Earth Sciences

Chair

Richard J. Cheel

Professors

Uwe Brand, Richard J. Cheel, Frank Fueten, Martin J. Head, Francine McCarthy, John Menzies

Associate Professors

Gregory C. Finn, Daniel McCarthy, Michael Pisaric, Mariek E. Schmidt

Assistant Professors

Nigel Blamey, Kevin Turner

Adjunct Professors

Paul Budkewitsch, Dale Hess, Lisa Neville, Andy Panko

Senior Lab Co-ordinator

Astride Silis

Director, Co-operative Programs

Cara Boese

General Information

Administrative Assistant

TBA

905-688-5550, extension 3526

Mackenzie Chown D431

brocku.ca/earthsciences

The field of Earth sciences is central in solving current problems such as waste disposal, pollution, groundwater management, volcano and earthquake hazards. It is also vital in the exploration and utilization of natural resources such as oil and gas, minerals and aggregates. A very important area of research in the Earth sciences aims to determine how the planet has evolved from its origin 4.6 billion years ago to the present. Earth's rocks and sediment provide a long record of global change in response to a variety of stimuli. Many Earth scientists are involved in the unravelling of this record of global change and in predicting future changes to the planet.

The Department of Earth Sciences offers programs dedicated to graduating high-quality geoscientists proceeding toward registration as a Professional Geoscientist (PGeo). The Department offers other options for those interested in Earth Sciences, but not intending to become Professional Geoscientists.

The Department of Earth Sciences offers four-year programs of study leading to a BSc Honours in Earth Sciences, BSc Honours in Environmental Geoscience, a BSc with Major in Earth Sciences, a BSc with Major in Environmental Geoscience and a BSc Pass degree program. In addition, five-year Co-op programs leading to a BSc Honours degree in Earth Sciences or Environmental Geoscience are available.

The four-year BSc Honours and BSc with Major programs consist of a set of core courses in year 1, year 2 and part of year 3. During year 3, students choose from elective courses to specialize in a curriculum reflecting their personal interests. Students normally enter directly into the BSc Honours program and are required to maintain at least second-class honours standing. Students not meeting this requirement may continue in one of the BSc with Major programs.

The requirement for graduation with an Earth Sciences (Honours) degree is a minimum 70 percent major average and a minimum 60 percent non-major average.

The requirements for a BSc with Major and a BSc (pass) are a minimum 60 percent major average and a minimum 60 percent overall average.

The Department has teaching and research laboratories which include such facilities as recirculating sediment flume, dendrochronology laboratory, glacial micromorphology laboratory, palynological laboratories, vitrinite reflectance workstation, cathodoluminescence microscopic analysis, atomic absorption spectrometry, petrographic image analysis equipment, digitizer, water quality analysis equipment, fluorometric analysis and stable isotope preparation. These are supported by rock specimen preparation and drafting facilities, a cold room, core storage facilities and Departmental collections. Departmental as well as University computing facilities are available. SEM and ICPMS facilities are also available within the Faculty of Mathematics and Science. The Department shares the facilities of electronic, machine and glass blowing shops with other departments.

Co-op Program

The Earth Sciences and Environmental Geoscience Co-op programs combine academic and work terms over a five year period. Students spend two years in an academic setting, where they acquire the necessary background prior to taking the first work placement. Successful completion of courses in the core areas of earth sciences provides the necessary academic background for the work experience. In addition to the current fees for courses in academic study terms, Earth Sciences and Environmental Geoscience Co-op students are assessed an annual administrative fee (see the Schedule of Fees).

Eligibility to continue in the Co-op program is based on the student's major average and non-major average. A student with a minimum 70 percent major average and a minimum 60 percent non-major average will be permitted to continue. A student with a major average lower than 70 percent will not be permitted to continue in the Earth Sciences or Environmental Geoscience Co-op program, but may continue in the Earth Sciences and Environmental Geoscience non Co-op program. For further information, see the Co-op programs section of the Calendar and contact the Department of Earth Sciences.

All students in the Co-operative Education program are required to read, sign and adhere to the terms of the Student Regulations Waiver and Co-op Student Manuals (brocku.ca/co-op/current-students/co-op-student-manuals) as articulated by the Co-op Programs Office. In addition, eligibility to continue in the co-op option is based on the student's major average and non-major average, and the ability to demonstrate the motivation and potential to pursue a professional career.

Each four-month co-operative education work term must be registered. Once students are registered in a co-op work term, they are expected to fulfill their commitment. If the placement accepted is for more than one four-month work term, students are committed to complete all terms. Students may not withdraw from or terminate a work term without permission from the Director, Co-op Program Office.

The Earth Sciences and Environmental Geoscience Co-op program designation will be awarded to those students who have successfully completed a minimum of twelve months of Co-op work experience.

Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario

Graduates of any of the 20 credit single major programs offered by the Department of Earth Sciences may qualify to be registered as a practising member of the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (APGO), and be entitled to practise geoscience or environmental geoscience and use the title of Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.) in Ontario in accordance with the "Professional Geoscientist Act, 2000". This accreditation may be transferable to other provincial and state jurisdictions in North America. Students wishing to apply for geoscientist-in-training (GIT) status may want to contact or consult the APGO website at apgo.net.

Field Trips

Field trips form an integral component of training in the earth sciences and are offered in all years of study, linked to specific courses. Field trips may take place during the lab period or involve a time period beyond the lab, over a single day or weekend trips. To offset transportation costs the Department has instituted a Field Trip Levy for all courses with multiple field trips. In addition, on single day or weekend trips, students are expected to cover costs of accommodation and food. Field trip costs, where applicable, are in addition to the regular tuition fees associated with the course.

