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| Earth and Environmental Sciences (School of Science) |
| ERTH-1010 Planet Earth I: The Solid Earth Age and origin of the Earth, internal constituents, and energy sources; how plates move, oceans develop, resources accumulate, and mountains rise. Gives nonspecialists a picture of the Earth’s major processes and the ways in which they interact to provide the world’s citizens with adequate material resources. Lectures and recitation. (Students cannot obtain credit for both ERTH-1010 and ERTH-1100.) Fall term annually. 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-1020 Planet Earth II: Oceans and Atmosphere An overview of the Earth’s surface processes and environment. Nature and interactions between the major oceanic, atmospheric, and terrestrial systems. Interrelations between geology, the environment, and human activities. Geologic and environmental implications, constraints, and opportunities for past, present, and future human populations and cultures. Short- and long-term benefits and consequences of actions or inaction. Lectures and recitation. (Students cannot obtain credit for both ERTH-1020 and ERTH-1200.) Spring term annually. 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-1030 Natural Sciences I The sciences of the natural world, focusing primarily upon physics and chemistry but including some discussion of relevant topics in astronomy and planetary science. Both classical and modern concepts are treated, at scales ranging from the atom to the universe, and an effort is made to instill an appreciation for the nature of science and the scientific method. Examples are used as appropriate to illustrate the value of science in our everyday lives. The course is designed for nonscience majors, and cannot be used by science majors to fulfill a distribution requirement. (Note: Natural Sciences II does qualify as a science distribution requirement for some science majors.) There are no prerequisites. Fall term annually. 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-1040 Natural Sciences II The sciences of the natural world, focusing primarily on the earth and life sciences. The course addresses the origin, evolution, and current state of our planet, and examines the earth as a life-supporting system. Specific examples of developments in scientific thinking are used to illustrate connections among the various disciplines comprising the natural sciences. The course is designed for nonscience majors, and cannot be used by students majoring in one of the bio- or geosciences to fulfill a distribution requirement. This restriction does not apply to students majoring in computer science, mathematics, chemistry, or physics. Prerequisites: Natural Sciences I or recent course work in basic physics and chemistry. Spring term annually. 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-1100 Geology I: Earth’s Interior Age and origin of the Earth, internal constituents and energy sources; how plates move, oceans develop, and mountains rise. The course aims to give a quantitative picture of the Earth’s major processes and the ways in which they interact. Lectures and lab. (Students cannot obtain credit for both ERTH-1010 and ERTH-1100.) Fall term annually. 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-1200 Geology II: Earth’s Surface The geological environment of humankind: the atmosphere, oceans, groundwater, rivers, glaciers, deserts, and coasts. The course explores the processes by which these and other features develop and change, the opportunities or hazards they present, and the ways in which humans can modify their development. Lectures and lab. (Students cannot obtain credit for both ERTH-1020 and ERTH-1200.) Spring term annually. 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-1210 Introduction to Dinosaurs The course reviews our current scientific understanding of the nature, origins, and evolution of dinosaurs, describes their place in geologic time and theories concerning their role in the evolution of life on Earth, discusses the application of the scientific method to establishing the cause of their extinction and to the general question of extinctions in Earth’s history. Spring term even-numbered years. 1 credit hour |
| ERTH-2040 Historical Geology The history of the Earth and of life on Earth. Principles and methods of historical geology. Lectures and lab. Prerequisite: ERTH-1010 or ERTH-1020 or ERTH-1100 or ERTH-1200. Spring term odd-numbered years. 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-2100 Introduction to Geophysics An introduction to various aspects of the study of the physics of the Earth. Stress and strain, deformation, isostasy, seismic waves, earthquakes, Earth structure, resource exploration, Earth dynamics, plate tectonics, mountain building, gravity and geodesy, magnetic field, and heat flow. Included are weekly labs and occasional field exercises. Prerequisite: ERTH-1100. Spring term, even-numbered years. 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-2120 Structural Geology Introduction to stress and strain; observation, measurement, recording, and interpretation of rock structures including joints, faults, folds, and fabrics. Interpretation of structures from geologic maps. Structures and regional tectonics. Laboratory and field trips required. Prerequisite: ERTH-2210 or permission of instructor. Fall term annually. 