Earth and Environmental Sciences (EAES)

Courses

EAES 101. Global Environmental Change. 4 hours.

Natural and anthropogenic controls on the structure and evolution of the earth's surface environment. Interactions among the Earth's solid surface, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere and human impacts on these processes. Course Information: Field trip required at nominal fee. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory and one Lecture. Natural World - With Lab course.

EAES 105. Climate, Contamination, and Chicago. 2 hours.

Environmental earth science issues relevant to Chicago’s economy and history. Course Information: Field trip required at a nominal fee. Natural World - No Lab course.

EAES 111. Earth, Energy, and the Environment. 4 hours.

Nature and evolution of Earth from the scale of minerals and rocks to tectonic plates. Earthquakes and volcanoes, their hazards and effects on humans. Natural resources, sources of energy, and their environmental impacts. Course Information: Previously listed as EAES 102. Field trip required at nominal fee. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory and one Lecture. Natural World - With Lab course.

EAES 116. Energy for Future Decision-Makers. 3 hours.

Survey of energy sustainability and environmental issues. All energy forms of production, sources, storage, and uses; their environmental implications on a global scale within the scientific, technological, political, economic, and social context. Course Information: Same as PHYS 116. Recommended background: High school algebra. Natural World - No Lab course.

EAES 180. Honors Earth and Environmental Sciences. 1 hour.

Provides honors students with the opportunity to explore in depth a topic treated in the concurrent lecture course. Course Information: May be repeated up to 1 time(s). Students may register in more than one section per term. May be taken a total of 2 times, each time with concurrent registration in EAES 101 or EAES 111. Prerequisite(s): Concurrent registration in EAES 101 or EAES 111. Honors course.

EAES 200. Field Work in Missouri. 2 hours.

Field observations in the St. Francois Mountains and vicinity, southeast Missouri. Credit is given upon completion of assignments that include a satisfactory written report. Course Information: Three two-hour meetings and one-week field trip during the spring vacation. Full participation in pre-field trip class meetings is mandatory. Prerequisite(s): Grades of C or better in EAES 101 and EAES 111; or Grade of C or better in EAES 101 and concurrent registration in EAES 111; or Grade of C or better in EAES 111 and concurrent registration in EAES 101. Registration may be limited if student is not majoring in Earth and Environmental Sciences. Recommended Background: Credit or concurrent registration in EAES 230. Natural World - With Lab course.

EAES 203. The Science and Rhetorics of Climate Change. 3 hours.

Explores climate change as a physical and cultural phenomenon through the rhetorical analysis of texts, data, and primary research. Course Information: Same as ENGL 203. Extensive computer use required. Natural World - No Lab course.

EAES 230. Earth Materials. 4 hours.

Introduction to physical and chemical properties of earth materials, as well as their distribution, through lectures and laboratory exercises. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better or concurrent registration in EAES 101 and Grade of C or better in EAES 111; or consent of the instructor. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll one Lecture and one Laboratory.

EAES 285. Earth Systems. 4 hours.

Earth systems and global change; global processes, greenhouse gases and global warming; geologic hazards; energy and the environment; human impact on the physical environment; geology of waste management. Course Information: Saturday field trip required at nominal fee. Prerequisite(s): EAES 101 and EAES 111; or consent of the instructor. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory-Discussion and one Lecture.

EAES 290. Current Topics in Earth and Environmental Sciences. 2 hours.

Seminar on current issues in earth and environmental sciences. Introduction to reading, interpretation, and writing of scientific papers. Course Information: Previously listed as EAES 390. Prerequisite(s): Completion of at least one 100-level course in earth and environmental sciences.

EAES 320. Mineralogy. 4 hours.

Structure, composition, occurrence, and identification of minerals and materials. Introduction to crystallography, optical mineralogy, crystal chemistry and X-ray diffraction. Applications to earth and environmental sciences. Course Information: Previously listed as EAES 220. Prerequisite(s): EAES 111 and EAES 230; and CHEM 112 or CHEM 122 and CHEM 123; or consent of the instructor. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory and one Lecture.

