Earth Sciences

Master of Science in Earth Sciences

Field(s) of Specialization

Geology

Earth Sciences

Dean

Peter Berg

Faculty of Mathematics and Science

Associate Dean

Melanie Pilkington

Faculty of Mathematics and Science

Core Faculty

Professors

Uwe Brand, Frank Fueten, Martin J. Head, Francine M. G. McCarthy, John Menzies (Earth Sciences and Geography), Mariek E. Schmidt

Assistant Professor

Kelly Biagi

Participating Graduate Faculty

Professor

Michael Pisaric (Geography and Tourism Studies)

Associate Professor

Kevin Turner (Geography and Tourism Studies)

Adjunct Professors

Nigel Blamey (Western University), Paul Budkewitsch (Natural Resources Canada), Bill Morris (Professor Emeritus, McMaster University), Andrew Panko (Brownfield Revolutions Inc.), Hernan Ugalde (Paterson, Grant & Watson Limited).

Graduate Program Director

Uwe Brand

ubrand@brocku.ca

Graduate Administrative Coordinator

Elena Genkin

Mackenzie Chown D473

905-688-5550, extension 3115

fmsgradoffice@brocku.ca

Administrative Assistant

Caroline Romero

Mackenzie Chown D431

905-688-5550, extension 3526

earth@brocku.ca

Program Description

Graduate students in Earth Sciences join a research-intensive environment and undertake work with internationally recognized faculty who contribute to a wide variety of geoscientific fields. The Department of Earth Sciences emphasizes personal and tailored graduate supervision. Research areas include search for water and life on Mars using NASA Rovers and geochemistry, documenting sedimentary and structural features on Mars and Earth; measuring atmospheric oxygen of the Proterozoic & Phanerozoic suing halite and dolomite; paleoclimatology of the Carribean - Deep Sea cores, Quaternary and Pliocene paleoceanography on a global scale; studying modern and fossil dinoflagellate cysts, geology and geomorphology, hydrological and hydrochemical impacts of landscape mitigating practices in wetlands; Lower Great Lakes nutrient loads, refining the International Geological Time Scale for the Quaternary.

Earth Sciences graduates are prepared for careers responding to the needs of world governments, industries and social structures facing global change.

Admission Requirements

Degree Requirements

Total credits required for the program: 2.5

Required courses:

	ERSC 5F90 (Thesis) - this course needs to be taken each term for the duration of the program.
	ERSC 5P95 (Graduate Seminar)
	Two (2) ERSC half-credit courses numbered 5(alpha)00 or higher. Upon student's supervisor's and GPD approval, one (1) of these courses may be numbered 4(alpha)00.
	Additional credits may be required of candidates with insufficient preparation in their area of research specialization.
	For full time students, the program is normally a two-year program(six terms).

Facilities

Course Descriptions

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

Students must 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.

ERSC 5F90

MSc Thesis

Research project involving the preparation and defence of a thesis which will demonstrate a capacity for independent work. The research shall be carried out under the supervision of a faculty member and the thesis defended at an oral examination.

ERSC 5P30

Structural Geology

Study of the relationship between strain and fabric elements in tectonites. Textures. Multiple strain histories and textures. Relationships between strain and geotectonics.

ERSC 5P32

Paleoclimatology

Phanerozoic climates, with special emphasis on the Quaternary. Techniques of climate reconstruction: fossil assemblages, stable isotope analysis, dendrochronology, sedimentary evidence. Causes of climatic change. Implications for predicting future climates.

ERSC 5P33

Stratigraphic Palynology

Geological record of palynomorphs from the Precambrian to present, with emphasis on the marine realm and evolution of the acritarchs and dinoflagellates.

ERSC 5P35

Quaternary Palynology

Concepts and techniques in palynological investigations of marine and terrestrial Quaternary deposits; the Pleistocene and Holocene climatic changes; applied atmospheric palynology, dispersal of palynomorphs.

ERSC 5P36

Microfossils and their Practical Applications

Marine and terrestrial microfossils and their application to paleoecology, environmental science, physical geography, geoarcheology, paleobiology and biostratigraphy. Field and laboratory techniques, methods of data analysis and interpretation, as well as case studies.

ERSC 5P37

Environmental and Watershed Geochemistry

Principles of availability, mobility and accumulation of metals in the lithosphere and hydrosphere. Cycling of metals in soils and soil chemistry. Chemical weathering and stability regimes of minerals in aqueous systems. Anthropogenic influence on inorganic contaminants in sediments, soils and water. Quality control and assurance of sampling procedures.

ERSC 5P41

Glaciology

Study of the physics of glaciers. Mass balance and glacier budget. Mechanics of glacier movement. Conditions of the ice/glacier bed interface. Dynamics of large ice masses. Glacier surges. Response of glaciers to changes in mass balance. Glaciers and climate. Glacier dynamics and glacial landforms.

ERSC 5P45

Advanced Paleoecology

Correlation between modern ecosystems and those in the fossil record; reconstruction of past environments and the time-sequence of such environments. Applied paleoecology; delineation of past sedimentary basins using biofacies and lithofacies; evolutionary development of ecosystems; paleoecosystem analysis and models.

ERSC 5P55

Volcanology

Detailed survey of volcano morphology, distribution of Quaternary volcanic belts, experimental volcanic petrology and volcanic geochemistry. The current ideas on the interrelations between volcanics and plate tectonics are summarized and the volcanic processes of the present are compared to those of the geological past, including ancient continental shield volcanic rocks.

ERSC 5P61

Quantitative Methods in Geology

Elements of data analysis and programming. Applications of statistical methods to geological data. Stochastic models in geology.

Prerequisite(s): an undergraduate course in statistics.

ERSC 5P75

Limnogeology

Formation of lake basins; physical and chemical characteristics of lake sediments and the water column; geological factors in the development of lakes; eutrophication; the fossil record in lake deposits; lakes as a resource (water consumption, recreation, conservation).

ERSC 5P85

Quaternary Geology

Modern concepts of glaciers and glaciation as landscape forming factors; techniques and methods for study and mapping of Quaternary deposits and physiographic features; the influence of glaciation as a factor in Canadian land use.

ERSC 5P95

Graduate Seminar

Students will present two seminars: one on their thesis research, and the other on a different topic. The latter must be supplemented by a corresponding essay/report. The seminar on their thesis topic may be substituted by a presentation at a non-departmental meeting (national, international conference, congress), if agreed to by the supervisory committee.

Note: attendance at all departmental seminars is required.

ERSC 5P96

Selected Topics in Quaternary Science

Investigation of a specific area or group of related topics in Quaternary science. This course will be designed for individual students and approved by the graduate studies advisory committee.

ERSC 5P97

Selected Topics in Crustal Studies

Investigation of a specific area or group of related topics in Crustal studies. This course will be designed for individual students and approved by the graduate studies advisory committee.

ERSC 5P98

Selected Topics in Contemporary Geology

Investigation of a specific area or group of related topics in contemporary geology. This course will be designed for individual students and approved by the graduate studies advisory committee.