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COURSE DESCRIPTIONS


SAMPLE COURSE DESCRIPTION

COURSE NUMBERING SYSTEM

GENERAL EDUCATION DESIGNATION

DEPARTMENTS OFFERING DIVERSIFICATION COURSES

Geology and Geophysics (GG)

School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology

GG 101 Dynamic Earth (3) The natural physical environment; the landscape; rocks and minerals, rivers and oceans; volcanism, earthquakes, and other processes inside the Earth; effects of human use of the Earth and its resources. Field trip. DP

GG 101L Dynamic Earth Laboratory (1) (1 3-hr Lab) Hands-on study of minerals, rocks, and topographic maps. Examine volcanism, hydrology, coastal processes and hazards, geologic time and earthquakes. Field trips to investigate landslides, beaches and O‘ahu geology. A-F only. Pre: one of 101, 103, 108, or 168 (or concurrent). DY

GG 103 Geology of the Hawaiian Islands (3) Hawaiian geology and geologic processes: origin of Hawaiian islands, volcanism, rocks and minerals, landforms, stream and coastal processes, landslides, earthquakes and tsunamis, groundwater, geologic and environmental hazards. Field trip. DP

GG 104 Volcanoes in the Sea (3) Lecture course with field trips covering the manner in which geological conditions, resources, and events have affected past and present circum-Pacific societies. Credit not given for both 103 and 104.

GG 105 Voyage through the Solar System (3) An illustrated voyage through the solar system. The origin, evolution, and present state of the sun and each planet based on recent results. Spring only. (Cross-listed as ASTR 150) DP

GG 108 Controversial Topics in Geology and Geophysics (3) Earth-science topics of current societal impact or intellectual implications. Students will select three from a list of six topics, such as volcanoes, climate, solar system, plate tectonics, evolution and extinction, and water. Each topic will be considered in a mini-course module five weeks in length. DP

GG 168 Planetary Science in the Classroom (4) (2 3-hr Lec/Lab) Combined lecture-lab course for pre-service and in-service teachers. Covers basics of planetary geology (volcanism, impact cratering, remote sensing, etc.) through inquiry-based, hands-on laboratory activities suitable for use in K-12 classrooms. Field trip. DP

GG 170 Physical Geology (4) (3 Lec, 1 3-hr Lab) Structure, composition and evolution of Earth; processes responsible for formation, deformation and transformation of rocks; plate tectonics. Emphasis on quantitative methods, problem solving and critical thinking to geology. Laboratory and field trips required. DP, DY

GG 200 Geological Inquiry (4) (3 Lec, 1 3-hr Lab) Origin and age of the solar system and earth: interior of the earth; plate tectonics and records or biological evolution and past environments. Pre: 170 (or 101 or 103 and 101L) or one year of high-school trigonometry, high-school chemistry and high-school physics (or equivalent); or consent. NI DP, DY

GG 250 Scientific Programming (3) (2 Lec, 1 3-hr Lab) Introduction to solving scientific problems by computer programming. Overview of the Matlab programming language and environment. Emphasis placed on good style, logical reasoning and applied mathematics. A-F only. Pre: MATH 241 (or concurrent) or departmental approval. NI

GG 300 Volcanology (3) Volcanic eruptions and their consequences. Includes models for volcanic eruptions including explosive eruptions and lava flows, monitoring of active volcanoes, evaluation and impacts of volcanic hazards, and mitigation of volcanic risk. Field trips. Normally fall. Pre: 200 or consent. DP

GG 301 Mineralogy (4) (2 Lec, 1 3-hr Lab) Crystallography, crystal chemistry, phase equilibria, and crystal structures. Also covers mineral optics and identification and includes an introduction to modern methods of mineralogy and crystallography. Pre: 200, CHEM 162/162L or CHEM 171/171L; or consent. DP

GG 302 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (3) (2 Lec, 1 3-hr Lab) Survey of composition, classification, and occurrence of igneous and metamorphic rocks. Hand-specimen identification and optical petrography of igneous and metamorphic rocks. Development of critical thinking and writing skills. Pre: 301 or consent. DP

GG 303 Structural Geology (3) (2 Lec, 1 3-hr Lab) Introduction to (a) the geometry, kinematics, and mechanics of crustal deformation, and (b) continuum mechanics in geology. Develops skills in three-dimensional thinking through geologic maps, cross sections, various projections, experiments, and vector analyses. Pre: 200, 250, MATH 241 or MATH 251A, and PHYS 151 or PHYS 170; or consent. DP

