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16 credits for the course of study
6 credits may be applied to the Geology
major
The course listings below offer one view of the kinds of learning you can expect to do during the program. You may also be interested to look at the list of projects (and associated field trips) below the list of courses. The projects are integrated into the courses.
GEOLOGY 240-07: FIELD OBSERVATIONAL SKILLS (6 CREDITS)
This course takes place mainly at the start of the seminar in order to instill some basic field skills that will be used throughout the seminar, and in particular during the independent projects. The course will emphasize detailed mapping and how to make thorough, relevant observations and measurements in the field. A component of this class includes drawing lessons from Paula Metallo.
Instructors: Professors David Bice & Alessandro Montanari, assisted by Paula Metallo
GEOLOGY 241-07: GEOLOGY OF ITALY (3 CREDITS)
A series of extended field excursions to a variety of locations in the Apennines and the Italian Alps (the Dolomites) will lead to an understanding of the large-scale evolution of mountain belts and their relationship to Mediterranean plate tectonics. Students will write a couple of papers that synthesize field observations and place them in the larger context of plate tectonics.
Instructors: Professors David Bice & Alessandro Montanari
GEOLOGY 242-07: BASIN ANALYSIS (3 CREDITS)
A regional study of the stratigraphic section will form the basis for a synthesis of the history and interplay of tectonics and sedimentation of the region surrounding the Osservatorio before and during the creation of the mountains. This course will involve a combination of lectures, readings, field work, lab work, and a final report.
Instructors: Professors David Bice & Alessandro Montanari
GEOLOGY 243-07: EVENT STRATIGRAPHY (2 CREDITS)
This class will focus on sudden, unique, and often catastrophic events in Earth's history and how such events are deciphered from the rock record. Rocks exposed near the Osservatorio contain evidence of two mass extinction events that are associated with catastrophic asteroid or comet impacts, in addition to several episodes of global ocean stagnation. This course will involve lectures, readings, discussions, and a final paper.
Instructor: Professor Alessandro Montanari
GEOLOGY 244-07: INDEPENDENT STUDY (2 CREDITS)
Working in groups of three or four, students will undertake field-orientated research projects of their own design, applying concepts and methods they have acquired on the seminar or in other geology courses. The results will be presented to the whole group in the form of a talk and a poster.
Instructors: Professors David Bice and
Alessandro Montanari
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