Department of Earth and Biological Sciences
Undergraduate geology courses
Lower division
GEOL 125 Rocky Mountain field geology (2-3)
Introduction to basic principles of geology, with specific studies of field sites in the Rocky Mountains. Two units for the field course, with a third, optional unit of credit for additional academic work to be assigned. Upper division college students or teachers should register for GEOL 325. Summer only.
Upper division
BIOL 310 Genetics and Speciation (4)
Introduction to genetic mechanisms of biological change. Processes of inheritance through time evaluated in their ecological context.
BIOL 315 Ecology (4)
Principles of terrestrial, aquatic, and marine ecology, with a focus on individual, population, community, and ecosystem levels of organization. Laboratory work includes field studies designed to examine ecological principles. Three class hours and one three-hour laboratory per week.
Prerequisite: BIOL 310.
GEOL 304 Physical geology (4)
Introductory geology course providing the student with a broad picture of geological processes operating on and within the earth. Introduction to minerals, sedimentary an igneous rocks, and fossils. Weathering, earthquakes, volcanism, erosion and sedimentation, and plate tectonics presented. Three class hours, on three-hour laboratory or field trip per week.
GEOL 316 Mineralogy (4)
Composition, physical properties, structure, crystallography, identification, and origin of minerals. Three class hours, one three-hour laboratory or field trip per week.
GEOL 317 Optical mineralogy and petrology (4)
Elements of optical crystallography and optical identification of minerals. Application of optical microscopy to the identification of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. Three class hours, one three-hour laboratory per week Prerequisite: GEOL 316
GEOL 325 Rocky Mountain field geology (2-3)
Principles of geology, with specific studies of field sites in the Rocky Mountains. Two units for the field course, with a third, optional unit of credit for additional academic work to be assigned. Summer only (not applicable toward a graduate degree). Prerequisite: GEOL 304 or assigned reading.
GEOL 326 Geology of Southern California (3-4)
Study of the geology of Southern California, with emphasis on local areas of geologic interest including the Loma Linda area, Mojave Desert, Anza Borrego Desert, and the coastal area. Specific topics will include introductory geological principles, earthquakes and faults, and geology and paleontology of regional areas. Student can register for lectures only (three units) or for lectures and field trips (four units).
GEOL 327 Geology of Death Valley (3-4)
General geology of Death Valley, including study of origin and structure, history of geological processes and life (fossils), ancient lakes, salt deposits, modern and ancient erosional processes, tectonics, and paleoclimate.
GEOL 328 Geology of Anza Borrego (3-4)
Overview of the geology of Anza Borrego Desert area, including historical geology, paleontology, sedimentology, and tectonics. Frequent field trips to the area.
GEOL 341 The Natural History of Fossils (3-4)
Introduction to fossils, their preservation, ecology, and occurrence in the geologic record. Includes invertebrate, vertebrate, and plant fossils from a variety of localities worldwide.
GEOL 384 Paleobotany (4)
Fossil plants; their morphology, paleoecology, taphonomy, classification, and stratigraphic distribution. Analysis of floral trends in the fossil record. Three class hours, one three-hour laboratory or field trip per week. Prerequisite: General biology, GEOL 304, or consent of instructor.
GEOL 386 Invertebrate paleontology (4)
Structure, classification, ecology, and distribution of selected fossil invertebrate groups. Principles and methods involved in the study and analysis of invertebrate fossils considered. Three class hours and one three-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite: General biology, GEOL 304, or consent of instructor.
GEOL 387 Vertebrate paleontology (4)
Fossil vertebrates, with an emphasis on the origins of major groups. Systematics, biology, and biogeography of ancient vertebrates. Three class ours, on three-hour laboratory per week Prerequisite: General biology, GEOL 304, or consent of instructor.
GEOL 424 Structural geology (4)
Rock deformation (folds, faults, etc.) in a framework of plate tectonics. Includes problems and applications. Three class hours per week, with required full-day and half-day field trips. Three class hours, one three-hour laboratory or field trip per week. Prerequisite: GEOL 304.
GEOL 425 Field methods of geologic mapping (4)
Advanced geologic mapping of complex areas, with interpretation of their history; includes mapping of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. Experience in preparation of geologic reports of each mapped locality. Prerequisite: GEOL 424, 442.
GEOL 431 Geochemistry (4)
Chemical concepts and their geochemical applications in areas of interest in elementary geology. Prerequisite: College chemistry; GEOL 304 or consent of instructor.
GEOL 437 Geophysics (4)
Application of classical physics to the study of the earth. The earth's gravitational, geomagnetic, geothermal, and seismic characteristics studied, as well as the dynamics of the earth's crust, plate tectonics, and radioactive dating. Prerequisite: GEOL 304, physics, and college mathematics.
GEOL 441 Sedimentology (4)
Sediments, sedimentary rocks, and their stratigraphic context. Emphasis on sedimentary processes, primary sedimentary structures, and environments of deposition. Includes description, classification, origin, and interpretation of sediments and sedimentary rocks, with lithofacies analysis and other stratigraphic techniques. Three class hours, one three-hour laboratory or field trip per week. Includes several weekend field trips. Prerequisite: GEOL 304, 316.