Program Notes

Honours Program

Earth Sciences

Year 1

	ERSC 1P01 and 1P02
	BIOL 1F90
	CHEM 1P91 and 1P92
	MATH 1P97 and 1P98
	one Humanities context credit or one Social Sciences context credit

Year 2

	ERSC 2P03, 2P05, 2P16, 2P17, 2P21 and 2P22
	one-half ERSC credit numbered 2(alpha)00 to 2(alpha)99 (see program note 10)
	PHYS 1P21 or 1P91(recommended; see program note 1)
	one of PHYS 1P22, 1P23, 1P92, 1P93 (recommended; see program note 1)
	one-half elective credit (see program note 6)

Year 3

	ERSC 3P01, 3P11, 3P12, 3P21 and 3P31
	ERSC 3P24 or 3P25
	one-half ERSC credit numbered 2(alpha)90 or above
	the Humanities context credit or Social Sciences context credit (not taken in year 1)
	one-half elective credit

Year 4

	ERSC 3P99
	three and one-half ERSC credits numbered 3(alpha)90 and above (see program notes 9 and 10)
	one elective credit (see program note 6)

Environmental Geoscience

Year 1

	ERSC 1P01 and 1P02
	BIOL 1F90
	CHEM 1P91 and 1P92
	MATH 1P97 and 1P98
	one Humanities context credit or one Social Sciences context credit

Year 2

	ERSC 2P03, 2P05, 2P16, 2P17, 2P21 and 2P61
	ERSC 2P07 or 2P15
	PHYS 1P21 or 1P91 (recommended; see program note 1)
	one of PHYS 1P22, 1P23, 1P92, 1P93 (recommended; see program note 1)
	one-half elective credit (see program note 6)

Year 3

	One-half ERSC credit numbered 2(alpha)90 or above (see program notes 7 and 10)
	three credits from ERSC 3P01, 3P11, 3P12, 3P24, 3P25, 3P31, 3P91, 3V93
	the Humanities context credit or Social Sciences context credit (not taken in year 1)
	one-half elective credit

Year 4

	ERSC 3Q99 or 3P99 (see program notes 4 and 8)
	ERSC 4P61
	three ERSC credits numbered 3(alpha)90 and above (see program notes 7 and 10)
	one elective credit (see program notes 7 and 10)

Earth Sciences Co-op (Honours only)

Students admitted to the Co-op program must follow an approved program pattern. The most common pattern is listed below. For other approved patterns, consult the Co-op Office.

Year 1

	ERSC 1P01 and 1P02
	BIOL 1F90
	CHEM 1P91 and 1P92
	MATH 1P97 and 1P98
	one Humanities context credit or one Social Sciences context credit

Year 2

	ERSC 2P03, 2P05, 2P16, 2P17, 2P21 and 2P22 (see program note 10)
	one-half ERSC credit numbered 2(alpha)00 to 2(alpha)99
	PHYS 1P21 or 1P91 (recommended; see program note 1)
	one of PHYS 1P22, 1P23, 1P92, 1P93 (recommended; see program note 1)
	SCIE 0N90
	one-half elective credit (see program note 6)

Spring/Summer Sessions:

ERSC 0N01 and 2C01

Year 3

Fall Term:

	ERSC 3P11 and 3P21
	ERSC 3P24 or 3P25
	one-half ERSC credit numbered 2(alpha)90 or above (see program note 10)
	one elective credit (see program note 6)

Winter Term:

ERSC 0N02 and 2C02

Year 4

Fall Term:

ERSC 0N03 and 2C03

Winter Term:

	ERSC 3P01, 3P12 and 3P31
	one-half elective credit

Spring/Summer Sessions:

ERSC 3P99

Year 5

	Three and one-half ERSC credits numbered 3(alpha)90 and above (see program notes 9 and 10)
	the Humanities context credit or Social Sciences context credit (not taken in year 1)

Environmental Geoscience Co-op (Honours only)

Year 1

	ERSC 1P01 and 1P02
	CHEM 1P91 and 1P92
	BIOL 1F90
	MATH 1P97 and 1P98
	one Humanities context credit or one Social Sciences context credit

Year 2

	ERSC 2P03, 2P05, 2P16, 2P17, 2P21 and 2P61
	ERSC 2P07 or 2P15
	PHYS 1P21 or 1P91 (recommended; see program note 1)
	one of PHYS 1P22, 1P23, 1P92, 1P93 (recommended; see program note 1)
	SCIE 0N90
	one-half elective credit (see program note 6)

Spring/Summer Sessions

ERSC 0N01 and 2C01

Year 3

Fall Term:

	ERSC 3P11 and 3P24
	one-half ERSC credit numbered 2(alpha)90 or above (see program notes 7 and 10)
	one elective credit (see program note 6)

Winter Term:

ERSC 0N02 and 2C02

Year 4

Fall Term:

ERSC 0N03 and 2C03

Winter Term:

	Two credits from ERSC 3P01, 3P12, 3P25, 3P31, 3P91, 3V93
	one-half elective credit (see program notes 6)

Year 5

	ERSC 3P99 or 3Q99 (see program notes 4 and 8)
	ERSC 4P61
	three ERSC credits numbered 3(alpha)90 or above (see program notes 7 and 10)
	the Humanities context credit or Social Sciences context credit (not taken in year 1)

BSc with Major Program

This program differs from the Honours program in that honours standing is not required for entry into year 4 (see program note 5).