GG 304 Physics of Earth and Planets (4) (3 Lec, 1 3-hr Lab) Essentials of geophysics: formation of solar system and Earth, gravity, seismology, heat flow, geomagnetism, isostasy, plate tectonics. Coursework involves application of basic physics to understanding Earth structure. Labs include field surveys and computer analyses. Pre: 250, 303, MATH 241, MATH 242, and PHYS 272; or consent. DP, DY

GG 305 Geological Field Methods (3) Methods used in geological investigations in the field. Eight hours on Saturday in the field. Pre: 301 and 303. Recommended: 302 and 309. DP

GG 309 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (4) (3 Lec, 1 3-hr Lab) Principles of sedimentology, sedimentary petrology, geochemistry and stratigraphy. Description and discussion of modern and past processes and environments that form sedimentary rocks, properties of sedimentary rocks and interpretation of these properties and stratigraphic relationships in terms of Earth history. Repeatable one time. Pre: 200 and 301, or consent. Spring only. DP

GG 312 Geomathematics (3) Mathematical methods of geologic and geophysical science. Emphasis on application to earth-science problems using linear algebra, vector calculus, ordinary differential equations, and numerical solutions. Pre: MATH 242 or consent. (Cross-listed as OCN 312)

GG 313 Geological Data Analysis I (3) Exploratory data analysis, probability theory and statistics, curve interpolation and approximation, simple and multiple regression, multivariate analysis, and analysis of directional data. Pre: 250, MATH 242 (or concurrent) or consent.

GG 325 Fundamentals of Geochemistry (3) Lecture course on theory and applications of geochemistry and environmental chemistry to Earth and ocean sciences. Topics: Chemistry of Hydrosphere-Geosphere-Biosphere system, origin/differentiation of Earth/Solar System. Pre: 200, 250, MATH 241 or MATH 251A, CHEM 162 (or concurrent); or consent. Fall only. DP

GG 399 Directed Reading (V) Individual reading in geology and geophysics. Pre: consent.

GG 401 Introduction to Mineral Physics (3) Scientific study of the materials that make up the Earth. Properties of minerals on micro- and macro-scales; their properties and behavior. Pre: 302 and PHYS 272, or consent. (Alt. years) DP

GG 402 Hawaiian Geology (3) Consists of lectures, discussions, and field trips about the geology of the Hawaiian islands. Focus on geological processes and the geologic history of all islands will be covered. Pre: 302 and 303; or consent. DP

GG 407 Energy and Mineral Resources (3) Origin and distribution of ore deposits, mineral fuels, and industrial minerals. Coverage and detail will depend partly on student interest and background. Pre: 301 and 303; or consent. DP

GG 410 Undergraduate Seminar (2) Gain professional training, practical experience, and evaluate peers on giving scientific presentations emphasizing topics in geology, geophysics, and planetary science. 60% of the grade is based on the equivalent of three oral communication assignments. Pre: 170 (or 101 or 103 and 101L) and 200.

GG 420 Sea Levels, Ice Ages, and Global Change (3) Recent records and physical processes of global and local environmental change; dating techniques; late Pleistocene and Holocene climate change, sea-level movements, and ice volume. Repeatable one time. Pre: 309 or consent. DP

GG 421 Geologic Record of Climate Change (3) This course explores the climatic responses of Earth’s major systems and subsystems (ice, water, vegetation, land) and traces their interactions through geologic history. Open to nonmajors. A-F only. Pre: 200 or MET 310, OCN 310, OEST 310; or consent. DP

GG 423 Marine Geology (3) Sediments, structure, geophysics, geochemistry, history of ocean basins and margins. Pre: 302 or consent. (Cross-listed as OCN 423) DP

GG 425 Environmental Geochemistry (3) Lecture course on theory and applications of geochemistry to contaminant/pollutant distribution in the Hydrosphere-Geosphere-Biosphere system. Topics include aqueous geochemistry, thermodynamics, kinetics, organic and isotope chemistry of environmental contaminants. Pre: 325 or consent. Fall only. DP

GG 430 Geology and Mineral Resources of Asia (3) Geologic setting of ore, industrial mineral, and fuel deposits of Asia, its adjacent islands, and shallow seas. Probability of future discoveries in major provinces. Pre: 170 (or 101 or 103) or consent. (Alt. years) DP

GG 444 Plate Tectonics (3) Quantitative geometrical analysis techniques of plate tectonic theory; instantaneous and finite-rotation poles; triple-junction analysis; plate-boundary stresses. Pre: 200 or consent. DP

GG 450 Geophysical Methods (4) Basic geophysical theories, exploration, and interpretation. Seismic reflection and refraction, gravity, and electromagnetics. Constraints on models of Earth’s internal structure and composition. Pre: 250, 303, MATH 241, MATH 242, and PHYS 272; or consent. DP

