Geology and Geophysics
Geology
& Geophysics courses
Geology & Geophysics department
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Director of undergraduate studies: Jay Ague, 216 KGL, 432-3171, dus@geology.yale.edu
FACULTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS
Professors
Jay Ague, David Bercovici (Chair), Mark Brandon, Derek Briggs, Leo Buss, Michael Donoghue, Jacques Gauthier, Thomas Graedel, Leo Hickey, Shun-ichiro Karato, Jeffrey Park, Danny Rye, Adolf Seilacher (Visiting), Brian Skinner, Ronald Smith, Karl Turekian, George Veronis, Elisabeth Vrba, John Wettlaufer
Associate Professors
Ruth Blake, David Evans, Jun Korenaga, Mark Pagani, Steven Sherwood
Assistant Professor
Alexey Fedorov
Lecturer
Catherine Skinner
The Geology and Geophysics program prepares students for the application of scientific principles and methods to the understanding of Earth and life as a system on a regional and a planetary scale. Subjects range from the history of Earth and life upon it to present-day environmental processes, integrating the study of Earth's deep interior, tectonic plates, oceans, atmosphere, land surface, natural resources, and biota. The emphasis of the curriculum is on developing and employing basic principles from the core sciences (physics, chemistry, biology) to further an understanding of Earth's past and present, and to address issues relating to its future. Students gain a broad background in the natural sciences, while also selecting a specific track to focus their work on planetary or environmental phenomena of particular interest. The B.S. tracks emphasize hands-on research experience in fieldwork, in laboratories, or in computer modeling. While some graduates continue on to research, consulting, or industrial careers in earth and planetary sciences, the major's broad scientific training prepares students for a wide variety of other paths, including medicine, law, public policy, and teaching.
B.S. degree program. Majors in the B.S. program choose from four tracks: the atmosphere and ocean track, the environmental geosciences track, the paleontology and geobiology track, and the solid Earth sciences track. The tracks are suggested pathways to professional careers and to major areas of research in geology and geophysics. Students may change tracks during their course of study with guidance from the director of undergraduate studies.
1. The atmosphere and ocean track provides a comprehensive understanding of the theory, observation, and prediction of the atmosphere-ocean-climate system. Topics range from past changes, including the ice ages, to present-day storms and weather, to forecasting climate change and global warming. The prerequisites are college-level chemistry (CHEM 113, 114, or 118a), physics (PHYS 180a, 181b and PHYS 165La, 166Lb), computing (ENAS 130b or equivalent), and mathematics through differential equations (MATH 120a or b and ENAS 194a or b). The major requirements consist of ten and one-half course credits beyond the prerequisites, including either the senior essay or the senior thesis. Students take one 100-level course or freshman seminar as an introduction to Earth processes (G&G 100a, 110a, 120b, 125b); a higher-level course in G&G can be substituted with the permission of the director of undergraduate studies. Core courses totaling five and one-half credits introduce students to Earth's climate system (G&G 140a and 141La), meteorology (G&G 322a), physical oceanography (G&G 335a), fluid mechanics (MENG 361a), and statistics or linear algebra (STAT 230b or 238a or MATH 222a or b). Three electives are chosen from topics in the environment; processes that govern the atmosphere, ocean, and land surface; physics; and statistics. A list of suggested electives is available from the office of the director of undergraduate studies or on the departmental Web site. At least one elective must be from G&G.
