Geology is the study of the planet Earth-the materials of which it is made, the processes that act upon these materials, and the history of the planet and life forms since its origin. Geology considers the physical forces acting on the earth, the chemistry of its constituent materials, and the biology of its past inhabitants. Geology also includes the study of the interrelationships in the modern environment of humans and geological phenomena and focuses on such important concerns as how our global climate is changing and how that change will affect human activities.
The Department of Geology offers the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees from Indiana University. These programs prepare students for graduate studies and for a variety of careers with emphasis on investigation of the environment by federal and state agencies, industries, and consulting companies. The programs allow flexibility to accommodate the needs and interests of all students. Selection of a particular program should be made in consultation with a departmental advisor.
The Department of Geology offers graduate study leading to the Master of Science (M.S.) degree granted by Indiana University. The M.S. program offers both thesis and nonthesis options.
Faculty and students of the Department of Geology are actively engaged in basic and applied research. Specific research areas include igneous petrology, geochemistry, hydrogeology, glacial geology and soils, sedimentary geochemistry, paleoclimate, biomineralization, sedimentology, history of geology, and paleontology.
(This program is in the approval process for an Indiana University degree. Please consult the department for the official status of the program.)
This program provides a foundation of knowledge concerning earth surface processes necessary for employment in the environmental industry, as well as college-level skills in data collection, analysis, and communication.
Admission requirements are the same as those of the undergraduate programs in the Department of Geology and the School of Science as listed in this bulletin.
The undergraduate minor in geology requires 18 credit hours of courses, with an overall grade point average of 2.0 (C) and with no grade less than a C-, distributed as follows:
At least 9 credit hours of the minor must be taken at IUPUI. In addition, recommended courses include one year of college chemistry and at least one course in college algebra.
There is no single semester-by-semester plan of study for either the B.A. or B.S. degree because of the flexibility encouraged within the program. However, one possible sequence of courses for each degree is given below; variations from these samples of plans of study should be made in consultation with a departmental advisor.
Courses in Geology (GEOL)
Courses with numbers in the 100s and 200s are lower-division undergraduate courses. Courses with numbers in the 300s and 400s are upper-division undergraduate courses that may, in some cases, be used for graduate credit. Courses in the 300s may be used for graduate credit by graduate students in education, but not by other students. Courses in the 400s may be taken for graduate credit by all graduate students. Courses numbered 500 or higher are graduate courses.
Note: P-prerequisite; C-corequisite; R-recommended; Fall-offered fall semester; Spring-offered spring semester; Summer-offered in the summer session; Day-offered as a daytime section; Night-offered as an evening section. For courses with no designated semester or section, consult the Schedule of Classes. Equiv.-course is equivalent to the indicated course taught at Indiana University, Bloomington or the indicated course taught at Purdue University, West Lafayette.
G107 Environmental Geology (3 cr.) P: None. Fall, spring, summer. An introduction to geology through discussion of geological topics that show the influence of geology on modern society. Topics include mineral and energy resources, water resources, geologic hazards and problems, geology and health, and land use.
G109 Fundamentals of Earth History (3 cr.) P: None. Fall, spring, summer. Basic principles of earth history: geologic time, basic rock types, reconstructing past environments. Physical development of the earth: its interior, mountain formation, plate tectonics. Origin and development of life: evolution, the fossil record. With laboratory G119, equivalent to IU GEOL G104, IU GEOL G112, and PU GEOS 112.
G110 Physical Geology (3 cr.) P: None. Fall, spring, summer. Introduction to processes within and at the surface of the earth. Description, classification, and origin of minerals and rocks. The rock cycle. Internal processes: volcanism, earthquakes, crustal deformation, mountain building, plate tectonics. External processes: weathering, mass wasting, streams, glaciers, ground water, deserts, coasts. With laboratory G120, equivalent to IU GEOL G103, IU GEOL G111, and PU GEOS 111.
G115 Introduction to Oceanography (3 cr.) P: None. Fall, spring, summer. Nonmathematical introduction to the geology, biology, and physical characteristics of the ocean. Includes waves, tides, and currents of the world ocean, the adaptations and distribution of marine animals, pollution of the marine ecosystem, and an introduction to the global ocean/atmosphere system.
G117 Environmental Geology Laboratory (1 cr.) P or C: G107. Fall, spring, summer. Laboratory exercises in environmental aspects of the geosciences. To accompany G107.
G119 Fundamentals of Earth History Laboratory (1 cr.) P or C: G109. Fall, spring, summer. Laboratory studies of rocks, fossils, and stratigraphic principles to reconstruct past environments and interpret earth history. To accompany G109.
