MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY OF NEWFOUNDLAND Undergraduate Handbook Department of Earth Sciences Undergraduate Matters Committee Last updated: August 2018 Outline of degree programs and courses offered by the Department of Earth Sciences.
INTRODUCTION...3 Earth Sciences at Memorial University of Newfoundland...3 Where your program will take you...3 Careers in Earth Sciences...4 Professional Registration...5 GENERAL & HONOURS B.SC. DEGREES IN EARTH SCIENCES...6 Introduction...6 First Year: Preparation, and Declaring your Major...8 Second Year: Foundation...9 Third and Fourth Year: Streams... 10 Petrology, Tectonics, and Economic Geology Stream... 11 Sedimentary Basins Stream... 13 Environmental Geoscience Stream... 15 Applied Geophysics Stream... 17 Comprehensive Stream... 19 Field Schools... 21 Electives and Minors... 25 JOINT MAJORS & HONOURS PROGRAMS... 26 Introduction... 26 Biology and Earth Sciences... 26 Chemistry and Earth Sciences... 26 Earth Sciences and Geography... 27 Earth Sciences and Physics... 28 APPENDICES... 31 APPENDIX 1: CHECKLISTS... 32 APPENDIX 2: LIST OF CORE COURSES IN EARTH SCIENCES... 34 APPENDIX 3: OTHER EARTH SCIENCES COURSES ( SERVICE COURSES)... 36 APPENDIX 4: GEOSCIENCE KNOWLEDGE FOR PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION... 37 APPENDIX 5: SOME USEFUL FORMS AND INFORMATION... 39 2
INTRODUCTION Earth Sciences at Memorial University of Newfoundland Welcome to the Earth Sciences Department at Memorial University of Newfoundland! Our department is one of the largest in Canada and is well known nationally and internationally for the quality of its faculty, facilities, and programs. Our size allows us to offer a wide variety of courses and programs. With careful planning and effort, within four years you can complete an Earth Sciences program that prepares you for your next step, whether graduate studies or employment. Some of our Joint Honours programs may take longer. The Manager of Academic Programs for the Department of Earth Sciences (located in the Earth Sciences Department general office) is a good source for information and advice about your specific program. Where your program will take you Earth Sciences including Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Geoscience - is a broad, scientific discipline that is intellectually fascinating and directly relates to many human activities. Its importance to society comes from the fact that many natural resources vital for our economy and well-being (e.g. oil and gas, minerals, groundwater) are extracted from the Earth. Overall, our aim is to teach you about the make-up of the Earth, the fundamental processes that form it, and the tools we use to study it. Geoscientists seek to understand the processes that formed our planet, in part to identify the likely locations of resources. They investigate the composition of rocks and fluids to generate models that explain the origins of these materials and how they vary in time and space. Geoscientists gather and integrate data using approaches from many scientific disciplines including physics, mathematics, chemistry and biology. The complexity of these data sets and their analyses makes Earth Sciences an ideal subject in which to learn the scientific method and sharpen critical thinking skills. We offer a number of degree streams that can meet professional registration requirements, yet allow students to follow their individual interests. We promote skills in written and oral communication and data analysis, so that our graduates have the foundation to become critical scientists who can make a real contribution to society. 3
Careers in Earth Sciences There are diverse employment opportunities in the Earth Sciences. Here, they are divided into two areas; summer employment while at university, and careers in government, industry or university. professional registration (see below). The availability of positions and required qualifications are changeable, depending partly on the economy; consultation with the Manager of Academic Programs is advised. Our students often are successful in obtaining well-paid summer positions that provide valuable degree-related experience and contacts for future jobs. These range from field positions with government geological surveys or exploration companies, to processing jobs for oil companies, to student assistant positions with department faculty. For students with a high academic standing, national funding agencies and the Faculty of Science offer summer fellowships with research groups at Memorial University. The Manager of Academic Programs maintains an email list of all interested students and keeps them informed of recruitment visits and other job opportunities. An education in Earth Sciences can prepare you for a career in mineral or oil and gas exploration and development, hydrogeology, environmental geology, secondary school teaching, geological surveys or university teaching and research. Less traditional careers include law, business, banking and economics even the space program! Requirements are varied; some positions require an undergraduate B.Sc. degree while others require a graduate degree plus work experience. Some employers expect applicants to qualify for A Graduate degree is essential for an academic career and increasingly valuable in industry and government. The Department of Earth Sciences at Memorial University has a strong graduate program, supported by a large faculty with varied research interests and modern infrastructure. Our graduates are also wellprepared to pursue graduate degrees at other institutions in Canada and throughout the world. 4
