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1000E. The Human Epoch: Living in the Anthropocene

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Introduction to geoscience focusing on human activities as agents of geologic change. Examines human planetary processes in our current epoch, the Anthropocene. Provides a novel frame for contemporary environmental issues such as climate change, sustainability, mass extinctions, land use, and waste disposal. Interaction between earthly processes and human affairs. CA 3. Formerly offered as GSCI 1000E.

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1010. Dinosaurs, Extinctions, and Environmental Catastrophes

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Not open for credit to students who have passed ERTH 1050, 1051, 1055, or 1070.

Grading Basis: Graded

A reconstruction of the Mesozoic world of the dinosaurs based on paleontological and geological evidence. Past and present environmental catastrophes leading to mass extinctions and changes in biodiversity. Fundamental concepts of geology, stratigraphy, historical geology, and paleoclimatology. CA 3. Formerly offered as GSCI 1010.

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1050. Earth's Dynamic Environment

4.00 credits

Prerequisites: Not open for credit to students who have passed ERTH 1010, 1051, 1055, or 1070.

Grading Basis: Graded

Origin and history of planet Earth, emphasizing how rock, air, water, and life interact at different scales to produce the earth's crust, landforms, life systems, natural resources, catastrophes, and climatic regimes. Provides a scientific context for human-induced global change. CA 3-LAB. Formerly offered as GSCI 1050.

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1051. Earth's Dynamic Environment (Lecture)

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Not open for credit to students who have passed ERTH 1010, 1050, 1055, or 1070.

Grading Basis: Graded

Origin and history of planet Earth, emphasizing how rock, air, water, and life interact at different scales to produce the earth's crust, landforms, life systems, natural resources, catastrophes, and climatic regimes. Provides a scientific context for human-induced global change. Students who complete both ERTH 1051 and 1052 may request that ERTH 1051 be converted to a CA 3 Laboratory course. CA 3. Formerly offered as GSCI 1051.

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1052. Earth's Dynamic Environment (Laboratory)

1.00 credits

Prerequisites: ERTH 1010 or 1051 or 1055 or 1070, any of which may be taken concurrently. Not open to students who have passed ERTH 1050.

Grading Basis: Graded

Laboratory complement to ERTH 1010, 1051, 1055, and 1070. Provides an opportunity to work with specimens (minerals, fossils, rocks), terrain images, maps, physical models, and simulation experiments. Includes local field trips. Students who complete both ERTH 1052 and one of ERTH 1010, 1051, 1055 or 1070 may request that the prerequisite be converted to a CA 3 Laboratory course. Formerly offered as GSCI 1052.

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1053. Discussion Earth and Life Through Time

1.00 credits | May be repeated for credit.

Prerequisites: ERTH 1050 or 1051 or 1052 (must be taken concurrently) or instructor consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

Faculty-taught weekly discussions to enhance ERTH 1050 and 1051. Emphasis and approach will vary, but all sections will track the lecture syllabus. Formerly offered as GSCI 1053.

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1054. Field Trips Earth and Life Through Time

1.00 credits | May be repeated for credit.

Prerequisites: ERTH 1050 or 1051 or 1052 (must be taken concurrently) or instructor consent.

Grading Basis: Graded

Two or more faculty-led weekend field trips to nearby sites of interest, designed to enhance ERTH 1050 and 1051. Formerly offered as GSCI 1054.

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1055. Geoscience and the American Landscape

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open only to Honors students. Not open for credit to students who have passed ERTH 1010, 1050, 1051, 1070.

Grading Basis: Honors Credit

An Honors Core course. Foundation course in geology linked to the American Landscape through readings from American history and literature. Students who complete both ERTH 1055 and ERTH 1052 may request that ERTH 1055 be converted to a CA 3 Laboratory course. CA 3. Formerly offered as GSCI 1055.

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1070. Natural Disasters and Environmental Change

Also offered as: GEOG 1070

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Not open for credit to students who have passed ERTH 1010, 1050, 1051, 1055.

Grading Basis: Graded

Climate change, global warming, natural hazards, earth surface processes, and the impact these have on human populations now and in the past. Students who complete both ERTH 1070 and ERTH 1052 may request that ERTH 1070 be converted to a CA 3 Laboratory course. CA 3. Formerly offered as GSCI 1070.

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2050W. Communicating Earth and Environmental Science

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: ENGL 1007 or 1010 or 1011 or 2011.

