Geological Sciences

Using the scientific method, critical thinking skills, and data analysis, this course will examine the fundamental processes of the earth system, composed of an atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, biosphere, and exosphere, through time. The course will also explore interactions between these spheres, including critical analysis of scientific theories and emphasize Earth’s connections with humans.

Attributes: General Education – Physical Science

3 Credits

Using the scientific method, critical thinking skills, and data analysis, this course will examine the fundamental processes of the earth system, composed of an atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, biosphere, and exosphere, through time. The course will also explore interactions between these spheres, including critical analysis of scientific theories and emphasize Earth’s connections with humans.

Attributes: General Education – Physical Science

3 Credits

Examination of unique episodes in the physical and biological history of the earth.

Attributes: General Education – Biological Science, General Education – Physical Science

3 Credits

Laboratory provides a basic understanding of Florida’s geology, geologic history, geologic resources and geologically related environmental problems.

Attributes: General Education – Physical Science

1 Credit

Using the scientific method, critical thinking skills, and data analysis, this course will examine the fundamental processes of the earth system, composed of an atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, lithosphere, biosphere, and exosphere through time. The course will also explore interactions between these spheres, including critical analysis of scientific theories and emphasize lithospheric connections with humanity.

Attributes: General Education – Physical Science

4 Credits

Hazardous geologic processes and current environmental concerns are related to the earth, the forces acting upon it and the resulting surface features and materials. Human interaction with the environment is illustrated using modern case studies.

Attributes: General Education – Physical Science

3 Credits

Introduces planet Earth as a dynamic and complex global system which has changed due to human interaction. Course materials demonstrate physical and chemical links between the geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and atmosphere that directly impact the sustainability of human lifestyles at a variety of timescales.

Attributes: General Education – Physical Science

3 Credits

Advanced examination of the geologic history of planet earth with an emphasis on North America.

Prerequisite: GLY 2010C or GLY 2030C

Attributes: General Education – Physical Science

4 Credits

Introduces geological concepts in the context of selected US national parks. Relates geology to the cultural aspects of these parks and present-day environmental concerns.

Prerequisite: Critical Tracking semester 2 or greater.

3 Credits

Concepts of crystallography, crystal chemistry, physical properties of minerals, mineral genesis and systematic study of the rock-forming or otherwise important minerals including the theory and use of the petrographic microscope for study and identification of these minerals in thin section.

Prerequisite: CHM 1030 or CHM 1025, and GLY 2010C or GLY 2030C.

4 Credits

Overview of the origin and occurrence of earth materials with a particular emphasis on the identification and classification of minerals and rocks. Activities involve lectures and a fully integrated laboratory component where students learn to identify and classify minerals and rocks through both macroscopic and microscopic investigation.

Prerequisite: 3 credits of GLY, ESC or OCE courses.

3 Credits

Overview of the origin and occurrence of earth materials with a particular emphasis on the identification and classification of minerals and rocks. Activities involve lecture and a fully integrated laboratory component where students learn to identify and classify minerals and rocks through both macroscopic and microscopic investigation.

Prerequisite: 3 credits of GLY, ESC or OCE courses.

3 Credits

Insight into current scientific, political, legal, social, and economic aspects of hydrogeology.

Prerequisite: Junior standing or higher.

Attributes: General Education – Physical Science

3 Credits

Basic disciplines important in understanding the origin and classification of sedimentary rocks including sedimentary petrology, sedimentology, and stratigraphy.

Prerequisite: (GLY 2100C or GLY 3105C) and GLY 3200C.

4 Credits

Basic disciplines important in understanding the origin and classification of sedimentary rocks including sedimentary petrology, sedimentology, and stratigraphy.

Prerequisite: (GLY 2100C or GLY 3105C) and GLY 3200C.

4 Credits

Introduces the processes responsible for the formation and evolution of Earth surface features and landscapes. Emphasizes understanding of how first principles of physics and chemistry can be used to explain landform shaping.

Prerequisite: (GLY 2010C or GLY 2030C) and an additional 3 credits of GLY.

3 Credits

Methods and techniques used in geological fieldwork.

Prerequisite: GLY 3105C or GLY 2100C, or instructor permission.

2 Credits

For work in addition to that offered in regular courses in mineralogy, petrology, paleontology, stratigraphy, sedimentology and structural geology.

Prerequisite: 15 credits of geology and instructor permission.

1-3 Credits

Provides firsthand, supervised research in geology. Projects may involve inquiry, design, investigation, scholarship, discovery or application in geology.

Prerequisite: None

0-3 Credits

Lecture, conferences or laboratory sessions covering selected topics of current interest in modern geology.

Prerequisite: three courses in geology or instructor permission.

1-3 Credits

Examines estuarine ecosystems around the world, with particular emphasis on the impact of global change on these highly productive systems.

Prerequisite: OCE 1001

3 Credits

This course gives an introduction to programming in Python, using examples from the Earth Sciences. No previous programming knowledge is required. To learn more
about the computational techniques given in the learning objectives below, we will use applications relevant to Earth Sciences such as analyzing earthquake magnitudes, plotting geospatial data or how the orientation of dikes is distributed, computing the discharge of a river, analyzing the grain size distribution of rocks, or modeling the carbon cycle.

Prerequisite: MAC 2311 or equivalent.

3 Credits

Understand basic practices for laboratory safety and various sample preparation techniques used in Earth and Environmental Sciences. Learn basic operations of different analytical instruments (SEM, XRF, XRD, Noble Gas MS, IRMS, ICP-MS, MC-ICP-MS, Laser Ablation) utilized for elemental, isotopic, and geochronological analyses in the Earth and Environmental Sciences

Prerequisite: three courses in geology or instructor permission.