Professional Registration Because a significant number of jobs in the geoscience sector in industry and government require it, most of our Majors wish to be eligible for registration as a Professional Geoscientist (P. Geo.) with Geoscientists Canada or the provincial equivalent Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and Labrador (PEGNL). Depending on the nature of courses taken, a student may be prepared for professional employment as a geologist, geophysicist or environmental geoscientist. Eligibility for professional registration involves requirements in terms of both the number and the content of university courses. It is the responsibility of all interested students to plan their programs carefully to ensure they meet all these requirements, as set out in Appendix 4, or the Geoscientists Canada brochure. A General B.Sc. degree with a Major in Earth Sciences is insufficient for professional registration because this degree program does not contain enough core courses in Earth Sciences. Students can reach the required number of courses by doing an Honours B.Sc. degree or by adding sufficient core Earth Sciences courses to a General B.Sc. degree. communicate a research project. An Honours degree is usually required for entrance into a graduate program. A student who does not obtain the academic standing for an Honours degree, or who does not wish to do a dissertation, can complete a program which contains the same number of core Earth Sciences courses as required in the Honours program. This path to professional registration is more flexible than an Honours program in that certain courses from other science departments may be counted. Taking the required number of core courses is necessary but does not guarantee eligibility for professional registration because Geoscientists Canada also requires a certain breadth in the courses taken. In addition to the university education component of professional registration, there is an employment component: part of this may be gained from summer work with suitable university, government or industry employers during your program of study. Compared with a General B.Sc., an Honours B.Sc. degree requires 5 more core courses in Earth Sciences, including two dissertation courses, 499A and 499B, and a certain academic standing in terms of GPA and grades in Earth Sciences courses. Most of our qualified students choose to follow the Honours program since a dissertation is regarded favourably by employers as indicating a student s ability to carry out and 5
GENERAL & HONOURS B.SC. DEGREES IN EARTH SCIENCES Introduction Available programs of study in Earth Sciences described in this handbook are: General degree with Major in Earth Sciences B.Sc. (Honours) in Earth Sciences Joint Majors and Honours Minor in Earth Sciences It is hoped that information provided here is useful and accurate; however for full details and definitive regulations you should consult the current University Calendar and/or the Manager of Academic Programs in the Department of Earth Sciences. As an Earth Sciences Major, you have the opportunity to customize your program to your interests, preferences, and goals. Here are some points to consider: If you want to continue your studies at the graduate level, an Honours degree is required by most institutions. See the Honours Handbook for more information. In order to qualify for professional registration, most of our Majors elect to follow an Honours program or to choose more EASC courses instead of electives for a General B.Sc., depending on their academic standing. You can specialize during your third and fourth years by selecting courses from one of our career-oriented "streams". Alternatively, if you want to stay flexible, the Comprehensive stream can be a good choice. Table 1. The Common Block of required courses for all Earth Sciences Majors 3 CH Courses English 2 6 ENGL 1090 + 1 more CRW course CH Mathematics & Statistics 3 9 MATH 1000 + MATH 1001+ MATH 2000 or STAT 2550 Chemistry 2 6 CHEM 1050 + CHEM 1051 Physics 2 6 PHYS 1020/1050 + PHYS 1021/1051 Biology/Physics 1-2 3-6 BIOL 2120 or (BIOL 1001+1002) OR (PHYS 2055 + 2820) Earth Sciences 9* 27 Total 19-20 57-60 EASC 1000 + 1002 + 2030 + 2031 + 2401 + 2502 + 2702 + ( 2905 + 3905)* + 3420 * Field courses EASC 2905 + EASC 3905 make up 3 CH in total and so are counted as one course in Tables 1 and 2.; () = both required. Both Major and Honours students are required to take a Common Block of foundation courses which account for 57-60 CH of a standard 120 CH four-year degree (Table 1). Beyond the Common Block, the number and level of additional courses that are required depend on the type of degree sought, as outlined in Table 2. 6
Table 2. Minimum Required 3CH courses for B.Sc. degrees in Earth Sciences General BSc General BSc with Professional Registration Honours Degree Common Block 19-20 19-20 19-20 EASC 2000 level 5* EASC 3000 level 6 6 5 EASC 4000 level 4 Thesis (EASC 499A+499B) - - 2 Other science courses** 2-1 2-1 Total CH for required courses 25-26 32* 32*** Earth Sciences grades - - 65% (or 75% average) Overall GPA - - 2.75 * Certain specific courses in other science disciplines may be substituted for EASC courses. ** Must be 2000 level or higher from Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Statistics or Physics. Can be from Mathematics only if MATH 2000 is not taken in the Common Block. This is a registration requirement. *** If a student takes Biology 1001&1002 in the Common Block, then the Honours degree involves 33 courses. Note that the requirements in Table 2 are minimum requirements: a higher level course can always be substituted for a lower level course. Thus, the 5 extra courses required for professional registration in a General degree may be at the 2000, 3000 or 4000 level. Also, certain courses in Math, Physics, and Geography may be substituted for these 5 extra Earth Sciences courses. Some options are given in Appendix 4. Further useful information is provided in the appendices. Checklists of the courses required for a General or an Honours degree with a Major in Earth Sciences are provided in Appendix 1. The courses offered by the department are listed, with their prerequisites, in Appendix 2. All 1000- and 2000- level core courses and most 3000-level courses are offered every year. In addition to the core courses, the department offers a number of 2000-level service courses, designed for a broader audience (see Appendix 3).
First Year: Preparation, and Declaring your Major Ideally, in the first year of your program you prepare for your Major program by taking the required 1000-level courses in English, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics as well as Earth Sciences. A typical first-year schedule often looks like this: Example only. Your situation may require a different first year schedule. EASC 1000 Earth Systems ENGL 1090 Critical Reading & Writing: Telling Stories CHEM 1050 General Chemistry I EASC 1002 Concepts & Methods in Earth Sciences ENGL 1110 Critical Reading & Writing in Rhetoric CHEM 1051 General Chemistry II MATH 1000 Calculus I (or MATH 1090) MATH 1001 Calculus II (or MATH 1000) PHYS 1020 Introductory Physics I PHYS 1021 Introductory Physics II Depending on your specific situation, your schedule may be different in some ways: For Earth Sciences, you could take EASC 1000 in the Winter semester and EASC 1002 in the Intersession. For English, you could take a different version of Critical Reading and Writing II (see the University Calendar), depending on your interests. For Chemistry, you can take CHEM 1010 in the fall, CHEM 1050 in the winter, and CHEM 1051 in the spring. For Mathematics, if you are placed in MATH 1090 in the Fall semester, you can take MATH 1000 in the Winter semester and MATH 1001 either in the Spring semester or in the following Fall semester without delaying your Earth Sciences program. For Physics, if you are interested in geophysics or want to take any higher-level physics courses, you will need PHYS 1050 and 1051, or PHYS 1020 in the Fall, PHYS 1021 in the Winter, and PHYS 1051 in the Spring semester. (If you obtain 65% or better in PHYS 1020, you do not need to take PHYS 1021 before PHYS 1051.) Declaring Your Major Once you have passed the first semester courses in all five first-year subject areas, you can declare a major in Earth Sciences. To do this, use a form called Declaration/Change of Academic Program (see Appendix 5). Bring it to the Manager of Academic Programs in the Department of Earth Sciences for approval and then hand it in to the Office of the Registrar. 8