Grading Basis: Graded

An exploration of different aspects of Earth and environmental science involving human planetary impacts that hones the writing skills used for different modes of communication. Geoscience topics will involve climate change, natural hazards, natural resources, earth history, geo-education, and landscape interpretation. Modes of communication will include some combination of field notes, oral presentations, interviews, videos, podcasts, websites, essays, opinions, reviews, and technical articles. Formerly offered as GSCI 2050W.

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2310E. Creating and Sustaining National Parks

Also offered as: GEOG 2310E

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Geologic processes that create the Earth’s iconic landscapes through the study of National Parks, Monuments, and Seashores. Plate tectonics, climate and biotic change, natural hazards, Earth materials and resources, environmental conservation, and the interactions between human society and the natural world. Formerly offered as GSCI 2310E. TOI-4.

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2500. Earth System Science

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: ERTH 1050 or both ERTH 1052 and one of ERTH 1010 or 1051 or 1055 or GEOG/ERTH 1070.

Grading Basis: Graded

Introduction to earth system science, geoscience research methods, and professional practice through lab work, field work in UConn Forest, visits to faculty labs, and culminating project. Formerly offered as GSCI 2500.

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2800. Our Evolving Atmosphere

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Not open for credit to students who have passed NRE 3145 or 3146.

Grading Basis: Graded

An introduction to atmospheric science, including a history of the field, features of the atmosphere, weather forecasting, a geologic history of climate change, and the impact of anthropogenic systems. CA 3. TOI-4. TOI-6. Formerly offered as GSCI 2800.

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3010. Earth History and Global Change

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: ERTH 1050 or both ERTH 1052 and one of ERTH 1010 or 1051 or 1055 or 1070 or GEOG 1070.

Grading Basis: Graded

Reconstruction of earth history from geological data. Processes and events responsible for the stratigraphic record, and techniques used to decipher it. An integrated survey of earth history. One or more weekend field trips may be required. Formerly offered as GSCI 3010.

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3020. Earth Surface Processes

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: ERTH 1050 or both ERTH 1052 and one of ERTH 1010 or 1051 or 1055 or 1070 or GEOG 1070.

Grading Basis: Graded

Processes responsible for the formation of the unconsolidated materials, landforms, and soils which constitute the Earth's surface. Introduction to surface-water and groundwater hydrology, geological hazards and the effects of climatic change. One or more weekend field trips may be required. Formerly offered as GSCI 3020.

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3030. Earth Structure

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: ERTH 1050 or both ERTH 1052 and one of ERTH 1010 or 1051 or 1055 or 1070 or GEOG 1070.

Grading Basis: Graded

Description and interpretation of geological structures; stress and strain; contractional, extensional, and strike-slip tectonics; survey of New England geology; and application of principles of structural geology to environmental issues. One full-day field trip on a weekend may be required. Formerly offered as GSCI 3030.

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3040. Earth Materials

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: ERTH 1050 or both ERTH 1052 and one of ERTH 1010 or 1051 or 1055 or 1070 or GEOG 1070. Recommended preparation: CHEM 1124-1126 or 1127 and 1128.

Grading Basis: Graded

Principles of symmetry and crystal chemistry and the identification of minerals by hand sample, petrographic and x-ray methods. Description of the mineralogy and texture of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks and the application of contemporary petrogenetic models to the interpretation of the geologic environments they record. One or more weekend field trips may be required. Formerly offered as GSCI 3040.

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3230. Beaches and Coasts

Also offered as: MARN 3230

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: MARN 1002 or MARN 1003 or ERTH 1050 or ERTH 1051, or consent of instructor.

Grading Basis: Graded

Introduction to the processes that form and modify coasts and beaches, including tectonic setting, sediment supply, coastal composition, energy regimes and sea level change; tools and techniques utilized in marine geologic mapping and reconstruction of submerged coastal features; field trips to selected coastal features. Formerly offered as GSCI 3230.

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3710. Engineering and Environmental Geology

Also offered as: CE 3530, ENVE 3530

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Recommended preparation: ERTH 1050 or 1051.

Grading Basis: Graded

Application of geological principles to engineering and environmental problems. Topics include site investigation, geologic hazards, slope processes, earthquakes, subsidence, and the engineering properties of geologic materials. Course intended for both geoscience and engineering majors. Formerly offered as GSCI 3710.

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3990. Spring Field Trip

3.00 credits | May be repeated for credit.

Prerequisites: ERTH 1050 or both ERTH 1052 and one of ERTH 1010 or 1051 or 1055 or 1070 or GEOG 1070.