GG 451 Earthquakes (3) Earthquake seismology. Elastic properties of rocks, earthquake waves, causes, detection, location, and prediction of earthquakes; tsunami generation and other effects of earthquakes. Pre: 304 or consent. (Alt. years) DP

GG 454 Engineering Geology (3) Solutions of engineering geology problems by geologists and engineers through recognition, characterization, evaluation, and assessment of geologic processes and geologic conditions that impact people, engineering structures, and engineering operations. Group format. Pre: junior or senior standing in geology and geophysics or civil and environmental engineering; or consent. DP

GG 455 Hydrogeology (4) (3 Lec, 1 3-hr Lab) Occurrence, characteristics, movement, quality, development, and contamination of water in the Earth’s crust. Pre: MATH 242 or MATH 252A, or consent. DP

GG 460 Geological Remote Sensing (4) (3 Lec, 1 3-hr Lab) Combined lecture-lab course on the concepts behind, geologic uses for, and techniques of satellite and airborne remote sensing. Lab work will consist of computer image processing. Field trips. Open to nonmajors. Pre: 170, MATH 241 or MATH 251A (or concurrent); or consent. Spring only. DP

GG 461 Geospatial Information (3) Combined lecture/lab course covering the collection, analysis and use of geospatially registered field data. Pre:305 (or equivalent). (Alt. years)

GG 466 Planetary Geology (3) Comparative geology of the terrestrial planets (moon, Mars, Mercury, Venus, and Earth); impact cratering, volcanism, tectonism, geomorphology, weathering; manned and unmanned space exploration. Pre: any 100-level GG course. DP

GG 491 Teaching Geology (4) For GG majors who lead, under supervision, a freshman seminar section of GG 170 (or 101 or 103 and 101L). Credit not applicable to major. Pre: 302, 303, and 309.

GG 499 Undergraduate Thesis (3) Directed research course in which the student carries out a scientific project of small to moderate scope with one or more chosen advisors. The student must complete a document in the style of a scientific journal article. Pre: consent.

GG 500 Master’s Plan B/C Studies (1) Enrollment for degree completion. Pre: master’s Plan B or C candidate and consent.

GG 593 Earth and Planetary Sciences Workshops (V) Designed for in-service school professionals to learn new approaches and concepts in the fields of earth and planetary sciences. Repeatable for credit. Credits earned in these courses cannot be applied for graduate degrees.

GG 600 Equations of Geophysics (3) Least-square approximation of functions by orthagonal series; potential, wave heat flow equations; boundary value problems; Bessel Hankel functions, spherical harmonics, potential theory, plane waves, spherical waves; emphasis on geophysics application. Pre: MATH 244 or MATH 253A, PHYS 400; or consent.

GG 601 Explosive Volcanism (3) Explosive volcanic eruptions: from causes to consequences. Review of current physical volcanology including ascent and fragmentation of magma, transport and deposition processes in pyroclastic eruptions, volcanic crisis management and volcanic eruption scenario. Seven-day fieldtrip. A-F only. Pre: 300 or consent.

GG 602 Theoretical Petrology (3) Derivation of phase diagrams from basic thermodynamics principles. Equilibria of natural silicate systems. Crystal chemistry, kinetics, diffusion, etc., Applied to igneous and metamorphic petrology. Pre: 302, 325, and CHEM 351 (or concurrent); or consent. (Alt. years)

GG 603 Petrology of Ocean Lithosphere (3) (2 Lec, 1 3-hr Lab) Petrogenesis of the oceanic lithosphere, including mantle processes and rocks from mid-ocean ridges, seamounts, oceanic hotspots, back-arc basins, and intra-oceanic arcs. Pre: 302 or consent. (Alt. years)

GG 606 Current Events in Volcanology (1) Discussion of active areas of volcanism and new publications on volcanology. Repeatable four times. CR/NC only. Pre: 300 (or concurrent) or consent.

GG 608 Isotopes and Trace Elements (3) Principles of radiogenic and stable isotope, and trace element geochemistry as applied to igneous petrology, mantle dynamics, plate tectonics, and terrestrial evolution. Pre: 302 and 325. (Alt. years)

GG 609 Graduate Teaching Geology (V) For GG graduate students who lead, under faculty supervision, a scheduled class in Geology and Geophysics. The instructor will define the student’s responsibilities when offering GG 609, and these responsibilities must be met for a passing grade. As the consent to take the class must also be granted by the department chair, the chair will also review the responsibilities required by the instructor. GG graduate students only. CR/NC only. Pre: consent of instructor and department chair.

