Mar 29, 2024  
Course Catalog 2005-2006 
    
Course Catalog 2005-2006 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Geology


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Major


The requirements for a geology major are:

  1. GEOL 120 which should be taken in a student’s first or second year.
  2. Five upper-level geology courses as follows:
    1. Mineralogy (GEOL 201)
    2. Evolution of the Earth (GEOL 204)
    3. EITHER Earth Surface Processes (GEOL 212) OR Groundwater Hydrogeology (GEOL 242)
    4. EITHER Paleontology (GEOL 320) OR Sedimentary Geology (GEOL 330)
    5. EITHER Structural Geology (GEOL 340) OR Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (GEOL 361)
  3. Any two elective geology courses selected from the following list (N.B. - students cannot count both GEOL 161 and GEOL 190 toward the geology major):
    1. Marine Science (GEOL 161);
    2. Modern Mapping and Analysis (GEOL 190);
    3. one or two 3- or 4-credit hour 200- or 300-level geology course(s) not already taken.
  4. The following additional courses in cognate Natural Sciences and Mathematics:
    1. introductory Chemistry, either CHEM 101 and CHEM 102 or the equivalent (e.g. CHEM 103), and
    2. eight additional hours at the introductory and/or advanced level(s) selected from courses that count toward the Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, and/or Physics majors, and/or PHYS 103 and 104

Prospective geology majors should discuss their major program with a member of the Geology Department as early as possible in order to identify the courses that best serve their needs. Advanced electives (400-level courses) and independent research in geology are also available, but such courses neither are required nor count toward the Geology major. After taking an introductory laboratory course, a student can complete a Geology major in four semesters, although a less compact schedule is preferable.

Students pursuing a professional career in earth science usually take more than the minimum number of courses required for the Geology major. In particular, most Geology graduate programs require at least two semesters of college-level mathematics, many graduate programs require introductory Physics, and employers find computer skills attractive. We also urge majors to take a summer course in field geology. Students with interests in environmental policy and/or resource development who are considering geology as part of a pre-law program should consult with both the Geology department chair and with a member of the Pre-law Advisory Committee.

Minor


Students may obtain a minor in Geology by completing at least 15 hours of coursework that includes an introductory laboratory course (GEOL 120, GEOL 160 or GEOL 162) and a minimum of three courses at the 200 and 300 levels. Students interested in minoring should consult with the chair of Geology as departmental approval is required to minor in geology.

Honors


Outstanding students may participate in the Honors Program in Geology. Honors students carry out a program of independent geological research under the supervision of an individual faculty member during their senior year. Any student interested in doing Honors research should discuss this with a member of the department in her or his junior year. In order to be accepted into the Honors Program, a student must submit a written proposal to the department. Other guidelines for the Honors Program are set forth elsewhere in this catalog. The Geology Department also offers other avenues for independent research in addition to Honors.

Related Programs


The Department of Geology encourages students who are interested in fields not covered in depth in Oberlin courses to attend off-campus programs. We especially recommend participation in programs where students get the opportunity to study different types of geological processes in the field. Many excellent institutions offer semester and summer programs in geology; a list is available in the department office or in the Office of the Dean of Studies. Integrating a semester of off-campus study into a Geology major requires advanced planning, so students considering this possibility should consult with a Department member as early as possible.

Transfer of Credit


The department grants major credit for students who do off-campus coursework that is comparable to Oberlin’s offerings, but students must consult with and receive prior approval from the Geology Chair in order to guarantee earning credit. The department generally does NOT approve work done as part of National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) programs for geology credit.

Winter Term


The Geology faculty who are tentatively available to sponsor individual Winter Term projects in 2006 and their primary areas of expertise are as follows: Ms. Hubbard: paleontology; evolution; modern and ancient marine ecosystems; and environmental science. Mr. Wojtal: mountain building and tectonics; continuum mechanics; environmental applications of global positioning systems and other mapping technologies; geophysics; meteorology; glaciology; climate change and paleoclimatology.

Introductory Courses (for Non-Majors and Prospective Majors)


Independent Work


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