G120 Physical Geology Laboratory (1 cr.) P or C: G110. Fall, spring, summer. Laboratory studies of minerals and rocks, landscapes, and earth structures. To accompany G110 for non-geology majors.
G123 Art and the Earth Sciences (3 cr.) The principles of geology and the evolution of the Earth and life as revealed by art objects. Use of Earth materials in art. The influence of art history on the development of modern geologic thought. Laboratories in lithography, etching, music, morphing, and microscopy.
G130 Short Courses in Earth Science (topic varies) (1 cr.) P: None. Five-week short courses on a variety of topics in the earth sciences. Examples of topics include lunar and planetary geology; geology of Indiana; geology of national parks; glaciers; water; gemstones; geology of art; earthquakes, volcanoes; dinosaurs. Each short course is one credit; no topic may be taken for credit more than once.
G132 Environmental Problems (3 cr.) This course is offered via the Internet, and provides experience in addressing some of the kinds of problems that arise in studies of the environment. Particular attention is given to developing skills in evaluating scientific articles; specifically, the relevance of the information in an article, the credibility of the author, and the accuracy and usefulness of the quantitative information provided. The kinds of problems considered in this course will vary from semester to semester, but will be chosen from a list that includes global warming, tropical rain forests, acid rain, water pollution, solid waste disposal, appropriate use of land, and the ability of regulations to protect the environment. Three or four such topics will be covered each semester.
G135 Indiana Geology (3 cr.) An in-depth investigation of Indiana's geology, including minerals and rocks, geologic time, mineral resources, fossils, topography, soil, water resources, and special geologic features such as the Falls of the Ohio River and Indiana Dunes.
G136 Indiana Geology Field Experience (1 cr.) P or C: G107, G110, or G135. Application of geologic principles to the solution of geologic problems in field settings. Projects on geologic topics including sedimentary rocks and fossils, soils, mineral resources, hydrology, glacial history, and karst topography. Students undertake two projects per semester and must be available on two Saturdays for field work. Preparation for field days uses a combination of television, the Web, and e-mail. Each project requires a written report.
G180 Dinosaurs (3 cr.) P: None. Fall, spring, summer. A survey of the characteristics and evolution of dinosaurs. Topics include: occurrence of dinosaur remains in the fossil record, basic anatomy, principles used in classification, types of predatory and plant-eating dinosaurs, environments occupied during life, biology and behavior, extinction theories, dinosaur hunters, and dinosaurs in the media and the public eye.
G199 Service Learning in Geology (1 cr.) P or C: G107, G110, or G115. Students participate in community service projects. Completion of the project includes a paper reflecting on how the service experience contributed to their application of the principles of general education.
G205 Reporting Skills in Geoscience (3 cr.) P: G110 and G209, and ENG W131. Spring. Techniques of presenting written and oral reports from the geoscience approach. The written report: mechanics of format and illustrations, proper citation of geoscience literature, the abstract, proofreading, and editing. The oral report: effective presentation and response to audience questions, simulating a professional science meeting.
G206 Advanced Physical Geology Laboratory (2 cr.) P or C: G110. Fall, spring. The laboratory study of minerals, rocks, topographic maps and aerial photographs, landforms and landscapes, structural geology, and geologic maps.
G209 History of the Earth (3 cr.) P: G110, G206. Fall, spring. Earth history emphasizing physical and biological evolution. Geologic time, stratigraphic correlation, plate tectonics, depositional environments, paleogeography, and evolution of life. Laboratory. Field trips.
G221 Introductory Mineralogy (3 cr.) P: G206 and CHEM C105. Fall. Crystallography: symmetry, morphology, classes. Mineral chemistry, physics, and genesis. Description, identification, association, occurrence, and use of common and important minerals.
G222 Introductory Petrology (3 cr.) P: G221 and CHEM C106. Spring. Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks: composition, field occurrence, characteristics, classification, origin, laboratory description, and identification.
G300 Environmental and Urban Geology (3 cr.) P: G107 or G110 or consent of instructor. Significance of regional and local geologic features and geologic processes in land use planning; use of geologic data in areas of rapid urbanization to properly utilize mineral and water resources and to assess potential geologic hazards.
G303 Geologic Mapping and Field Methods (4 cr.) P: G205, G209, and G222, or consent of instructor. Fall. Brunton-compass and GPS/GIS mapping. Measuring and describing stratigraphic sections of sedimentary rocks and surficial deposits. Mapping geologic structures. Field hydrology. Interpretation of maps, aerial photographs, and satellite imagery.