Grading Basis: Graded

A field-based introduction to the integration of geological and biological observations and processes. Field trip during and weekly meetings before and after spring break. May be repeated for credit with change in field venue or permission of the instructor. Formerly offered as GSCI 3990.

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4050W. Geoscience and Society

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: ERTH 1050 or 1051; at least two 2000-level or above ERTH courses one of which may be taken concurrently; ENGL 1007 or 1010 or 1011 or 2011; or instructor consent; open to juniors or higher.

Grading Basis: Graded

Application of fundamental geological principles to issues of concern to society such as global climate change; wildfires; drought and water resources; earthquake, volcano, and tsunami hazards; medical geology; energy resources; sustainability; and coastal processes. Formerly offered as GSCI 4050W.

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4110. Sedimentology and Stratigraphy

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: ERTH 1050 or both ERTH 1052 and one of ERTH 1010 or 1051 or 1055 or 1070 or GEOG 1070. Recommended preparation: ERTH 3020.

Grading Basis: Graded

Principles of sedimentology and stratigraphy. Physical processes of sediment transport and deposition. Characteristics of sediments and sedimentary rocks. Facies models for terrigenous clastic, chemical, and biochemical sediments. Stratigraphic frameworks and methodologies. One or more weekend field trips may be required. Formerly offered as GSCI 4110.

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4120. Paleobiology

Also offered as: EEB 4120

4.00 credits

Prerequisites: ERTH 1050; or both ERTH 1052 and one of ERTH 1010 or 1051 or 1055 or 1070 or GEOG 1070; or BIOL 1108.

Grading Basis: Graded

Ancient life, including the preservation of organisms as fossils, evolution, ecology, geobiology, biostratigraphy, and major events in the history of life. Includes microorganisms, animals, and plants. Formerly offered as GSCI 4120.

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4130. Geomicrobiology

Also offered as: MARN 4130

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: CHEM 1124Q, 1125Q and 1126Q; or CHEM 1127Q and 1128Q; or ERTH 2500; or permission of instructor.

Grading Basis: Graded

Microbial diversity and biogeochemistry in aquatic ecosystems, microbe-mineral interactions, fossil record, atmospheric record, microbialites, and research methodology in geomicrobiology. A weekend field trip may be required. Formerly offered as GSCI 4130.

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4140. Sedimentary Basin Analysis

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: ERTH 1010 and 1052, or ERTH 1070 and 1052, or ERTH 1051 and 1052, or ERTH 1050.

Grading Basis: Graded

Tectonic and environmental controls on the development and evolution of sedimentary basins. Emphasis on mechanisms of formation, characteristic depositional patterns, and sediment composition in modern and ancient tectonic settings. Basin analysis methods include sedimentology, stratigraphy, geochemistry, provenance and paleocurrent analysis, subsidence modeling, and interpretation of geophysical data. Formerly offered as GSCI 4140.

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4150. Applied Data Analysis in Earth Science

Also offered as: GEOG 4150

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Recommended preparation: STAT 1000Q or 1100Q, GEOG 3500Q; open to juniors or higher.

Grading Basis: Graded

Multivariate spatial analysis methods and statistical inference in earth science, emphasizing how to translate conceptual understanding into computer code. Formerly offered as GSCI 4150.

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4160. Carbonate Platforms and Reefs

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: ERTH 1050 or both ERTH 1052 and one of ERTH 1010 or 1051 or 1055 or 1070 or GEOG 1070. Recommended preparation: ERTH 3020.

Grading Basis: Graded

Carbonate platforms and reefs. Physical, chemical, and biological controls on the nature of carbonate depositional environments and their distribution in time and space. Characteristics and classification of carbonate sediments, limestones, and dolostones. Petrographic and geochemical techniques. Facies models for depositional systems. Stratigraphic frameworks and methodologies. One or more weekend field trips may be required.

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4210. Glacial Processes and Materials

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Recommended preparation: ERTH 3020.

Grading Basis: Graded

The climates and dynamics of glaciers, the geologic processes responsible for the materials and landforms of glaciated regions, and the applications of glacial geology to paleoclimatology, paleoecology, land use history, hydrology, engineering, and natural resources. Includes two weekend days of field trips to be scheduled. Formerly offered as GSCI 4210.

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4230. GIS and Remote Sensing for Geoscience Applications

Also offered as: GEOG 4230

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: GEOG 2300E; or ERTH 1050 or both ERTH 1052 and one of ERTH 1010 or 1051 or 1055 or 1070 or GEOG 1070.