Earth Sciences

Year 1

	ERSC 1P01 and 1P02
	BIOL 1F90
	CHEM 1P91 and 1P92
	MATH 1P97 and 1P98
	one Humanities context credit or one Social Sciences context credit

Year 2

	ERSC 2P03, 2P05, 2P16, 2P17, 2P21 and 2P22
	one-half ERSC credit numbered 2(alpha)00 to 2(alpha)99 (see program note 10)
	PHYS 1P21 or 1P91 (recommended; see program note 1)
	one of PHYS 1P22, 1P23, 1P92, 1P93 (recommended; see program note 1)
	one-half elective credit (see program note 6)

Year 3

	ERSC 3P01, 3P11, 3P12, 3P21 and 3P31
	ERSC 3P24 or 3P25
	one-half ERSC credit numbered 2(alpha)90 or above
	the Humanities context credit or Social Sciences context credit (not taken in year 1)
	one-half elective credit

Year 4

	ERSC 3P99
	three and one-half ERSC credits numbered 3(alpha)90 or above (see program note 9 and 10)
	one elective credit (see program note 11)

Environmental Geoscience

Year 1

	ERSC 1P01 and 1P02
	BIOL 1F90
	CHEM 1P91 and 1P92
	MATH 1P97 and 1P98
	one Humanities context credit or one Social Sciences context credit

Year 2

	ERSC 2P03, 2P05, 2P16, 2P17, 2P21 and 2P61
	ERSC 2P07 or 2P15
	PHYS 1P21 1P91 (recommended; see program note 1)
	one of PHYS 1P22, 1P23, 1P92, 1P93 (recommended; see program note 1)
	one-half elective credit (see program note 6)

Year 3

	One-half ERSC credit numbered 2(alpha)90 or above (see program note 10)
	three credits from ERSC 3P01, 3P11, 3P12, 3P24, 3P25, 3P31, 3P91, 3V93
	the Humanities context credit or Social Sciences context credit (not taken in year 1)
	one-half elective credit

Year 4

	ERSC 3P99 or 3Q99 (see program notes 4 and 8)
	ERSC 4P61
	three ERSC credits numbered 3(alpha)90 or above (see program notes 7 and 10)
	one elective credit (see program note 11)

Pass Program

Satisfactory completion of the first three years of the Honours program entitles a student to apply for a Pass degree.

Combined Major Program

The Department of Earth Sciences, in co-operation with other departments, offers combined major programs in Earth Sciences with Biological Sciences, Chemistry, and Geography. For combinations other than those listed students should contact the Chairs/Directors of the respective departments/centres. It should be noted that not all departments/centres provide a combined major option. Prospective students should have their programs approved by the two departments/centres concerned and are advised to follow one of the following patterns:

Earth Sciences and Biological Sciences

Honours

Year 1

	ERSC 1P01 and 1P02
	BIOL 1F90
	CHEM 1P91 and 1P92
	MATH 1P97 and 1P98
	one Humanities context credit or one Social Sciences context credit

Year 2

	ERSC 2P03 and 2P16
	one ERSC credit numbered 2(alpha)00 to 2(alpha)99
	two credits from BIOL 2P02 and 2P03, 2P05, 2P92, 2P94, 2P96, 2P98, 2Q04
	the Humanities context credit or Social Sciences context credit (not taken in year 1)

Year 3

	Two ERSC credits numbered 2(alpha)00 to 3(alpha)99
	one ERSC or BIOL credit (see program note 3)
	two BIOL credits numbered 2(alpha)90 to 3(alpha)99

Year 4

	One and one-half ERSC credits numbered 2(alpha)90 or above
	one of ERSC 4F91 and one ERSC credit numbered 3(alpha)90 or above, BIOL 4F90 and 4F91, BIOL 4F92 and one elective credit
	one and one-half BIOL credits numbered 2(alpha)90 or above

Pass Program

Satisfactory completion of the first three years of the Honours program entitles a student to apply for a Pass degree.

Earth Sciences and Chemistry

Honours

Year 1

	ERSC 1P01 and 1P02
	CHEM 1P91 and 1P92
	MATH 1P01 and 1P02, or MATH 1P05 and 1P06 (recommended)
	PHYS 1P21 or 1P91 (recommended)
	PHYS 1P22 or 1P92 (recommended)
	one Humanities context credit or one Social Sciences context credit

Year 2

	ERSC 2P21 and 2P22
	one ERSC credit numbered 2(alpha)00 to 2(alpha)99
	CHEM 2P12, 2P20, 2P32 and 2P42
	the Humanities context credit or Social Sciences context credit (not taken in year 1)

Year 3

	ERSC 3P31
	one ERSC or CHEM credit (see program note 4)
	one and one-half ERSC credits numbered 2(alpha)00 to 3(alpha)99
	CHEM 2P21 and 3P40
	one credit from CHEM 3P20, 3P21, 3P30, 3P31, 3P41, 3P51, 3P53, 3P60

Year 4

	One ERSC credit numbered 2(alpha)90 or above
	one CHEM credit numbered 2(alpha)90 or above
	ERSC 4F91 and one ERSC credit numbered 3(alpha)90 or above, or CHEM 4F90 and 4F91
	one elective credit

Pass

Satisfactory completion of the first three years of the Honours program entitles a student to apply for a Pass degree.

