Check the online schedule of classes for the official schedules. Be sure to select the New Brunswick campus. The subject code for all Geological Sciences courses is 460.
- Introductory and Survey Courses for Non-Majors
- Introductory Courses intended for those with a bit more interest in the sciences, those majoring in the sciences, and for fulfilling major and minor requirements
Note: We strive to maintain the accuracy of the information presented here and on linked pages. However, this information is subject to change without notice. The only official course syllabus is the one handed out in class by the instructor, unless explicitly stated otherwise.
For Prospective Students and Student Advisors
The following list of courses in Geological Sciences offered by the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences (formerly Department of Geological Sciences) can fulfill the SAS science requirement; several courses also satisfy other core requirements. Our 100- and 200-level courses generally have no prerequisites, and are open to all undergraduate students; some courses are have online sections. 460:100 as well as all 200-level courses are designed primarily for non-majors and are taught at the introductory level. 460:101: Introductory Geology is also open to all students, but is intended more for those majoring in any of the sciences or for those with more background or interest in science. It is also a required course for the major and minor in Geological Sciences, Department of Earth and Planetary Science.
Introductory and Survey Courses for Non-Majors
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01:460:100 Planet Earth
- Information
- Credits: 3
- SAS Core Codes: NS
- Instructor(s): Profs. Feigenson, Browning, Turrin, Monteverde, and Mountain.
- Prerequisites: None
Introductory geology for the non-science major, designed to give a broad, basic understanding of the planet on which we reside, its age and origin, composition and evolution, interrelationships of Earth's major physical systems, scientific revolutions in Earth Science, and the role the physical Earth plays in global politics and economics. Online and in-class sections.
- Information
- Note: Designed for non-science majors and minors. partially fulfills SAS Natural Sciences (NS) core requirement. Credit not given for both this course and 460:101 Introductory Geology.
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01:460:110 Sea Change—The Rise and Fall of Sea Level and the Jersey Shore
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- Credits: 3
- SAS Core Codes: CCO, NS
- Instructor(s): Prof. Miller
- Prerequisites: None
History of climate and sea-level change during Earth history. Signature class for all students;recitation meets every other week.
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- Note: Designed for non-science majors and minors; partially fulfills SAS Natural Sciences (NS) and Our Common Future (CCO) core requirements.
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01:460:116--Building Blocks of the Solar System
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- Credits: 3
- SAS Core Codes: NS
- Instructor(s): Prof. Bermingham
- Prerequisites: None
NEW! What is the Solar System made of? How did it and the planets form? Why does the Solar System contain life? In the context of learning about the role of chemistry in the evolution of our world, these and other fundamental questions in planetary science will be discussed. No prerequisites.
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- Note: Designed for non-science majors and minors; partially fulfills SAS Natural Sciences (NS) core requirements.
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01:460:201 Earthquakes and Volcanoes
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- Credits: 3
- SAS Core Codes: NS
- Instructor(s): Department Instructors
- Prerequisites: None
Plate tectonics and the origin of earthquakes and volcanoes: causes, mechanisms, consequences, and effect on man. Online course.
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- Note: Designed for non-science majors and minors; partially fulfills SAS natural sciences (NS) core requirement.
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01:460:202 Environmental Geology
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- Credits: 3
- SAS Core Codes: NS
- Instructor(s): Prof. Sugarman
- Prerequisites: None
Analyses of issues and case studies related to cleaning of the environment, finding and using resources, predicting and mitigating natural disasters, and understanding global change. Online course.
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- Note: Designed for non-science majors and minors; partially fulfills SAS Natural Sciences (NS) core requirement.
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01:460:203 Building and Maintaining a Habitable Planet
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- Credits: 3
- SAS Core Codes: CCO, NS
- Instructor(s): Prof. Kopp
- Prerequisites: None
Understanding human-caused environmental changes in the context of Earth's 4.6-billion-year history. Geological and human timescales; planetary habitability; planetary, biological, and civilizational flows of energy and entropy; feedback between life, the carbon cycle, and climate; the evolution of complex life; human alterations of the Earth system; intelligent life in the universe.
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- Note: Designed for non-science majors and minors; partially fulfills SAS Natural Sciences (NS) and Our Common Future (CCO) core requirements.
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01:460:204 The Water Planet
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- Credits: 3
- SAS Core Codes: CCO, NS
- Instructor(s): Prof. Rosenthal, Prof. Sherrell
- Prerequisites: None
Survey of the science, environmental impact, and resource allocation of water on the Earth. Characteristics of water; hydrologic cycle; runoff and erosion; river systems; past and present climates; water quality; political and economic aspects of water
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- Note: Designed for non-science majors and minors; partially fulfills SAS Natural Sciences (NS) and Our Common Future (CCO) core requirements. Credit not given for this course and 11:628:115, 125, 204, 221 and 01:460:120, 209
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01:460:206 Dinosaurs
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- Credits: 3
- SAS Core Codes: NS
- Instructor(s): Prof. Adamo
- Prerequisites: None
Survey of dinosaurian evolution and diversity. Discovery and collection; reconstruction of anatomy, behavior, physiology, and habitats; origin, evolutionary radiation, and extinction. Some online sections.