GG 610 Graduate Seminar (1) Seminar course in which students present a 15- to 20-minute talk on their research or a related topic. Meets once a week with two to three talks per meeting. Graduate students are required to register for this course once per year. Repeatable eight times.

GG 611 Accelerated Introduction to Geology I (3) Lecture course presenting a rapid-paced survey of geology and geophysics for graduate students. Includes origin of the solar system, tectonics, volcanology, whole-earth composition, phase transformations, petrology (igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary), historical geology, and hydrology. Saturday field trips. Fall only.

GG 612 Accelerated Introduction to Geology II (3) Lecture course presenting a rapid-paced survey of geology and geophysics for graduate students. Includes Earth structure, rheology, seismology, dynamics, origin of continents, global change, energy sources, environmental geology, and natural hazards. Saturday field trips. Spring only.

GG 614 Advanced Field Study (V) Shipboard and land-based projects. Repeatable eight times. Pre: consent.

GG 615 Micropaleontology (3) (2 Lec, 1 3-hr Lab) Taxonomy and identification of microfossils and their recent representatives. Use in determining age, paleoecology, provenance of sedimentary rocks. Pre: 200 or consent.

GG 621 Electron Microprobe Analysis (2) Combined lecture-lab course on the principles of geochemical analysis by electron microprobe and X-ray fluorescence. Hands-on experience with the electron microprobe. Required to operate the UH electron microprobe. Pre: 301 or consent.

GG 625 Seminar in Marine Geology and Geophysics (V) Current research topics. Repeatable eight times. Pre: 423 or OCN 622, or consent.

GG 637 Macroevolution and Earth History (3) Evolutionary biology in the context of Earth history; fossil record of life; fundamentals of microevolution; speciation, molecular evolution and phylogeny; geologic history of the Earth; evolution of genomes, development, and behavior; and case studies in evolution. A-F only Pre: BIOL 171 or equivalent. (Alt. years)

GG 638 Earth System Science and Global Change (3) Global view of the planet and how it functions as an integrated unit. Biogeochemical processes, dynamics, and cycles, and analysis of natural and human-induced environmental change. Chemical history of ocean-atmospheric-sediment system and co-evolution of the biota. Repeatable one time. Pre: BS in environmentally related science or one year of chemistry, physics, and calculus; or consent. (Cross-listed as OCN 638)

GG 639 Stable Isotope Biogeochemistry (3) Stable isotope geochemistry applied to questions of biogeochemical cycling in the oceans, sediment diagenesis, paleoceanography, environmental geochemistry and ecology. Pre: 325 or consent. (Alt. years)

GG 641 Origin of Sedimentary Rocks (3) (2 Lec, 1 3-hr Lab) Environment of deposition and subsequent diagenesis of modern and ancient sediments. Petrogenesis of siliciclastic, carbonate and orthochemical rocks. Sedimentology, sedimentary petrography and geochemistry. Repeatable one time. Pre: consent. (Alt. years) (Cross-listed as OCN 641)

GG 642 Elemental Composition Changes (2) Changes in the chemical composition of meteorites, bulk Earth, Earth’s mantle and crust, sedimentary rocks, hydrosphere and biosphere, and underlying principles. Pre: 325 or OCN 623. (Alt. years) (Cross-listed as OCN 642)

GG 644 Sedimentary Geochemistry (3) Geochemical thermodynamics and kinetics and their use in interpreting the origin of sediments, sedimentary rocks, and natural waters over a range of pressure-temperature conditions. Pre: CHEM 171, or CHEM 161 and CHEM 162; PHYS 152; and MATH 242 or MATH 252A; and consent. (Alt. years) (Cross-listed as OCN 644)

GG 650 Seismology (3) Elasticity, wave equations, body waves, surface waves, free oscillations, seismometry, seismogram interpretation, tectonics, inversion, source theory, and waveform modeling. Pre: 600.

GG 651 Geomagnetism and Cosmic Magnetism (3) Magnetic fields of Earth, planets, stars, and galaxies; dynamo theories; paleomagnetism; terrestrial and lunar rock magnetism; planetary, regional, and local geomagnetic sounding. Pre: consent. (Alt. years)

GG 652 Gravity, Magnetics, Heat Flow (3) Uses of selected potential field and electromagnetic methods in tectonics or in exploration. Processing and interpretation techniques; modeling and inversion. Pre: consent. (Alt. years)

GG 653 Mantle Mineralogy (3) Basic principles of thermodynamics, crystal chemistry, and phase transformation, with emphasis on their relevance to minerals under high pressure/temperature; survey of modern technologies on high pressure research, and evaluation of the proposed mineralogical models for the Earth’s mantle. Pre: consent.

