1003 Volcanoes and Earthquakes. Prerequisite: high school chemistry and algebra. Worldwide distribution of volcanic and earthquake activity; types of volcanic eruptions and associated landforms and rocks; causes of and techniques for location of earthquakes; prediction of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes; social consequences of predictions and actual volcanic and earthquake activity. (F, Sp)
1013 Global Environmental Change. Relationship between humanity and the environment from an intellectual and historical perspective. Principle of progress and the Industrial Revolution, the Enlightenment and Francis Bacon, the noble savage, conservation and land ethics. Malthusians and Cornucopians, the Gaia Hypothesis, risk analysis, global warming, fossil fuels and alternative energy sources. (Sp) [II-NL]
1024 The History of the Earth and Life. The origin of the Earth and solar system. Rocks and minerals; geologic time; plate tectonics and continental drift. The ocean-atmosphere system; climate change over time; biological evolution. The fossil record of early life; the "Cambrian Explosion" of life in the oceans; invertebrate animals and their geological history. Geological history of fishes; evolution of plants. Terrestrial vertebrates, including dinosaurs and mammals. Mass extinctions; human evolution; impact of human activities on the global environment and the biosphere.(Sp) [II-LAB]
1034 Native Science and Earth Systems of North America (Crosslisted with Meteorology 1034). Examines Earth systems of North America using both indigenous and Western perspectives, and an Earth science approach. This team-taught course will utilize a combination of geology, geography, meteorology, and Native American sciences, as expressed through the use of art. (Sp) [II-NL]
1104 The Dynamic Earth (Geology for Non-Science Majors). Introduction to the fundamentals of geology and their application to land-use, groundwater, mineral use and fossil fuel problems facing society. Several guest lecturers from industry and state and federal surveys will contribute to the content of the course. Laboratory fee. Three hours lecture, two hours lab. Laboratory (F, Sp) [II-LAB]
1114 Physical Geology for Science and Engineering Majors. Prerequisite: equivalent knowledge of high school chemistry, algebra and trigonometry. Laboratory included. Plate tectonics, the makeup of continents and mountain building. Heat flow, magnetism, gravity, rock deformation, earthquakes and the earth's interior. Surface processes including weathering, erosion, transport and deposition. Landforms, rivers, groundwater, glaciers, ocean processes, and volcanoes. Minerals and rocks. Application of geology to land-use, groundwater, mineral and fossil fuel exploration. Laboratory (F, Sp) [II-LAB]
1133 Gold, Silver and Gemstones. Geological processes leading to the formation of precious metal (gold, silver and platinum) and gemstone (diamond, sapphire, ruby, emerald, topaz, tourmaline) deposits; properties and uses of precious metals and gem minerals; geological constraints on the location and generation of deposits; exploration, mining, processing, and marketing. (Sp) [II-NL]
1203 The Age of Dinosaurs (Crosslisted with Zoology 1203). Introduction to basic principles and theories in zoology (evolution, systematics, vertebrate morphology and relationships) and geology (geologic time, earth history, plate tectonics, sedimentation and stratigraphy), focusing on the evolutionary history of Dinosauria. May not be counted for major coursework in either department or for general education requirements. [II-NL]
2014 The Earth System (Crosslisted with Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences 2014). An integrated overview of earth sciences emphasizing earth materials, the oceans and atmosphere, the solar system, and earth’s evolution. The interrelationship among the different earth systems will be emphasized. Topics will be explored through a learning-cycle approach. The lab component includes both in-class experiments and one field-based research project. Laboratory (Sp)
2224 Introduction to Mineral Sciences. Prerequisite: 1114 or permission; Chemistry 1415 or concurrent enrollment. Crystallography, crystal chemistry, optical properties and identification of minerals utilizing the petrographic microscope; an introduction to the rock-forming minerals and their relationships within igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. Laboratory (F)