Second Year: Foundation The second year of the Major program exposes you to a wide variety of Earth Science disciplines. The experience can help you define your academic and professional goals. In fact, in your second year you will need to make some important choices as you lean toward either geology or geophysics. In particular, geophysics requires certain courses in mathematics and physics, while geology streams offer the option of replacing these with biology and statistics courses. For any of the geology streams (Petrology, Tectonics and Economic Geology; Sedimentary Basins; Environmental Geoscience; Comprehensive), a typical second year schedule may look like the first table below; for the geophysics stream, it may look like the second table. Geology Stream Schedule. Example only. Your situation may require a different second year schedule. EASC 2030 Mineralogy EASC 2502 Introduction to Geochemistry EASC 2702 Sedimentology & Stratigraphy EASC 2905 Introduction to Geological Mapping * BIOL 2120 Biology for students of Earth Sciences EASC 2031 Mineralogy & Petrography EASC 2401 Structural Geology EASC 3905 Field Methods in Structural Geology & Stratigraphy* STAT 2550 Statistics for Science Students Science Elective Elective *Field courses take place just before the regular Fall semester or after the regular Winter semester. Geophysics Stream Schedule. Example only. Your situation may require a different schedule. EASC 2030 Mineralogy EASC 2502 Introduction to Geochemistry EASC 2702 Sedimentology & Stratigraphy EASC 2905 Introduction to Geological Mapping * MATH 2000 Calculus III EASC 2031 Mineralogy & Petrography EASC 2401 Structural Geology EASC 3905 Field Methods in Structural Geology & Stratigraphy * PHYS 2055 Electricity & Magnetism PHYS 2820 Computational Mechanics Elective *Field courses take place just before the regular Fall semester or after the regular Winter semester.
Third and Fourth Year: Streams During your third and fourth years, a typical schedule includes Earth Sciences courses at the 3000- and 4000-level. With the exception of EASC 3420 Global Tectonic Processes (which is required of all Majors), individual courses are not specifically required for completion of the B.Sc. Instead, you are allowed to select any sequence of courses that fulfills the program credit hour requirements, meets all course prerequisite requirements and supports your own goals and interests. If you wish to register as a professional geoscientist, however, the Geoscientists Canada requirement for breadth of knowledge may influence your choices. To help you make your selection, there are a collection of streams, each one focused on a career-oriented theme within the larger discipline of Earth Sciences. The following sections provide brief descriptions and sample schedules for each of the Earth Sciences streams. 10
Petrology, Tectonics, and Economic Geology Stream The Petrology, Tectonics and Mineral Resources Stream focuses on the composition, origin, architecture and evolution of crystalline rocks and prepares you for employment in fields related to the mineral industry for example, in the mineral exploration and development industries, and in government settings such as geological surveys concerned with bedrock mapping and the distribution, management and regulation of mineral resources and will provide you with a solid background for further research in related fields. You will study field geology, structural geology and tectonics, mineralogy, igneous and metamorphic petrology, geochemistry, and exploration geophysics, and learn how these all come together in the classification, origin, and search for mineral deposits. In this stream you can expect to acquire the skills needed to understand the formation of crystalline (igneous and metamorphic) rocks and their application to the analysis of mineral deposits and their geologic settings. You will also gain an understanding of the environmental aspects of mineral resources exploitation. 11
Petrology, Tectonics and Economic Geology Stream (B.Sc. Honours) KEY: This is a sample schedule only. Course availability in Year 3 and Year 4 may vary. Common block required course for Earth Sciences Major (bold text) Defined course for Petrology stream (italic text) Recommended: Not specifically required; other choices are possible if prerequisites are met (plain text) YEAR 1 EASC 1000 Earth Systems ENGL 1090 Critical Reading & Writing: Telling Stories MATH 1000 Calculus I PHYS 1020 Introductory Physics I or PHYS 1050 General Physics I CHEM 1050 General Chemistry I EASC 1002 Concepts & Methods in Earth Sciences ENGL 1110 Critical Reading & Writing in Rhetoric MATH 1001 Calculus II PHYS 1021 Introductory Physics II or PHYS 1051 General Physics II CHEM 1051 General Chemistry II YEAR 2 EASC 2030 Mineralogy EASC 2502 Introduction to Geochemistry EASC 2702 Sedimentology & Stratigraphy EASC 2905 Introduction to Geological Mapping * EASC 2031 Mineralogy & Petrography EASC 2401 Structural Geology EASC 3905 Field Methods in Structural Geology & Stratigraphy* STAT 2550 Statistics for Science Students BIOL 2120 Biology for Earth Science Majors Elective ** Elective ** EASC 3420 Global Tectonic Processes EASC 3054 Hi-Temperature Geochemistry & Igneous Petrology EASC 3210 Economic Mineral Deposits YEAR 3 Elective ** Elective ** Elective ** Elective ** EASC 499A Honours Thesis I YEAR 4 EASC 3055 Thermodynamics & Metamorphic Petrology EASC 3170 Seismic and Potential Fields Methods EASC 3030 Mineralogy and Materials Science EASC 499B Honours Thesis II EASC 4400 Advanced Techniques in Structural Geology EASC 4211 Economic Geology EASC 4905 Field Course in Geological Mapping * EASC 4054 Metamorphic Petrology or EASC 4420 Tectonics & Crustal Evolution Elective ** Elective ** Elective ** Elective ** * Field courses take place just before the regular Fall semester or after the regular Winter semester. ** At least two of these must be "science electives", i.e., non-earth Sciences, Faculty of Science courses at the 2000 level or higher. Alternative courses: This schedule includes a selection of courses recommended by the Earth Sciences faculty for students in the Petrology stream. However, it is just one of many possible examples. 12
