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Geology

Geology (GEOL)

Professor: R. Craig Kochel

Associate Professors: Christopher G. Daniel (Chair), Mary Beth Gray, Carl S. Kirby, Jeffrey M. Trop

Assistant Professors:Chad Ferguson (visiting),  Ellen K. Herman

Geology is the natural science that involves the nature and history of the earth, including scientific analysis of environmental problems. The Bucknell geology curriculum engages students with concepts and issues related to the earth and its environments, through coursework, field studies, and scientific research. A geology degree equips students with analytical skills, problem solving skills, communication skills, experience in teamwork, and solid grounding in field-based science. Geology includes diverse subdisciplines ranging from geologic hazards and geochemistry to hydrogeology and geological engineering. At an introductory level, geology coursework provides students with basic knowledge of the earth and its systems and how that knowledge can provide an understanding of potential solutions to environmental problems. Knowledge of the earth, its processes, hazards, history, resources, and limitations can be an important component of a liberal education and also can provide a foundation for advanced work in the discipline.

An undergraduate degree provides the foundation needed for employment or graduate degree specialization. In addition to gaining acceptance to some of the most prestigious graduate programs in the country, recent graduates have secured employment in environmental or engineering consulting firms, governmental agencies, and educational institutions. Students also have used our courses toward certification as teachers in earth and space sciences.

At Bucknell University, students can major in either environmental geology or geology, and each of these is available in both bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degree programs. These four tracks are united in having a common core of six geology courses (GEOL 103, 104, 201, 210, 214, 217). A bachelor of science track is appropriate for students who have decided to begin a career in geoscience or pursue a graduate degree in a geologic/environmental profession. Students who elect a bachelor of arts track hold greater curricular flexibility, allowing for a second major or minor. Recent bachelor of arts graduates have attended graduate school or secured employment in geoscience, environmental science, environmental law or policy, education, business, medicine, and science writing.

Geology

The bachelor of arts major in geology consists of the six core courses (GEOL 103*, 104, 201, 210, 214, 217), plus two additional courses at the 200 level or above, with the exception of GEOL 319, 320, 329, and 430; laboratory science courses in other departments may be substituted for any of these two courses with the approval of the department. Students are encouraged to take a summer field course in geology, to elect additional courses in science and mathematics, and to participate in independent study research opportunities through GEOL 319-320 or GEOL 329-430, with the latter experience preferred.

The bachelor of science major in geology requires 12 courses (one for half-course credit):

1) the six core courses (GEOL 103*, 104, 201, 210, 214, 217), 2) GEOL 312, 329, and 430, and 3) three courses selected from GEOL 205, 213, 301, 305, 310, 321 or 322, and 324. Additional requirements include MATH 201-202, MATH 211 or 216; PHYS 211; CHEM 201-202 or CHEM 211-212 or CHEM 221 with approval of the advisers. A summer course in field geology is strongly recommended.

The recommended sequence for the bachelor of science major is as follows. (The sequence may be altered in consultation with the adviser.)

*GEOL 103 ordinarily required for the major. Other 100-level geology courses may be approved by consultation with the department.

**Denotes half-credit course.

^Three courses chosen from GEOL 205, 213, 301, 305, 321/322 (only one), 324.

Environmental Geology

The bachelor of arts major in environmental geology consists of eight courses: 1) the six core courses (GEOL 103*, 104, 201, 210, 214, 217), 2) GEOL 205, and 3) one course selected from GEOL 301, 305, 310, and 324. Students are encouraged to take a summer field geology course, a course in statistics, and to participate in independent study research opportunities through GEOL 319-320 or GEOL 329-430, with the latter experience preferred. Electives are recommended in science and mathematics, as well as from other departments offering environmental sciences and engineering courses.

The bachelor of science major in environmental geology requires 12 courses (one for halfcourse credit): 1) the six core courses (GEOL 103*, 104, 201, 210, 214, 217), 2) GEOL 205, 324, 329, 430, 3) one course selected from GEOL 301, 305, and 310, and 4) one course selected from GEOL 213, 312, 321, or 322. Additional requirements for the major include: MATH 201-202; PHYS 211; and two courses from an approved list of courses from either biology, chemistry, or civil engineering. The list of approved courses that can be used to meet this last requirement include: 1) two courses selected in biology from BIOL 208, 334, 344, 356, 358, and 415; or 2) CHEM 201-202; CHEM 211-212; or CHEM 221 with approval of the adviser; or 3) two courses in engineering selected from CENG 320, 340, 350, 421, 425, 444, 451, and ENGR 220, 222. Additional courses from biology, chemistry, or civil engineering may be substituted with the approval of the department. A summer course in field geology is strongly recommended. Additional courses in statistics and advanced mathematics are recommended for students planning graduate and advanced professional work.

The recommended sequence for the bachelor of science major in environmental geology is as follows. (The sequence may be altered in consultation with adviser.)

*GEOL 103 ordinarily required for the major. Other 100-level courses may be approved by consultation with the department.

**Denotes half-credit course.

^Two courses in the same department selected from 1) BIOL 208, 334, 356, 358, 415; 2) CENG 320, 340, 350, 421, 425, 444, 451, ENGR 220, 222 or 3) CHEM 211-212.

@If a student’s schedule permits, the department recommends that this course be taken in an earlier year.

Students may choose from three minors in the area of geology:

• The minor in geology requires GEOL 103 or 106 and 104; and any two 200- or 300-level geology courses except GEOL 230, 319, 320, 329, and 430.
  
• The engineering geology minor requires four courses: GEOL 150 and 201; and any two 200- or 300- level geology courses except 213, 230, 312, 319, 320, 329, and 430.
  