3003 Structural Geology and Stratigraphy for Petroleum Engineers. . Prerequisite: 1114, Physics 2524 or concurrent enrollment. Treatment of structural and stratigraphic geology with an emphasis on aspects of importance to petroleum engineering. Includes an investigation of mechanical principles relating to the earth's crust, descriptive study of nomenclature, causes of tectonic deformation, sedimentary processes and environments, and stratigraphic principles. Laboratory (Sp)
3114 Structural Geology. Prerequisite: 2224, Physics 2524 or concurrent enrollment. An introduction to the concepts of stress, strain, the mechanisms of rock deformation, the mechanics of folding and fracturing, and description of structural styles in various tectonic settings. Laboratory (F)
3123 Introductory Field Geology. Prerequisite: 3114 or concurrent enrollment; or permission. Laboratory included. Field trips; students will be charged transportation costs. Techniques of geologic fieldwork. Use of Brunton compass, alidade and plane table and topographic maps. Field examination of common geologic situations. Field exercises. Laboratory (Sp)
†G3154 Environmental Geology. Prerequisite: college algebra and permission of instructor; completion of one college level science course recommended. Designed for students who are wanting to know to relationship between earth materials and environmental issues. Topics include minerals, rocks, depositional environments, porosity, permeability, water occurrence and chemistry, petroleum, natural gas, tar sands, oil shales, land subsidence, and earthquakes. Laboratory includes the study of minerals, rocks, maps, and well cuttings. Laboratory (F)
3223 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology. Prerequisite: 2224 or permission. Laboratory included. Field trip; students will be charged transportation costs. Generation, emplacement and crystallization of magma; phase chemistry; principles of igneous rock classification; the relationship of magma types to geologic setting. Principles of metamorphic petrology; phase chemistry and metamorphic reactions; concepts of metamorphic grade, P-T regimes and relationships to geologic environments; concepts of protoliths and provenance. Laboratory study of the textures, structures and mineral assemblages of igneous and metamorphic rocks utilizing hand specimens and thin sections. Laboratory (Sp)
3233 Sedimentary Petrology and Sedimentology. Prerequisite: 2224 or permission. Laboratory included. Field trip; students will be charged transportation costs. Origin, evolution and interpretation of sedimentary rocks with an emphasis on terrigenous systems; interpretation of mineralogy, textures and structures of terrigenous clastic and carbonate rocks in hand specimen and thin section. Laboratory (Sp)
3333 Geowriting. Prerequisite: English 1113 and English 1213 or Expository Writing 1213. Provides student with the information and skills needed to effectively communicate as professional geoscientists. Students will actively engage in writing and scientific communication exercises through in-class activities, weekly assignments, and semester-long projects. Substitutes for English 3153. (Sp)
3513 Fundamentals of Invertebrate Paleontology. Prerequisite: 1124 or permission. Laboratory included. Field trip; students will be charged transportation costs. A systematic approach to the animal invertebrate phyla, emphasizing fossil forms as they occur in the geologic record. Paleontologic principles and methods with emphasis on evolutionary paleontology, paleoecology and stratigraphic paleontology. Brief treatments of biogeochemistry and paleobiogeography. Laboratory (F)
3633 Introduction to Oceanography. General survey of the scientific framework of the four specializations of the oceanographic study—biological, chemical, geological/geophysical and physical oceanography. Applications of ocean research to social and economic problems; interrelations between the ocean disciplines and other fields of study. (Sp) [II-NL]
3960 Honors Reading. 1 to 3 hours. Prerequisite: admission to Honors Program. May be repeated; maximum credit six hours. Consists of topics designated by the instructor in keeping with the student's major program. Covers topics not usually presented in the regular courses.
3970 Honors Seminar. 1 to 3 hours. Prerequisite: admission to Honors Program. May be repeated; maximum credit six hours. Subjects covered vary. Deals with concepts not usually treated in regular courses.
3980 Honors Research. 1 to 3 hours. Prerequisite: admission to Honors Program. May be repeated; maximum credit six hours. Provides an opportunity for the gifted honors candidate to work at a special project in the student's field.