Sedimentary Basins Stream The Sedimentary Basins Stream is designed to prepare you for careers in a variety of settings related to sedimentary basins, including the modern oceans. These include the petroleum industry, mineral exploration in sedimentary terrains, paleontology, marine geosciences, and environmental studies related to sediment transport. It is common for sedimentary geologists to work in closely-knit teams with geophysicists and engineers. This stream is designed to prepare you for such interdisciplinary employment by focusing on a variety of tools used in the study of sedimentary deposits and their interstitial fluids. You will acquire a strong grasp of stratigraphy and the tools for dating and correlating sedimentary sequences. You will also become familiar with a variety of remote geophysical methods such as seismic reflection and downhole logs. 13
Sedimentary Basins Stream (B.Sc. Honours) KEY: This is an example schedule only. Course availability in Year 3 and Year 4 may vary. Common block required course for Earth Sciences Major (bold text) Defining course for sedimentary basins stream (italic text) Elective: Many other choices are possible as long as prerequisites are met (plain text) EASC 1000 Earth Systems ENGL 1090 Critical Reading & Writing: Telling Stories MATH 1000 Calculus I PHYS 1020 Intro. Physics I or 1050 General Physics I CHEM 1050 General Chemistry I YEAR 1 EASC 1002 Concepts & Methods in Earth Sciences ENGL 1110 Critical Reading & Writing in Rhetoric MATH 1001 Calculus II PHYS 1021 Intro. Physics II or 1051 General Physics II CHEM 1051 General Chemistry II YEAR 2 EASC 2030 Mineralogy EASC 2031 Mineralogy & Petrography EASC 2502 Introduction to Geochemistry EASC 2401 Structural Geology EASC 2702 Sedimentology & Stratigraphy EASC 3905 Field Methods in Structural Geology & Strat.* EASC 2905 Introduction to Geological Mapping * STAT 2550 Statistics for Science Students BIOL 2120 Biology for Students of Earth Sci. Elective ** Elective ** *Field courses take place just before the regular Fall semester or after the regular Winter semester. YEAR 3 EASC 3420 Global Tectonic Processes EASC 3170 Seismic and Potential Fields Methods in Geophysics EASC 3054 High-Temperature Geochemistry & Igneous Petrology EASC 3811 Paleontology EASC 3702 Lithification, Diagenesis, & Sedimentary Rock Properties [SPRING] EASC 3705 Field Course in Sedimentology, Reservoir Architecture & Sequence Stratigraphy * Elective** Elective ** Elective** Elective ** EASC 499A Honours Thesis I EASC 4302 Advanced Marine Geology EASC 4800 Advanced Paleontology YEAR 4 Elective ** Elective ** Elective ** EASC 499B Honours Thesis II EASC 4702 Sedimentary Basins & Hydrocarbon Exploration EASC 4502 Advanced Geochemistry Elective** ** At least two of these must be "science electives", i.e., non-earth Sciences, Faculty of Science courses at the 2000 level or higher. (See the University Calendar for details and exclusions.) You are encouraged to use your other elective slots to add a Minor to your program, complement your Earth Science interests, or take additional Earth Sciences courses. Alternative courses: This schedule includes a selection of courses recommended by the Earth Sciences faculty for students in the Sedimentary Basins stream. Alternative suggestions include: EASC 3055 (Thermodynamics & Metamorphic Petrology), EASC 4400 (Advanced Structural Geology), EASC 4905 (Field Course in Geological Mapping & Regional Tectonics).
Environmental Geoscience Stream The Environmental Geoscience Stream prepares you for the new and expanding field of environmental concerns. It provides specific skills to solve many current environmental problems and since environmental priorities are subject to change it also provides background fundamentals allowing you to adapt to changing career demands. selection of recommended electives in your program, you will help prepare yourself as a member of such a team. You can select from a wide range of courses emphasizing environmental geochemistry, environmental biogeochemistry, hydrogeology, or other combinations. Solutions to many environmental problems require an interdisciplinary, team approach. By including a 15
KEY: Environmental Geoscience Stream (B.Sc. Honours) This is a sample schedule. Course availability in Year 3 and Year 4 may vary. Common block required course for Earth Sciences Major (bold text) Courses defining Environmental Geoscience Stream (italic text) Other highly recommended courses (plain text with ) Other recommended courses (plain text) EASC 1000 Earth Systems ENGL 1090 Critical Reading & Writing: Telling Stories MATH 1000 Calculus I PHYS 1020 Introductory Physics I or PHYS 1050 General Physics I CHEM 1050 General Chemistry I YEAR 1 EASC 1002 Concepts & Methods in Earth Sciences ENGL 1110 Critical Reading & Writing in Rhetoric MATH 1001 Calculus II PHYS 1021 Introductory Physics II or PHYS 1051 General Physics II CHEM 1051 General Chemistry II EASC 2030 Mineralogy EASC 2502 Introduction to Geochemistry EASC 2702 Sedimentology & Stratigraphy EASC 2905 Introduction to Geological Mapping * BIOL 2120 Biology for Students of Earth Sciences YEAR 2 EASC 2031 Mineralogy & Petrography EASC 2401 Structural Geology EASC 3905 Field Methods in Structural Geology & Stratigraphy* STAT 2550 Statistics for Science Students or MATH 2000 Calculus III Elective Elective *Field courses take place just before the regular Fall semester or after the regular Winter semester. EASC 3420 Global Tectonic Processes EASC 3172 Electric and Electromagnetic Methods in Geophysics EASC 3600 Environmental Geology Elective Elective YEAR 3 EASC 3610 Hydrogeology EASC 3700 Geomorphology EASC 3055 Thermodynamics and Metamorphic Petrology Elective (e.g., GEOG 2195 Introduction to Geographic Information Sciences) Elective YEAR 4 EASC 499A Honours Thesis I EASC 499B Honours Thesis II EASC 4605 Environmental Geoscience Field School * EASC 4620 Contaminant Hydrogeology EASC 4502 Advanced Geochemistry EASC 4903 Global Change Elective Elective Elective Elective * Field component takes place just before the regular Fall semester. Alternative courses: This schedule includes a selection of courses recommended by the Earth Sciences faculty for students in the Environmental Geoscience Stream. However, it is just one of many possible examples. 16