2. The environmental geosciences track provides a scientific understanding of the natural and anthropogenic processes that shape the Earth-atmosphere-biosphere system. It emphasizes comparative studies of past and current Earth processes to inform models of the environment's future. The prerequisites are broad and flexible and include college-level chemistry (CHEM 113, 114, or 118a) and mathematics through multivariate calculus (MATH 120a or b). Depending on their area of focus, students may choose a prerequisite in physics (PHYS 150a, 151b; 180a, 181b; or 200a, 201b), or they may choose cellular biology (MCDB 120a) and evolutionary biology (E&EB 122a or b or G&G 125b). The major requirements consist of eleven courses beyond the prerequisites, including either the senior essay or the senior thesis. Students take two courses in G&G numbered 090–160 as an introduction to the Earth system (G&G 100a, 110a, 120b; G&G 125b may be used if the physics prerequisites are selected). Four core courses are chosen from topics in resource use and sustainability (G&G 205a), the microbiology of surface and near-surface environments (G&G 255b), geochemical principles (G&G 301a), environmental chemistry and pollution (G&G 457a), climate (G&G 322a), and satellite-based image analysis (G&G 362a). Four electives selected from Geology and Geophysics, Environmental Studies, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and related fields provide a broad approach to scientific study of the environment. A list of suggested electives is available from the office of the director of undergraduate studies or on the departmental Web site. Electives may be chosen from the core courses, and at least two must be from G&G.
3. The paleontology and geobiology track focuses on the fossil record of life and evolution, geochemical imprints of life, and interactions between life and Earth. Topics range from morphology, function, relationships, and biogeography of the fossils themselves, through the contexts of fossil finds in terms of stratigraphy, sediment geochemistry, paleoecology, paleoclimate, and geomorphology, to analysis of the larger causes of paleontological, geobiological, and evolutionary patterns. Integrative approaches are emphasized that link fossil evidence with the physical and chemical evolution of Earth. The prerequisites are college-level biology (MCDB 120a and E&EB 122a or b) and chemistry (CHEM 113, 114, or 118a), and mathematics through multivariate calculus (MATH 120a or b). The major requirements consist of eleven courses beyond the prerequisites, including either the senior essay or the senior thesis. Students take G&G 110a to gain geological and environmental context, and they are introduced to the fossil record and evolution in G&G 125b. Four core courses give majors a comprehensive background in sedimentary rocks and fossilization (G&G 230a), the study of evolution (G&G 250a), microbiology in past and present environments (G&G 255b), and statistical data analysis as applied to the life sciences (STAT 101a). Four electives selected from Geology and Geophysics, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, and related fields offer students maximum flexibility in pursuing their specific interests. A list of suggested electives is available from the office of the director of undergraduate studies or on the departmental Web site. At least one elective must be from G&G.
4. The solid Earth sciences track emphasizes an integrated geological, geochemical, and geophysical approach to the study of processes operating within Earth and their manifestation on the surface. It includes the structure, dynamics, and kinetics of Earth's interior and their impacts on our environment both in the long term (e.g., the evolution of the land surface) and in the short term (e.g., the causes for natural disasters such as earthquakes and volcanic eruption). Students acquire a fundamental understanding of the solid Earth system, both as it exists today and as it has evolved over geologic time scales. The prerequisites are college-level chemistry (CHEM 113, 114, or 118a) and physics (PHYS 150a, 151b; 180a, 181b; or 200a, 201b), and mathematics through multivariate calculus (MATH 120a or b). The major requirements consist of eleven courses beyond the prerequisites, including either the senior essay or the senior thesis. Students take two courses in G&G numbered 090–160 as an introduction to the Earth system (G&G 100a, 110a, 120b, 125b, 140a). The core of the track consists of four courses chosen from topics in mantle dynamics, earthquakes, and volcanoes (G&G 201a), mountain building and global tectonics (G&G 212b), rocks and minerals (G&G 220b), sedimentary rocks and processes (G&G 230a), and geochemical principles (G&G 301a). Students also select four electives in geology, geochemistry, geophysics, or related topics. A list of suggested electives is available from the office of the director of undergraduate studies or on the departmental Web site. Electives may be chosen from core courses, and at least two must be from G&G.
B.A. degree program. The B.A. degree in Geology and Natural Resources requires fewer upper-level courses than the B.S. degree. It may be more appropriate for students who wish to major in two separate Yale programs, who study geoscience in preparation for a career in law, business, or government, or who resolve on a science major only after the freshman year. The prerequisites include mathematics (MATH 115a or b), biology (MCDB 120a or G&G 255b), and chemistry (CHEM 103b, 113, 114, or 118a). The major requirements consist of nine courses beyond the prerequisites. These nine include two courses in G&G numbered 090–160; courses in natural resources (G&G 205a) and geochemistry (G&G 301a); and five additional courses at the 200 level or higher in Geology and Geophysics or Environmental Engineering, including either the senior essay or the senior thesis. Course selections can be guided by any of the B.S. tracks described above.