G304 Principles of Paleontology (3 cr.) P: G209 or consent of instructor. Spring. Biological principles applied to the fossil record. Examination of the quality of the fossil record, taxonomic principles and procedures, analytical techniques, evolutionary theory, evolution and paleoecology of species, populations and communities, diversification and extinction, paleogeography. Laboratories: systematics, stratigraphic distribution, and ecology of major fossilized invertebrate phyla.
G323 Structural Geology (3 cr.) P: G205, G206, G209, G222, G303. Spring. Nature and origin of primary and secondary structural features of the earth's crust, with emphasis on mechanics of deformation and origin, and three-dimensional problems illustrating structural concepts. Laboratory.
G334 Principles of Sedimentation and Stratigraphy (3 cr.) P: G205, G209, and G222. P or C: G303. Fall. Processes and factors influencing genesis of sedimentary particles and their deposition. Interpretation of depositional environments. Sedimentary facies and interpretation of stratigraphic record from outcrop, core sequence, and remote sensing. Laboratory. Field trip.
G403 Optical Mineralogy and Petrography (3 cr.) P: G205, G222. Identification of rock-forming minerals in fragments and thin sections using principles of optical crystallography and the petrographic microscope. Description of common igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks and interpretation of their genesis using hand specimens and thin sections.
G404 Geobiology (3 cr.) P: G205, G209, and G222, and BIOL K101 or BIOL K103 or BIOL N107, or consent of instructor. Principles of paleontology. Emphasis on invertebrates. Major patterns and fundamentals of biological evolution as revealed by the fossil record. Use of fossils in the study of stratigraphy and Earth's history. Laboratory exercises examine the form, ecology, and stratigraphic record of major phyla with a fossil record.
G406 Introduction to Geochemistry (3 cr.) P: G205, CHEM C106, or consent of instructor. Interactions between geology, chemistry, and biology in natural systems. Explores biogeochemical processes on small scales and in terms of global cycles, as well as human impacts on biogeochemical cycling.
G410 Undergraduate Research in Geology (1-3 cr.) P: G205, junior standing, and consent of instructor. Field and laboratory research in selected problems in geology. May be repeated. A total of 3 credit hours may be applied toward the degree.
G413 Introduction to Geophysics (3 cr.) P: G205 and consent of instructor. Applications of gravity, magnetics, seismology, electricity, and other methods of mineral exploration, engineering, and environmental investigations.
G415 Principles of Geomorphology (3 cr.) P: G205, G209, G222, and G303. P or C: G334. Natural processes that create landforms and landscapes. Physics and chemistry of weathering and soil formation. Dynamics of mass wasting, streams, and glaciers. Includes field and laboratory investigations.
G416 Economic Geology (3 cr.) P: G205 and G222, or consent of instructor. Origin, geologic occurrence, distribution, use, and conservation of important geologic natural resources: metallic minerals; industrial minerals and rocks; coal, petroleum, natural gas, and other energy resources.
G420 Regional Geology Field Trip (1-3 cr.) P: G205 or consent of instructor. Summer. Field trip to selected regions for study of mineralogic, lithologic, stratigraphic, structural, paleontologic, geomorphologic, or other geological relationships.
G430 Principles of Hydrology (4 cr.) P: G205, G206, MATH 153, CHEM C106, PHYS P202 or PHYS 251, and introductory biology. An introduction to the hydrologic cycle reviewing processes such as precipitation, evaporation and transpiration, infiltration, runoff, streamflow and watersheds, and ground water.
G445 Applied Analytical Techniques in Geology (3 cr.) P: G221, CHEM C105-C106, and consent of instructor. Principles of advanced analytical techniques including x-ray analysis, electron beam imaging and analysis, and mass spectrometry, with applications in geosciences. Lectures on theory followed by laboratory exercises. Students will complete individual or collaborative research projects.
G451 Principles of Hydrogeology (3 cr.) P: G205 and G110, or consent of instructor. R: G334. Geologic and hydrologic factors controlling the occurrence and dynamics of ground water. Emphasis on basic physical and chemical relationships between water and geologic material.
G460 Internship in Geology (3 cr.) P: G303, G304, G323, G334. Fall, spring, summer. Industrial or similar experiences in geologically oriented employment. Projects jointly arranged, coordinated, and evaluated by faculty and industrial/governmental supervisors.
G490 Seminar in Geology (1-3 cr.) P: Junior or senior standing and consent of instructor. Readings and discussion of selected topics. May be repeated, provided different topics are studied, for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
G495 Senior Thesis in Geology (1 cr.) P: G303, G304, G323, G334, two 400-level geology courses. Capstone experience involving a research project. Written report required.
