Graduate Courses

GLY 5266 Stable Isotope Biogeochemistry

Course Description: This course will introduce students to stable isotope biogeochemistry theory, methodology, and approaches for solving problems in the Earth Sciences. This class will be high interdisciplinary in nature (including: meteorology, oceanography, limnology, biology, sedimentology, paleoclimatology, diagenesis, etc.), and will include hands on training at the SERC Stable Isotope Laboratory. Additionally, attendance will be prerequisite for using the laboratory for any purposes. Stable isotopic analyses and methods are used in a variety of disciplines to help understand topics ranging from the hydrologic cycle to plant-water interactions. A particular emphasis will be placed towards the studentsÕ own research interests and solving problems with isotopic approaches. Course will be composed of 1) introduction to stable isotope geochemistry Ðhistory and theory, 2) introduction to stable isotope ratio mass spectrometers (IRMS), 3) sample preparation and measurement, 4) applications of stable isotopes as tracers of biogeochemical processes.

GLY 5195 Topics in Paleoclimatology

Objectives:  Students conducting research in paleoclimatology need to have basic understanding of many different sub-fields, ranging from climate modeling to high-precision radiometric dating.  It is the goal of this course, to give graduate students a survey of all the relevant sub-disciplines of paleoclimatology and to discuss timely topics and publications.

GLY 5931 Graduate Seminar

Course Description: This course is based on the attendance and active participation in the Dept. of Earth Sciences Graduate Seminar Series. As a geoscientist you are expected to have a wide breadth of knowledge in many different disciplines and the yearly seminar series is a perfect place to begin your quest. Every Friday, a speaker will come and give a talk about his/her research, and answer any question the audience might ask. Some speakers will come from out-of-town, and we as a department should show them the utmost courtesy. Additionally this is an excellent time for you to begin your "network" of geoscientist from which you might rely on later to help you with your own research.

Undergraduate Courses

GLY 3039 Environmental Geology

Course Description: A general introductory level course giving students a survey of different environmental issues dealing with man's interaction with the earth system. Topics include a general introduction to the earth sciences, earthquakes, volcanic hazards, water cycle, resources (soil, water, minerals, and hydrocarbons), waste, etc.

Enivronmental Geology Project,

This project is required for GLY 3039 and deals with two parts: 1) an investigation and 2) a written report. You are tasked with choosing a local to regional scale issue, and to explore the "where, when, and whys?". Choose the above link to learn more.