Department of Geology

Courses

 Bison image - General Education Course

GLY 100 Bison image  Geologic Hazards & Resources3 Credit hours   

Introductory course for both non-science and science majors focusing on 1) earth hazards; and their mitigation, 2) climate change and its impacts and 3) earth and energy resources, their origin and environmental impacts.

Attributes: Natural Sciences, Core II Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 150 Bison image  Intro Oceanography3 Credit hours   

Origin of the seas and ocean basins. Processes of marine sedimentation and seawater chemistry. Dynamics of air/sea interaction, circulation, waves and tides. Description of coastal and other marine environments.

Attributes: Natural Sciences, Core II Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 150L Bison image  Intro Oceanography Lab1 Credit hour   

A complementary laboratory to Introductory Oceanography, GLY 150. A series of exercises relating to bathymetry, accoustic profiling, marine charts, properties of seawater, sea floor sediments, currents, waves and tides.

Co-req: GLY 150
Attributes: Natural Sciences, Core II Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 170 Geology of the National Parks3 Credit hours   

An introduction to U.S. Parks and Monuments including earth materials, plate tectonic setting, formative geologic processes, and natural history; brief overview of history and purpose of the National Park Service.

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 200 Bison image  The Dynamic Earth3 Credit hours   

An elementary but comprehensive physical geology course that deals with the earth's origin, composition, structures, tectonics and processes. Intended primarily for, but not limited to, the science major. 3 lec.

Attributes: Natural Sciences, Core II Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 201 Bison image  The Earth Through Time3 Credit hours   

Introduction to 1) the principles used to interpret past physical, biologic, and chemical events archived in rock record, and 2)the history and development of the earth's lithosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.

Attributes: Natural Sciences, Core II Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 210L Bison image  Earth Materials Lab1 Credit hour   

An introduction to laboratory methods for the identification and classification of minerals, rocks, fossils and landscapes.

Attributes: Natural Sciences, Core II Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 211L Bison image  Earth Through Time Lab1 Credit hour   

Reconstruction of events in earth history based on physical characteristics and arrangement of rock layers and their fossil contens. 2 hr lab (PR: 210L; CR: GLY 201)

Attributes: No Textbook Required, Natural Sciences, Core II Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 212 Geologic Field Methods3 Credit hours   

Using the geology of West Virginia, introduces geologic field methods including geologic map interpretation and construction, cross-section preparation, qualitative and quantitative data collection, and ArcGIS mapping. Includes fields trips, laboratories.

Pre-req: (GLY 200 with a minimum grade of D or GLY 201 with a minimum grade of D) and (GLY 210L with a minimum grade of D or GLY 211L with a minimum grade of D).

Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 280 Special Topics1-4 Credit hours   
Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 281 Special Topics1-4 Credit hours   
Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 282 Special Topics1-4 Credit hours   
Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 283 Special Topics1-4 Credit hours   
Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 313 Structural Geology4 Credit hours   

Explores geologic structures: their history, 3-d relationships and the stresses that cause them. Structural deformation occurs at scales ranging form the continental to the atomic. Labs and weekend field trip.

Pre-req: GLY 110 or GLY 200.

Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 314 Mineralogy4 Credit hours   

Identification, classification, orgin, occurrences, and economic uses of minerals and their crystallographic forms. 3 lec-2 lab.

Pre-req: GLY 200 with a minimum grade of D and CHM 211 with a minimum grade of D.

Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 320L Geology Lab Techniques2 Credit hours   

Techniques of collection, preparation and analysis of mineral, rock and water samples, and the use of different instruments for obtaining quality data. Will also cover tools used for data interpretation.

Pre-req: GLY 200 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D and GLY 210L (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D.

Concurrent PR: GLY 200 and GLY 210L
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 325 Stratigraphy & Sediment4 Credit hours   

Formation, organization, sequence, and correlation of sedimentary rocks; study of the orgin, transportation and deposition of rock-forming sediments. 3 lec-2 lab.

Pre-req: GLY 201 with a minimum grade of D and GLY 211L with a minimum grade of D.

Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 330 Tectonics3 Credit hours   

Overview of tectonics theory and the processes at plate boundaries that form orogenic systems, continents and ocean basins. Students will read, discuss and present scientific literature.

Pre-req: GLY 200 and GLY 201 and GLY 210L and GLY 211L.

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 410 Big Bend Field Excursion2 Credit hours   

Field trip to Big Bend National Park, Texas to study the structure, stratigraphy, igneous geology, metamorphic geology, paleontology and natural history of this national park.

Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 418 Invertebrate Paleontology4 Credit hours   

Taxonomy, morphology, and paleoecology of body and trace fossils representing the major invertebrate phyla; analysis and interpretation of faunal assemblages; evolution and extinction of species. (PR: GLY 201)

Pre-req: GLY 201 with a minimum grade of D and GLY 211L with a minimum grade of D.

Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 420 Principles of Geochemistry3 Credit hours   

Application of chemical principles to geology. Topics include cosmochemistry; distribution of elements in minerals and rocks; aqueous solutions and water-rock interaction; radiometric age dating and stable isotope geology.

Pre-req: CHM 211 with a minimum grade of D and GLY 200 with a minimum grade of D.

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 421 Igneous& Metamorphic Petrology4 Credit hours   

Indentification and classification of igneous, and metamorphic rocks, their origin and occurrence; their geologic and economic importance. 3 lec-2 lab.

Pre-req: GLY 200 with a minimum grade of D and GLY 314 with a minimum grade of D.

Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 423 Sedimentary Petrology4 Credit hours   

Microscopic description of minerals, textures, and fossils in sedimentary rocks, their classification, and interpretation of source area, depositional environment and post-depositional history. 3 lec-2 lab.

Pre-req: GLY 201.

Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 426 Geophysics3 Credit hours   

Development of seismic, gravity, magnetism, electrical and thermal methods of studying the structure and dynamics of the earth. 3-lec

Pre-req: GLY 200 with a minimum grade of D and GLY 210L with a minimum grade of D and (PHY 201 with a minimum grade of D or PHY 211 with a minimum grade of D) and MTH 229 with a minimum grade of D.

Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 427 Fossil Fuels4 Credit hours   

Origin and distribution of coal, oil and gas, and methods of exploration and reserve evaluaton. 3 lec-2 lab.

Pre-req: GLY 200.

Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 451 Principles Geomorphology4 Credit hours   

Principles of identification and analysis of the world's surficial features in terms of stratigraphy, structure, processes, tectonics and time. 3 lec. 2 lab.

Pre-req: GLY 200 and GLY 210L.

Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 455 Hydrogeology3 Credit hours   

The properties of water, the hydrologic cycle with emphasis on surface and groundwater processes, the uses, needs and problems associated with water resources. 3 lec.

Pre-req: GLY 200 with a minimum grade of D and (MTH 132 with a minimum grade of D or MTH 229 with a minimum grade of D or MTH 229H with a minimum grade of D).

Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 455L Hydrogeology Laboratory1 Credit hour   

A two-hour laboratory of practical hydrogeologic problem solving. For non-majors, elective.

Pre-req: GLY 455 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D.

Concurrent PR: GLY 455
Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 456 Environmental Geology4 Credit hours   

Consideration of risks posed by natural geo-hazards and from physical/chemical contamination of geologic media. (PR: GLY 200, GLY 210L or equivalent; Recommended: GLY 451)

Pre-req: GLY 200 with a minimum grade of D and GLY 210L with a minimum grade of D.

Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 457 Engineering Geology4 Credit hours   

Consideration of geotechnical problems faced by geologists and engineers. Major topics include mechanics and classification of soil and rock, and geotechnical aspects of groundwater.

Pre-req: GLY 200 with a minimum grade of D and GLY 210L with a minimum grade of D and (MTH 132 with a minimum grade of D or MTH 229 with a minimum grade of D).

Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 480 Special Topics1-4 Credit hours   
Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 481 Special Topics1-4 Credit hours   
Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 482 Special Topics1-4 Credit hours   
Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 483 Special Topics1-4 Credit hours   
Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 485 Independent Study1-4 Credit hours   
Attributes: No Textbook Required, Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 486 Independent Study1-4 Credit hours   
Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 487 Independent Study1-4 Credit hours   
Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 488 Independent Study1-4 Credit hours   
Attributes: Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 491 Bison image  Capstone Experience2-4 Credit hours   

An independent study involving a research project or internship. Must be approved by Geology faculty. (PR: 20 hours of Geology coursework).

Attributes: Capstone Course, Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode
GLY 492 Bison image  Capstone Class2 Credit hours   

A seminar-type class on a multidisciplinary applied topic offered at the discretion of faculty to substitute for GLY 491. (PR: 20 hours of Geology coursework / consent of faculty).

Attributes: Capstone Course, Natural Sciences
Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

Faculty

Professors
Caudill, El-Shazly

Assistant Professor
Brink-Roby