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Tufts University Department of Geology Courses

Students considering a major in Geology or Geological Sciences should discuss their course selections with Anne Gardulski, Jack Ridge, Grant Garven, Molly McCanta or Jake Benner. This is important because upper level courses are offered in alternate years. Careful planning should give you the opportunity to participate in more course offerings. Please consult this guide to Geology majors and minors. The listing below is an estimate of which courses will be taught in future semesters, they are not guaranteed.

NOTE: Most course websites have transitioned to Blackboard.

Choose a link from the list below to view the course description or download the latest course booklet.

Course Number

Course Title

 GEO 0001  Geology 1 - Introduction to Geology: The Dynamic Earth
 GEO 0002  Geology 2 - Environmental Geology
 GEO 0005  Geology 5 - Introduction to Oceanography
 GEO 0011  Geology 11 - Mineralogy
 GEO 0012  Geology 12 - Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology
 GEO 0022  Geology 22 - Structural Geology
 GEO 0032  Geology 32 - Geomorphology
 GEO 0035  Geology 35 - Sedimentology
 GEO 0036  Geology 36 - Stratigraphy
 GEO 0038  Geology 38 - Historical Geology and Paleontology
 GEO 0091, 0092  Geological Research
 GEO 0102  Geology 102 - Petrography and X-ray Analysis
 GEO 0103  Geology 103 - Geological Applications of SEM Analysis
 GEO 0104  Geology 104 - Geological Applications of GIS
 GEO 0115  Geology 115 - Quaternary and Glacial Geology
 GEO 0131  Geology 131 - Groundwater
 GEO 0132  Geology 132 - Groundwater Chemistry and Quality
 GEO 0191, 0192  Selected Topics
 GEO 0193, 0194  Senior Thesis
 GEO 187  Geology 187 - Subsurface Fluid Dynamics
 GEO 188  Geology 188 - Groundwater Modeling
 GEO 189  Geology 189 - Geofluids

 

Geology 5 - Introduction to Oceanography

The vastness and depths of the world ocean have intrigued and challenged people for millennia. Yet only recently have marine scientists begun to understand the complexities of oceanic systems. The ocean is not only an important resource for humans, it is a critical link in the earth's atmospheric, climatic, and ecologic structures. This course will emphasize the delicate balance and interrelations of oceanic processes with many of these other global systems.

The oceanography course will begin with a survey of the plate tectonic processes which form the rocks and surface features of the sea floor. A large part of the remainder of the course will deal with the chemical, physical, biological, and geological aspects of the sea water and sediments within this "bowl" of basaltic sea floor. Waves, tides, surface and deep-ocean currents, ocean- atmosphere interactions, organisms and their communities such as reefs, and sediment deposition on the continental shelf, slope, and rise are examples of topics that will be addressed.

Also, discussed will be the influence of human activity on coastlines, the problems of pollution, and political boundaries that have been set up for various parts of the ocean.