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

Overview of important topics in Earth science through the examination of hazards, ranging from earthquakes and volcanoes to global warming and impacts from space. For those who are not majoring in science.

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, 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

Examines the role the oceans play in determining climate and regulating global climate change on a range of timescales from decades to millions of years.

Prerequisite: Critical Tracking semester 2 or greater.

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

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

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

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: MAC 2311 or equivalent.

3 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

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

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

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

Prerequisite: Consent of Instructor

3 Credits

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

Lecture, conferences or laboratory sessions covering selected topics of current interest in modern geology.Prerequisite: three courses in geology or instructor permission.

3 Credits

Current research in solid Earth geophysics regularly yields surprising new results that are changing the way we understand the Earth, its past evolution, and its future. We will survey a wide range of the geophysical literature, targeting both recent developments and key classic papers.Prerequisite: Instructor Permission

3 Credits

This eight-person course will provide students with a unique research experience in the field of glaciology.Prerequisite: three courses in geology or instructor permission.

3 Credits

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: Graduate Standing

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

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

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

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

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

In this course, students will learn how to develop a full federal agency proposal, complete with all required and auxiliary documents for submission targeted to a specific solicitation. We will introduce and use the NSF Research.gov demo site (which is a mirror of the Research.gov site) to develop and compile full NSF proposals as would be done through the real NSF Research.gov proposal management system.Prerequisite: Commitment from your faculty advisor to provide a “real” past proposal (including and ad-hoc and panel reviews) for review by the students. Commitment from your faculty advisor to support you in developing a suitable proposal.

3 Credits

Lecture, conferences or laboratory sessions covering selected topics of current interest in modern geology.Prerequisite: three courses in geology or instructor permission.

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

Current research in solid Earth geophysics regularly yields surprising new results that are changing the way we understand the Earth, its past evolution, and its future. We will survey a wide range of the geophysical literature, targeting both recent developments and key classic papers.Prerequisite: Instructor Permission

3 Credits

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

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

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