Geology (Geol)
1. Physical Geology (4)
Processes and materials which together produce the different topographic
and geologic features of the earth. Plate tectonic theory (including continental
drift) as the unifying model to explain geologic phenomena. Effects of geology
on man. General Education BREADTH, Division 1. (3 lecture, 2 lab hours)
(CAN GEOL 2)
1E. Physical Geology for Civil Engineers (4)
Geologic processes and materials that affect design, construction, and operation
of engineering developments. Includes origin of rock, soil, and geologic
structures. Causes and effects of earth quakes, floods, volcanic eruptions,
coastal processes, landslides, and subsidence. (3 lecture, 2 lab hours)
2. Evolution of Life and Continents (4)
Origin and evolution of the earth as revealed by the rock record and by
fossil remains. Special emphasis on the evolution of life and on the physical
development of North America. General Education BREADTH, Division 1. (3
lecture, 2 lab hours)
3. Geology Field Trip (1)
Extended weekend field trip to areas of geologic interest including Yosemite
National Park, Death Valley, or coastal California. May be repeated. Nonmajors
encouraged. CR/NC grading only. (Field trip fee may be required.)
12. Mineralogy (3)
Geol 13 concurrent in the geology major. Prerequisite: high school chemistry.
Properties, relationships, uses origin of minerals; determination of common
minerals by physical and other tests. Field trips may be required. (2 lecture,
3 lab hours)
13. Crystallography (1)
Geol 12 concurrent in the geology major. Prerequisite: trigonometry. Symmetry,
structure, standard nomenclature, reference systems of crystals. (3 lab
hours)
15. The Earth and Its History (5)
Portion of Man/Woman and the Natural Environment Cluster. Physical and historical
geology, including man's use of the earth and the impact of that use on
the earth. Lecture, lab, and fieldwork. General Education BREADTH, Division
1. (MNE program field trip fee, $300)
30. Introductory Field Methods (2)
Prerequisites: Geol 1 or 15, Math 5. Introduction to methods and instruments
used in geologic fieldwork. CR/NC grading only. (6 lab/field hours) (Weekend
field trips required; field trip fee may be required.)
100. Optical Mineralogy (2)
Prerequisites: Geol 12, 13. Optical properties of minerals; identification
of minerals by optical methods. Theory and use of petrographic microscope.
(1 lecture, 3 lab hours)
101. Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (4)
Prerequisites: Geol 30, 100; Chem 1B (or concurrently). Origin classification,
textures, structures, and geologic setting of igneous and metamorphic rocks;
examination of samples in outcrop, hand specimen, and thin section. Weekend
field trips required. (3 lecture, 3 lab hours)
102. Sedimentary Petrology (3)
Prerequisites: Geol 30, 100, 101 (or concurrently). Origin, classifications,
textures, and structures of sedimentary rocks; examination of samples in
hand specimen and thin section. Weekend field trips required. (2 lecture,
3 lab hours)
104. Scientific Writing (2)
Prerequisite: satisfactory completion of upper-division writing requirement.
Organizing and writing the scientific report. Topics include researching;
critical eval uation of literature; presenting technical material including
maps, charts, illustrations; peer reviews. Oral presentation and term paper
required. (1 lecture, 3 lab hours) (Formerly Geol 104W)
105. Geomorphology (3)
Prerequisite: Geol 1 or 15. Landforms, climates, geologic processes, and
their in terrelation in shaping the earth's surface today and in the geologic
past. Interpre tation of topographic maps and aerial photographs. Field
trips required. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
106. Structural Geology (3)
Prerequisites: upper-division writing skills requirement must be satisfied;
Geol 30, trigonometry, Phys 2A (or concurrently). Recognition, representation,
and interpretation of structural features of the earth's crust. Includes
consideration of theoretical and mechanical principles involved in defor
mation of solid bodies. Study of regional tectonics and major structural
provinces. Field trips re quired. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
107. Advanced Field Methods (3)
Prerequisites: Geol 30, 101, 102, 104, 106. Field trips to areas of diverse
geology; observation, description, and mapping of geologic phenomena. Includes
written reports of areas selected for study. Students should contact the
department for details. (9 lab hours usually including fieldwork on weekends
or during January intercession and spring vacation) (Field trip fee may
be required.)
108A. Field Geology (4)
Prerequisites: senior standing or permission of instructor; Geol 107; Geol
108B concurrently. Geologic reconnaissance and mapping in field groups.