G499 Honors Research in Geology (3 cr.) P: Approval of departmental Honors Committee.
G502 Trace Element and Isotope Geochemistry (3 cr.) P: CHEM C360 or C361 or GEOL G406. Principles governing the distributions of trace elements, radioisotopes, and stable isotopes in igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary environments and Quaternary landforms. Emphasis on applications to petrology and geochronology.
G525 Glacial Geology (3 cr.) P: G415 or consent of instructor. Formation, dynamics, and regimen of glaciers. Erosional and depositional processes and landforms. Glaciation of North America with emphasis on stratigraphy, soils, climates, and physical changes resulting from glacial processes and environments. Field investigations and a student research project required.
G527 Geological Oceanography (3 cr.) P: Graduate standing, G334, and G413. Geological features and processes operating in the oceans; continental shelf, slope and ocean-basin geomorphology, sedimentology, structure, and composition; origin and geologic history of seawater and ocean basins.
G535 Quaternary Geology (3 cr.) P: G415 or consent of instructor. Characteristics, distribution, and origin of Pleistocene and recent deposits, stratigraphy and chronology; formation of associated landforms, landscapes, paleosols, and soils; Quaternary environments and paleoclimatic interpretation.
G545 Applied Analytical Techniques in Geology (3 cr.) P: G221, CHEM C105-C106, and consent of instructor. Principles of advanced analytical techniques including x-ray analysis, electron beam imaging and analysis, and mass spectrometry, with applications in geosciences. Lectures on theory followed by laboratory exercises. Students will complete individual or collaborative research projects.
G550 Surface-Water Hydrology (3 cr.) P: G430 or G451. In-depth analysis of surface water components of hydrologic cycle: hydrometeorology, evaporation/transpiration, rainfall-runoff relationships, open-channel flow, flood hydrology, and statistical and probabilistic methods in hydrology.
G551 Advanced Hydrogeology (3 cr.) P: G430 or G451. Advanced treatment of concepts fundamental to subsurface hydrologic processes. Applications to ground water resource development and environmental protection such as aquifer mechanics and well hydraulics, heterogeneity and anisotropy, ground water and surface water interactions, unsaturated flow, and tracer and contaminant transport.
G585 Environmental Geochemistry (3 cr.) P: G406 or consent of instructor. Aquatic and environmental geochemistry, including freshwater and marine systems, natural and human-induced changes to geochemical systems, and the geochemical record of paleoceanographic and paleoclimatic variations.
G595 Data Analysis Techniques in Geoscience (3 cr.) P: STAT 301 and CSCI 207, or equivalent. Application of statistical and numerical analysis techniques to geoscience data, including sampling methods, confidence intervals, least squares methods, correlation, time series analysis, and multivariate techniques. Emphasis on using a computer to solve geoscience problems.
G596 Topics in Applied Environmental Geology (3 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. Application of geologic principles to common environmental problems. Topics covered include waste site assessment, flood hazard analysis and mitigation, slope stability, and hydrogeology. Application of principles to problems pertaining to urban planning, earthquake-resistant design, and waste site/landfill development.
G621 Modeling Hydrological Systems (3 cr.) P: G430 or G451 and consent of instructor. Introduction to ground water flow and solute transport modeling. Includes development of equations describing ground water flow and applied ground water/contaminant transport modeling using a variety of current software packages.
G635 Soil Geomorphology (3 cr.) P: G415. Application of geomorphic principles in evaluation of weathering and soil formation; systems analysis of soil-landscape models; paleogeomorphology and paleopedology. Lectures and discussion; field and laboratory problems.
G640 Fluvial Geomorphology (3 cr.) P: G415 or consent of instructor. Survey of fluvial processes including sediment transport, bed and bank erosion, and river metamorphosis. Examination of the controls on channel form. Analysis of landform genesis with an emphasis on feature sedimentology and stratigraphy. Application of fluvial geomorphic principles to land management and restoration of riparian ecosystems.
G645 Carbonate Sedimentology (3 cr.) P: G334 or consent of instructor. Spring. Course focuses on origin and generation of carbonate grains, description of modern carbonate depositional environments, interpretation of ancient limestone and dolomite sequences, and carbonate diagenesis.
G690 Advanced Geology Seminar (cr. arr.) P: Consent of instructor.
G700 Geologic Problems (1-5 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. Consideration of special geologic problems.
G810 Thesis Research (6 cr.)
