring}

Fulfills Geophysics requirement.

The application of Geophysical investigation techniques to problems of the earth's planetary structure, local subsurface structure and mineral prospecting; the principles of geophysical measurements and interpretation with emphasis on gravity measurement, isostasy, geomagnetism, seismic refraction and reflection, electrical prospecting, electromagnetics and ground radar.

GEOL 421 Elemental Cycling in Global Systems {Spring}

Fulfills Geochemistry requirement.

Humans have an enormous impact on the global movement of chemical materials. Biogeochemistry has grown to be the principal scientific discipline to examine the flow of elements through global earth systems and to examine human impacts on the global environment. This course will introduce and investigate processes and factors controlling the biogeochemical cycles of elements within and between the hydrosphere, lithosphere, atmosphere and biosphere. Students will apply principles learned in lectures by building simple computer-based biogeochemical models.

GEOL 503 Earth Systems & Earth Hazards {Spring}

Fulfills elective in Environmental Geology.

This course will examine the hazards that arise from living on an active
planet from a large-scale systems standpoint. We will briefly survey the
Earth's major systems, emphasizing energy generation, storage, and flow within
the Earth, and then proceed to an examination of the hazards that result.
This will include earthquakes and tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, river and
coastal flooding, and hurricanes, tornadoes, and other major storms. We will
touch briefly on global warming and other current topics.

GEOL 506 Advanced Stratigraphy {Fall}

Fulfills elective in Individualized.

Sedimentary concepts, stratigraphic principles, depositional environments, and interpretation of the rock record in a paleoecological setting.

GEOL 511 Soils {Spring & Fall}

Fulfills elective in Environmental Geology.

Nature, properties, genesis, and classification of soils; soils of the United States.

GEOL 528 Aqueous Geochemistry {Fall}

Fulfills Geochemistry requirement.

Chemical composition and interactions of soils and soil water with applications
to current problems.

GEOL 531 Advanced Mineralogy {Fall}

Fulfills elective in Individualized.

Advanced crystallography, representative minerals, their chemical and physical
properties. Use of petrographic microscope in identifying common rock-forming
minerals in thin section.

GEOL 602 Geotechnics: Intro to Geotechnical Eng {Summer}

Fulfills Engineering Geology elective.

The course begins with a study of the Earth's composition, the formation of soil materials by the weathering process (Physical and Chemical), and a discussion of soil mineralogy, and clay minerals. Following this introduction, soil classification systems and physical properties of soils will be presented, as well as the State of Stress in a Soil Mass together with Seepage Theory and Groundwater Flow. The technical portion of the course will include the development of Consolidation Theory and Analyses, Shear Strength Theory, Lateral Earth Pressure Theory and Application, and Slope Stability Analysis. The course will conclude with the presentation of two Case History Sessions, presenting applications of Geotechnical Engineering Practice and the influence of the Geologic setting.

GEOL 611 Field Study of Soils {Spring}

Fulfills Environmental Geology elective.

Processes of soil development in a variety of temperate environments. Effects of lithology and climate on soil properties

GEOL 618  Fundamentals of Air Pollution {Spring}

Fulfills Geochemistry requirement.

This course will cover various topics related to Air Quality. Initial lectures will cover the history of air pollution and composition of the atmosphere. We will then progress to discussion of atmospheric pollutants and sources of those pollutants. Additional topics will include: fate of atmospheric pollutants (transport and dispersion mechanisms), effects of air pollution (health and environmental effects), urban smog, acid rain, climate change, ozone depletion in the stratosphere, air quality criteria, and engineering controls.

GEOL 651 Geocomputations I {Fall}

Fulfills Geocomputations requirement.

Review and applications of selected methods from differential equations, advanced engineering mathematics and geostatistics to problems encountered in geology, engineering geology, geophysics and hydrology.

GEOL 652 Physical Geology for Environmental Professionals [Fall]

Fulfills Environmental Geology elective.

Study of the genesis and properties of earth materials (minerals, rocks, soil, water); consideration of volcanic, erosional, glacial, and earthquake processes along with the characterization of the earth's deep interior crustal and near-surface structure. Classroom study of minerals, crystals, fossils, and rocks as time permits.

GEOL 653 Introduction to Hydrology {Fall}

Fulfills Intro Hydrology requirement.

Introduction to the basic principles of the hydrologic cycle and water budgets, precipitation and infiltration, evaporation and transpiration, stream flow, hydrograph analysis (floods), subsurface and groundwater flow, well hydraulics, water quality, and frequency analysis.

GEOL 654 Geomechanics: Solids {Fall}

Fulfills Geomechanics requirement.

Mechanical properties of solid and fluid earth materials, stress and strain, earth pressures in soil and rock, tunnels, piles, and piers; flow through gates, wiers, spillways and culverts, hydraulics, seepage and Darcy's law as applied to the hydrologic sciences.

GEOL 655 Engineering Geology {Summer}

Fulfills Engineering Geology requirement.

Engineering properties of earth materials; engineering testing, classification and use of earth materials; geologic and geophysical investigations and monitoring; geologic hazards; planning and use of the geologic environment

GEOL 656 Fate and Transport of Pollutants {Summer}

Fulfills Hydrology elective.

This course covers basic groundwater flow and solute transport modeling in one-,two- and three-dimensions. After first reviewing the principles of modeling, the student will gain hands-on experience by conducting simulations on the computer. The modeling programs used in the course are MODFLOW (USGS), MT3D, and the US Army Corps of Engineers GMS (Groundwater Modeling System).