Grading Basis: Graded

Application of Geographic Information Systems, remote sensing, and image interpretation to problems in geoscience. Data acquisition, processing and analysis of Digital Elevation Models and satellite imagery. Geologic materials, processes, landforms and landscapes. Formerly offered as GSCI 4230.

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4240. Watersheds and Environmental Change

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Recommended preparation: ERTH 3020.

Grading Basis: Graded

Introduction to watershed processes, lake systems, late Pleistocene to present environmental change, the environmental impacts of dams, and the application of sediment coring. Includes field trips to lakes and reservoirs in eastern Connecticut. Formerly offered as GSCI 4240.

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4330. Active Tectonics

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: ERTH 1050; or both ERTH 1052 and one of ERTH 1010 or 1051 or 1055 or 1070 or GEOG 1070; or GEOG 2300E; or consent of instructor. Recommended preparation: ERTH 3020 and 3030.

Grading Basis: Graded

Tectonic processes that shape the Earth's surface, particularly its landforms. Emphasis on short-term processes that produce disasters and catastrophes and affect human society. Formerly offered as GSCI 4330.

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4390. Field Problems in Earth Structure

2.00 credits

Prerequisites: ERTH 3030, which may be taken concurrently.

Grading Basis: Graded

Mapping techniques and map interpretation using concepts developed in GEOL 3030. Emphasis on mapping moderately deformed rocks in which sedimentary features can be differentiated. Formerly offered as GSCI 4390.

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4430. Stable Isotope Biogeochemistry

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: CHEM 1127Q. Recommended Preparation: MATH 1110Q or 1131Q or 1151Q.

Grading Basis: Graded

Fundamentals of stable isotope biogeochemistry. Origin of elements and stable isotopes; equilibrium and kinetic fractionation; isotope systematics of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, and sulfur; biogeochemical systems; isotopes as a forensic tracer; and isotopes in paleoclimate and paleoenvironmental research. Formerly offered as GSCI 4430.

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4440. Dates and Rates in Earth and Environmental Science

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: ANTH 2501; or CHEM 1127Q and 1128Q; or EEB 2245; or ERTH 1050; or ERTH 1052 and one of ERTH 1010 or 1051 or 1055 or 1070 or GEOG 1070; or permission of instructor.

Grading Basis: Graded

Introduction to the principles, materials, and diverse applications of commonly used geochronologic methods in geologic, environmental, archeological, and planetary studies. Topics may include the timing and tempo of planetary formation, Earth processes, natural hazards, formation of natural resources, biotic evolution, and environmental change. Formerly offered as GSCI 4440.

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4510. Applied and Environmental Geophysics

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: PHYS 1230 or 1402Q or 1502Q or 1602Q, which may be taken concurrently; MATH 1122Q or 1132Q or 1152Q, which may be taken concurrently.

Grading Basis: Graded

Principles of imaging the Earth's interior using observations of electric, magnetic, and gravity fields, with applications to environmental problems. Formerly offered as GSCI 4510.

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4520. Exploration Seismology

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: PHYS 1230 or 1402Q or 1502Q or 1602Q, which may be taken concurrently; MATH 1121Q or 1131Q or 1151Q, which may be taken concurrently.

Grading Basis: Graded

Principles of seismic methods for imaging the interior of the earth, with applications to resource exploration and environmental problems. Formerly offered as GSCI 4520.

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4550. Physics of the Earth's Interior

Also offered as: PHYS 4100

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: PHYS 1230 or 1402Q or 1502Q or 1530 or 1602Q, any of which may be taken concurrently; MATH 1122Q or 1126Q or 1131Q any of which may be taken concurrently. Recommended preparation: MATH 1132Q.

Grading Basis: Graded

The composition, structure, and dynamics of the Earth's core, mantle, and crust inferred from observations of seismology, geomagnetism, and heat flow. Formerly offered as GSCI 4550.

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4560. Fundamentals of Planetary Science

Also offered as: PHYS 4130

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: PHYS 1230 or 1402Q or 1502Q or 1530 or 1602Q, any of which may be taken concurrently; MATH 1122 or 1126Q or 1131Q, any of which may be taken concurrently.

Grading Basis: Graded

Evolution of the solar system, celestial mechanics, tidal friction, internal composition of planets, black-body radiation, planetary atmospheres. Formerly offered as GSCI 4560.

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4710. Environmental Site Assessment

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Not open for credit to students who have passed ERTH 4998 when offered as "Environmental Site Assessment."

Grading Basis: Graded

Introduction to hydrogeological environmental site assessments (ESAs), emphasizing southern New England. Identification of areas of concern; determination of sources of groundwater pollution; and characterization of contamination extent, sampling, modeling, and interpretation. Formerly offered as GSCI 4710.