Earth Sciences and Geography

Honours

Year 1

	ERSC 1P01 and 1P02
	GEOG 1F91
	BIOL 1F90
	GEOG 2P21
	MATH 1P97
	one Social Sciences context credit (GEOG 1F90 strongly recommended)

Year 2

	ERSC 2P05, 2P17 and 2P21
	one-half ERSC credit numbered 2(alpha)00 to 2(alpha)99
	GEOG 2P04, 2P07, 3P21 and 3P22
	one Humanities context credit

Year 3

	ERSC 2P16
	one of ERSC 3P35, 3Q99, GEOG 3P56
	one and one-half ERSC credits numbered 2(alpha)00 to 3(alpha)99
	one GEOG credit numbered 2(alpha)90 to 3(alpha)99 from Group B (see Geography Department)
	one-half GEOG credit numbered 2(alpha)90 to 3(alpha)99 from Group B, C or D (see Geography Department)
	one Science credit from APCO, BIOL, CHEM, MATH or PHYS (see program note 2)

Year 4

	Two ERSC credits numbered 3(alpha)90 or above
	GEOG 4F99
	one-half GEOG credit numbered 3(alpha)90 or above from Group B (see Geography Department)
	one-half GEOG credit numbered 3(alpha)90 or above from Group B, C or D (see Geography Department)
	one elective credit (see program notes 6 and 7)

Pass

Satisfactory completion of the first three years of the Honours program entitles a student to apply for a Pass degree.

Minor in Earth Sciences

Students in other disciplines may obtain a Minor in Earth Sciences by successfully completing the following courses with a minimum 60 percent overall average:

	ERSC 1P01 and 1P02 or ERSC 1P92 and 1P94
	two ERSC credits numbered 2(alpha)00 or above
	one ERSC credit numbered 2(alpha)90 or above

Master of Science (MSc) Program

The department offers an MSc Program in Earth Sciences. See the Graduate Calendar or consult the Chair of the department for details.

Course Descriptions

Note that not all courses are offered in every session. Refer to the applicable term timetable for details.

# Indicates a cross listed course

* Indicates primary offering of a cross listed course

Prerequisites and Restrictions

Students must check to ensure that prerequisites are met. Students may be deregistered, at the request of the instructor, from any course for which prerequisites and/or restrictions have not been met.

EARTH SCIENCES COURSES

ERSC 1F02

Earth: The Dynamic Planet

Introduction to major Earth science theories and basic geologic principles. Geography and land-based culture of aboriginal peoples in Northern Ontario. Role of both short- and long-term climate changes in the evolution of ecosystems.

Restriction: permission of the instructor.

ERSC 1P01

Planet Earth I

Earth as a member of the solar system, minerals, rocks and sediments, plate tectonics, volcanic activity, earthquakes, plate tectonics and the building of continents, economic geology, stratigraphy and geologic time, fossils and the history of life.

Lectures, lab or local field trip, 5 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): any two of biology, chemistry, earth sciences, mathematics or physics beyond grade 11 or equivalent.

Note: students may not register concurrently in ERSC 1P92.

Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ERSC 1F01, 1F90 and 1P92.

ERSC 1P02

Planet Earth II

Glacial geology, geomorphology, Earth surface processes; paleoclimates and future climate change; oceanography; geologic hazards and risk assessment; hydrologic cycle, soil-groundwater contamination, hazardous waste disposal and alternatives.

Lectures, lab or local field trip, 5 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 1P01 or permission of the instructor.

Note: students may not register concurrently in ERSC 1P92.

Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ERSC 1F01, 1F90 and 1P92.

ERSC 1P92

Extreme Earth

Extreme low frequency events and the geological record of their causes and effects, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, climatic change and impacts with extraterrestrial bodies.

Note: offered online. Students may not register concurrently in ERSC 1P01 or 1P02. Secondary school sciences are not a prerequisite.

Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ERSC 1F01, 1F90, 1P01 and 1P02.

ERSC 1P94

Planetary Science

Solar system objects, including the Sun, planets and dwarf planets, named natural satellites (moons) and small solar system bodies; their formation, composition, processes and major characteristics.

Note: offered online.

ERSC 2P03

The History of the Earth

Principles of paleontology, classical stratigraphy, sequence stratigraphy. The origin and evolution of life and the history of the Earth.

Lectures, lab, 5 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 1P01 and 1P02 (1F01) or (1F90).

#ERSC 2P04

Introduction to Meteorology

(also offered as GEOG 2P04)

Major concepts, principles, and interactions related to the atmospheric earth-systems, weather analysis and forecasting, natural and anthropogenic factors related to climate change and variability, weather hazards and extreme events, and biophysical feedback effects.

Lectures, lab, 4 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): one of ERSC 1P01 and 1P02 (1F01), GEOG 1F91 or permission of instructor.

*ERSC 2P05

Earth Surface Processes

(also offered as GEOG 2P05)

Earth surface processes and geomorphology within global environments. A dynamic and physically based account of processes and the Earth's surface, linking the fields of sedimentology, physical geography and fluid mechanics.

Lectures, lab, field work, 5 hours per week.

Restriction: open to ERSC (single or combined), GEOG (single or combined) and GEOG (Honours)/BEd (Intermediate/Senior) majors until date specified in Registration guide.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 1P01 and 1P02 (1F01) or GEOG 1F91.

#ERSC 2P07

Introduction to Geospatial Technologies

(also offered as GEOG 2P07, IASC 2P07 and TOUR 2P07)

Concepts and applications of geographic information systems (GIS), global positioning systems (GPS) and remote sensing. Properties of digital maps, airborne data and satellite imagery. Principles of map compilation and design. Practical experience in computer mapping, image interpretation and GIS analysis.

Lectures, lab, 4 hours per week.

Restriction: open to ERSC (single or combined), GEOG (single or combined), (Honours)/BEd (Intermediate/Senior) and IASC (single or combined) majors until date specified in Registration guide.

ERSC 2P15

Introduction to Oceanography

Overview of the oceans, their origin, composition, circulation, geology and biota, from the coastal zone to the abyss. Importance of oceanography to humans, history of oceanography, overview of marine hazards and resources, ocean-atmosphere interactions and the global climate.

Lectures, lab, 5 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): one of ERSC 1P02 (1F01), (1F90), BIOL 1F90, GEOG 1F91.

Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in GEOG 2P15.

ERSC 2P16

Clastic Sedimentology

Basic clastic sedimentology (grain size, shape, porosity/permeability, fabric) including fundamentals of unidirectional and oscillatory water flows, sediment transport under such flows and resulting sedimentary structures. Clastic rock classification.

Lectures, lab, 5 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): one of ERSC 1P01, 1P02 (1F01), GEOG 1F91.

Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in GEOG 2P16.

ERSC 2P17

Earth Science Methods

Introduction to the study and description, in the field and the lab of igneous and metamorphic rocks; structural analysis of geological maps.

Lectures, lab, field trips, 5 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): one of ERSC 1P01, 1P02 (1F01), GEOG 1F91.

Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in GEOG 2P17.

ERSC 2P21

Introduction to Mineralogy and Mineral Associations

Introduction to mineral identification, composition, and structure; crystal systems, symmetry operations; crystal growth and defects.

Lectures, lab, 6 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 1P01 (1F01).

Note: 4U/M Chemistry recommended.

ERSC 2P22

Optical Mineralogy

Properties of light and its interaction with mineral grains: reflection, refraction, polarization, interference phenomena, extinction, colour and pleochroism. Refractometry; isotropic, uniaxial and biaxial optics; interpretation of interference figures. Transmitted light petrography in the identification of and familiarization with major rock-forming minerals in grain mounts and in thin section.

Lectures, lab, 6 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 2P21.

ERSC 2P61

Environmental Geoscience

Natural geological processes and anthropogenic impacts, flooding, landslides, earthquakes, volcanic activity, global warming and climate change. Hydrogeology and human activity, surface and groundwater supply and use, solid waste and hazardous waste disposal. Mineral and energy resources, pollution and alternatives. Professional environmental geosciences practices.

Lectures, lab, 5 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 1P01 and 1P02 (1F01).

ERSC 3P01

Structural Geology

Measurement and effects of stress and strain. Genesis of brittle and ductile structures and their classification. Methods of structural analysis.

Lectures, lab, 5 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 2P17.

*ERSC 3P03

Paleontology and Paleobiology

(also offered as BIOL 3P03)

Biodiversity and ecosystems through geologic time, micro and macro evolution in paleobiology and evolutionary biology, large scale environmental change and the fossil record, functional morphology, and phylogenetic and cladistic analysis of the fossil record.

Lectures, lab, 5 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): one of ERSC 2P03, BIOL 2P05, 2Q04.

#ERSC 3P05

Geographic Information Systems

(also offered as GEOG 3P05 and IASC 3P05)

Principles and use of computer-based systems for capturing, managing, manipulating, analysing and displaying data relating to the Earth's surface emphasizing raster applications. Practical work using ArcGIS.

Lectures, lab, 4 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 2P07 or permission of the instructor.

#ERSC 3P07

Remote Sensing

(also offered as GEOG 3P07)

Theory and practice of remote sensing. Multispectral, hyperspectral, thermal, radar and laser imaging of the Earth's surface from airborne and spaceborne platforms. Image interpretation and image-analysis techniques.

Lectures, lab, 4 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 2P07 or permission of the instructor.

ERSC 3P11

Chemical and Carbonate Sedimentology

Genesis of Evaporites; petrography and cathodoluminescence of carbonate grains; skeletal structures and chemistry; recent carbonate environments; evolution of carbonate mounds; chemical theory of carbonate grains; textural, structural and chemical limestone diagenesis; dolomitization, silicification and pyritization of carbonate grains.

Lectures, tutorial, 3 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 2P17 and 2P21 or permission of the instructor.

Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ERSC 3P10.

ERSC 3P12

Stratigraphy

Fundamentals of lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, chronostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy, geochronology and introduction to the International Stratigraphic Guide; geological time scale, Milankovitch and sub-Milankovitch cyclicity, subsurface geology techniques and correlation, sequence stratigraphy, geological history of southern Ontario.

Lectures, lab, 5 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 2P03 or 2P16.

Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ERSC 3P10.

#ERSC 3P13

Applied Climatology

(also offered as GEOG 3P13)

Studies in selected topics from the field of energy and moisture exchanges, air pollution, climatic change, climatic impact assessment and bioclimatology. Human impact on the climate along with applied microclimatological investigations and climatic data analysis.

Lectures, lab, 4 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 2P04 or permission of the instructor.

ERSC 3P21

Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology

Igneous rocks: nomenclature and classification; magmatic processes. Application of one, two and three component phase diagrams to interpret the formation of igneous rocks. Metamorphic rocks: types, classification, mineral parageneses. Labs include the study of rocks in thin section, their mineralogy, textures, origin and classification.

Lectures, lab, 6 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 2P22 and CHEM 1P91 and 1P92 (1F92).

*ERSC 3P24

Glacial Geomorphology/Geology

(also offered as GEOG 3P24)

Introduction to glaciology; glacial processes, glacial deposits; their genesis and sedimentology. Relationship of glacial processes to landforms and surface topography. Glacial systems and facies associations. Applied aspects of glacial geology, such as drift exploration.

Lectures, lab, field work, 5 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 2P05.

*ERSC 3P25

Quaternary Geology

(also offered as GEOG 3P25)

Glaciations in the geological record, causes of glaciations, biotic responses to climatic changes, eustatic and isostatic sea level changes in response to glaciation, Quaternary stratigraphy and correlation of glacial and non-glacial events, application of Quaternary geology to economic and environmental problems, methods of paleoclimatic reconstruction.

Lectures, lab, 5 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 2P03, 2P16, 3P24 or permission of the instructor.