EAES 350. Sedimentary Environments. 3 hours.

Characterization of sediments and sedimentary rocks, sediment transport, deposition and sedimentary structures, depositional environments. Stratigraphic principles, introductory sequence stratigraphy. Applied sedimentary geology. Course Information: Field trips required at nominal fee. Prerequisite(s): EAES 230 and EAES 320; or consent of the instructor. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory-Discussion and one Lecture.

EAES 360. Introduction to Paleontology. 4 hours.

The morphology, ecology, and relationships of fossil organisms. Basic principles of paleontology, including evolution, paleoecology and functional morphology. Course Information: Same as BIOS 360. Field trip required at a nominal fee. One day field trip to collect fossils. Prerequisite(s): EAES 101 or EAES 111; or BIOS 100 or BIOS 110; and BIOS 101 or BIOS 120. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory and one Lecture.

EAES 396. Independent Research. 2-8 hours.

Individual study under supervision of a faculty member in areas not covered in standard courses. Course Information: May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. A combined maximum of 6 hours of credit in EAES 396 and EAES 492 may be applied toward the degree. Independent research and a resulting undergraduate thesis are required for graduating with highest departmental distinction. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor. Class Schedule Information: This course counts toward the limited number of independent study hours accepted toward the degree and the major.

EAES 400. Field Experience in Earth Sciences. 1-6 hours.

Training in and application of field methods (geological, geochemical, and geophysical) to solution of problems in earth and environmental sciences. Course Information: May be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours. Field trips required at a nominal fee. Field work required. Students who wish to use EAES 400 to satisfy the summer course selective must register for at least 4 credit hours. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

EAES 410. Geochemistry. 4 hours.

Origin of elements. Principles of the distribution of elements in the earth's crust. Element partitioning between coexisting minerals. Thermodynamic considerations of mineral equilibria. Geochemistry of continental waters. Ocean geochemistry. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): CHEM 114 or CHEM 124 and CHEM 125; or consent of the instructor.

EAES 415. Environmental Geochemistry. 4 hours.

Origin and distribution of elements in the earth. Thermodynamics and kinetics of mineral-solution reactions. Behavior of stable and radioisotopes in geochemical processes. Elemental Cycles. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): EAES 230 and EAES 285; and CHEM 114 or CHEM 124 and CHEM 125; or consent of the instructor.

EAES 416. Organic Geochemistry. 3 hours.

Global carbon cycle, chemical composition of biogenic matter, sedimentology and diagenesis of organic matter, molecular fossils, geopolymers, fossil fuels, anthropogenic organic compounds, carbon isotope geochemistry. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): EAES 230 or EAES 320; and CHEM 114, or CHEM 124 and CHEM 125, or CHEM 130; or consent of the instructor.

EAES 418. Introduction to Biogeochemistry. 3 hours.

Explores the interaction of the biosphere, geosphere, and atmosphere on Earth, with focus on biogeochemical cycles and the methods used to study them. Examination of conditions on early Earth and the changes brought by the introduction of life. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): CHEM 112 or CHEM 122 and CHEM 123; and CHEM 114 or CHEM 124 and CHEM 125; and EAES 230 or EAES 285 or EAES 111; or consent of the instructor. Recommended background: BIOS 100 or BIOS 101.

EAES 420. Earth and Environmental Data Science. 4 hours.

Introduction to reproducible data science in R, including how to import, tidy, visualize, analyze, and communicate Earth and environmental science data and how to apply statistical methods, including bootstrapping, hypothesis testing, and modeling. Course Information: Extensive computer use required. Prior background in coding, statistics, or calculus is not required. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor. Recommended background: Introductory Chemistry, Biology, Earth Science, and/or Environmental Science. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Lecture-Discussion and one Laboratory.

EAES 422. Crystal Chemistry. 3 or 4 hours.

The crystal chemistry, chemistry, phase equilibria, and properties of materials and minerals. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): EAES 320; or consent of the instructor.

EAES 430. Petrology. 0-4 hours.