Applied Geophysics Stream The Applied Geophysics stream prepares you for employment in a wide variety of geoscience enterprises, including the search for natural resources (oil and gas, minerals, groundwater, and others) or subsurface environmental or geotechnical investigations. This stream also provides a solid foundation for graduate work for those interested in further training or an academic career. Geophysical techniques are essential tools in the exploration and imaging of rocks below the Earth's surface, both on land and at sea. In this stream you will focus on the various methods used, study their geologic context with an emphasis on structures and tectonics, and acquire an appropriate background in physics and mathematics. An interpreted seismic cross section of the ocean floor off Newfoundland. Note that 3000- and 4000-level geophysics courses have prerequisites from the Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography and the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. The sequence of courses in this stream is very closely coordinated and requires careful scheduling to avoid delays in completing your program. If you are planning a career in geophysics, you may wish to consider a joint Major or joint Honours in Earth sciences and Physics. Both of these programs can be designed to satisfy the requirements for professional registration. Students undertaking a magnetic survey on campus. 17
Applied Geophysics Stream (B.Sc. Honours) KEY: This is an example schedule. Your situation may require a different schedule. Course availability in Year 3 and Year 4 may vary. Required course for Earth Sciences Major (bold text) Defined course for Applied Geophysics Stream (italic text) Recommended: Not specifically required; other choices are possible if prerequisites are met (plain text) EASC 1000 Earth Systems ENGL 1090 Critical Reading & Writing: Telling Stories MATH 1000 Calculus I PHYS 1050 General Physics I CHEM 1050 General Chemistry I YEAR 1 EASC 1002 Concepts & Methods in Earth Sciences ENGL 1110 Critical Reading & Writing in Rhetoric MATH 1001 Calculus II PHYS 1051 General Physics II CHEM 1051 General Chemistry II EASC 2030 Mineralogy EASC 2502 Introduction to Geochemistry EASC 2702 Sedimentology & Stratigraphy EASC 2905 Introduction to Geological Mapping * MATH 2000 Calculus III YEAR 2 EASC 2031 Mineralogy & Petrography EASC 2401 Structural Geology PHYS 2055 Electricity & Magnetism EASC 3905 Field Methods in Structural Geology & Stratigraphy* PHYS 2820 Computational Mechanics Elective (e.g., MATH 2050 Linear Algebra I) *Field courses take place just before the regular Fall semester or after the regular Winter semester. YEAR 3 EASC 3420 Global Tectonic Processes EASC 3179 Mathematical Methods for Geophysics EASC 3172 Electric and Electromagnetic Methods in Geophysics EASC 3170 Seismic and Potential Fields Methods in Geophysics EASC 3XXX or 4XXX EASC 3XXX or 4XXX Elective (e.g., MATH 2260 Ordinary Differential Equations I) Elective ** Elective (e.g., MATH 3202 Vector Calculus) Elective ** EASC 499A Honours Thesis I YEAR 4 EASC 499B Honours Thesis II EASC 4105 Field Course in Applied Geophysics * EASC 4171 Advanced Seismology EASC 4179 Digital Signal Processing EASC 4173 Advanced Electrical, Electromagnetic and Potential Fields Methods Elective ** Elective ** Elective ** Elective ** *Field component takes place just before the regular Fall semester. ** At least one of these must be a "science elective", i.e., a non-earth Sciences, Faculty of Science course at the 2000 level or higher. (See the University Calendar for details and exclusions.) 18
Comprehensive Stream The Comprehensive stream is intended to provide a selection of courses representative of a broad spectrum of Earth Sciences, allowing you to obtain a B.Sc. in Earth Sciences without limiting your focus to a specific employment sector. This can be a good choice if, for example: - Your career strategy calls for versatile and well-rounded preparation. - You plan to provide Earth Sciences expertise in a non-science profession such as law, secondary education or real estate. - You have strict time or financial constraints on the completion of your program and cannot schedule the courses needed for a specific stream. Meeting prerequisites can be a challenge when combining courses from a variety of streams. Plan your comprehensive stream carefully and review your plan periodically with the Manager of Academic Programs or other advisors. 19
KEY: Comprehensive Stream (B.Sc. Honours) This is a sample course schedule. Your situation may require a different schedule. Course availability in Year 3 and Year 4 may vary. Required Common Block course for Earth Sciences Major (bold text) Recommended: Not specifically required; other choices are possible if prerequisites are met (plain text) EASC 1000 Earth Systems ENGL 1090 Critical Reading & Writing: Telling Stories MATH 1000 Calculus I PHYS 1020 Introductory Physics I or PHYS 1050 General Physics I CHEM 1050 General Chemistry I EASC 2030 Mineralogy EASC 2502 Introduction to Geochemistry EASC 2702 Sedimentology & Stratigraphy EASC 2905 Introduction Geological Mapping * YEAR 1 YEAR 2 BIOL 2120 Biology for Students of Earth Sciences Elective ** EASC 1002 Concepts & Methods in Earth Sciences ENGL 1110 Critical Reading & Writing in Rhetoric MATH 1001 Calculus II PHYS 1021 Introductory Physics II or PHYS 1051 General Physics II CHEM 1051 General Chemistry II EASC 2031 Mineralogy & Petrography EASC 2401 Structural Geology EASC 3905 Field Methods in Structural Geology & Stratigraphy* STAT 2550 Statistics for Sciences Students or MATH 2000 Calculus III Elective ** *Field courses take place just before the regular Fall semester or after the regular Winter semester. EASC 3420 Global Tectonic Processes EASC 3054 High-Temp. Geochemistry & Igneous Petrology YEAR 3 EASC 3600 Environmental Geology Elective ** Elective** Elective ** Elective ** Elective ** EASC 3170 Seismic and Potential Fields Methods in Geophysics EASC 3811 Paleontology [SPRING] EASC 3705 Field Course in Sedimentology EASC 499A Honours Thesis I EASC 4400 Advanced Techniques in Structural Geology or EASC 4502 Advanced Geochemistry EASC 4302 Advanced Marine Geology or EASC 4702 Sedimentary Basins & Hydrocarbon Exploration YEAR 4 Elective ** Elective ** Elective ** EASC 499B Honours Thesis II EASC 4903 Global Change EASC 4420 Tectonics & Crustal Evolution Any Earth Sciences course that can be used toward the Major can be incorporated into the Comprehensive Stream. This example shows the potential for diversity. Because the stream has so many possible course combinations, when selecting courses for your Comprehensive Stream, pay careful attention to prerequisite requirements. ** At least two electives must be "science electives", i.e., non-earth Sciences, Faculty of Science courses at the 2000 level or higher. (See the University Calendar for details and exclusions.) You are encouraged to use your other elective slots to add a Minor to your program, complement your Earth Science interests, or take additional Earth Sciences courses. 20