*ERSC 3P26

Glacial Soils and Sediments

(also offered as GEOG 3P26)

Applied aspects of glacial deposits. Geotechnical and pedochemical properties and structural attributes of glacial soils and sediments. Micromorphology, glacial soil discontinuity analyses. Introductory aspects of soil mechanics. Drift exploration. Landfill problems and issues related to glacial soils and sediments.

Lectures, lab, 5 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 3P24.

ERSC 3P31

Geochemistry

Formation of the elements; nucleo-synthesis and cosmic abundances; classification of elements; crystal chemistry, bond energy, crystal defects and elemental partitioning/distribution; kinetic chemistry, elemental diffusion, nucleation and transformation; aqueous geochemistry, water-mineral interactions; Gibbs free energy and the formation/weathering of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks; introduction to isotope geochemistry.

Lectures, tutorial, 4 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 1P91 and 1P92 (1F92).

*ERSC 3P33

Biodiversity

(also offered as GEOG 3P33)

Dispersal and migration, adaptation; speciation, extinction; ecological interaction, species invasion, plant and animal introductions, habitat fragmentation and application of biogeographical theory to conservation biology, and human impacts on fire regimes.

Lectures, lab, 5 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): BIOL 1F90 or permission of the instructor.

*ERSC 3P35

Biomonitoring and Environmental Stress Assessment

(also offered as GEOG 3P35)

Use of biodiversity indicators, field methods and passive and active sensors to assess environmental quality. Collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data to investigate urban air and water pollution and forest health.

Lab, 3 hours per week.

Restriction: students must have a minimum of 10.0 overall credits.

Prerequisite(s): one of ERSC 1P01 and 1P02 (1F01), (2P09), BIOL 1F90, GEOG 3P09 (2P09).

Note: three weekend field trips in September. Students are expected to pay their expenses.

#ERSC 3P83

Geography of Water Resources

(also offered as GEOG 3P83)

Physical and human factors affecting patterns of use and development of water resources. Emphasis on patterns of supply and demand, approaches to development and management of the resource, problems and alternative strategies.

Lectures, lab, 4 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): one of ERSC 1P01 and 1P02 (1F01), GEOG 1F90, 1F91 or permission of the instructor.

*ERSC 3P85

Ecology of a Changing Planet

(also offered as BIOL 3P85 and GEOG 3P85)

Impact of environmental change and human activity on ecosystems. Topics include climate change and global warming, habitat fragmentation, extinction, invasive species, conservation biology and the management of ecological integrity.

Lectures, lab, 5 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): one of (ERSC 2P09), BIOL 2P05, 2Q04, GEOG 3P09 (2P09).

ERSC 3P90

Volcanology

Survey of volcanoes, their distribution, forms, composition, eruptive products and styles, and potential hazards.

Lectures, lab, 6 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 2P05 and 2P21; one of CHEM 1P91 and 1P92 (1F92), MATH 1P97, 1P98, one-half PHYS credit numbered 1P21 to 1P93.

Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in GEOG 3P90.

ERSC 3P91

Groundwater Hydrology

Role of groundwater in the hydrologic cycle, fundamental theory of groundwater flow, its storage and movement, steady and transient flow, and flow net. Equations governing groundwater depth and flow including Darcy's law and Bernoulli's equation. Geologic factors controlling the movement of groundwater. Groundwater extraction and its impact on regional hydrology.

Lectures, lab, 5 hours per week.

Restriction: open to ERSC (single or combined) majors.

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 1P91 and 1P92 (1F92) and MATH 1P97; PHYS 1P23, 1P93 or permission of the instructor.

#ERSC 3P95

Advanced Geographic Information Systems

(also offered as GEOG 3P95)

Advanced study of geographic information systems emphasizing the use of several leading edge software for solving complex geospatial questions. Evaluating the extent of human-induced landscape changes. Builds on key concepts from GEOG 3P05 including data acquisition techniques (e.g. GPS, unmanned aviation), data management, georeferencing, geoprocessing, spatial modelling and statistics, and cartography.

Lectures, lab, 5 hours per week.

Restriction: open to ERSC (single or combined), GEOG (single or combined) and GEOG (Honours)/BEd (Intermediate/Senior) majors until date specified in Registration guide. After that date open to ERSC (single, combined or general studies), GEOG (single, combined or general studies), GEOG (Honours)/BEd (intermediate/Senior) majors, GHUM, SOSC students, ERSC and GEOG minors until date specified in Registration guide.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 3P05.

ERSC 3P96

Special Topics in Earth Sciences I

Selected issues and various methods of inquiry related to faculty expertise.

Restriction: open to ERSC (single or combined) majors with a minimum 70 percent major average, a minimum of 10.0 overall credits and permission of the instructor.

ERSC 3P97

Special Topics in Earth Sciences II

Selected issues and various methods of inquiry related to faculty expertise.

Restriction: open to ERSC (single or combined) majors with a minimum 70 percent major average, a minimum of 10.0 overall credits and permission of the instructor.

ERSC 3P98

Ore Geology

Mode of occurrence, distribution, genesis, evaluation of and exploration for metallic and industrial mineral deposits. Includes ore petrology and geochemistry as well as theory of ore deposition in hydrothermal systems.

Lectures, lab, seminar, 6 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 3P21.

Note: ERSC 3P31 is recommended.

ERSC 3P99

Field Camp-Solid Earth

Two-week immersion course offered after final examinations in year 3 introducing students to collecting, recording and synthesizing field data, airphoto mapping, preparing geologic maps and reports. Field area, situated in northern Ontario, consists of Archaean, Proterozoic and Paleozoic lithologies.

Restriction: open to students with a minimum of 13.0 overall credits and permission of the Department.

Note: students are expected to pay their own expenses.