1 Credit

Chemistry of early Solar System and planetary processes. Emphasizes planetary materials and the accretion, differentiation, and magmatic evolution of the terrestrial planets and asteroids.

Prerequisite: GLY 4310C or GLY 3202C.

3 Credits

Detailed introduction to the origin and evolution of ocean basins, ocean margins, and oceanic sediments and microfossils, including a paleoceanographic history of the marine realm.

Prerequisite: GLY 2010C, or 2026C, or OCE 1001.

3 Credits

This one credit course is based on weekly seminars. The seminars take place ‘live” at 3:30 pm on Thursdays.

Prerequisite: three courses in geology or instructor permission.

1 Credit

This one credit course is based on weekly seminars. The seminars take place ‘live” at 3:30 pm on Thursdays. If you are an online student (UFO), no problem. A recorded version of the lecture will be posted under announcements sometime Thursday evening.

Prerequisite: three courses in geology or instructor permission.

1 Credit

The abundance and distribution of the elements and their behavior during various geological processes.Prerequisite: CHM 2046, GLY 2010C

3 Credits

Evolution and formation of mid-ocean ridges, seamounts, hot spots, island arcs, back-arc basins, passive margins, and mountain chains.

Prerequisite: GLY 4400C

3 Credits

Objectives of the class this semester will be to continue developing peer-reviewed papers derived from presentations made at the AGU meeting,

Prerequisite: three courses in geology or instructor permission.

1 Credit

This course explores how lake and wetland sediment cores are used to understand Earth System processes. Paleolimnology is interdisciplinary and incorporates aspects of geology, pedology, hydrology, climatology, chemistry, physics, and biology. Its temporal component provides an historical perspective on natural and anthropogenic changes in watersheds and lakes, including climate change, erosion and deposition, deforestation, lake acidification, eutrophication, and contaminant pollution.

Prerequisite: three courses in geology or instructor permission.

3 Credits

Methods in stratigraphy including biostratigraphy, chemostratigraphy, manetostratigraphy, and cyclostratigraphy and how these tools are integrated to generate geologic timescales in absolute time.

Prerequisite: consent of instructor, or undergraduate degree in geology.

3 Credits

Examines estuarine ecosystems around the world, with particular emphasis on the impact of global change on these highly productive systems.

Prerequisite: OCE 1001

3 Credits

For work beyond that offered in regular courses.

Prerequisite: None

1-4 Credits, Max 12 credits

This one credit course is based on weekly seminars. The seminars take place ‘live” at 3:30 pm on Thursdays.

Prerequisite: None

1 Credit

Explores ways in which scientists can increase impacts to society and emphasize the relevance of scientific work. Topics include broadening scientific impacts through exhibits, working with teachers, social media, serving underrepresented groups, and more.

Prerequisite: None

2 Credits

Provides the skills to analyze data and construct simple numerical models to investigate problems in earth sciences. Topics include statistical/time series/geospatial analyses, dynamic systems modeling, and numerical solutions to differential equations.

Prerequisite: College level Calculus and Physics, or permission of instructor.

3 Credits

Understand basic practices for laboratory safety and various sample preparation techniques used in Earth and Environmental Sciences. Learn basic operations of different analytical instruments (SEM, XRF, XRD, Noble Gas MS, IRMS, ICP-MS, MC-ICP-MS, Laser Ablation) utilized for elemental, isotopic, and geochronological analyses in the Earth and Environmental Sciences

Prerequisite: None

1 Credit

This course explores how lake and wetland sediment cores are used to understand Earth System processes. Paleolimnology is interdisciplinary and incorporates aspects of geology, pedology, hydrology, climatology, chemistry, physics, and biology. Its temporal component provides an historical perspective on natural and anthropogenic changes in watersheds and lakes, including climate change, erosion and deposition, deforestation, lake acidification, eutrophication, and contaminant pollution.

Prerequisite: three courses in geology or instructor permission.

3 Credits

Objectives of the class this semester will be to continue developing peer-reviewed papers derived from presentations made at the AGU meeting,

Prerequisite: three courses in geology or instructor permission.

1 Credit

This course will combine lectures and hands-on lab activities with focus on practical applications of classic statistical methods in natural sciences

Prerequisite: None

3 Credits

The path through graduate school can be challenging; the goal of this course is to provide information on how to deal with those challenges and optimize your graduate experience.

Prerequisite: None

1 Credit

Research for Master’s Thesis.

1-15 Credits Max 6 Credits

Research for doctoral students before admission to candidacy. Designed for students with a master’s degree in the field of study or for students who have been accepted for a doctoral program. Not appropriate for students who have been admitted to candidacy.

1-12 Credits

Research for Doctoral Dissertation

Not appropriate for students who have not been admitted to candidacy.

1-12 Credits

Using the scientific method, critical thinking skills, and data analysis, this course will examine the fundamental processes of the ocean system, composed of an atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere, through time. The course will also explore interactions between these spheres, including critical analysis of scientific theories and emphasize oceanic connections with humanity.

Attributes: General Education – Physical Science

3 Credits

Natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, and floods have devastating impacts on human lives. This course will use geologic principles to provide a framework for evaluating earthquake and volcanic hazards, explore the limits of our predictive abilities, the challenges of forecasting weather disasters in a changing climate, and the necessity for decision-making despite scientific uncertainty.

Attributes: Quest 2 course requirements, General Education – Physical Science

3 Credits