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-2140 Introduction to Geochemistry An introduction to the application of chemistry to problems in the Earth and Environmental Sciences. Topics include thermodynamics and phase equilibria as applied to mineral stability, rock evolution, and water chemistry; stable isotope systematics; radiogenic isotope systematics; trace element geochemistry, organic geochemistry, and geochemical cycles. (Cross listed as CHEM-2540. Students cannot obtain credit for both this course and CHEM-2540.) Prerequisite: ERTH-1100 and/or ERTH-1200, or permission of instructor. Spring term annually. 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-2200 Advanced Dinosaurs Advanced discussion of dinosaurs, including an in-depth look at the origin, evolution, and diversity of these animals. Discusses the fossil record and our knowledge of these creatures. Outlines the changes in Earth’s geography and climate during and since the age of the dinosaurs. Discusses major dinosaur groups, explores their lifestyles, and the theories of dinosaur extinction. Students attend weekly ERTH-1210 (Introduction to Dinosaurs) class in addition to regular Advanced Dinosaurs classes. Students cannot simultaneously register for ERTH-1210. Spring term even-numbered years. 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-2210 Field Methods Principles and methods of geologic mapping. Use of instruments. Selected field problems. Several field trips (usually on weekends) required. This course is writing intensive. Prerequisites: ERTH-1100 or ERTH-1200 or permission of instructor. Fall term annually. 2 credit hours |
| ERTH-2330 Earth Materials Overview of the chemical and physical properties of the material constituents of the Earth and terrestrial planets, including minerals, rocks, lavas, and supercritical water. Topics include mineral structure and composition, bonding, optical properties, phase transformations, and surface properties. The role of minerals in the man-made environment is also discussed. Fall term annually. 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-2610 Oceanography Ocean basins and margins; origin, distribution, chemistry, and history of sediments; physical and chemical properties of seawater; global atmospheric and oceanic circulations and climatic interactions. Prerequisites: CHEM-1100 and PHYS-1100 or permission of instructor. Fall term even-numbered years. 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-2620 Current Topics in Earth Science This course provides the student with a formal participation in the weekly colloquium series of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. These colloquia involve lectures on a wide variety of topics in the geologic and environmental sciences primarily by outside investigators who are currently active in those fields. (Students may take this course a maximum of two times for credit.) Prerequisites: geology or environmental science majors only or permission of instructor. Fall and spring terms annually. 1 credit hour |
| ERTH-4070 Sedimentology Sediments and sedimentary rocks as part of the geologic cycles; the present as a key to the past. Sedimentary processes, products, and environments. Sedimentary strata as documents of geologic chronology. Includes a weekly laboratory and field trip(s). Spring term odd-numbered years. 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-4180 Environmental Geology An overview of near-surface geological systems and human interaction with them, followed by a topical discussion of key geo- societal issues including, but not limited to, earthquake hazards, landslides, water pollution, waste disposal, and health risks posed by radon and asbestos. Spring term annually. Includes laboratory and one Saturday field trip. 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-4190 Environmental Measurements Modern methods used in analysis of environmental samples for monitoring and research purposes. Standard and advanced techniques of air, water, sediment, and soil analysis are covered including spectrometric and chromatographic methods. (Cross listed as CHEM-4190. Students cannot obtain credit for both this course and CHEM-4190.) Prerequisite: permission of the instructor required. Lectures and lab. Fall term odd-numbered years 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-4200 Surficial Geology Surficial processes, land forms, and their geological significance with emphasis on local glacial morphology. Analysis of aerial photographs and topographic maps, field trip. Fall term odd-numbered years. 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-4340 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology Introduction to the observation and interpretation of igneous and metamorphic rocks in outcrop, hand sample, and thin sections. Processes of melting, solidification and migration of magmas; solid state recrystallization and pressure-temperature histories. Heat flow and regional crustal dynamics. Laboratory and field trips required. Prerequisites: ERTH-2330 and ERTH-2140. Spring term even-numbered years. 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-4400 Energy and Mineral Resources An overall review is made of the reserves and resources of energy available from the Earth in the form of coal, gas, oil, oil shale, geothermal power, and uranium. Mode of occurrence and discovery and production rates of each source are discussed. Energy sources of the U.S. and world are compared in relation to past and present consumption rates and to extrapolations of future patterns of consumption. Fall term even-numbered years. 