*ERSC 3Q99

Field School-Quaternary Geology

(also offered as GEOG 3Q99)

Field and laboratory methods for analysis of Quaternary landscapes based on field sites including fluvial, hillslope, coastal, glacial, and biosphere examples.

Restriction: permission of the Department.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 2P17.

Note: students are expected to pay their own expenses.

ERSC 3V90-3V95

Selected Topics in Earth Sciences

Selected issues in Earth sciences.

ERSC 3V93

2016-2017: Exploration Geophysics

Introduction to the underlying physical principles and practical aspects of field acquisition, processing and data interpretation for the most common geophysical techniques used in mineral exploration: potential fields, radiometrics, resistivity and electromagnetic methods. The geological interpretation, data integration and applications to specific deposit types.

Lectures, lab, 5 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 2P17 and 2P21.

ERSC 4F91

Thesis

Research on geological problems involving field or laboratory study under faculty supervision.

Restriction: open to ERSC (Honours) (single or combined) majors with a minimum of 13.5 overall credits and a minimum 75 percent major average.

Note: submission and oral examination of thesis are required.

ERSC 4P01

Advanced Structural Geology

Exploration of topics relevant to structural geology through the study of the scientific literature. Topics may vary.

Lectures, seminar, lab, 5 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 3P01.

#ERSC 4P07

Advanced Remote Sensing

(also offered as GEOG 4P07)

Theory and practice of in situ, airborne and spaceborne remote sensing. Emphasis on techniques used to study natural and human-made environments. Topics include data acquisition and preprocessing, image analysis, accuracy assessment and the production of information products. Image processing and analyses using commercially available image-analysis software.

Lab, 3 hours per week.

Restriction: open to ERSC (single or combined),GEOG (single or combined) and GEOG (Honours)/BEd (Intermediate/Senior) majors until date specified in Registration guide. Students must have approval to year 4 (honours).

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 3P07 or permission of the instructor.

ERSC 4P10

Advanced Clastic Sedimentology

Team study of the subsurface geology of a selected area of a Lake Erie gas field. Drill cores and geophysical logs are used to correlate lithostratigraphic units and to construct structure contour maps and isopach maps of gas-bearing strata. Introduction to sedimentary facies models.

Lab, seminar, 4 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 2P16.

ERSC 4P11

Sedimentary Facies Models

Depositional environments of clastic sediment in marine and non-marine settings and geological criteriafor recognizing their deposits.

Lectures/seminar, 3 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 2P16 and 3P12.

ERSC 4P13

Advanced Geochemistry

Lithogeochemistry and spectroscopy, analytical methods in geochemistry, analysis and interpretation of stable and radioactive isotopes, aqueous geochemistry including equilibrium in real fluids, carbonate and silica equilibria, redox, metal solubility, geothermal, and fluid inclusions.

Lectures, lab, local field trips, 4 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 3P31.

ERSC 4P16

Precambrian Geology

Archaean and Proterozoic evolution of the Earth examining: geology, tectonics, stratigraphy and history of the Precambrian; evolution of the Earth's crust; Precambrian time scale; evolution of life, oceans and atmosphere.

Lectures, seminar, 4 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 3P21.

ERSC 4P21

Advanced Igneous Petrology

Igneous petrogenesis, emphasizing the physical chemistry of igneous processes, igneous rock complexes and studies of a number of petrologically important areas.

Lectures, lab, 6 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 3P21.

Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ERSC 3P94.

ERSC 4P22

Advanced Metamorphic Petrology

Synthesis of metamorphic textures, compositional variations and field characteristics with emphasis on the temperature-pressure relations of the metamorphic rocks and the role of fluids in metamorphism.

Lectures, lab, 6 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 3P21.

ERSC 4P25

Mineral Identification and Petrography of Ore Minerals

Transmitted-light microscope, optical properties of sulphide and oxide minerals as well as metals, ore mineral textures and examination of ore minerals in several geological settings.

Lab, 3 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 2P21 and 3P98.

Note: ERSC 3P98 may be taken concurrently with ERSC 4P25.

#ERSC 4P26

Stream Form and Function

(also offered as BIOL 4P26 and GEOG 4P26)

Exploration of the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of stream systems.

Seminar, lab, field work, 3 hours per week.

Restriction: open to ERSC (single or combined), BIOL (single or combined), BIOL (Honours)/BEd (Intermediate/Senior), GEOG (single or combined) and GEOG (Honours)/BEd (Intermediate/Senior) majors until date specified in Registration guide. Students must have approval to year 4 (honours).

Prerequisite(s): one of (ERSC 2P09), BIOL 2P05, 2Q04, GEOG 3P09 (2P09) or permission of the instructor.

*ERSC 4P28

Advanced Glacial Sedimentology

(also offered as GEOG 4P28)

Sedimentology of present day glacial environments and of Quaternary sediments. Thermo-mechanical principles of glacier physics as applied to past and present glacier ice conditions. Glacial lithofacies associations. Glacio-tectonics and diagenesis. Principles of glacial erosion, entrainment and deposition.

Lectures, lab, local field trip, 3 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 3P24 or 3P26.

ERSC 4P31

Watershed Study and Assessment

Hydrologic/watershed cycle; fundamentals and principles of watersheds-interaction of hydrosphere-lithosphere-biosphere; physical characteristics, effects and controls of stream sediments/contaminants/pollutants; aqueous geochemistry; introduction to watershed toxicology. Investigation of concerns with several watersheds. Major study and report of a local subwatershed.

Lectures, lab, local field work, 4 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): one of ERSC 3P31, BIOL 3P71, 3P72, CHEM 2P42.

Note: students must supply their own safety equipment (safety glasses and lab coats).