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- Note: Designed for non-science majors and minors; partially fulfills SAS Natural Sciences (NS) requirement.
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01:460:207 Oil and Gold—the Good, the Bad and the Ugly
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- Credits: 3
- SAS Core Codes: CCO, NS
- Instructor(s): Prof. Schlische
- Prerequisites: None
Introduction to the geologic setting and origin of the Earth’s natural resources. Topics include the exploitation of energy resources (oil and gas) and metallic and nonmetallic deposits and the impact of the exploitation of these natural resources on the environment and society.
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- Note: Designed for non-science majors and minors; partially fulfills SAS Natural Sciences (NS) and Our Common Future (CCO) core requirements.
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01:460:212 Earth and Life Through Time
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- Credits: 3
- SAS Core Codes: NS
- Instructor(s): Prof. Wright
- Prerequisites: None
Relationship between the development of continents and oceans, changes in sedimentary environments, and the evolution of life through time.
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- Note: Designed for non-science majors and minors; partially fulfills SAS Natural Sciences (NS) requirement. Credit not given for both 460:212 and 460:102.
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01:460:222 Planet Mars
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- Credits: 3
- SAS Core Codes: CCO, NS
- Instructor(s): Prof. Gross / Prof. Ojha
- Prerequisites: None
Planet Mars is the next frontier. Cross-disciplinary evidence for the formation and evolution of the planet over 4.56 billion years and the Martian climate system will be explored. Interpretation of Mars' surface from current and future space missions will be used to search for likely landing sites on the planet.
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- Note: Designed for non-science majors and minors; partially fulfills SAS Natural Sciences (NS) and Our Common Future (CCO) core requirements.
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01:460:224 Geology of Moons and Planets
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- Credits: 3
- SAS Core Codes: CCO, NS
- Instructor(s): Prof. Ojha
- Prerequisites: None
Origin, composition, and evolution of the solar system, meteorites, comets, asteroids, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto, Saturn and its satellites, Uranus, and Neptune.
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- Note: Designed for non-science majors and minors; partially fulfills SAS Natural Sciences (NS) and Our Common Future (CCO) core requirements.
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01:460:225 Astrobiology
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- Credits: 3
- SAS Core Codes: NS
- Instructor(s): Prof. Yee
- Prerequisites: None
Investigation of the origin, evolution, and distribution of life in our solar system and beyond. Addresses some of the biggest questions in science today such as where life began, whether there is life on other planets, and how scientists search for extraterrestrial life.
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- Note: Designed for non-science majors and minors; partially fulfills SAS Natural Sciences (NS) requirement.
Introductory Courses (intended for those with more interest in the sciences, those majoring in the sciences, and for fulfilling major and minor requirements)
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01:460:101 Introductory Geology
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- Credits: 4
- SAS Core Codes: NS
- Instructor(s): Prof. Swisher
- Prerequisites: None
Geological concepts, principles, processes, chemistry, and physics of the Earth and the interplay of Earth Systems. Course explores the Earth as a whole, its origin, structure, composition, history and the nature of the processes that resulted in its formation and its present state. Lecture 3 hours, lab 3 hours.
- Information
- Note: Designed for those majoring in the sciences, and 01:460 majors and minors; partially fulfills SAS Natural Sciences (NS) requirement. Non-science majors/minors should take 460:100 Planet Earth. Credit not given for both this course and 460:100 Planet Earth.
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01:460:102 Introductory Geology II: Historical
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- Credits: 3
- SAS Core Codes: NS
- Instructor(s): Prof. Wright
- Prerequisites: 01:460:101 or 460:100 or by permission of instructor
Principles and concepts of plate tectonics and reconstructing past geography and environments; the history of Earth's climate, environments, biogeochemical cycles, and life through time.
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- Note: Designed for majors and minors; partially fulfills SAS Natural Sciences (NS) requirement. Credit not given for both this course and 460:212 Earth & Life Through Time.
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01:460:103 Introductory Geology Laboratory
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- Credits: 1
- Instructor(s): Department Instructors
- Prerequisites: Permission of instructor or Undergraduate Program Director.
Explores mineral and rock identification, geological sample analysis, structural and seismological interpretation, and field observations.
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- Note: For students requiring fulfillment of the Geological Sciences lab requirement who have previously taken 01:460:100 Planet Earth. Lab times are those scheduled for 01:460:101 labs.
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01:460:120 Introductory Oceanography
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- Credits: 3
- SAS Core Codes: CCO, NS
- Instructor(s): Prof. Santiago-Ramos, Prof. Bidle, Prof. Severman
- Prerequisites: None
The course is designed to introduce students to the oceans through methods, rationale and discoveries with emphasis on the seafloor.
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- Note: Designed for majors and minors; partially fulfills SAS Natural Sciences (NS) and Our Common Future (CCO) requirements. Credit not given for this course and 11:628:115, 120, 125, 204, 221 or 01:460:204, 209.