4113 Depositional Systems and Stratigraphy (Slashlisted with 5113). Prerequisite: 3114, 3233 or permission. Basic stratigraphic principles as well as reconstruction of ancient depositional systems. The controls on deposition of stratigraphic sequences, completeness of the rock record, biostratigraphy, magneto stratigraphy, and seismic stratigraphy. Field trip; students will be charged transportation costs. Laboratory (F)
G4133 Petroleum Geology for Geoscientists. Prerequisite: 1104 or 1114; or senior standing. Lectures will integrate at a quantitative level several fields of geology with geiphysics, geochemistry and engineering that comprise the science of petroleum geology. The history of the petroleum industry, the location and amount of major reserves of oil and gas, and the potential for development of unconventional hydrocarbon resources will be covered. Labs will cover the types of data acquired during the drilling and testing of wells and the interpretation of these data, the analysis of well logs, use of logs and other subsurface data for correlation and mapping manually and using computer software. Recent tools and technological developments will be covered. Laboratory (F)
4136 Field Geology. Prerequisite: 3123; senior standing or permission. A six-week summer course held at the Oklahoma Geology Camp at Canon City, Colorado. Applications of field techniques, including use of aerial photographs, construction of geological maps and geophysical methods, to the recognition and interpretation of geologic phenomena. (Su) [V]
4143 Petroleum Geology for Business Majors. Prerequisite: 1104 or 1114. The integration of several fields of geology with geochemistry, geiphysics, and engineering to provide an overview of the science and technology used in the exploration for and development of oil and natural gas fields. Briefly covers historical development of petroleum geology, amount and location of the world's major oil and gas reserves, and future potential for conventional and non-conventional hydrocarbon resources. (F)
4213 Earth System History (slashlisted with 5213). Prerequisite: 4113 or concurrent enrollment; or permission of instructor. Provides an earth system perspective to earth history that emphasizes tectonic, climatic and biotic interactions throughout geologic time. No student may earn credit for both 4213 and 5213. (F)
4373 History of Geology (Slashlisted with 5373). Prerequisite: junior standing. History of science and the scientific method with an emphasis on geology. Greek science, scholasticism, Copernican revolution Francis Bacon, principle of uniformity, evolution, continental drift, climate, progress. Discussion of writings by Plato, Geike, Kuhn, Popper, Chamberlin, Gilbert, Hubbert and others. No student may earn credit for both 4373 and 5373. (F)
4413 Paleobotany (Crosslisted with Botany 4413; Slashlisted with 5413). Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Introduction to the fossil record of terrestrial plants from algae to flowering plants. Lectures will address anatomy, morphology, taphonomy and paleoecology, including climate and plant-animal interactions. Laboratories will put lecture topics into practice using fossil plants from the Oklahoma Museum of Natural History collection and from fieldwork. Field trips. No student may earn credit for both 4413 and 5413. Laboratory (Sp, even-numbered years)
4513 Evolutionary Paleobiology (Slashlisted with 5513). Prerequisite: 3513. Evolutionary patterns in the fossil record. Time resolution and bias in fossil assemblages. Taxonomic diversity and community replacement over geologic time. Mass extinctions and evolutionary radiations. Heterochrony and evolution. Application of methods in biosystematics to fossils, including computer-based techniques. No student may earn credit for both 4513 and 5513. (Alt. Sp)
4533 Earth's Past Climate (Slashlisted with 5533, Crosslisted with Meteorology 4533). Prerequisite: senior or graduate standing and permission of instructor. Explores earth's climate system, controls on climate change, and evolution of climate history through geologic time as deciphered from climate proxies. No student may earn credit for both 4533 and 5533. (F)
G4633 Hydrogeology. Prerequisite: Mathematics 2443, Physics 2524, senior standing in geology, or permission of instructor. Darcy's law, Hubbert's fluid potential, equations of groundwater flow. Physical properties of geologic materials and fluids. Free convection, compaction- and gravity-driven flow. Role of fluids in geologic phenomena, including mineralization, metamorphism, hydrocarbon migration, sedimentary diagenesis, faulting and earthquakes, paleomagnetism. Application of geologic and geophysical techniques to fluid flow problems. (F)
4864 Geomicrobiology (Slashlisted with 5864; Crosslisted with Microbiology 4864). Prerequisite: Microbiology 3813 or permission of instructor. Life below the earth's surface. Bacterial degradation of pollutants. Petroleum microbiology. Role of microorganisms in geochemical cycling of carbon, sulfur, and metals. No student may earn credit for both 4864 and 5864. (F)
G4970 Seminar. 1 to 3 hours. Prerequisite: permission. May be repeated; maximum credit nine hours. (F, Sp)
4983 Senior Thesis in Geology. Prerequisite: senior standing with a major in geology and permission. May not be repeated. Individual research of a geological topic selected by the student in consultation with the instructor. The project may involve fieldwork, theoretical analysis, computer modeling, and/or data analysis and interpretation, culminating in a written thesis. (F, Sp, Su)
4990 Independent Study. 1 to 3 hours. Prerequisite: three courses in general area to be studied; permission of instructor and department. May be repeated; maximum credit nine hours. Contracted independent study for topics not currently offered in regularly scheduled courses. Independent study may include library and/or laboratory research and field projects. (F, Sp, Su)
G5003 Diagenesis. Prerequisite: 26 hours of geology or geophysics or permission. Origin and interpretation of diagenetic features of sedimentary rocks, including porosity, permeability, fluid flow, compaction and cementation. Geochemical approaches are stressed. Laboratory (Irreg.)
