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| Earth and Environmental Sciences
Chair Frank Spear The Earth Sciences have undergone major changes during the past few decades, stimulated first by the reinterpretation of Earth history and processes within the context of plate tectonics and more recently by the challenges of local, regional, and global environmental problems. Rensselaer offers courses and individual study opportunities across a wide range of modern earth science. Students can learn about the Earth using techniques ranging from seismological and satellite-tracking investigations of crustal motions to remote sensing of surface features. State-ofthe- art techniques for simulating Earth processes include high-pressure experimentation and computer modeling. A broad choice of courses is available, ranging from quantitative, computeroriented aspects of the geological and planetary sciences to field experience and descriptive approaches. The program includes the study of the Earth’s component materials, the development of its structures and surface features, and the processes by which these change with time, and the origin, discovery, and protection of its resources—water, fuels, and minerals. The Troy area is well situated for field-based study of problems in hard-rock and surficial geology as well as ground and surface water science. The department enjoys fruitful relationships with nearby university, industrial, and government geoscience groups within ten miles of the campus. All students have access to these resources as well as to the laboratory and computer facilities of our university, which has a strong commitment to education and research in science and engineering. Numerous opportunities exist for students to engage in field-oriented projects. Students may also have summer employment with oil, geological engineering, or hydrologic consulting companies, or they may be involved with field-oriented research projects with Rensselaer faculty members. Areas of Advanced Research and Study In the Earth and Environmental Sciences Department, diverse interests of the faculty lead to a wide variety of projects that stimulate educational programs at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Undergraduate students are encouraged to enroll in the Undergraduate Research Program (URP), through which they become involved in front-line research for credit or pay. Graduate students pursue specialized study in consultation with their faculty advisers, whose research interests and expertise are matched on an individual basis. Geochemistry and Petrology Ongoing studies in geochemistry include the distribution of trace elements between minerals in metamorphic and igneous systems, the physics and chemistry of transport of fluids in the crust and mantle, experimental studies of chemical reactions and transport deep in the Earth, and accessory minerals as geochronometers. The tectonic evolution of mountain belts is being investigated by examining metamorphic rocks in diverse regions such as New England, the Adirondacks, the Alps, and British Columbia. Geophysics Research in geophysics includes field studies of the seismology and tectonics of Asia, Indonesia, western U.S., and the southwestern Pacific. The Global Positioning System (GPS) is used to monitor plate motions and earthquake strains and develop computer models of plate motions and faulting. Seismic tomography is used to reveal deep structures of the lithosphere and mountain belts. Seismic, magnetic, geodetic, and gravity methods are used to probe local structures, including ancient faults and hydrologic conduits. Remote Sensing Work in geological remote sensing includes the development of interpretive calibrations for mineral abundance and chemistry, water abundance and form, and trace metal abundance for use in geological and astronomical studies. Planetary Science In planetary geology, effort is concentrated on spectral studies of the asteroids and meteorites and on the information they provide concerning the history of the inner solar system and the terrestrial planets. Hydrogeology and Environmental Geochemistry Ongoing research includes investigations of organic pollutant transport, dispersion, and degradation in surface and groundwater, studies of heavy metal contamination histories of local water bodies, development of methods of tracing and predicting contaminant behavior, and the use of stable isotopes as fingerprints and tracers of environmental contamination. Faculty Institute Professor Watson, E.B. Ph.D. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology); experimental geochemistry and petrology. Professors Abrajano, T.A. Ph.D. (Washington University); environmental geochemistry. Associate Professors Bopp, R.F. Ph.D. (Columbia University); environmental geochemistry. Professors Emeriti Bayly, M.B. Ph.D. (University of Chicago); structural geology, rheological properties of earth materials. Research Associate Professors Cherniak, D. Ph.D. (University at Albany, SUNY); geochemical kinetics. Research Assistant Professor Shuster, E. Ph.D. (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute); environmental geology, hydrology. Research Scientists Price, J. Ph.D. (Oklahoma University); experimental petrology. Undergraduate Curricula The undergraduate curricula are flexible, so that students may work in interdisciplinary areas while keeping a major emphasis in earth and environmental sciences. Students are encouraged to take electives in their field of interest, including some outside the department. These should form a coherent group, approved by the adviser. Electives should be designed to provide the student with a body of knowledge of some depth, while others may be in widely separated areas. Students are encouraged to use the flexibility available to their own advantage. The department adviser will consult with each student individually to arrange an optimal program in geology, hydrogeology, geochemistry, geophysics, or environmental geoscience. Students transferring from other curricula can graduate with their class provided they enter the department by the beginning of the third year and have satisfactory grades for their first two years. Baccalaureate Geology Curriculum
*E&ES Group Options: (One course from each group required for Geology curriculum.) Minimum Credit Hours This curriculum requires a minimum of 124 credit hours and 32 courses. The following are recommended as electives for the Geology curriculum:
Minor in Geology Students not majoring in geology may take a minor by selecting from the ERTH group at least four courses, of which two should be at the 4000 level. Students particularly interested in geophysics should include ERTH-4630 Geodynamics and Global Tectonics and ERTH-4650 Seismology. Minor in Astrobiology The Earth and Environmental Sciences Department participates in a multidisciplinary minor in Astrobiology for students majoring in geology or other disciplines. To complete the minor in Astrobiology, students must take a minimum of 16 credits of course work in this field. These courses include ASTR-4510 Origins of Life: A Cosmic Perspective, and ISCI-4500 Topics of Origins of Life, four credits each, and two semesters of the one-credit course ISCI-4510 Origins of Life Seminar. A further two courses outside the major field of study are also required, selected from the following:
