Graduate Course Offerings in Geology

California State University, Sacramento

The following courses will be taught on a three year rotation, with more frequent offerings for core courses, special topics and seminars. Content of special topics and seminar courses will vary, so be sure to check with the Geology Department, the CSUS schedule and an advisor as you plan your coursework. Non-degree candidates who meet the prerequisites for a class may enroll through the continuing education program (http://www.csus.edu/rce/). Students who expect to have a course count toward an M.S. degree must be officially accepted in the degree program before any courses will be counted toward the degree.

Catalog Description of Courses:

Geology 200 (Graduate Research Methods) - Developing a research proposal, library and internet searches, seeking external funding, presentation graphics, publication formats. Students will develop a personal research project capable of implementation at the M.S. level. Prerequisite: Acceptance in the graduate program. Three hours lecture. 3 units.

Geology 202 (Aqueous Geochemistry) - Low temperature geochemical reactions in aqueous environments. Chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, mixing and dilution, mineral stability, chemical composition of surface water, stable isotopes. Prerequisite: Chemistry 1B. Three hours lecture. 3 units.

Geology 204 (Contaminant Hydrogeology) - Contaminants and contaminant transport in near-surface environments. Fluid-sediment interaction, fluid partitioning, common geochemical reactions, stability and mobility of groundwater contaminants, multi-phase systems, sampling considerations and overview of analytical techniques. Prerequisites: Chemistry 1B and Chemistry 6B or Chemistry 20, Geol 202. Three hours lecture. 3 units.

Geology 208 (Groundwater Modeling) - Computer modeling of groundwater systems using 2 and 3 dimensional numerical solutions and common software packages. Topics will include data acquisition, constructing a numerical model, model calibration, flow paths, particle tracking and model output. Prerequisites: Geology 127, Math 45. Lecture two hours, laboratory three hours. 3 units.

Geology 210 (Field Characterization of Aquifer Systems) - Advanced field analysis of aquifer systems including aquifer testing (pumping tests, slug tests, step tests), well construction, aquifer characterization and field geochemistry. Prerequisites: Geology 127 (Hydrogeology) and Chemistry 1B. Lecture two hours, laboratory three hours. 3 units.

Geology 212 (Geologic Remote Imaging) - Use of remote imaging in geologic applications. Types of imagery, acquisition, production, processing, and interpretation are covered. Prerequisites: Physics 5B or 11B or equivalent; Geology 102A, 110A or equivalent; and proficiency using a personal computer. Lecture three hours, laboratory three hours. 4 units.

Geology 218 (Applied Geophysics) - Advanced field techniques used for geophysical exploration. Data collection and problem solving using resistivity, conductivity, seismic reflection, seismic refraction, gravity, magnetics and borehole geophysical techniques. Prerequisites: Physics 5B or 11B and Geology 112 or equivalent. Lecture two hours, laboratory three hours. 3 units.

Geology 220 (Surficial Processes) - Dynamics of geological processes and the landscapes they carve. System thresholds, linked processes, data generation and evaluation that characterize landscape development. Prerequisite: Geol 120, graduate level standing in geology. Lecture three hours, laboratory three hours. 3 units.

Geology 227 (Advanced Hydrogeology) - Water budgets, theories of groundwater flow to wells, hydrogeologic regimes, fracture flow, dewatering, salt water intrusion, dating and chemical identification of water. Prerequisite: Geol 127. Lecture 3 hours.

Geology 230 (Seminar in Geology) - Student presentations of topics from the geologic literature or thesis research. May be repeated twice. Lecture one to three hours. 1 - 3 units.

Geology 240 (Special Topics) - Advanced special topics in Geology that may include structural geology, volcanology, hydrogeology, engineering geology or other specialized topics selected to meet student demand or respond to industry trends in geology. Lecture one to three hours. 1 - 3 units.

Geology 240 A (Environmental Modeling) - Development and application of computer modeling techniques to solve broad geologic and environmental problems. Students will generate and work with complex data sets, choose appropriate modeling techniques and use their results to provide numerical solutions to geologic problems. Prerequisite: Math 45. Lecture two hours, laboratory three hours. 3 units.

Geology 240 B (Natural Hazards) - Geologic processes versus land issues. Volcanic eruptions, mass movements, earthquake activity, floods. Use of geologic data in hazard analysis and risk assessment. Review of case histories of catastrophic events. Instrumentation, monitoring and prediction of events. Lecture three hours, field trip. 3 units.

Geology 240C (Advanced Volcanology) - Analysis of volcanic eruption processes. Interpretation of volcanic deposits in the evaluation of volcanic hazards, risk, and geologic history. Prerequisite: Geology 114 or equivalent. Three hours lecture and discussion. 3 units.

Geology 240 D (Field Volcanology) - Field trip to classic volcanic settings to observe, record, and analyze volcanic deposits in the evaluation of volcanic hazards, risk, eruption processes, and geologic history. Prerequisites: Geology 114 or 240C; or either concurrently.

Geology 240 E (Applied Structural Geology) - Application of geometric techniques to solve subsurface structural problems such as three-point construction to determine direction of groundwater flow; stereonet analysis of fracture patterns for groundwater investigations and slope stability studies, and drill hole problems; balanced cross sections, and structure contours. Discussion of current literature on structure and tectonics in California as it applies to neotectonic considerations in earthquake hazard analysis. Prerequisite: Geology 110A or equivalent. Lecture two hours, laboratory three hours. 3 units.

Geology 240 F (Special Topics in Hydrogeology) - Special topics and new courses in hydrogeology. Not offered each semester. Prerequisite: Geol 127. One to three hours lecture, discussion, seminar or project-based. 1 - 3 units.

Geology 240 G (Engineering Geology) - Geological approach to evaluating engineering issues. Rock and soil mechanics, slope stability, and geophysical investigation of rock and soil properties. Prerequisite: Geol 193C, graduate level standing in geology. Three hours lecture and discussion. 3 units.

Geology 240 H (Experimental Topics in Advanced Geology) - Special topics and new courses in geology. Not offered each semester. Prerequisite: Graduate level standing in geology. Three hours lecture, discussion, or seminar. 3 units.

Geology 299 (Special Problems in Geology) - Graduate research. Independent research in geology that may include library research, short-term original research, technique development, field work or laboratory research. May include research toward thesis proposal. The culminating experience will be in the form of a written report, oral presentation or scientific paper. Prerequisites: Graduate level standing in geology, approval of the project by a faculty sponsor and the Department Chair. 1-4 units.

Geology 500 (Thesis) - Required thesis for completion of M.S. degree. Prerequisites: Graduate level standing in geology, advandement to candidate level, approved thesis proposal and permission of advisor. Final report may be written thesis or publication-ready document(s). 6 units.

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