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-4500 Global Environmental Change Environmental issues of global concern will be investigated from a scientific perspective. Analysis of historic and current data bases on population, resources, land use, and climate will provide an introduction to detailed consideration of more specific case studies in areas including global warming, El Nino Southern Oscillation, ozone depletion, regional drought and water management, long- range transport of pollutants, species extinction and biological diversity loss. (Cross listed as IENV-4500. Students cannot obtain credit for both this course and IENV-4500.) Prerequisites: junior, senior or graduate student status. Fall term annually. 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-4540 Organic Geochemistry A broad survey of organic geochemistry suitable for students with a strong chemistry background who are majoring in science or engineering. Topics include the transport and fate of organic pollutants and the geochemistry of natural organic compounds in oceans, lakes, sediments, and soils. (Cross listed as CHEM-4540. Students cannot obtain credit for both this course and CHEM- 4540.) Prerequisites: CHEM-2210 and ERTH-1200 or permission of instructor. Spring term odd-numbered years. 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-4570 Solid Earth Geophysics The course covers the physics of the Earth’s interior, including a survey of its evolution, rotation, gravity and tides, seismicity, internal heat, magnetism, and tectonics. Prerequisite: ERTH-1100 or permission of instructor. Spring term even-numbered years. 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-4600 Introduction to Planetary Science Study of the surfaces, atmospheres, and interiors of the terrestrial planets, the giant planets and their satellites, and the minor bodies (asteroids, comets, meteorites) using the results of telescopic studies and manned and unmanned planetary probes. Emphasis is placed on the origin and evolution of the planetary system and upon the processes that control the surface and internal properties. Includes laboratory or recitation. Prerequisite: ERTH-1100 or ERTH-1200 or ASTR-1530 or ASTR-2050 or permission of instructor. Fall term odd-numbered years. 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-4630 Geodynamics and Global Tectonics Quantitative study of a broad range of geologic processes using continuum physics. Topics include magnetism, stress and strain, elasticity, flexure, gravity, fluid mechanics applied to such problems as paleomagnetism, plate tectonics, crustal strain, bending of the lithosphere under a variety of loads, postglacial rebound, mantle convection, thermal evolution of the lithosphere. Extensive problem solving. Prerequisite: MATH-2400. Spring term odd-numbered years. 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-4650 Seismology Introduction to the causes, consequences, and uses of vibrations in the Earth. Topics include elastic wave propagation, earthquake source mechanics, seismic risk analysis, exploration seismology, and tomographic imaging. Prerequisite: MATH-1020. Spring term odd-numbered years. 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-4690 Aqueous Geochemistry Fundamentals of aqueous chemistry as applied to the evolution of natural waters. Principles of chemical equilibrium, activity models for solutes, pH as a master variable, concentration and Eh-pH diagrams, mineral solubility, aqueous complexes, ion exchange, and stable isotopes. The carbonate system, weathering reactions, and acid rain are examined in detail. Emphasis is on the chemical reactions that control surface and groundwater evolution in natural and engineered (treatment process) settings. Students learn theory, computation methods, and the use of computer programs for calculation of speciation and mass balance. (Cross listed as CHEM-4690 and ENVE-4110. Students cannot obtain credit for both this course and either CHEM-4690 or ENVE-4110.) Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Fall term annually. 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-4710 Groundwater Hydrology Study of hydrologic, geologic, and other factors controlling groundwater flow, occurrence, development, chemistry, and contamination. Groundwater flow theory and aquifer test methods are introduced. Interactions between surface and subsurface hydrologic systems are covered. Some field trips are possible. (Students cannot receive credit for both this course and ERTH-6710.) Prerequisite: MATH-1020 or equivalent or permission of the instructor. Fall term annually. 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-4740 Applied Groundwater Modeling Study of numerical solutions to the ordinary and partial differential equations of groundwater flow and contaminant transport. Emphasis on modeling methodology and solving applied problems. Prerequisite: ERTH-4710 or ERTH-6710 or permission of instructor. Spring term odd-numbered years. 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-4750 Geographic Information Systems in the Sciences Introduction to analysis and interpretation of spatial data and their presentation on maps (using MapInfo software). Concepts of map projections, reference frames, multivariate analysis, correlation analysis, regression, interpolation, extrapolation, and kriging will be covered. Prerequisite: knowledge of Windows OS. Spring term annually. 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-4810 Chemistry of the Environment Chemical processes important in the environment from naturally occurring and man-induced systems. Thermodynamic and chemical considerations of fuels; the thermodynamics of the atmosphere; atmospheric photochemistry; chemistry of natural water systems; chemistry of pesticides, fertilizers, and other important environmental contaminants; aspects of the carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles. (Cross listed as CHEM-4810. Students cannot obtain credit for both this course and CHEM-4810.) Prerequisites: CHEM-1200 and one prior or concurrent course in organic chemistry or permission of instructor. Spring term annually. 