Usually conducted in early summer. When taken concurrently, Geol 108A and
108B satisfy the senior major requirement for the B.S. in Geology. Approved
for SP grading. (Field trip fee may be required.)
108B. Field Geology -- Reports (1)
Prerequisites: senior standing or permission of instructor; Geol 108A concurrently.
Written presentation of fieldwork conducted in Geol 108A. When taken concurrently,
Geol 108A and 108B satis fy the senior major requirement for the B.S. in
Geology. Approved for SP grading. (1 lecture hour)
110. Invertebrate Paleontology (3)
Prerequisites: Geol 2 and Zool 10. Invertebrate structures and development
of prehistoric animals; introduction to stratigraphic importance of fossils.
Field trips may be required. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
114. Engineering Geology (3)
Prerequisites: Geol 1 or 15 and trigonometry. Introduction to techniques
and theory of geotechnical investigations. Includes field and lab techniques
in soil and rock mechanics, rock logging, geophysics, slope stability, engineering
hydrogeology, stereo analysis, seismic engineering. Recommended for students
in geology or civil engineering. Field trips required. (2 lecture, 3 lab
hours)
115. Ore Deposits (3)
Prerequisites: Geol 101, 106, college chemistry. Geology, mineralogy, distribution,
and occurrence of common ore minerals essential in industry; genesis and
locali zation of metallic minerals. Field trips may be required. (2 lecture,
3 lab hours)
116. Petroleum Geology (3)
Prerequisite: Geol 106. Theories of origin of petroleum, petroleum structures,
prospecting, extraction methods, techniques used in exploration and development;
selected petroleum fields. Field trips may be required. (2 lecture, 3 lab
hours)
117. Hydrogeology (3)
Prerequisites: Geol 1 or 15; Math 72 or 75; and Geol 124 and Math 76 recommended.
The hydrologic cycle; surface water processes; stream flow and hydrograph;
properties of porous geologic materials; principles of groundwater flow;
water wells; geology of groundwater occurrence; water quality and pollution.
Field trip required. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
122. Stratigraphy (3)
Prerequisites: Geol 30, 102. Stratigraphic principles and recognition of
stratigraphic units. Emphasis on tectonostratigraphic concepts. (2 lecture,
3 lab/field hours)
124. Geochemistry (3)
Prerequisites: Chem 1A and 1B and Geol 1 or 15; Geol 12 and 101 recommended.
Chemistry applied to earth processes and evolution. Reactions involved in
origin and transformations of natural waters, rocks, and minerals. Crystal
chemistry and behavior of elements and isotopes. Field trip required; laboratory
project. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
130T. Advanced Problems in Geology
(1-3; max total 6 if no topic repeated)
Prerequisite: senior standing in geology. Topics or problems in the following
fields: geology of North America, field geology, micropaleontology, advanced
ground water geology, sedimentation and sedimentary rocks, geochemistry,
geophysics, volcanic geology and marine geology. Some topics may have labs.
140. Interpretation of Geologic and Topographic Maps (3)
Prerequisite: Geol 105 or 106. Interpretation of geologic and topographic
maps with respect to structure, stratigraphy, and processes. Some aerial
photographs included. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
150T. Studies in Earth Science
(1-3; repeatable with different topics)
Applicable to the geology major only with prior departmental approval. Prerequisite:
Geol 1. Earth science topics designed for students minoring in geology,
with an interest in earth science, in teacher training, and for elementary
and secondary teachers.
151. Minerals, Rocks, and Fossils (3)
Not applicable to the geology major. Primarily for students who are not
majoring in geology. Recognition, origin, importance, and uses of common
and significant minerals, rocks, and fossils. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
160. Field Studies (1-4; repeatable if different studies)
Prerequisite may be specified by instructor. Weekend or vacation field trips
to geologically important and significant areas such as the Grand Canyon,
Baja California, the Sierra Nevadas, Death Valley. (Field trip fee may be
required.)
168. Geology of California (3)
Prerequisites: prior geology course or equivalent background; Geog 168 recommended.
Emphasis on the evolution of California's diverse geologic provinces and
the geologic environments, hazards, and resources that influence human habitation
of one of the most geologically varied regions of the United States. Not
applicable to the geology major. General Education CAPSTONE Cluster course.