Field Schools The Department of Earth Sciences considers fieldwork an essential part of undergraduate training. We regularly offer six field-based courses that provide training in field methods of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Geoscience within Newfoundland. In addition, Special Topics field schools are occasionally offered to provide opportunities to travel outside the province to study geological settings in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere. Admission Schedules Our field courses normally operate on an intensive, accelerated schedule; the trips and all course work are completed in one to two weeks just before the Fall semester or after the Winter semester. However, some field schools require you to attend preparatory lectures or complete your maps, analysis or reports during regular term time. Read the course outlines carefully to be sure you understand the time commitments for each field school. Enrolment in our field schools is limited by considerations such as transportation, accommodation and safety. Because of enrolment limitations, most of our field schools require students to apply, with admission granted by the Department Head. Completion of course prerequisites is necessary, but does not guarantee admission. In some cases, admission may be competitive, based on grades, the status of your program, or other factors. Fees Many of the expenses related to these field schools are covered by the department, but if you participate, you may be required to pay a fee (based each year on actual costs) to help defray the departmental costs of transportation, accommodation, etc. If you participate in an overseas trip, you normally pay your own airfare, though often at a special rate negotiated for the group.. 21
Brief Descriptions of Field Schools EASC 2905, Introduction to Geological Mapping (required, 2 credit hours, Fall semester). As an Earth Sciences Major, you are required to take this course, normally at the beginning of your second year. Based on day trips within St. John's and to field areas in Conception Bay and at Cape St. Francis, it is held each year immediately before the start of the Fall semester. You will learn basic field methods of observation, mapping and interpretation. Prerequisite: EASC 1002. EASC 3705, Field Course in Sedimentology, Reservoir Architecture and Sequence Stratigraphy (optional, 3 credit hours, Spring semester). This course is a field school based in western Newfoundland you will stay in dormitory-style accommodation and share kitchen facilities with other participants. The combination of lectures and field excursions focuses on paleoenvironmental analysis of the region's sedimentary rock sequences. Prerequisites: EASC 2702, 3811, 3905 EASC 3905, Field Methods in Structural Geology and Stratigraphy (required, 1 credit hour, Winter semester). As an Earth Sciences Major, you are required to take this course, normally at the end of your second year. This field school is held each year following the end of examinations in the Winter semester, and is a prerequisite for EASC 4905, listed below. It is based on day trips from St. John's to nearby Flatrock, where you will traverse rock sequences affected by folding and faulting. Prerequisites: EASC 2401, 2905. 22
EASC 4105, Field Course in Applied Geophysics (optional, 3 credit hours, Fall semester). This course normally involves 4 days of concentrated fieldwork in rural Newfoundland, before the start of the Fall semester, where you will carry out various geophysical surveys over a potential mineral resource or environmental target. Local accommodation may be in a bed and breakfast or a hall with a communal kitchen. Data analysis will occur in the evenings. Further analysis and the preparation of a professional report will occur during three-hour lab periods in the first half of the Fall semester in St John s. Prerequisites: EASC 3170, 3172 and MATH 2000. EASC 4405, The Geology of Newfoundland (optional, 3 credit hours). The goal of this course is to expose students to this classic cross-section of an ancient collision. During the semester there are lectures and reading on the broad scale geology, and student presentations and papers on topics that involve rock units to be studied on the field trip. The field trip lasts 8 days, starting and ending in St John s. Prerequisites: 15 credit hours in Earth Sciences at 3000 and 4000 levels including EASC 3420. EASC 4605, Environmental Geoscience Field School (optional, 3 credit hours, Fall semester). There are normally 4 days of fieldwork in rural Newfoundland before the start of the Fall semester, where you will perform site investigation, collect water and sediment samples, and make in-situ measurements on water chemistry and quality. Local accommodation may be in a bed and breakfast or in a hall with a communal kitchen. Lectures and sample processing occur in the evenings. Further laboratory analysis of samples, data analysis, and the preparation of reports and a final presentation occur during lab periods in the Fall semester in St. John s. Prerequisites: EASC 2502, 3600, MATH 1001, and MATH 2000 or STAT 2550. 23
EASC 4918, Special Topics Field Courses (optional, 3 credit hours). Additional field schools are arranged based on faculty interest, available funding, travel logistics and other factors. These involve travel outside of Newfoundland or internationally. The scheduling, credit hours and other details are defined for each specific course offering. EASC 4905, Field Course in Geological Mapping and Regional Tectonics (optional, 3 credit hours, Fall semester). This residential field school is based in western and central Newfoundland where you will study a structurally complex igneous and metamorphic terrain. You will stay in dormitory-style accommodation with communal kitchen facilities, making day trips into the field areas. Prerequisites: EASC 2401, 2702, 3055, 3905.
