I teach courses in both the Geology and Environmental Science departments. Most of my upper-division courses have a field component. Although some field work is done locally, we also travel to places including Missouri, Virginia and West Virginia, Arkansas, and the southwestern United States.
GEOL 107 Geology of National Parks. An overview of the geology of U.S. National Parks. Unifying geological principles emphasized. Major topics: sandstone parks, volcanic parks, hot springs and geothermal areas, caves and limestone parks, reefs and fossilized reefs, rivers and erosion, ice and glaciers, mountain building and mountain ranges. Three lectures, one 2- hour laboratory per week.
GEOL 108 Natural Disasters. An examination of the causes, effects, and options available to mitigate natural disasters, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, subsidence, coastal erosion, flooding, severe weather, and wildfires. Three lectures, one 2-hour laboratory per week. Spring.
GEOL 301 Mineralogy. Crystallography, atomic structure and bonding, phase equilibria and crystal chemistry, and the megascopic identification and descriptive mineralogy of nonsilicate and silicate minerals. Two lectures, one 3-hour laboratory per week. (Prerequisite: CHEM 105 or 115 and 117.) Fall of even years.
GEOL 302 Igneous & Metamorphic Geology. An introduction to the physical and chemical properties related to the formation of igneous and metamorphic rocks in different tectonic regimes. Laboratory study utilizes hand specimens and thin section analysis to interpret the origin of rocks. Two lectures, one 3-hour laboratory per week. (Prerequisite: GEOL 301.) Spring of odd years.
GEOL 307 Structural Geology. An introduction to the physical and chemical properties related to the formation of igneous and metamorphic rocks in different tectonic regimes. Laboratory study utilizes hand specimens and thin section analysis to interpret the origin of rocks. Two lectures, one 3-hour laboratory per week. (Prerequisite: GEOL 301.) Spring of odd years.
GEOL 319 Plate Tectonics. A global study of plate tectonics as a unifying solid-earth theory. Includes scientific development, geophysical evidence and application of plate tectonic processes to explain tectonic evolution of the Earth. Two lectures, one 2-hour laboratory per week. (Prerequisite: GEOL 307.) Fall of even years.
GEOL 320 U.S. Geology Field Experience. Students will research, give an oral presentation, and write an abstract on a specific geologic location in the US. Abstracts will be compiled as a field guide for a required field trip to these locations over Spring Break. May be repeated one time for credit. Offered as needed.
GEOL 400 Senior Research I. Original research, including data collection and analysis, on a geological or environmental geology topic. An abstract will be written summarizing the results. Fall, Spring
GEOL 401 Capstone: Senior Research II. Scientific writing, graphical methods, and oral presentations in the geological sciences. Student will write a formal paper and prepare an oral presentation using data collected in GEOL 400. A formal presentation is required. (Prerequisite: GEOL 400.) Spring.
ESS 201 Weather & Climate. Introduces the nature and causes of weather and climate patterns. Topics include: temperature, humidity and precipitation; pressure and wind; weather prediction; hurricanes, tornadoes and thunderstorms; effect of human activities on weather and climate; interrelationship between climate and ecosystems. (Does not satisfy the laboratory science requirement.) Spring of alternate years.
ESS 205 Environmental Geology. The interaction between natural systems and society, including the effects of volcanic activity, earthquakes, landslides, mineral and energy resources, soil contamination, surface and ground water pollution, waste management, and climate change. Two lectures, one 3-hour laboratory per week. (Prerequisite: GEOL101). Fall of alternate years.
GEOL 107 Geology of National Parks. An overview of the geology of U.S. National Parks. Unifying geological principles emphasized. Major topics: sandstone parks, volcanic parks, hot springs and geothermal areas, caves and limestone parks, reefs and fossilized reefs, rivers and erosion, ice and glaciers, mountain building and mountain ranges. Three lectures, one 2- hour laboratory per week.
GEOL 108 Natural Disasters. An examination of the causes, effects, and options available to mitigate natural disasters, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, subsidence, coastal erosion, flooding, severe weather, and wildfires. Three lectures, one 2-hour laboratory per week. Spring.
GEOL 301 Mineralogy. Crystallography, atomic structure and bonding, phase equilibria and crystal chemistry, and the megascopic identification and descriptive mineralogy of nonsilicate and silicate minerals. Two lectures, one 3-hour laboratory per week. (Prerequisite: CHEM 105 or 115 and 117.) Fall of even years.
GEOL 302 Igneous & Metamorphic Geology. An introduction to the physical and chemical properties related to the formation of igneous and metamorphic rocks in different tectonic regimes. Laboratory study utilizes hand specimens and thin section analysis to interpret the origin of rocks. Two lectures, one 3-hour laboratory per week. (Prerequisite: GEOL 301.) Spring of odd years.
GEOL 307 Structural Geology. An introduction to the physical and chemical properties related to the formation of igneous and metamorphic rocks in different tectonic regimes. Laboratory study utilizes hand specimens and thin section analysis to interpret the origin of rocks. Two lectures, one 3-hour laboratory per week. (Prerequisite: GEOL 301.) Spring of odd years.
GEOL 319 Plate Tectonics. A global study of plate tectonics as a unifying solid-earth theory. Includes scientific development, geophysical evidence and application of plate tectonic processes to explain tectonic evolution of the Earth. Two lectures, one 2-hour laboratory per week. (Prerequisite: GEOL 307.) Fall of even years.
GEOL 320 U.S. Geology Field Experience. Students will research, give an oral presentation, and write an abstract on a specific geologic location in the US. Abstracts will be compiled as a field guide for a required field trip to these locations over Spring Break. May be repeated one time for credit. Offered as needed.
GEOL 400 Senior Research I. Original research, including data collection and analysis, on a geological or environmental geology topic. An abstract will be written summarizing the results. Fall, Spring
GEOL 401 Capstone: Senior Research II. Scientific writing, graphical methods, and oral presentations in the geological sciences. Student will write a formal paper and prepare an oral presentation using data collected in GEOL 400. A formal presentation is required. (Prerequisite: GEOL 400.) Spring.
ESS 201 Weather & Climate. Introduces the nature and causes of weather and climate patterns. Topics include: temperature, humidity and precipitation; pressure and wind; weather prediction; hurricanes, tornadoes and thunderstorms; effect of human activities on weather and climate; interrelationship between climate and ecosystems. (Does not satisfy the laboratory science requirement.) Spring of alternate years.
ESS 205 Environmental Geology. The interaction between natural systems and society, including the effects of volcanic activity, earthquakes, landslides, mineral and energy resources, soil contamination, surface and ground water pollution, waste management, and climate change. Two lectures, one 3-hour laboratory per week. (Prerequisite: GEOL101). Fall of alternate years.