Note the requirement that the two selected courses must be outside of the major field of study is reduced to one in the case of a double major, provided both majors are in the primary relevant areas of study (i.e. Biology, Chemistry, Geology, and Physics) B.S.-M.S. Program in Geophysics An accelerated program with an emphasis in geophysics is available for students interested in combining a bachelor’s degree in physics and a master’s in geology. Students interested in developing an accelerated course of study in this or another area of the geological sciences should consult his or her adviser. Baccalaureate Hydrogeology Curriculum This curriculum leads to a B.S. in Hydrogeology. A typical four-year program is as follows:
* See Field Group Option under Geology Curriculum A total of 30 credit hours for free electives is required. These electives should be designed to provide a depth of understanding in a subdiscipline of hydrogeology (e.g., geology, mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology, computer science, engineering, etc.). A limited list of suggested courses for free electives includes:
Out-of-Classroom Experience Option In consultation with his or her adviser, each hydrogeology student has an option to select and engage in an out-of-classroom experience for up to four hours of course credit. The experience should have intellectual content relevant to the student’s educational or career goals. It is envisioned as a summer activity, occurring after the sophomore or junior year, though it could occur during the fall or spring terms as well. Appropriate experiences might include an individual or group research project (on or off campus), an independent study project, a co-op assignment, a public service internship, or study abroad. A written proposal and a final written report submitted for evaluation to the Earth and Environmental Sciences Department Undergraduate Curriculum Committee would be required. Minor in Hydrogeology Students not majoring in hydrogeology may take a minor by taking ERTH-4710 Groundwater Hydrology, ERTH-4180 Environmental Geology, and electing from the ERTH group at least two additional courses. Interschool Minor in Energy Students interests in developing a broad, multidisciplinary background in energy to complement their more focused major program should consider this minor. See Science and Technology Studies for details on this minor. Environmental Science Concentration The Environmental Science Degree program is offered to students with an interest in a broad, interdisciplinary degree directed towards understanding and finding solutions for the environmental challenges that face our modern civilization. The Environmental Science degree has a core science requirement of 38 credit hours (10 courses). The student then selects from one of several concentration areas, one of which is Geology. See Environmental Science for a complete description of this program. Environmental Studies Program Building on the unusual strength and breadth of Rensselaer’s synthesis of engineering, science, and the humanities and social sciences, the Environmental Studies Program offers students a unique educational opportunity to develop a truly multidisciplinary approach to environmental studies. Students who enter Rensselaer in the Environmental Studies Program will take a broad range of basic courses in their first two years and then choose one of five majors: economics (with an ecological economics focus), environmental engineering, environmental science (with a concentration in a specific area of science), hydrogeology, or science, technology, and society (with an environmental focus). Students may also choose the dual major program including economics and science, technology, and society: Ecological Economics, Values, and Policy. To complement their major programs, students may earn a wide variety of minors. All the majors in the program offer their own environmental minors, and the Schools of Architecture and Management offer special environmental courses as well. Students who graduate from the Environmental Studies Program will not be narrow specialists; they will receive the kind of multidisciplinary education that is required to address environmental problems. See Science and Technology Studies for a complete description of the program. Research Facilities Students have access to the department’s fully-automated, state-of-the-art electron microprobe and reflectance spectrometer, gamma spectrometer, gas chromatographs, spectrophotometers, differential thermal apparatus, gravimeter, magnetometer, 12-channel seismograph, electrical resistivity equipment, GPS receivers, and seismograph stations. Also available are X-ray diffraction and fluorescence equipment, atomic absorption and optical emission spectrometers, and scanning electron microscopes as well as two isotope ratio mass spectrometers with dual microinlet, an elemental analyzer, and gas chromatographic sample introduction systems for continuous flow and compound-specific analyses. PCs, Macs, and Unix workstations in the department are linked to the Institute’s computer network. Graduate Programs Research programs leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees are available in planetary geology, geochemistry, geophysics, hydrogeology, and igneous and metamorphic petrology. Interdisciplinary research is carried out with other groups, including the Darrin Fresh Water Institute and the Departments of Biology, Physics, Civil Engineering, Environmental and Energy Engineering, and Materials Science and Engineering. Recently the department has been involved in the interdisciplinary Origins of Life initiative. Graduate Admissions Applicants to degree programs must arrange for their Graduate Record Examination general test scores to be sent to the department. Those who cannot take the test because of illness, residence overseas, etc., should attach explanations to their applications. Graduate Degree Requirements Master of Science in Geology A candidate for the M.S. degree must complete 30 hours of graduate study based on an approved plan of study. A thesis based on original research is usually submitted. This requirement may be waived at the discretion of the candidate’s adviser. Master of Science in Hydrogeology A candidate for the M.S. degree in hydrogeology must complete 30 hours of graduate study based on an approved plan of study. A thesis based on original research is usually submitted. This requirement may be waived at the discretion of the candidate’s adviser. Professional Master’s Degree in Applied Groundwater Science A Master of Science in Applied Science with a focus on applied groundwater science is available. Each candidate must complete 30 hours of graduate study based on an approved plan of study. No thesis is required. Doctor of Philosophy in Geology Candidates for the Ph.D. degree must fulfill the requirements of the Graduate School. Evidence of success in graduate-level study and research must be shown. There is no language requirement. |
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