GEOL 442 Stratigraphy (4)
Principles of litho-, bio-, and chronostratigraphy; methods of correlation of sedimentary rocks and introduction to facies analysis methods. Three class hours, one laboratory or field trip per week. Prerequisite: GEOL 441.
GEOL 443 Historical geology (4)
An introduction to earth history with an in-depth examination of the stratigraphic record of rocks and fossils. Three class hours and one three-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite: GEOL 304, 441, 442.
GEOL 448 Field seminar in historical geology (4)
Field analysis of the stratigraphic and fossil record, with emphasis on interpretation and discussion of models of deposition. Includes one week of lecture and a two-week field trip to specific sites in the western United States. Summer only. Prerequisite: GEOL 304, 405, 441, 442, 443 or consent of instructor.
GEOL 454 Sedimentary petrology (4)
Origin, diagenesis, and classification of sedimentary rocks. Includes use of the petrographic microscope in the study of sedimentary rock-forming minerals, cements, textures, and fabrics. Three class hours, one three-hour laboratory or field trip per week. Prerequisite: GEOL 316, 441 or consent of instructor.
GEOL 464 Environmental geology (3)
Geological and hydrogeological principles that apply to subsurface waste and contaminant characterization; review of remediation techniques and hazardous waste disposal alternatives. Three class hours per week. Prerequisite: GEOL 304 required; GEOL 427, 441, 442 recommended.
GEOL 465 Hydrogeology (4)
Theory and geology of groundwater occurrence and flow, the relation of groundwater to surface water, and the potential distribution of groundwater by graphical and analytical methods. Three class hours, one three-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite: GEOL 441, 442 or consent of instructor.
GEOL 475 Philosophy of science and origins (4)
Concepts in the history and philosophy of science, and the application of these principles in analyzing current scientific trends. Prerequisite: GEOL 443 or consent of instructor.
GEOL 484 Readings in geology (1-4)
Review of the literature in a specific area of geology. Students make presentations from the literature and submit current papers dealing with the assigned topic.
GEOL 485 Seminar in geology (0.5-1)
Selected topics dealing with recent developments. Student attends seminar with no presentation required for 0.5 hr.; attendance and presentation required for 1 hr.
GEOL 486 Research methods I (1)
Concepts and methods used in research, including computer applications, scientific literature, research design, and proposal writing.
GEOL 487 Field geology studies (1-6)
Special field study trips lasting one or more weeks. Student involvement required, including field presentations and field work assignments such as the measurement and analysis of sedimentary sections, facies profiling, paleontologic excavation, mapping, or other geological or paleontology field activity. One unit of credit per week. May be repeated for additional credit.
GEOL 488 Topics in geology (1-4)
Review of current knowledge in specified areas of the earth sciences. Registration should indicate the specific topic to be studied. May be repeated for additional credit. Offered on demand. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
GEOL 489 Readings in paleontology (1-4)
Review of the literature in a specific area of paleontology. Students make presentations from the literature and submit current papers dealing with the assigned topic.
GEOL 495 Special projects in geology (1-4)
A special project in the field, laboratory, museum, or library under the direction of a faculty member. Registration indicates the specific field of the project. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor
GEOL 496 Workshops in the earth sciences (1-4)
Concentrated participation oriented study sessions for professional geologists, teachers, and students. Topics emphasize current subjects relevant to professional geology or teaching earth science.
GEOL 497 Undergraduate research (1-4)
Original investigation and/or literature study pursued under the direction of a faculty member. May be repeated for additional credit. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
GEOL 499 Directed study (1-4)
Experimental, field, or library study of a problem of restricted scope, under the direction of a staff member. May be repeated for additional credit. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Courses in other programs or departments, applicable to the bachelor of science in geology
Undergraduate courses
STAT 414 Introduction to biostatistics (4)
Graduate courses
With consent of the student's advisor and the course instructor, some graduate courses may be applicable to the undergraduate geology program.
GEOL 525 Paleopalynology (4)
GEOL 545 Taphonomy (3)
GEOL 546 Ichnology (2)
GEOL 554 Paleolimnology (4)
GEOL 556 Paleoenvironments (4)
GEOL 595 Lacustrine readings (1)
BIOL 504 Biology of marine invertebrates (4)
BIOL 509 Mammalogy (4)
BIOL 515 Biogeography (3)
ENVH 509 Principles of environmental health (3)
ENVH 557 Geographical techniques for health and environmental analysis (3)
ENVH 567 Hazardous materials and solid waste management (3)
ENVH 568 Water quality assurance (5)
ENVH 586 Environmental health administration (3)
ENVH 589 Environmental risk assessment (3)
Rosario Beach summer courses
In cooperation with the Walla Walla College Marine Station in Anacortes, Washington, facilities are available for marine courses and research by graduate students of this department. Some of the available courses are listed below.
BIOL 459 Marine invertebrates
BIOL 460 Marine ecology
BIOL 463 Marine botany
BIOL 462 Ichthyology