GEOL 658 Geostatistics {Summer}

Fulfills elective all concentrations.

Statistical analysis of data from geological, geotechnical, and geohydrologic sources.

GEOL 659 Surface Water Hydrology {Fall}

Fulfills Hydrology or Environmental Geology elective.

This course will focus on various aspects of surface water hydrology. Topics covered include: study of all aspects of precipitation and runoff; study of the natural occurrences of floods and droughts; the establishment of design floods; methods of preventing or alleviating damages due to floods; water losses through evaporation, transpiration, and infiltration; storm water management; and hydrologic considerations in environmental issues.

GEOL 661 Environmental Groundwater Hydrology {Spring}

Fulfills Groundwater Hydrology requirement.

This course is designed to introduce the major definitions and concepts regarding groundwater flow and contaminant transport. The theory underlying concepts, including mathematical derivations of governing equations used to model groundwater flow and contaminant transport, will be discussed and applications to environmental problems addressed.

Upon completion of this course, students should expect to have attained a broad understanding of and familiarity with groundwater flow and contaminant transport concepts, and to have acquired the skills necessary to pursue work in flow and transport modeling.

GEOL 664 Geocomputations II {Fall}

Fulfills elective all concentrations.

Review and expansion of methods of solution of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) and selected partial differential equations (PDEs) with emphasis on those equations which arise in hydrogeologic, geotechnical,& environmental studies.

GEOL 665 Engineering Geology & Geotechnics {Spring}

Fulfills Engineering Geology elective.

Based on numerous case histories, the theme is characterization of the geologic environment for engineering and environmental investigations. Covered are the various exploration tools and methods, including interpretation of remotely sensed imagery; field and laboratory measurements of material properties; and instrumentation monitoring. Rock masses and the significance of discontinuities are discussed as are soil formations in terms of occurrence and mode of deposition, and their typical physical properties. The latter half of the course is dedicated to the geologic hazards; i.e. ground subsidence and collapse, landslides and earthquakes with the emphasis on prediction, prevention and damage control.

GEOL 667 Landfill Design {Fall}

Fulfills Electives all concentrations.

Topics for this course include: landfill regulations (Federal/State); permitting; siting considerations; environmental assessment; geotechnical issues; hydrogeologic investigations; landfill component design (QA/QC); linear systems; leachate collection; final cover; gas control; monitoring; surface water management; and operational, closure, post-closure considerations.

GEOL 668 690 Geomechanics II: Fluids {Spring}

Fulfills Hydrology and Engineering Geology elective.

Static and Dynamic mechanical properties of fluid in earth materials, as applied to the Hydrologic Sciences; Principles of Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics applied to open channel flow in earth materials; flow through gates, weirs, spillways, and culverts; Applications of Darcy's Law to subsurface flow and seepage.

Selected Environmental Studies Courses for MSAG

ENVS 507 Wetlands [Fall]

Fulfills Environmental Geology or Hydrology elective.

The course will focus on the natural history of different wetland types including the factors of climate, geology, and hydrology which influence wetland development and associated soil, vegetation, and wildlife characteristics and key ecological processes. Lectures will be supplemented with weekend trips to different wetland types ranging from tidal salt marshes to non-tidal marshes, swamps, and glacial bogs in order to provide field experience in wetland identification, characterization, and functional assessment. Outside speakers will discuss issues in wetland seed bank ecology, federal regulation, and mitigation. Students will present a short paper on the ecology of a wetland animal and a longer term paper on a selected wetland topic. Readings from the text, assorted journal papers, government technical documents, and book excerpts will provide a broad overview of the multifaceted field of wetland study.

 

ENVS 530 Rocky Mountain Field Geology & Ecology {Summer}

Fulfills Environmental Geology elective.

This is a two-week intensive field course in the geology, natural history, and ecology of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, which comprises a range of environments from the mile-high semi-deserts of intermontane basins to the alpine tundra of the Beartooth Plateau above 12,000 feet.  The program is based at the Yellowstone-Bighorn Research Association (YBRA) field station on the northeast flank of the Beartooth Mountains near Red Lodge, Montana.  The course includes day trips from the field station as well as overnight visits to sites within Yellowstone National Park.  Pre-trip classes will be held online before the trip to ensure that all students are

adequately familiar with basic principles of field-based natural science.

 

ENVS 541 Modeling Geographic Objects {Fall]}

Fulfills elective in all concentrations.

This course offers a broad and practical introduction to the acquisition, storage, retrieval, maintenance, use, and presentation of digital cartographic data with both image and drawing based geographic information systems (GIS) for a variety of environmental science, planning, and management applications. Its major objectives are to provide the training necessary to make productive use of at least two well known software packages, and to establish the conceptual foundation on which to build further skills and knowledge in late practice.

 

ENVS 681 Modeling Geographic Space {Spring}

Fulfills elective in all concentrations.

This course explores the nature and use of digital geographic information systems (GIS) for the analysis and synthesis of spatial patterns and processes through 'cartographic modeling'. Cartographic modeling is a general but well defined methodology that can be used to address a wide variety of analytical mapping applications in a clear and consistent manner. It does so by decomposing both data and data-processing tasks into elemental components that can then be recomposed with relative ease and with great flexibility.