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Course Catalog 2009-2010 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Geology
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 Return to: College of Arts and Sciences
Karla Parsons-Hubbard, Associate Professor of Geology; Department Chair
Dennis K. Hubbard, Associate Professor of Geology
Kelly J. LaBlanc, Visiting Assistant Professor of Geology
F. Zeb Page, Assistant Professor of Geology
Bruce M. Simonson, Professor of Geology
Steven F. Wojtal, Professor of Geology
The Geology Department offers a broad selection of courses aimed at both majors and non-majors. These courses reflect the diversity of modern earth science, covering subjects that range from the nature of environments at the dawn of earth’s history to human effects on today’s earth, from tiny crystals to gigantic tectonic plates, and from the deepest parts of the oceans to asteroids in outer space. We offer a major program that prepares students for graduate school or a career in earth sciences but is also intended for students who seek a broad understanding of earth systems through scientific study en route to careers in teaching, environmental fields, or other areas. Many students incorporate geology into a double major following procedures outlined elsewhere in this catalog.
Advanced Placement.
Students may count Advanced Placement credit earned in biology, calculus, chemistry, or physics toward a Geology major; credit is granted in accord with the standards of the department in which the AP credit is earned. Students seeking to place out of introductory Geology courses on the basis of secondary-school courses in geology need to pass a placement examination administered by the department.
Course Sequence Suggestions
The department offers a variety of introductory courses in the earth sciences. Earth’s Environments (GEOL 120) has no prerequisite, provides an overview of the whole of earth science that includes field trips to local sites, and is a good first course for students who see geology as a potential major. This course, offered in both the spring and fall semesters, is also suitable for students who are interested in related fields such as environmental studies, oceanography, and evolutionary biology and are seeking hands-on experience with maps and earth materials. The department also offers a variety of topical introductory courses with no prerequisites intended for non-specialists and non-scientists. In 2009-2010, these are scheduled to include, Climate Change (GEOL 110), Glaciology, Ice Ages and Climate Change (GEOL 111), Coral Reefs: Biology, Geology, and Politics (GEOL 115), Meteorite Impacts in Space and Time (ASTR/GEOL 117), Natural Disasters (GEOL 122), and Marine Science (GEOL 161). These courses require no training in science or mathematics beyond the high-school level.
A substantial number of non-majors also enroll in upper-level geology courses. Students can enroll in any 200-level class after taking Earth’s Environments (GEOL 120). In order to enroll in 300-level geology courses, students must complete at least one 200-level course. Students can progress from any of the 200-level courses into any of the 300-level courses with the exception of GEOL 361 (Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology) which has the specific prerequisite of GEOL 201 (Mineralogy).
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Major
The requirements for a geology major are:
- GEOL 120 which should be taken in a student’s first or second year.
- Five upper-level geology courses as follows:
- Mineralogy (GEOL 201)
- Evolution of the Earth (GEOL 204)
- EITHER Earth Surface Processes (GEOL 212) OR Groundwater Hydrogeology (GEOL 242)
- EITHER Paleontology (GEOL 320) OR Sedimentary Geology (GEOL 330)
- ONE FROM Earth’s Interior (GEOL 206), Structural Geology (GEOL 340) OR Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (GEOL 361)
- ANY TWO 4-credit elective geology courses selected from offerings at the 200 or 300 level with the additional option of Marine Science (GEOL 161).
- The following additional courses in cognate Natural Sciences and Mathematics:
- introductory Chemistry, either CHEM 101 and CHEM 102 or the equivalent (e.g. CHEM 103), and
- 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 CHEM 201, MATH 113, MATH 114, MATH 131, MATH 132, PHYS 103 and/or PHYS 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 are neither 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 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.
Students must earn a letter grade of at least a C-/CR/P in a Geology course in order to have that course fulfill major requirements. For courses in cognate Natural Sciences and Mathematics, students must earn the minimum grade required by the home department. Thus, if the Department of Physics and Astronomy will accept a course in which a student earns any passing grade to fulfill their major requirements, the Department of Geology will accept that course to fulfill the geology major requirements. Minor
Students may obtain a minor in Geology by completing at least 15 hours
of coursework that includes an introductory laboratory course (GEOL
120) 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 have a GPA of 3.10 or higher in their geology course work and submit a written proposal to the department. Other guidelines for the Honors Program are set forth elsewhere in this catalog. Research Opportunities.
The Geology Department also offers several avenues for independent research in addition to Honors. Summer field experiences or research related to faculty projects provide opportunities under Research in Geology (GEOL 501). Of special note, the Department is a member of the Keck Geology Consortium, which provides students with summer research opportunities that are continued during semester-long or year-long Research in Geology (GEOL 501) or Honors (GEOL 503) for academic credit. 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 2010 and their primary areas of expertise are as follows: Mr. Hubbard: environmental science; geomorphology and surface processes; clastic and carbonate sedimentology; marine geology; physical oceanography; mapping and field methods. Ms. Hubbard: paleontology; evolution; modern and ancient marine ecosystems; and environmental science. Mr. Page: Metamorphic and igneous rocks; minerals; geochemistry; electron microscopy; X-ray spectrometry; gems; volcanoes. Mr. Simonson: water, mineral, and energy resources; early Earth history; planetary geology. Mr. Wojtal: Mountain building and tectonics; continuum mechanics; environmental applications of GPS and other mapping technologies; geophysics; meteorology; glaciology; climate change and paleoclimatology. Courses of General Interest (for Non-Majors)
Introductory Courses (for Non-Majors and Prospective Majors)
Intermediate and Advanced Courses
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