Igneous and metamorphic rock composition, classification, rock-forming processes. Description and interpretation of thin-sections. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): EAES 320; and CHEM 114 or CHEM 124 and CHEM 125; or consent of the instructor. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory and one Lecture.

EAES 440. Structural Geology and Tectonics. 3 hours.

Elementary stress and strain relations; folds, fabrics and faults; deformation mechanisms; basic plate tectonic concepts with regional geological examples. Course Information: Required weekend field trip at a nominal fee. Prerequisite(s): EAES 111 or consent of the instructor. Recommended Background: EAES 230. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory and one Lecture-Discussion.

EAES 444. Geophysics. 4 hours.

Introduction to basic principles of geophysics applicable for environmental problems and the solid earth including magnetics, electric, seismic, gravity, geophysical well logging, radioactivity and heat flow. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): EAES 111 or consent of the instructor. Recommended background: EAES 285 and completion of introductory courses in physics and calculus.

EAES 448. Plate Tectonics. 3 hours.

Basic concepts and recent developments including plate kinematics, marine magnetics and paleomagnetics, evolution of oceanic lithosphere, subduction zones and passive margins. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): EAES 111 or consent of the instructor. Recommended background: Completion of introductory courses in physics and calculus.

EAES 455. Clastic Sedimentology and Sequence Stratigraphy. 4 hours.

Processes, facies, and sedimentary architecture in fluvial, deltaic, coastal, and offshore marine clastic depositional environments. Relative sea-level change and its controls on the stratigraphic record. Basin and reservoir modeling. Course Information: Field trips required at nominal fee. Prerequisite(s): EAES 350 or consent of the instructor.

EAES 460. Earth System History. 4 hours.

Earth history in the context of the interactions of the components of the Earth system; methods used to establish the ages of geologic events and to reconstruct ancient geographies and environments; implications for current issues of global change. Course Information: Field trip required at a nominal fee. Field trip cost assessed prior to trip, depending on destination and vehicle expenses. Prerequisite(s): EAES 230 and EAES 285. Recommended background: EAES 360 and EAES 440 and EAES 350.

EAES 466. Principles of Paleontology. 3 hours.

Theory and methods of evolutionary paleobiology; includes paleoecology, functional morphology, and major features of organic evolution. Course Information: Same as BIOS 466. Prerequisite(s): EAES 360 or consent of the instructor. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory-Discussion and one Lecture.

EAES 470. Environmental Geomorphology. 4 hours.

Quantitative analysis of the mechanics, rates, and distribution of physical processes that modify Earth's and other planets' surfaces. Introduction to field, theoretical, and modelling approaches. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): EAES 230 or EAES 285; and MATH 181; or consent of the instructor. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory and one Lecture.

EAES 473. Soils and the Environment. 4 hours.

Soil science, emphasizing local soils and parent materials, soil classification and mapping, soil physics, soil gases and greenhouse gas emissions, soil chemistry and biogeochemistry, soil-plant interactions, and soil invertebrates. Course Information: Same as BIOS 473. Field work required. Recommended background: Introductory courses in Chemistry and Biology are recommended. Coursework in EAES (such as EAES 101 and/or 111) is preferred.

EAES 475. Hydrology/Hydrogeology. 3 hours.

The occurrence, storage, movement, and quality of water above, on and below the Earth's surface. Topics progress through atmospheric water vapor processes, Earth surface hydrology, and groundwater hydrology. Course Information: Field trip required at nominal fee. Prerequisite(s): EAES 111; or consent of the instructor. Recommended Background: EAES 285 and EAES 230 and MATH 181. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory and one Lecture.

EAES 478. Elements of Machining Scientific Equipment. 1 hour.

Elements of machining scientific equipment, including the use of machine shop tools and technical drawing of scientific apparatus. Course Information: Same as CHEM 480 and PHYS 480. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing; and approval of the department.

EAES 480. Statistical Methods in Earth and Environmental Sciences. 4 hours.

Techniques of probability and data analysis as applied to problems in environmental sciences. Sampling, statistical inference, descriptive statistics, multivariate methods, time series analysis. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Completion of at least one 200- or 300-level course in the earth and environmental sciences or consent of the instructor. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory and one Lecture.