Electives and Minors Electives offer you a chance to explore interests outside of your Major or to strengthen your background in a particular aspect of Earth Sciences. For example, Geophysics students are encouraged to take electives in Mathematics and Physics, Environmental Geoscience students may find courses in Biology or Chemistry of interest, and any Earth Sciences student may find certain Geography courses helpful to their program. A Minor in another discipline is noted on your degree upon graduation and indicates a concentration of courses in a particular area. An Honours degree in Earth Sciences usually specifies 96 of the 120 credit hours (CH) required for a degree, so it is possible to fit a 24 CH Minor into your program. There is one caveat related to taking a Minor. If you take BIOL 1001 and 1002 rather than BIOL 2120 as part of the Common Block, then an Honours program consists of 99 CH, and it is not possible to fit a Minor into your 120 CH degree unless it is in English, Mathematics, Statistics, Chemistry, Physics or Biology because courses in only these disciplines are included in the Common Block. For the same reasons, a Minor in one of these Common Block subjects will not exhaust your elective options. Note that if you are interested in a Minor in Biology, then you should take BIOL 1001 and 1002, because BIOL 2120 is not accepted as a prerequisite for further courses in Biology. It may be of interest to you to complete a Minor in another discipline, but it is not required. You are encouraged to take advantage of your time at university to expand your horizons. You may wish to take courses in Arts or Business Administration or...? Some employers prefer graduates with a broad background outside of Earth Sciences! 25
JOINT MAJORS & HONOURS PROGRAMS Introduction The Faculty of Science offers a number of joint programs between two disciplines, most of which require the standard 120 credit hours (CH) of study. A joint degree of 120 CH is possible partly because many of the introductory science courses are common across the Faculty of Science, however scheduling of core courses required by the separate disciplines can sometimes make completion within four years difficult. There are some differences between the requirements of a Joint Major and the combined requirements of Majors from each discipline. These differences occur because of the need to fit the program within 120 CH, and they vary from program to program. For example, core Earth Sciences course EASC 2031 is not required for joint programs in Earth Sciences and Physics, but it is required for a Joint Honours in Chemistry and Earth Sciences. Biology and Earth Sciences The Biology and Earth Sciences Joint Honours requires 135 CH of study; that is, a minimum of four and a half years to complete. See the University Calendar for details. Chemistry and Earth Sciences The Chemistry and Earth Sciences Joint Honours is a 120 CH program. See the University Calendar for details. 26
Earth Sciences and Geography Earth Sciences and Physical Geography are natural partners since both are concerned with natural processes on the Earth s surface. Some courses that are taught in Memorial University s Department of Geography may be taught in an Earth Sciences department in another institution. Like the Earth Sciences Honours degree, the Earth Sciences and Geography Joint Honours degree can have a variety of flavours, depending on the courses taken. The first table below lists the total required courses for the degree. After completion of the specified (mainly) 1000- and 2000- level core courses, course selection at the 3000- and 4000-level follow the interests of the student and are not specifically required. In this program, eligibility for professional registration is not guaranteed, so if this is a concern you should consult with PEGNL and CCPG. Required courses for Earth Sciences and Geography Joint Honours students Requirement Total CH GEOG CH EASC CH 1. ENGL 1090 & ENGL 1110 or equivalent, GEOG 1050, MATH 1000 and 1001, EASC 1000 and 1002, CHEM 1050 and 1051, PHYS 1020 and 1021 (or 1050 and 1051). 2. GEOG 2001 or 2302, GEOG 2102, 2195, 2226, 2425 and 3226 EASC 2401 or 2502, and EASC 2030, 2031, 2702, 2905, 3905. 3. MATH 2000 or STAT 2550 or GEOG 3222, BIOL 1001 & 1002, or BIOL 2120 or PHYS 2055. 4. Either EASC 499A and 499B, or GEOG 4990 and GEOG 4999. 5. At least an additional 39 credit hours from Earth Sciences and Geography, with a minimum of 15 credit hours from Earth Sciences and 18 credit hours from Geography; and a minimum of 9 credit hours at the 4000-level in each discipline.* 33 3 6 18 18 0 15 0 15 6/9 0 or 3 0 6 0 or 6 0 or 6 39 (a) 18 (b) 21 (c) 24 (a) 21 (b) 18 (c) 15 6. Additional credit hours selected to conform to the Regulations for the Honours Degree of Bachelor of Science so as to achieve a total of 120 credit hours. ** 3/0 0 0 120 42 to 54 36 to 48 * Earth Sciences service courses (Appendix 2) cannot be used to fulfill this requirement. GEOG 2105, 2290, 2405, 2460 and 2495 cannot be used to fulfill this requirement. ** If BIOL 1001 & 1002 are taken to satisfy item 3 above, then no general elective hours are needed to satisfy the 120 credit hour requirement. 27