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-4940 Readings in Geology 1 to 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-4960 Topics in Geology 1 to 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-4970 Out-of-Classroom Experience in Earth Sciences Credits are earned while the student gains practical experience in applying skills to working in a private company or government agency in an area relevant to the student’s educational goals. Requires a written proposal and final report. 2 to 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-4980 Senior Field Thesis Independent field experience for undergraduates. Requires a written proposal and final report. 2 to 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-6300 Advanced Metamorphic Petrology In-depth analysis of metamorphic phase equilibria in pelites, amphibolites, carbonates, and ultramafic rocks. Schreinemakers’ analysis, petrogenetic grids, P-T-X relations, reaction space, geothermometry, geobarometry, and analysis of zoned prophyroblasts. Heat flow, metamorphic, and tectonic evolution. Laboratory involves analysis of textural relations in thin section and computer exercises. Fall term odd-numbered years. 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-6540 Advanced Igneous Petrology Topical treatment of current problems and frontiers in igneous petrology, with emphasis on physical and chemical processes. Principles of fluid dynamics and chemical kinetics are applied to the formation and evolution of crust- and mantle-derived magmas. Prerequisite: ERTH-4340. Spring term odd-numbered years. 3 credit hours |
| ERTH-6580 Seminar in Geophysics: Selected Topics General topics in advanced geophysics vary each time the seminar is offered. Previous subjects covered include crustal deformation, inverse theory, global positioning system, and seismic wave propagation. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Spring term even-numbered years. 3 credit hours |
| ERTH-6710 Advanced Groundwater Hydrology An intensive study of hydrologic, geologic, and other factors controlling groundwater flow, occurrence, development, chemistry, and contamination. Groundwater flow theory and aquifer test methods are introduced. Interaction between surface and subsurface hydrologic systems are covered. Some field trips are possible. (Students cannot receive credit for both this course and ERTH-4710.) Prerequisites: MATH-1020 or equivalent, or permission of instructor. Fall term annually. 3 credit hours |
| ERTH-6720 Advanced Groundwater Hydraulics An in-depth, quantitative treatment of fluid flow in subsurface media. Derivation of the fluid flow equation followed by application to various hydrologic situations, including flow to wells. Emphasis on analytic solutions and their assumptions. Some field trips are possible. Prerequisites: knowledge of differential equations and vector calculus, ERTH-6710 or equivalent, or permission of instructor. Spring term annually. 3 credit hours |
| ERTH-6730 Groundwater Contaminant Transport Theoretical and applied study of solute transport phenomena. Analytical and numerical solutions of the advection-dispersion equation and other techniques for solving groundwater contaminant transport problems. Issues of contamination sources, basic chemical concerns during transport, and monitoring and remediation are also covered. Transport modeling is also introduced. Some field trips are possible. Prerequisites: MATH-4600 or equivalent, ERTH-4710 or ERTH-6710 or equivalent, or permission of instructor. Spring term annually. 3 credit hours |
| ERTH-6940 Readings in Geology 1 to 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-6960 Special Topics in Geology Topics offered previously: geomagnetism, seismology, mineral equilibria; mineral structures; igneous minerals and rocks; sedimentary processes; marine geology, convergent plate margins, geoexploration, remote sensing applications, seismic stratigraphy; physical oceanography. 1 to 4 credit hours |
| ERTH-6980 Master’s Project Active participation in a master’s-level project under the supervision of a faculty adviser, leading to a master’s project report. Grades of IP are assigned until the master’s project has been approved by the faculty adviser. If recommended by the adviser, the master’s project may be accepted by the Office of Graduate Education to be archived in the Library. Grades will then be listed as S. 1 to 9 credit hours |
| ERTH-6990 Master’s Thesis Active participation in research, under the supervision of a faculty adviser, leading to a master’s thesis. Grades of IP are assigned until the thesis has been approved by the faculty adviser and accepted by the Office of Graduate Education to be archived in a standard format in the library. Grades will then be listed as S. 1 to 9 credit hours |
| ERTH-9990 Dissertation Active participation in research, under the supervision of a faculty adviser, leading to a doctoral dissertation. Grades of IP are assigned until the dissertation has been publicly defended, approved by the doctoral committee, and accepted by the Office of Graduate Education to be archived in a standard format in the library. Grades will then be listed as S. Variable credit hours |
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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 110 8th St., Troy, NY 12180. (518) 276-6000 Please direct questions regarding this site to catalog@rpi.edu. |