Graduate Courses
We have a summary of information about the Geology graduate degress program, but for full details see CWU's on-line graduate course catalog (select "Graduate Catalog" from the drop-down menu at the top of the page).
For Quarterly Calendars, Class Schedules, and General Education Requirements, see the Registrars Office.
Current and Recent Classes
If you are looking for undergraduate course information see the Undergraduate Courses page.
GEOL 501. Current Topics in Geology
Course will introduce beginning graduate students to current research topics in a variety of subdisciplines in geology through readings, discussions, and student presentations.
GEOL 502. Regional Field Geology of the Pacific Northwest
Field studies in the Pacific Northwestern United States and Canada.
GEOL 503. Graduate Research Methods
Discussion and exploration of research methods in geology, including library and Internet resources, thesis project selection and design, and literature review. Three hours per week.
GEOL 504. Graduate Seminar Series
Research seminar series comprising the Geological Sciences weekly seminar series. Includes discussion with speaker following seminar. May be repeated for a total of 12 credits. Grade will either be S or U.
GEOL 515. Earthquake Geology and Neotectonics
Geomorphology, stratigraphy, and structural geology applied to the study of active faults and folds in a variety of tectonic settings. Relation of seismicity and geodetic measurements to geologic structure and active tectonic processes. Three hours of lecture and four hours of laboratory per week. GEOL 415 and GEOL 515 are layered courses; students may not receive credit for both.
GEOL 523. The Cryosphere
Components of the cryosphere (ice sheets, mountain glaciers, ice shelves, global snow cover, sea ice extent, and permafrost/frozen ground) will be examined, including anticipated changes in the cryosphere due to changing climate. GEOL 423 and GEOL 523 are layered courses; students may not receive credit for both. Course will be offered on even numbered years (Winter).
GEOL 525. Environmental Geochemistry
Global geochemical cycles, influences of rocks and soils on water chemistry, behavior of isotopes and trace elements. Includes class project studying local environmental geochemistry topic. Three lectures plus one three-hour lab per week. GEOL 425 and GEOL 525 are layered courses; students may not receive credit for both.
GEOL 532. Field Geodesy
Training in field geodetic techniques, including scientific application of two or more precision surveying instruments: geodetic GPS, differential GPS, and electronic distance meter. Three hours a week and field project, or one-week field course. GEOL 432 and GEOL 532 are layered courses; students may not receive credit for both.
GEOL 534. Petroleum Geology
Petroleum geology delivers a comprehensive introduction to the application of geology in the oil and gas industry, including the origin and occurrence of petroleum, application of geology in exploration and production, and the evolution of the industry in the context of global demand. GEOL 434 and GEOL 534 are layered courses; students may not receive credit for both.
GEOL 541. Climate Variability & Climate Change
Examine past, present, and future changes in climate, and the factors that contribute to climate change over various timescales. GEOL 441 and GEOL 541 are equivalent courses; students may not receive credit for both.
GEOL 545. Hydrogeology
Study of the occurrence and movement of ground water using geology, hydrology, and geochemistry, with an emphasis on practical problems in water management. Three hours lecture and three hours laboratory per week. GEOL 445 and GEOL 545 are layered courses; students may not receive credit for both.
GEOL 553. Seismology
Elasticity theory, the wave equation, ray theory, diffraction, waveform modeling, travel time inversion. Data analysis. Three hours lecture and four hours of scientific computing lab per week. Offered alternate years. GEOL 453 and GEOL 553 are layered courses; students may not receive credit for both.
GEOL 556. Geodynamics
Study of plate tectonics and mountain building processes that shape Earth. Lab includes introduction to Matlab software for analysis and visualization. Required field trip. GEOL 456 and GEOL 556 are layered courses; students may not receive credit for both.
GEOL 565. Tectonic Evolution of Orogenic Belts
Overview of the tectonic, structural, stratigraphic, and geophysical evolution of orogenic belts. Two hours of discussion and student presentation per week.
GEOL 570. Fluvial Geomorphology
Advanced course covering hydrologic and geomorphic processes in rivers. Exploration of current geomorphic research, practical experience in field techniques, and geomorphic models. GEOL 470 and GEOL 570 are layered courses, students may not receive credit for both.
GEOL 572. Coastal Geomorphology
Advanced course exploring coastal geomorphic processes. Practical experience in field techniques and design. Required 4-day field trip. GEOL 472 and GEOL 572 are layered courses; students may not receive credit for both.
GEOL 574. Quaternary Geology
Study of geological processes affecting Earth’s most recent history. Course emphasizes global quaternary environmental change, glacial epochs, paleoclimatic methods, and dating techniques. GEOL 474 and 574 are layered courses; students may not receive credit for both.
GEOL 575. Petrography and Petrogenesis
Petrogenetic, hand specimen, and thin section study of igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary rocks. Three hours lecture and four hours laboratory or field work per week plus required field trips. GEOL 475 and GEOL 575 are layered courses; students may not receive credit for both. Offered in alternate years.
GEOL 577. Tsunami Geology and Geophysics
Course will cover the current science of paleotsunami research, an overview of modern survey observations, the basic physics of tsunami generation and propagation, and introduce students to tsunami modeling methodologies. GEOL 477 and GEOL 577 are cross-listed; students may not receive credit for both.
GEOL 578. Volcanology
Study of volcanoes and associated deposits, styles of eruption, physical and chemical controls on eruption mechanisms, and volcanic hazards and hazard mitigation. Three hours lecture and four hours laboratory per week plus required field trips. GEOL 478 and GEOL 578 are layered courses; students may not receive credit for both. Offered in alternate years.
GEOL 583. Isotope Geochemistry
Covers principles of isotope geochemistry and applications to studies of geological processes such as hydrologic cycling, volcanic petrogenesis, and climate change. Three hours lecture per week plus required laboratory work and field trips. GEOL 483 and GEOL 583 are layered course; students may not receive credit for both. Offered in alternate years.
GEOL 584. Geochronology
Principles, analytical methods, and interpretation of several of the most widely applied geochronologic methods. Computer-based data analysis of problems in igneous and metamorphic petrology, structural geology, sedimentary geology, geomorphology, paleoseismology, and planetary science. GEOL 484 and 584 are layered courses; students may not receive credit for both.