G5010 Paleomagnetism/Diagenesis Seminar. One to two hours. Prerequisite: Senior or graduate standing; GPHY 5364 suggested. Seminar includes presentations by the professor on research topics as well as presentations by students on papers they read. In addition, each student will also make at least one presentation on their research. Also, students will work through a self-instruction lab with the microscopes. Focuses on recognizing diagenetic features that are important for paleomagnetism. May be taken for a total of six (6) credit hours. (F, Sp)
G5020 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy Seminar. Prerequisite: graduate standing. May be repeated with change of content; maximum credit twelve hours. Directed seminar on selected aspects of sedimentology and stratigraphy. (F, Sp)
G5030 Petrology Seminar. Topical presentations and discussions in hard-rock petrology, and related geochemistry and mineralogy, given by faculty, graduate students, and visiting school colloquium speakers. May be repeated for a total of 12 credit hours.
G5113 Depositional Systems and Stratigraphy (Slashlisted with 4113). Prerequisite: 3114, 3233 or permission. Basic stratigraphic principles as well as reconstruction of ancient depositional systems. The controls of deposition of stratigraphic sequences, completeness of the rock record, biostratigraphy, magneto stratigraphy, and seismic stratigraphy. Field trip; students will be charged transportation costs. No student may earn credit for both 4113 and 5113. Laboratory (F)
G5130 Advanced Field Geology. 1 to 6 hours. Prerequisite: permission. Supervised fieldwork on specific field problems. (Irreg.)
G5134 Applied Reservoir Characterization. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Geological mapping; well log interpretation; 3-D geological modeling; reservoir characterization methodology; reservoir simulation and upscaling; reservoir heterogeneity classification. (Irreg.)
G5173 Clastic Facies. Prerequisite: 3233 or 4113 or equivalent. Bedforms, sedimentary structures, flow regime, intrinsic versus extrinsic controls on sedimentation, ancient depositional environments and depositional models (alluvial fan, fluvial, deltaic, lacustrine, eolian, shelf, etc.). (F)
G5204 Vertebrate Paleobiology (Crosslisted with Zoology 5204). Prerequisite: Zoology 1114, 1121, 2204; or permission. Field trips. Systematics, relationships, zoogeography, and evolutionary morphology of the major groups of vertebrates. (Irreg.)
G5233 Introduction to X-Ray Diffraction and Spectrography. Prerequisite: 2224 or Engineering 2313 or permission. The experimental methods involved and the principal applications. Laboratory included. Laboratory (F)
G5343 Stable Isotope Geochemistry. Prerequisite: Chemistry 1315, 1415; senior or graduate standing. Focuses on the stable isotopes of light elements (C, H, O, N, S) in the various processes that have resulted in their redistribution over geologic time. (Alt. F)
G5363 Carbonate Geology. Prerequisite: 26 hours of geology and geophysics, or permission. Students will be charged field trip costs. Petrology and petrography of modern and ancient chemical rocks, the reconstruction of their physical/chemical depositional and diagenetic environments in time and space; applied interpretation of cores, petrophysical logs, and seismic; five-day field trip to the Florida Keys. (Irreg.)
G5373 History of Geology (slashlisted with 4373). Prerequisite: graduate standing. History of science and the scientific method with an emphasis on geology. Greek science, scholasticism, Copernican revolution Francis Bacon, principle of uniformity, evolution, continental drift, climate, progress. Discussion of writings by Plato, Geike, Kuhn, Popper, Chamberlin, Gilbert, Hubbert and others. No student may earn credit for both 4373 and 5373. (F)
G5413 Paleobotany (Crosslisted with Botany 5413; Slashlisted with 4413). Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Introduction to the fossil record of terrestrial plants from algae to flowering plants. Lectures will address anatomy, morphology, taphonomy and paleoecology, including climate and plant-animal interactions. Laboratories will put lecture topics into practice using fossil plants from the Oklahoma Museum of Natural History collection and from fieldwork. Field trips. No student may earn credit for both 4413 and 5413. Laboratory (Sp, even-numbered years)
G5443 Formation Damage (Crosslisted with P E 5443). Prerequisite: graduate standing or permission of instructor. This course presents an overview of the common formation damage processes, mechanisms, theories, and parameters; methods for diagnosis, determination, and control of formation damage; and application for mathematical models for analysis of laboratory and field data. (Irreg.)