169. Environmental Geology (3)
Prerequisite: Geol 1. Examination of the interaction between man and earth,
with emphasis on earth features and processes that are hazardous to man.
Field trips required. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
171. Igneous Petrography (3)
Prerequisites: Geol 100, 101. Identification, classification, and interpretation
of igneous rocks, using the petrographic microscope and other techniques.
Field trips may be required. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
189. Cordilleran Geologic Evolution (2)
Prerequisite: Geol 106, 122. Concurrent enrollment in GeoI 189L recommended.
Emphasis on the Mesozoic geology of the central Cordilleran region of the
western United States in terms of plate tectonic evolution.
189L. Cordilleran Geologic Evolution Lab (1)
Prerequisite: GeoI 189 (of concurrently). Weekend and/or vacation field
trips to geologic localities in California studied in Geol 189. CR/NC grading
only.
190. Independent Study (1-3; max see reference)
See Academic Placement -- Independent Study. Approved for SP grading.
(See Course Numbering System.)
Geology
206. Depositional Systems (3)
Prerequisites: Geol 102 and 105. Investigation of modern and ancient depositional
systems. Field trip required. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
210. Analysis of Faults and Earthquakes (3)
Prerequisites: Geol 106 and 107. Includes plate tectonic theory; kinematics
and dynamics of fracturing and faulting; formation and propagation of seismic
waves; recognizing and quantifying seismic potential; remote sensing and
geophysics in applied fault studies. Field projects and oral presenta tions
required. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
212. Mineral and Rock Analysis (3)
Prerequisites: Geol 100, Chem 1A, 1B. Principles and techniques of mineral
and rock analysis using universal stage, X-ray diffractometer, X-ray fluorescence
analyzer, atomic absorption and flame emission spectrometers, and other
techniques. (1 lecture, 6 lab hours)
215. Hydrothermal Deposits (3)
Prerequisite: Geol 115. Geologic setting and genesis of hydrothermal mineral
deposits of western Cordillera, especially in California, Nevada, and Arizona.
Emphasis on relationships between convective geothermal systems and igneous
activity, prospecting models, and geologic, geochemical, and geophysical
exploration techniques. Required field trip and laboratory project. (2 lecture,
3 lab hours)
217. Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology Seminar (2-3)
Prerequisite: Geol 117 or 124 or 169. Topics may include: local water problems,
groundwater con tamination, water law, environmental regulations and policies,
hazardous and nuclear waste disposal and management. Readings from technical
books, journals, and government publications. Independent study and oral
presentation required.
220. Groundwater Hydrology (3)
Prerequisites: Geol 117. Math 77 recommended. Principles of flow through
porous and fractured media; groundwater hydraulics in the saturated and
unsaturated zones; contaminant transport; in troduction to groundwater models.
(2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
222. Carbonate Petrology (3)
Prerequisite: Geol 101. Chemistry and content of carbonate rocks; introduction
to organic and inorganic constituents with emphasis on diagenetic alteration.
May include field trips. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
224. Geochemistry of Natural Waters (3)
Prerequisite: Geol 124. Chemical evolution of natural waters through water-rock
interactions, mixing, evaporation, and contamination. Modeling using solution
chemistry, equilibrium thermodynamics, and kinetics. Field methods, laboratory
analysis, and computer manipulation of data. Field trip required; library
and laboratory projects. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours) (Formerly Geol 250T section)
251T. Topics in Engineering Geology (1-3)
Prerequisites: major or minor in geology; permission of instructor. Advanced
studies in areas such as slope stability, ground water monitoring, drilling
and core logging, water sampling, hazardous waste site investigations, and
geophysical instrumentation.
271. Volcanology (3)
Prerequisite: Geol 101. A study of volcanic activity, including classification,
characteristics, products of eruptions, man's interactions with volcanoes
and related phenomena. Field trips required. (1 lecture, 6 lab hours)
272. Metamorphic Petrology (3)
Prerequisites: Geol 101, Chem 1A, 1B. Identification, classification, and
interpretation of metamorphic and metasomatic rocks using the petrographic
microscope and other techniques. Field trips may be required. (2 lecture,
3 lab hours)
290. Independent Study (1-3; max total 6)
See Academic Placement -- Independent Study. Approved for SP grading.
299. Thesis (2-6)
Prerequisite: See Criteria for Thesis and Project. Preparation, completion,
and submission of an acceptable thesis for the master's degree. Approved
for SP grading.