Earth Sciences and Physics There are two joint programs offered between Earth Sciences and Physics: a Joint Major and a Joint Honours. Both can supply the academic requirements for registration as a Professional Geoscientist (P. Geo.), but it is up to the individual student to verify that their program meets these requirements. Example schedules are given below. EARTH SCIENCES and PHYSICS JOINT MAJOR YEAR 1 EASC 1000 Earth Systems ENGL 1090 Critical Reading & Writing: Telling Stories MATH 1000 Calculus I PHYS 1050 General Physics I or PHYS 1020 Introductory Physics I CHEM 1050 General Chemistry I EASC 2030 Mineralogy EASC 2502 Introduction to Geochemistry EASC 2702 Sedimentology & Stratigraphy EASC 2905 Introduction to Geological Mapping * MATH 2000 Calculus III EASC 1002 Concepts & Methods in Earth Sciences A critical reading and writing (CRW) course MATH 1001 Calculus II PHYS 1051 General Physics II CHEM 1051 General Chemistry II YEAR 2 EASC 2401 Structural Geology PHYS 2820 Computational Mechanics PHYS 2055 Electricity & Magnetism PHYS 2750 Modern Physics EASC 3905 Field Methods in Structural Geology & Stratigraphy * elective or **MATH 3202 Vector Calculus MATH 2050 Linear Algebra I *Field courses take place just before the regular Fall semester or after the regular Winter semester. **MATH 3202 is a prerequisite for certain Physics courses YEAR 3 EASC 3172 Electric and Electromagnetic Methods in Geophysics EASC 3420 Global Tectonic Processes PHYS 3220 Classical Mechanics I EASC 3170 Seismic and Potential Fields Methods in Geophysics MATH 3202 Vector Calculus** PHYS Elective Elective or MATH 2260 Ordinary Differential Equations I Elective PHYS Elective Elective PHYS 3500 Electromagnetic Fields I PHYS Elective PHYS Elective Elective Elective YEAR 4 EASC 41XX PHYS Elective Elective Elective 28
EARTH SCIENCES and PHYSICS JOINT HONOURS EASC 1000 Earth Systems ENGL 1090 Critical Reading & Writing: Telling Stories MATH 1000 Calculus I PHYS 1020 Introductory Physics I or PHYS 1050 General Physics I CHEM 1050 General Chemistry I YEAR 1 EASC 1002 Concepts & Methods in Earth Sciences A critical reading and writing (CRW) course MATH 1001 Calculus II PHYS 1051 General Physics II CHEM 1051 General Chemistry II EASC 2030 Mineralogy EASC 2502 Introduction to Geochemistry EASC 2702 Sedimentology & Stratigraphy MATH 2050 Linear Algebra I MATH 2000 Calculus III EASC 2905 Introduction to Geological Mapping* (2 CH) YEAR 2 PHYS 2750 Modern Physics EASC 2401 Structural Geology MATH 3202 Vector Calculus PHYS 2055 Electricity & Magnetism PHYS 2820 Computational Mechanics * Field courses take place just before the Fall semester or after the Winter semester EASC 3172 Electric and Electromagnetic Methods in Geophysics EASC 3420 Global Tectonic Processes PHYS 3820 Mathematical Physics III PHYS 3220 Classical Mechanics I MATH 2260 Ordinary Differential Equations I EASC 499A or PHYS 490A Honours Thesis EASC 4179 Digital Signal Processing PHYS 3500 Electromagnetic Fields I PHYS 3XXX OR 4XXX Elective or EASC 4105 Field Course in Applied Geophysics EASC 3905 Field Methods in Structural Geology & Stratigraphy* (1CH) YEAR 3 EASC 3170 Seismic and Potential Fields Methods in Geophysics PHYS 4820 Mathematical Physics III PHYS 3230 Classical Mechanics II PHYS 3XXX OR 4XXX EASC 3179 Mathematical Methods for Geophysics YEAR 4 EASC 499B or PHYS 490B Honours Thesis EASC 4171 Advanced Seismology EASC 4173 Advanced Electrical, Electromagnetic and Potential Fields Methods PHYS 3XXX OR 4XXX 29
MINOR IN EARTH SCIENCES A Minor in the Faculty of Science involves taking 24 credit hours (CH) usually 8 courses subject to requirements and restrictions imposed by the particular department. In the Department of Earth Sciences we require EASC 1000 and 1002 (6 CH) and 18 CH from Earth Sciences courses at the 2000 level or higher. EASC 2150, 2311, 2914, 2915, 2916, 2917, 2918, 4310 and 4950 do not count towards a minor. The table below illustrates some combinations of courses that, together with EASC 1000 and 1002, would qualify as a Minor in Earth Sciences, with the focus given in the left column. (As a point of information, courses in General I and II are all required for Earth Sciences Majors.) General l 2030 Mineralogy 2031 Petrography 2401 Structure 2502 Geochemistry 2702 Sedimentology 2905+3905 Field Courses General ll 2030 Mineralogy 2031 Petrography 2401 Structure 2502 Geochemistry 2702 Sedimentology 3420 Tectonics Geophysics 2030 Mineralogy 2401 Structure 2702 Sedimentology 2905+3905 Field courses 3170* Geophysics I 3172* Geophysics II Sediments I 2401 Structure 2502 Geochemistry 2702 Sedimentology 2905+3905 Field courses 3600 Environmental 3172* or 3610* Geophys/Hydro Sediments II A 2401 Structure 2502 Geochemistry 2702 Sedimentology 2905+3905 Field courses 3600 Environmental 3705 or 4302 Seds field/marine Sediments III B 2401 Structure 2702 Sedimentology 2905+3905 Field courses 3705 Seds field school 3811** Paleontology 4302 or 4903** Marine/Global chg Petrology 2030 Mineralogy 2031 Petrography 2502 Geochemistry 3054 Igneous petrology 3055 Metamorphic 2401 or 2702 Structure/Seds Minerals 2030 Mineralogy 2031 Petrography 2401 Structure 2502 Geochemistry 2905+3905 Field courses 3210 Mineral Deposits Paleontology 2401 Structure 2502 Geochemistry 2702 Sedimentology 2905+3905 Field courses 3811** Paleontology 4800 Advanced paleo Environment 2502 Geochemistry 2702 Sedimentology 3172* Geophysics II 3600 Environmental 3610* Hydrogeology 4605* Env field school A No prerequisites in Physics or Biology. B No prerequisites in Mathematics, Chemistry or Physics. * Prerequisites in Physics and Math or Statistics. ** Prerequisite(s) in Biology. The table is not exhaustive; there are other possibilities. Students are advised to check the course prerequisites, as these restrict some options. For example, in order to complete both field courses EASC 2905 and 3905, which together make up 3 CH, it is necessary to take EASC 2401 (Structural Geology) as it is a prerequisite for EASC 3905. When combining Earth Sciences with a Major in the Arts, be aware that you will need to invest time in 1000-level courses in Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and/or Physics. Selections Sediments II, Sediments III and Paleontology have the least of these requirements. 30