G5513 Evolutionary Paleobiology (Slashlisted with 4513). Prerequisite: 3513. Evolutionary patterns in the fossil record. Time resolution and bias in fossil assemblages. Taxonomic diversity and community replacement over geologic time. Mass extinctions and evolutionary radiations. Heterochrony and evolution. Application of methods in biosystematics to fossils, including computer-based techniques. No student may earn credit for both 4513 and 5513. (Alt. Sp)
G5533 Earth's Past Climate (Slashlisted with 4533, Crosslisted with Meteorology 5533). Prerequisite: senior or graduate standing and permission of instructor. Explores earth's climate system, controls on climate change, and evolution of climate history through geologic time as deciphered from climate proxies. No student may earn credit for both 4533 and 5533. (F)
G5713 Introduction to Geostatistics (Crosslisted with Geological Engineering 5713 and Petroleum Engineering 5713). Prerequisite: Undergraduate course in statistics or permission of instructor. Introduction to geostatistical concepts, Principles and tools for description and modeling of spatial variability in oil/gas reservoirs and other geological formations. Topics include review of basic statistic concepts, exploratory spatial data analysis, stationary and ergodicity, variogram and covariance, kriging, spatial sampling, stochastic realizations and simulations, conditioning, and indicator kriging. (Sp)
G5813 Basin Analysis for Oil and Gas. Prerequisite: permission. Development of exploration guidelines to oil and gas (origin, migration, accumulation) based on regional tectonic styles and related time and place associations of structure, sedimentation, heat history and fluid pressures. Laboratory (F)
G5843 Economic Geology-Metallic Deposits. Prerequisite: 3114. Introductory study of the important metallic ore deposits of the world; geology, origin and economic features of the deposits. (Irreg.)
G5853 Groundwater and Seepage (Crosslisted with Civil Engineering 5853). Prerequisite: graduate standing in civil engineering, environmental science or geology or permission. An applied course dealing with properties of aquifers, modeling of groundwater flow, groundwater hydrology and its interrelation with surface water, well hydraulics, pumping tests and safe yield of aquifers. (F)
G5864 Geomicrobiology (Slashlisted with 4864; Crosslisted with Microbiology 5864). Prerequisite: Microbiology 3813 or permission of instructor. Life below the earth's surface. Bacterial degradation of pollutants. Petroleum microbiology. Role of microorganisms in geochemical cycling of carbon, sulfur, and metals. No student may earn credit for both 4864 and 5864. (F)
G5980 Research for Master's Thesis. Variable enrollment, two to nine hours; maximum credit applicable toward degree, four hours. (F, Sp, Su)
G5990 Special Studies. 1 to 3 hours. Prerequisite: permission. May be repeated; maximum credit nine hours. Advanced special studies in geological problems. May include directed reading in geology, fieldwork, laboratory research or preparation of reports. (F, Sp, Su)
G6103 Petroleum Geochemistry. Prerequisite: graduate standing in geology or chemistry. An introduction to the basic concepts of petroleum geochemistry and their role in exploration. Includes the biomarker concept, pyrolysis techniques, isotopes in petroleum exploration, basin modeling and kinetic studies, organic petrography and detailed studies of a number of case histories. (Irreg.)
G6233 Electron Microbeam Methods for the Earth and Materials Sciences. Prerequisite: graduate standing and permission of instructor. Provides the background necessary to effectively use electron microbeam (scanning electron microscope, electron microprobe) techniques to conduct spatial and compositional characterization of multi-component solid materials, to be achieved through lecture on operational theory coupled with applied (hands-on) utilization of a modern electron microprobe. Laboratory (F)
G6283 Seismic Reservoir Modeling (Crosslisted with Geological Engineering and Petroleum Engineering 6283). Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of instructor. This course is designed to explore the seismic response of rocks and how it is related to petrophysical parameters. This understanding is key to interpretation of seismic data in terms of subsurface rocks and fluids. (F)
G6453 Topics in Petrology and Plate Tectonics. Prerequisite: graduate standing in geology or geophysics or permission of instructor. May be repeated with change of subject matter; maximum credit six hours. Geological processes at plate margins with emphasis on the relationship between structural and petrologic features: plate kinematics and petrotectonic associations; the origin of mountain belts, basins, and rock suites at convergent, divergent, and transform boundaries. (Irreg.)
G6950 Research. 1 to 4 hours. Prerequisite: graduate standing and permission of faculty supervisor. May be repeated with change of content; maximum credit 12 hours. Individual research in various areas of geology. (F, Sp, Su)
G6960 Directed Readings. 1 to 6 hours. Prerequisite: graduate standing and permission of faculty supervisor. May be repeated; maximum credit six hours. Supervised reading at an advanced graduate level. (F, Sp, Su)
G6970 Seminar. 1 to 4 hours. Prerequisite: graduate standing and permission of faculty supervisor. May be repeated with change of subject matter; maximum credit twenty hours. Directed seminar on selected aspects of geologic knowledge and inquiry. (F, Sp, Su)
G6980 Research for Doctor's Dissertation. 2 to 16 hours. (F, Sp, Su)
Updated: November 5, 2009