GG 655 Groundwater Modeling (3) Introduction to the finite-difference method; steady-state and transient groundwater flow in saturated and unsaturated media; applications to groundwater recharge and aquifer evaluation. A-F only. Pre: CEE 627 or consent. Fall only. (Cross-listed as CEE 623)

GG 657 Astrochemistry - A Molecular Approach (3) Formation of astrobiologically important molecules and their precursors in the interstellar medium and in our solar system: first principles and latest trends. Pre: consent. Fall only. (Cross-listed as ASTR 657 and CHEM 657)

GG 665 Current Readings in Planetary Science (1) Review of current literature and research in planetary sciences; active student participation required. Repeatable eight times. Pre: consent.

GG 666 Planetary Surfaces (3) Comparative geology of terrestrial planets (moon, Mars, Mercury, Venus, and Earth); impact cratering, volcanism, geomorphology; remote sensing; manned and unmanned space exploration. Pre: 601, ASTR 630; or consent. (Alt. years)

GG 669 Formation of the Solar System (3) Nucleosynthesis; collapse of interstellar clouds, accretion of planets, meteorites, asteroids, comets as probes of the early solar system; cosmochemical processes; equilibrium condensation; isotopic anomalies; other solar systems. Pre: 325, ASTR 630; or consent. (Alt. years)

GG 670 (Alpha) Geology of Planetary Bodies (3) Composition and geologic evolution of the planets and their moons; impact cratering; volcanism; tectonism; remote sensing; manned and unmanned exploration and future missions. (B) the moon; (C) Mars. Pre: 666 or consent.

GG 671 (Alpha) Remote Sensing (3) Spectroscopic, radar, thermal, and other methods for remote sensing applied to geologic problems; instrumental design and data analysis. (B) planets; (C) volcanoes. Pre: 666 or consent.

GG 672 Seminar in Tectonics (3) Evolution of ocean basins, margins, foldbelts, and platforms, from plate tectonics and regional syntheses of structure, petrology, geophysics, and stratigraphy. Repeatable eight times. (Alt. years)

GG 673 (Alpha) Extraterrestrial Material (3) Mineralogical and compositional characteristics of extraterrestrial matter and the implications for the origin and history of the solar system. The subject is treated in two full-semester courses: (B) meteorites; (C) petrology of the Moon and Mars. Pre: consent.

GG 674 Paleoceanography (3) Study of the paleoceanographic and paleoclimate evolution of the Earth’s oceans, atmosphere and biosphere. Repeatable one time. Pre: consent. (Alt. years) (Cross-listed as OCN 674)

GG 675 The Generic Mapping Tools (3) Introduction to the Generic Mapping Tools (GMT). Processing of scientific data and the automated preparation of maps and illustrations using GMT on UNIX workstations, with introduction to UNIX and the C shell environment.

GG 681 Continuum Mechanics (3) Continuum mechanics in geophysics, planetary physics, and structural geology. Tensors; stress, strain, flow; conservation of mass, momentum, and energy; rheology; geophysical fluid dynamics. Pre: PHYS 400, MATH 402; or consent.

GG 685 Geophysical Inverse Theory (3) Least squares, the generalized inverse, singular value decomposition, maximum likelihood, Backus-Gilbert, Franklin, and Tarantola methods; applications. Pre: 600 or consent. (Alt. years)

GG 691 Geological Data Analysis II (3) Analysis of sequential data, Markov processes, series of events, spectral analysis, filtering, quantitative map analysis, and introduction to fractals. Pre: 313, MATH 241 or MATH 251A; or consent.

GG 699 Directed Research (V) CR/NC only. Pre: consent.

GG 700 Thesis Research (V)

GG 701 Physics of the Earth’s Interior (3) Interpretation of geophysical and laboratory data to understand elastic and anelastic properties, composition, phase relationships, temperature distribution in the Earth. Pre: 653 or consent. (Alt. years)

GG 703 Fractures and Faults (3) Lecture course on elasticity theory, fracture mechanics and boundary element modeling, with application to faults and fractures in the Earth. Pre: consent.

GG 710 Selected Topics in Geology and Geophysics (2) Content to be announced. Repeatable eight times. Pre: consent.

GG 711 Special Topics in Geology and Geophysics (3) Content to be announced. Repeatable eight times. Pre: consent.

GG 733 Seminar in Igneous Petrology (2) Current research on the generation, differentiation, and emplacement of magmas. Pre: 603 and consent. (Alt. years)

GG 800 Dissertation Research (V)