EAES 484. Planetary Science. 3 hours.

Explores how geologic processes are expressed on bodies in our solar system other than the Earth. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): EAES 230 and EAES 285; or consent of the instructor.

EAES 488. Instrumental Analysis. 3 hours.

Scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive system. DC plasma analysis. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): CHEM 114 or CHEM 124 and CHEM 125; and EAES 220; or consent of the instructor. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory and one Lecture.

EAES 492. Internship in the Earth and Environmental Sciences. 1 hour.

Off-campus participation in governmental or private-sector training program. Credit is contingent on submission of a final report. Course Information: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated with approval. A combined maximum of 6 hours of credit in EAES 492 and EAES 396 may be applied toward the degree. Prerequisite(s): Approval of the Department.

EAES 494. Current Topics in Earth and Environmental Sciences. 1-4 hours.

Discussion of current research topics in earth and environmental sciences. Course Information: May be repeated to a maximum of 8 hours if topics vary. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Junior or Senior standing and 12 hours of advanced courses in earth and environmental sciences are recommended.

EAES 510. Advanced Geochemistry. 3-4 hours.

Advanced topics in one of the following categories: isotope geochemistry and geochronology, distribution of elements in the earth's crust, mineral systems with and without volatile components, low-temperature mineral systems. Lectures and seminars. Course Information: May be repeated if topics vary. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor. Recommended background: Credit in EAES 410.

EAES 511. Principles of Aqueous Geochemistry. 4 hours.

Theory and application of thermodynamics and kinetics to processes controlling the compositions of natural waters, including solid and gas solubility, dissolution and precipitation, sorption, oxidation-reduction, acid-base equilibria. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

EAES 512. Solid-Water Interface Chemistry. 4 hours.

Description, theory, and characterization of molecular-scale chemical processes at the solid-water interface. Major emphasis on oxide minerals with minor emphasis on metals, salts, and organics. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

EAES 513. Stable Isotope Geochemistry and Biogeochemistry. 4 hours.

Lectures and readings will cover nucleosynthesis, physical basis of isotopic fractionation, isotopic distributions in nature, and applications of stable isotope ratio measurements in studies of geologic, hydrologic, and biogeochemical cycles. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

EAES 514. Environmental Radioactivity. 4 hours.

Covers the origins and distribution of radioactivity in the natural environment, along with applications of radioactivity measurements to studies of geologic, hydrologic, atmospheric, and biological processes. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

EAES 516. Advanced Organic Geochemistry/Biochemistry. 4 hours.

Carbon biogeochemical cycle, carbon fixation and carbon isotope fractionation, compound specific isotope analysis, biomarker geochemistry, paleoenvironment. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): EAES 416 or consent of the instructor.

EAES 518. Geobiology. 4 hours.

Interactions between microorganisms and minerals, preservation of organisms and biofilms, influence of microorganisms in biogeochemical cycles, microorganisms on early Earth, life in extreme environments, the dark biosphere, and astrobiology. Course Information: Same as BIOS 518. Recommended background: Basic knowledge of biology, chemistry, and earth sciences at the level of introductory college courses in each subject.

EAES 520. Advanced Mineralogy. 4 hours.

Various types in one of the following catagories: structural determination, advanced diffraction techniques, crystal chemistry and structural mineralogy. Lectures, seminars, and laboratory. Course Information: May be repeated if topics vary. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory and one Lecture.

EAES 524. X-Ray Crystallography. 4 hours.

Introduction to the use of diffraction techniques and crystallography for the identification and characterization of materials. Course Information: Previously listed as EAES 424. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory and one Lecture.

EAES 530. Advanced Petrology. 3-4 hours.

Selected topics: generation and properties of magmas, formation of metamorphic rocks, reaction rates in metamorphic rocks. Course Information: May be repeated if topics vary. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor. Recommended background: Credit in EAES 430.

EAES 541. Seismology. 4 hours.