• The environmental geology minor requires four courses: one from GEOL 103, 106, or 150; and any three from GEOL 205, 210, 301, 310, and 324.

Independent supervised research experiences are strongly encouraged by the department. Many of these are associated with the Senior Program (GEOL 329, 430), but other opportunities are available through Undergraduate Research (GEOL 319, 320).

The department encourages majors who are completing independent research experiences and who meet requirements to become candidates for Honors.

The department attempts to make it possible for students to enroll in study abroad programs. At times this involves changing sequences of recommended courses. Consultation with major adviser is essential.

103. The Dynamic Earth (I and II; 3, 4)
General introduction to the earth’s external and internal dynamic systems, the processes that operate within plate tectonics to make Earth a unique planet, and human interaction with the earth. Not open to students who have taken GEOL 106 or GEOL 150.

104. Evolution of the Earth (I and II; 3, 4)
An introduction to the evolution of life, climate, plate tectonics, and catastrophes through time provides perspective for making decisions about ongoing human impacts on the environment. Demonstrated by a field-based study of the Appalachian Mountains. Prerequisite: first- or second-year status, others by permission.

106. Environmental Geology (I and II; 3, 4)
Geologic factors and limitations that affect use or management of the environment. Not open to students who have taken GEOL 103 or GEOL 150.

107. Global Change - Past and Presnt (I or II; 3, 0)
Introduction to major transformations of the physical, biological, and chemical components of Earth systems from a geological perspective including climate, tectonics, biodiversity, sea-level and ocean circulation.

150. Engineering Geology (II; 3, 4)
Basic principles, including properties of rocks and soils, hydrology, surface processes, rock mechanics, environmental parameters, geological hazards, and engineering case histories. Not open to students who have taken GEOL 103 or GEOL 106.

201. Structural Geology (I; 3, 4)
Orientation and geometric analyses of rock structures, kinematics and mechanics of rock deformation at all scales. Prerequisite: GEOL 103, 106, 150, or permission of the instructor.

205. Introduction to Geochemistry (I; 3, 4)
Element distribution, basic thermodynamics and kinetics, mineral and gas solubility, phase diagrams, stable and radioactive isotopes, oxidation-reduction processes, surface geochemistry, composition of natural waters. Prerequisites: MATH 201; CHEM 201- 202; or permission of the instructor.

207. Environmental Geohazards (I or II; 3, 0)
Geologic environmental hazards. Emphasis on hazards recognition and assessment in seminars, and field applications. Topics include: soils, slopes, floods, fans, earthquakes, land use, coastal and groundwater hazards. Open to geology majors by permission of the instructor.

210. Geomorphology (II; 3, 4)
Physical processes shaping the earth’s surface and evolution of resulting landforms. Emphasis on linkages between landscape components and understanding complex relationships between process and form. Prerequisite: one 100-level course in geology.

213. Paleontology (AI; 3, 4)
Principles of evolution and ecology applied to investigation of ancient life. Emphasis on characteristics of marine invertebrate fossils. Prerequisite: GEOL 104 or permission of the instructor.

214. Physical Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (II; 3, 4)
Principles and techniques of the study of depositional processes and environments. Introduction to physical, chemical, and biological influences on sedimentation. Emphasis on semester-long, field-based project in the Appalachian basin. Prerequisite: GEOL 104.

217. Crystallography-Mineralogy (I; 3, 3)
Principles of crystallography and mineralogy; crystal morphology, structure, chemistry, physical properties, genesis, occurrence, and identification of important minerals by various techniques including x-ray diffraction. Prerequisite: GEOL 103, 106, 150, or permission of the instructor.

230. Environmental GIS (AI or II; 3, 4)
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in geologic mapping, environmental monitoring, and hydrologic modeling. Introduction to global positioning (GPS), environmental databases, spatial analyses, and terrain modeling.

301. Geophysics (AI or II; 3, 3)
Broad-based introduction to the principles of applied and solid earth geophysics. Environmental applications of geophysics will be examined. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.

305. Aqueous and Environmental Geochemistry (AII; 3, 4)
Thermodynamics and kinetics as applied to environmental geochemical problems such as aqueous complexation, weathering, clay minerals, sorption phenomena. Analytical and statistical approaches to geochemical data collection and reduction. Prerequisite: GEOL 205 or permission of the instructor.

310. Applied Environmental Geomorphology (AII; 3, 4)
Surviving on a complex and dynamic earth surface. Understanding environmental problems and geologic hazards with geologic principles set in a multidisciplinary framework. Prerequisites: GEOL 210 and permission of the instructor.

312. Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (II; 3, 3)
The classification, mineralogy, petrography, geochemistry, structure, and genesis of igneous and metamorphic rocks. The interpretation of tectonic settings from igneous and metamorphic rocks. Prerequisite: GEOL 217.

319 and 320. Undergraduate Research (I or II; R) Half or full course.
Research course for qualified students in any branch of geology. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.

321 and 322. Special Topics in Geology (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Investigation, report, or discussion on currently significant topics in geology. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.

324. Hydrogeology (I or II; 3, 4)
Fundamentals of subsurface flow, regional groundwater flow, well hydraulics, and groundwater quality. Prerequisites: GEOL 103, 106, 150, or permission of the instructor.

329. Senior Program I (II; 1, 4) Half course.
Planning, bibliographic compilation, instruction in techniques, and initial work on senior thesis. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.

430. Senior Program II (I; 0, 8)
Independent research, stressing field and laboratory investigation of geologic problems, and culminating in a senior thesis. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.