Millsaps College
Geology
Associate Professors: Delbert E. Gann, Ph.D., Chair
Edward L. Schrader, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor: James B. Harris, Ph.D.
Instructor: Stanley Galicki, M.S.
Requirements for Major: Students may complete a major in geology with a concentration in either classical geology or environmental geology. Typically, a degree in environmental geology will lead to a career in environmental policy and planning, environmental law, or environmental project management.
Environmental Geology concentration: Physical Geology, History and Evolution of the Earth, Physical and Chemical Mineralogy, Petrology, Principles of Stratigraphy/Sedimentation. Structural Geology, Hydrology, Geophysics, Geochemistry of Natural Waters and their Pollution, a directed study in Environmental Geology completed during the senior year. Field Methods and Field Geology. Majors may substitute IDS 1700 The Physical Earth for Physical Geology.
Environmental majors must also complete General Chemistry I and II. Ecology, General Botany and either (a) Analytical Geometry and Calculus I for the Bachelor of Science degree or (b) Survey of Calculus and Elementary Statistics for the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree. General Physics I and II are highly recommended.
Field Geology may be taken at Millsaps or another university and Computer Survival is strongly recommended. At least one major field trip per year is required.
Requirements for Minor: Students may elect a minor in geology with a concentration in either classical geology or environmental geology as follows.
Environmental Geology: Four courses beyond Physical Geology or the Physical Earth and History and Evolution of the Earth, including Physical and Chemical Mineralogy, Principles of Stratigraphy/Sedimentation, Geochemistry of Natural Waters and their Pollution, and a Directed Study in Environmental Geology.
Geology majors with a concentration in classical geology may earn a minor in environmental studies by completing Geochemistry of Natural Waters and their Pollution, a Directed Study in Environmental Geology, and two of the following courses: General Botany, Ecology, or Geochemistry.
1000 Physicial Geology (I). Study of the Earth, the rocks which comprise its surface, erosional and depositional processes, vulcanism, deformation, plate tectonics and economic deposits. One field trip. Offered in alternate years.
1020 History and Evolution of the Earth (1). Study of successive events leading to the present configuration of the continental masses, the evolution and development of life, accounting for the kinds and distribution of surface rocks and minerals and the interrelationships of plate tectonics. Prerequisite: Geology 1000 or IDS 1700 topics course.
2110 Physical and Chemical Mineralogy (1). Physical properties, origin, occurrence, geochemistry, atomic structures, and use of minerals. Laboratory emphasizes the physical identification of minerals in hand samples. Prerequisite: Geology 1000 or IDS 1700 (The Physical Earth).
2300 Petrology (1). Introduction to the genesis, global distribution, associations, compositions, and classifications of rocks. Laboratory emphasis is on macroscopic and microscopic identification of igeneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. Prerequisite: Geology 2110 or consent of instructor.
2310 Principles of Stratigraphy/Sedimentation (1). Rock sequences, lithologic and paleontologic facies of various parts of the United States and basic sedimentological principles. Prerequisite: Geology 1000-1020.
3410 Structural Geology (1). Origin and classification of the structural features of the rocks comprising the earth’s crust. Prerequisite: Geology 1000-1020.
3420 Geochemistry (1). An introduction to the chemical principles of geological systems: carbonate equilibria, clay colloid chemistry, Eh-Ph diagrams. Prerequisite: Geology 1000-1020 and 1020 and Chemistry 2110-2120.
3750 Hydrology (1). A comprehensive study of the occurrence, distribution, and movement of water in the hydrosphere. Topics include: hydrologic cycle. Darcy’s Law, groundwater flow in confined and unconfined aquifers, stream flow, water law, and current environmental regulations. Computer modeling applications. Prerequisite: Geology 1000 or IDS 1700 (The Physical Earth).
3820-3823 Directed Study in Environmental Geology (1/4).Open to Environment Geology majors and minors only, to pursue individual research and project management planning for specific environmental problems. Oral presentation of the final paper to a peer group is required.
4400 Geochemistry and Pollution of Natural Waters (1). Introduction to the geo-chemical processes of natural waters, the effects of common forms of pollution of the natural system, and remediation technologies as studies in actual case histories. Prerequisite: Chemistry 1000, Geology 1000, or approval of instructor.
4410 Geophysics (1). Basic geophysical techniques of gravity, magnetics, seismi reflection, seismic refraction and seismology are studied and related to earth structure and tectonics. Prerequisite: Geology 1000.
Biology - Main Environmental Courses
2200 Ecology (1). In-depth study of relationships of organisms with other organisms and with their physical environment, including population, community and ecosystem dynamics. Prerequisites: Biology 1010 and 1020.
3200 Aquatic Biology (1). Physical and biological processes in aquatic ecosystems, both fresh water and marine. Emphasis is on natural ecosystems and the impact on them of the activities of humans. Prerequisites: Biology 1010.
3210 Field Biology (1). Environmental study trips throughout North America. Emphasis on ecology and community composition. Five-week summer program with approximately three weeks away from campus. Prerequisites: Biology 1010, 1020. Offered occasionally.
3500 General Bacteriology (1). Historical survey; bacterial structure, metabolism, genetics and taxonomy; role of bacteria in disease, industry, and ecology; common bacteriological techniques. Prerequisite: Biology 1010. Recommended: Organic Chemistry.
2100 Methods and Statistics (1). A critical introduction to issues to research design. Types of data analysis and collection covered include field work, interviewing, coding qualitative data, survey design/execution/analysis, and statistical analysis of numeric/coded data. Attention is also given to what infeences can legitimately be made from data.
2410 Human Ecology (1). The anthropology of human ecosystems examines the relationship between culture and environment. The course includes research and theory on how pre-indusrial societies adapt to their environments and on the ecological roblems created by industrial society. Prerequisite: Soc-Anth 1000 or 1100 or 1110 or permission of instructor. Offered occasionally.
3110 Archaeology of Selected Culture Areas (1). Explores the archaeological record of a selected prehistoric culture area. Emphasis is on reconstruction ancient life ways and understanding the processes which create the archaeological record. Prerequisite: Soc-Anth 1000 or 1100 or 1110 or permission of instructor.
3120 Non-Western Societies (1). The course examines both the culture of selected non-western societies and the range of methodological and theoretical approaches used to understand them. Prerequisite: Soc-Anth 1000 or 1100 or 1110 or permission of instructor.
3300 Health and Illness (1). A sociological investigation of the social and cultural factors and those formal and informal organizations shaping health and illness. Prerequisite: Soc-Anth 1000 or 1100 or 1110 or permission of instructor. Offered in alternate years.