Education

AST3018 Astronomy & Astrophysics 1: First part of a two part sequence. Survey of astronomy and astrophysics for physical science, engineering, or mathematics majors. Covers gravitation, orbits and tides; the Moon's phases and eclipses; light and spectra; the solar system; and a few historical milestones. 

AST3019 Astronomy & Astrophysics 2: Second part of a two part sequence. Survey of astronomy and astrophysics for physical science, engineering or mathematics majors. Covers compact objects; the Solar System; exoplanets; the Milky Way and galaxies; cosmology and relativity.

AST3722C Techniques of Observational Astronomy 1: The fundamental principles and techniques used in planning, making, reducing and analyzing modern astronomical observations. Includes classroom lectures and discussion, indoor laboratory work, data analysis and outdoor night observations. Introduces numerical treatment of observations, CCD imaging, digital imaging processing and astronomical spectroscopy.

AST4930 Astrobiology: Focuses on the origin and evolution of life and the possibility and implications of discovering life beyond our planet. Explores key concepts and scientific developments in biology, paleontology, chemistry, geology, and astronomy that are most relevant to our appreciating the current state of the search for extraterrestrial life. Includes topics on the chemistry of life, cellular structure, sources of energy, DNA/RNA, respiration, extremophiles, the tree of life, LUCA, astrochemistry, the evolution of Earth, planetary geology, Mars, ocean worlds/icy moons, exoplanets, planetary atmospheres, and biosignatures.

AST4930 Exoplanets: Survey of the rapidly‐evolving field of the detection and characterization of planets orbiting other stars,. Topics for the course include: orbital mechanics, proto‐stellar collapse and star formation, models of planet formation, methods of detecting extrasolar planets, composition and physical structure of planets, planetary atmospheres, habitable zones, and biosignatures.

GEO2200 Physical Geography: Studies the development and distribution of landforms, climates, minerals, soils, and water resources. Analyzes interrelationships among the physical environment and regional patterns formed by these elements against human utilization.

GEO3250 Climatology: Genesis of regional climates and their global distribution. Emphasis on world regional climatology. Secondary topics include applied climatology and climate change.

GLY2030C Environmental & Engineering Geology: Hazardous geologic processes and current environmental concerns are related to the earth, the forces acting upon it, and the resulting surface features and materials. Human interaction with the environment is illustrated using modern case studies.

GLY2100C Historical Geology: Evolution of the earth and its life, including the major physical events and evolutionary changes recorded in the geologic past. Related laboratory, demonstrations and exercises.

GLY3200C Principles of Mineralogy: Concepts of crystallography, crystal chemistry, physical properties of minerals, mineral genesis, and systematic study of the rock-forming or otherwise important minerals including the theory and use of the petrographic microscope for study and identification of these minerals in thin section.

GLY4310C Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology: Fundamental concepts, principles and data that pertain to the genesis of igneous and metamorphic rocks. Emphasizes mineral phase relations, interpretive petrochemistry, magma genesis and tectonic relationships.

GLY4400C Structural Geology and Tectonics: Structural features of the earth, their causes, recognition and interpretation; includes the mechanics of folding, faulting, and other deformations of the earth's crust.

GLY4450 Geophysics: Introduces the basic types of geophysical data used to characterize the subsurface. Learn about seismic refraction and reflection, gravity, magnetics, heat flow, and electromagnetic methods.

GLY4552C Sedimentary Geology: Basic disciplines important in understanding the origin and classification of sedimentary rocks including sedimentary petrology, sedimentology, and stratigraphy.

GLY4700 Geomorphology: Introduces the processes responsible for the formation and evolution of Earth surface features and landscapes. Emphasizes understanding of how first principles of physics and chemistry can be used to explain landform shaping.

GLY4750L Geological Field Methods: Methods and techniques used in geological fieldwork. Learn about 3-point problems, topographic maps, elements of a geologic map and cross sections, strike and dip, structure contours, use of a Brunton, stereonet techniques, and use of Adobe Illustrator for creating maps and cross sections.

GLY4930 Topics in Planetary Science: Seminar-based course on the early planetary crusts of Earth, the Moon, Mars, Venus, Mercury, and Vesta. Includes topics on geologic evolution of planetary bodies, planetary differentiation, crust formation and emergence of continental crust, evolution of plate tectonics, isotopic evidence for felsic crust, magma oceans, planetary volcanism, crustal dichotomies, geochronology, cratering, crystal fractionation, planetary geomorphology, lithospheric regimes, surface compositions of planetary bodies, origin of meteorites, and protoplanets.

MET3503 Weather & Forecasting: Provides hands-on experience using weather instruments and making forecasts. Includes topics on map analysis (temperature, pressure, dewpoint, upper-air), wind forces (PGF, Coriolis, friction), extratropical cyclones, instrumentation (precipitation, wind, pressure, clouds), satellite and radar applications, sounding applications, skew-T charts, jet streams, and numerical weather models. 

MET4410 Radar & Satellite Meteorology: Overview of radar and satellite remote sensing as used in the atmospheric sciences, including the principles of atmospheric radiative transfer, the retrieval of atmospheric variables, and emphasis on geospatial interpretation of imagery for different weather systems.