ERSC 4P47

Late Cenozoic Dinoflagellate Cysts

Biology and ecology of modern cyst-producing dinoflagellates, and the record of dinoflagellate cysts through the late Cenozoic including their morphology, taxonomy, paleoecology, biostratigraphy, molecular phylogeny and evolution. Topics include marine paleoenvironmental reconstruction, paleoceanography, paleoclimatology and oil industry applications.

Lectures, lab, seminar, 3 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 3P03 or permission of the instructor.

ERSC 4P50

Petroleum Geology

Hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation, including physical and chemical properties of petroleum, methods of exploration, the subsurface environment, generation and migration of petroleum, reservoirs, traps and seals, sedimentary basins and petroleum systems with emphasis on Canada, nonconventional petroleum resources, and the economics and geopolitics of petroleum.

Lectures, lab, seminar, 4 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 3P12 (3P10).

ERSC 4P53

Mining Geology

Mining operations, types of mining methods, geological mapping in open pit mines and underground mines (flat and inclined development), plotting of mapping and projection onto cross-sections, exploration drilling and logging (core and chip logging), and geological interpretation.

Lab, 3 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 3P98 and 3P99.

Note: ERSC 3P98 may be taken concurrently.

ERSC 4P61

Surface Hydrology

Distribution and variation of run-off, recurrence of floods and droughts; fluvial processes and sediment transport; limnology and paleolimnology; hydrologic and water management techniques; surface and groundwater interaction.

Lectures, lab, local field trip, 5 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 3P25 or 3P91.

#ERSC 4P80

Dendrochronology

(also offered as BIOL 4P80 and GEOG 4P80)

Fundamental principles of tree-ring analysis and applications to address contemporary issues in the fields of climate and environmental change, geomorphology, archaeology, and ecology.

Lectures, local field trip, 3 hours per week.

Restriction: open to ERSC (single or combined), BIOL (single or combined), BIOL (Honours)/BEd (Intermediate/Senior), GEOG (single or combined) and GEOG (Honours)/BEd (Intermediate/Senior) majors until date specified in Registration guide. Students must have approval to year 4 (honours).

Prerequisite(s): one of (ERSC 2P09), BIOL 2Q04, GEOG 3P09 (2P09) or permission of the instructor.

Note: BIOL majors must take BIOL 2Q04; BIOL 2P93 or 2P94 is strongly recommended.

*ERSC 4P85

Ecosystems and Changing Disturbance Regimes

(also offered as BIOL 4P85 and GEOG 4P85)

Terrestrial ecosystem response to large-scale environmental change. Topics may include disturbance regimes, adaptation, alteration of biogeochemical cycles, invasive species and range shifts, carbon cycle feedbacks, predicting future climate and vegetation impacts, change detection, scaling-up and nonlinearity.

Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.

Prerequisite(s): ERSC 3P85 or permission of the instructor.

CO-OP COURSES

ERSC 0N01

Work Placement I

First Co-op work placement (4 months) with an approved employer.

Restriction: open to ERSC Co-op students.

ERSC 0N02

Work Placement II

Second Co-op work placement (4 months) with an approved employer.

Restriction: open to ERSC Co-op students.

ERSC 0N03

Work Placement III

Third Co-op work placement (4 months) with an approved employer.

Restriction: open to ERSC Co-op students.

ERSC 0N04

Work Placement IV

Optional Co-op work placement (4 months) with an approved employer.

Restriction: open to ERSC Co-op students.

ERSC 0N05

Work Placement V

Optional Co-op work placement (4 months) with an approved employer.

Restriction: open to ERSC Co-op students.

ERSC 2C01

Co-op Reflective Learning and IntegrationI

Provide student with the opportunity to apply what they've learned in their academic students through career-oriented work experiences at employer sites.

Restriction: open to EVGS and ERSC Co-op students.

Prerequisite(s): SCIE 0N90.

Corequisite(s): ERSC 0N01.

Note: students will be required to prepare learning objectives, participate in a site visit, write a work term report and receive a successful work term performance evaluation.

ERSC 2C02

Co-op Reflective Learning and Integration II

Provide student with the opportunity to apply what they've learned in their academic studies through career-oriented work experiences at employer sites.

Restriction: open to EVGS and ERSC Co-op students.

Prerequisite(s): SCIE 0N90.

Corequisite(s): ERSC 0N02.

Note: students will be required to prepare learning objectives, participate in a site visit, write a work term report and receive a successful work term performance evaluation.

ERSC 2C03

Co-op Reflective Learning and Integration III

Provide student with the opportunity to apply what they've learned in their academic studies through career-oriented work experiences at employer sites.

Restriction: open to EVGS and ERSC Co-op students.

Prerequisite(s): SCIE 0N90.

Corequisite(s): ERSC 0N03.

Note: students will be required to prepare learning objectives, participate in a site visit, write a work term report and receive a successful work term performance evaluation.

ERSC 2C04

Co-op Reflective Learning and Integration IV

Provide student with the opportunity to apply what they've learned in their academic studies through career-oriented work experiences at employer sites.

Restriction: open to EVGS and ERSC Co-op students.

Prerequisite(s): SCIE 0N90.

Corequisite(s): ERSC 0N04.

Note: students will be required to prepare learning objectives, participate in a site visit, write a work term report and receive a successful work term performance evaluation.

ERSC 2C05

Co-op Reflective Learning and Integration V

Provide student with the opportunity to apply what they've learned in their academic studies through career-oriented work experiences at employer sites.

Restriction: open to EVGS and ERSC Co-op students.

Prerequisite(s): SCIE 0N90.

Corequisite(s): ERSC 0N05.

Note: students will be required to prepare learning objectives, participate in a site visit, write a work term report and receive a successful work term performance evaluation.