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4720. Environmental Geochemistry

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: CHEM 1127Q. Prerequisite or Corequisite: MATH 1110Q or 1131Q or 1151Q. Recommended Preparation: one semester of BIOL or PHYS.

Grading Basis: Graded

Introduction to geochemistry of terrestrial and aqueous environmental systems. Chemical weathering and water-rock interactions; geochemistry of natural waters; chemical systems of the geosphere, biosphere and atmosphere; and geochemistry and climate. Formerly offered as GSCI 4720.

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4735. Introduction to Ground Water Hydrology

Also offered as: NRE 4135

4.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open to juniors or higher. Recommended preparation: ERTH 1050, or both ERTH 1052 and one of ERTH 1010, 1051, 1055, or 1070.

Grading Basis: Graded

Basic hydrologic principles with emphasis on ground water flow and quality, geologic relationships, quantitative analysis and field methods. Occasional field trips. Formerly offered as GSCI 4735.

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4740. Energy Resources: Past, Present, and Future

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: ERTH 1050 or both ERTH 1052 and one of ERTH 1010 or 1051 or 1055 or ERTH/GEOG 1070. Recommended preparation: 12 credits of ERTH at the 3000 level or higher.

Grading Basis: Graded

Overview of energy resources, both fossil fuel and renewable, underground fluid storage, and greenhouse gas sequestration. Subsurface geoscientific exploration and extraction methods.

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4810. Modeling the Changing Atmosphere and Ocean

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open to juniors or higher. Recommended preparation: MATH 1060 or MATH 1131, or PHYS 1201 or PHYS 1202.

Grading Basis: Graded

Modeling past and future climate, with an emphasis on conceptual understanding of the earth system and simulation results from climate models of different complexities. Formerly offered as GSCI 4810.

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4850. Paleoclimatology

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Recommended preparation: ERTH 1010, 1050, 1055, or 1070.

Grading Basis: Graded

Introduction to the geological evidence, research methods, and hypotheses associated with major climatic events in Earth's history through a combination of lectures, discussions of scientific papers, and a climate modeling project. Formerly offered as GSCI 4850.

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4989. Undergraduate Research in Geoscience

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: Open to juniors or higher.

Grading Basis: Graded

Independent research for the advanced undergraduate student interested in investigating a special problem involving field and/or laboratory observations in geoscience. The student is required to give an oral presentation in a departmental seminar at the end of the semester. Formerly offered as GSCI 4989.

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4990. Internship in Geoscience Field Study

1.00 - 3.00 credits

Prerequisites: ERTH 3010 and 3020 and 3030 and 3040, all of which may be taken concurrently. Must be taken concurrently with ERTH 4991.

Grading Basis: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory

An internship program under the direction of Geoscience faculty. Students will be placed with government agencies or businesses where academic training will be applied in a program of activities to be planned and agreed upon in advance by the job site supervisor, the faculty coordinator, and the intern. One credit may be earned for each 42 hours of pre-approved activities up to a maximum of three credits. Students taking this course will be assigned a final grade of S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory.) Formerly offered as GSCI 4990.

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4991. Internship in Geoscience Research Paper

1.00 credits

Prerequisites: ERTH 3010 and 3020 and 3030 and 3040, all of which may be taken concurrently. ERTH 4990 must be taken concurrently.

Grading Basis: Graded

Preparation of written report and oral presentation to Department summarizing internship experience and evaluating the applicability of academic experience to job situations and the impact of the internship experience on academic and career plans. Formerly offered as GSCI 4991.

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4995. Special Topics

1.00 - 6.00 credits | May be repeated for credit.

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Investigation of special topics related to, but not ordinarily covered in the undergraduate offerings; emphasis on laboratory projects. Formerly offered as GSCI 4995.

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4996W. Undergraduate Research Thesis in Geoscience

3.00 credits

Prerequisites: ERTH 4989; ENGL 1007 or 1010 or 1011 or 2011; open to juniors or higher.

Grading Basis: Graded

Writing of a formal thesis based on independent research conducted by the student. Formerly offered as GSCI 4996W.

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4998. Variable Topics

3.00 credits | May be repeated for credit.

Prerequisites: Prerequisites and recommended preparation vary.

Grading Basis: Graded

Formerly offered as GSCI 4998.

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4999. Independent Study

1.00 - 6.00 credits | May be repeated for credit.

Prerequisites: None.

Grading Basis: Graded

Formerly offered as GSCI 4999.

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