Senior requirement. Seniors in both degree programs must prepare either a senior essay based on one term of library, laboratory, or field research (G&G 492a or b) or, with the consent of the faculty, a two-term senior thesis (G&G 490), which involves innovative field, laboratory, or theoretical research. Students electing to do a senior thesis must first select a topic and obtain the consent of a faculty member to act as an adviser. They must then petition the faculty through the director of undergraduate studies for approval of the thesis proposal. The petition should be submitted by the end of the junior year. If the two-term senior thesis is elected, the second term of G&G 490 may count as an elective toward the major. A copy of each senior thesis or senior essay is deposited in the archives of the Geology and Geophysics Library.
Geology and Geophysics majors may not employ the Credit/D/Fail option for their prerequisites or for courses in the major. Higher-level courses may, with the permission of the director of undergraduate studies, be substituted for prerequisites and for specific required courses. Qualified seniors are encouraged to enroll in graduate courses, with the permission of the directors of graduate and undergraduate studies.
Practical experience. In addition to prerequisites and required courses in Geology and Geophysics, candidates for the B.A. and B.S. degrees are strongly encouraged to gain practical experience in the Earth sciences. This can be done in two ways: (1) by attending a summer field course at another academic institution, or (2) by participating in summer research opportunities offered by the Department of Geology and Geophysics, by other academic institutions, or by certain government agencies and private industries. Consult the director of undergraduate studies for further information.
REQUIREMENTS OF THE MAJOR
Prerequisites: B.A.—MATH 115a or b; MCDB 120a or G&G 255b; CHEM 103b, 113, 114, or 118a; B.S.: All tracks—CHEM 113, 114, or 118a; MATH 120a or b; Atmosphere and ocean track—ENAS 130b or equivalent; ENAS 194a or b; PHYS 180a, 181b, 165La, 166Lb; Environmental geosciences track—physics (PHYS 150a, 151b, or 180a, 181b, or 200a, 201b) or biology (MCDB 120a and either E&EB 122a or b or G&G 125b); Paleontology and geobiology track—MCDB 120a; E&EB 122a or b; Solid Earth sciences track—PHYS 150a, 151b, or 180a, 181b, or 200a, 201b
Number of courses: B.A.—9 term courses beyond prereqs for letter grades (incl senior req); B.S.: Atmosphere and ocean track—10S course credits beyond prereqs for letter grades (incl senior req); Environmental geosciences, paleontology and geobiology, and solid Earth sciences tracks—11 courses beyond prereqs for letter grades (incl senior req)
Distribution of courses: B.A.—2 courses in G&G numbered 090–160; 5 addtl courses at 200 level or higher in G&G or Environmental Engineering; B.S.: Atmosphere and ocean track—1 freshman sem or 100-level course in G&G; 3 electives as specified; Environmental geosciences and solid Earth sciences tracks—2 courses in G&G numbered 090–160; 4 electives as specified; Paleontology and geobiology track—4 electives as specified
Specific courses required: B.A.—G&G 205a, 301a; B.S.: Atmosphere and ocean track—G&G 140a, 141La, 322a, 335a; MENG 361a; STAT 230b or 238a or MATH 222a or b; Environmental geosciences track—4 from G&G 205a, 255b, 301a, 322a, 362a, 457a; Paleontology and geobiology track—G&G 110a, 125b, 230a, 250a, 255b, STAT 101a; Solid Earth sciences track—4 from G&G 201a, 212b, 220b, 230a, 301a
Substitution permitted: All programs—with DUS permission, higher-level courses for prereqs or required courses
Senior requirement: All programs—senior essay (G&G 492a or b) or, with permission of faculty, two-term senior thesis (G&G 490)
Unless otherwise indicated, courses in Geology and Geophysics count toward the natural science requirement for the Class of 2008.