Elastic wave propogation theory, instrumentation, seismic source mechanisms, body and surface waves, free oscillations, earth's interior, focal mechanisms, earthquakes and plate tectonics. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): EAES 444 or consent of the instructor.

EAES 543. Advanced Geophysics and Plate Tectonics. 4 hours.

Advanced topics in geophysics and plate tectonics including subjects such as mantle convection, driving forces of plate tectonics and evolution of rifted continental margins. Course Information: May be repeated if topics vary. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): EAES 444 or EAES 448.

EAES 545. Spatial and Temporal Analysis and Modeling. 4 hours.

Methods for the analysis and modeling of spatial and temporal patterns in the earth and environmental sciences. Data acquisition. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing; and consent of the instructor.

EAES 546. Research Methods for Landscape Ecological and Anthropogenic Processes. 4 hours.

Students will develop the skills to choose and utilize relevant methods and tools used in the study and management of altered natural landscapes to achieve research and management objectives through hands-on interdisciplinary laboratory modules. Course Information: Same as BIOS 546 and CME 546. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Lecture and one Laboratory/Discussion.

EAES 547. Field Experiences in Landscape Ecological and Anthropogenic Processes. 4 hours.

Evaluation of the issues and needs of various landscape restorations and related urban-impacted sites in the Chicago metropolitan area based upon selected readings, site visits and presentations and discussions with the site manager/coordinators. Course Information: Same as BIOS 547 and CME 547. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Lecture/Discussion and one practice.

EAES 548. Capstone Project in Landscape, Ecological and Anthropogenic Processes. 4 hours.

Interdisciplinary capstone project course that explores a "real-world" environmental issue selected by the students and approved by the faculty. Students will conduct research and analysis collaboratively and develop solutions and recommendations. Course Information: Same as BIOS 548 and CME 548. Prerequisite(s): Grade of B or better in BIOS 540 or Grade of B or better in CME 540 or Grade of B or better in EAES 540 or Grade of B or better in UPP 555; and Grade of B or better in BIOS 546 or Grade of B or better in CME 546 or Grade of B or better in EAES 546 or Grade of B or better in UPP 555; and Grade of B or better in BIOS 547 or Grade of B or better in CME 547 or Grade of B or better in EAES 547 or Grade of B or better in UPP 555. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Lecture-Discussion and one Studio.

EAES 555. Advanced Sedimentary Geology. 3 hours.

Advanced topics in modern sedimentology and stratigraphy. Course Information: May be repeated if topics vary. Field trips required at nominal fee. Prerequisite(s): EAES 455 or consent of the instructor.

EAES 560. Topics in Paleontology. 3-4 hours.

In-depth analysis of current problems and issues in paleontology, involving reading primary literature, student presentations, and critical discussions. Course Information: Same as BIOS 560. May be repeated if topics vary. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.

EAES 570. Advanced Surficial Processes. 4 hours.

Advanced topics in theoretical, empirical, and applied aspects of hillslope processes, sediment transport mechanics, river mechanics, weathering and soil development, or drainage basin development. Course Information: May be repeated if topics vary. Prerequisite(s): EAES 470.

EAES 572. Quaternary Environmental Systems. 3 hours.

Interrelations between eolian, lacustrine, marine, eolian and glacial environments for the past 1.8 million years; geochronologic and isotopic methods; stratigraphic and geomorphic approaches. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): EAES 470.

EAES 575. Advanced Hydrology. 3 hours.

Selective topics; mechanics of near-surface groundwater, flow in fractured rocks, groundwater contamination, unsaturated-saturated flow, surface-groundwater interactions. Course Information: May be repeated if topics vary. Prerequisite(s): EAES 475.

EAES 576. Paleoclimatology. 3 hours.

Principles of climatology and paleoclimatology; mechanisms and causes of climate change for the past 63 million years; geologic records of climate and modelling. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): EAES 470.

EAES 577. Climate and Land Interactions. 4 hours.

Data and model driven analysis of how land surface properties influence Earth’s climate system including energy balance, radiative transfer, ecohydrology, boundary layer processes, and global carbon and water cycles. Course Information: Extensive computer use required. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor. Recommended background: Integral and differential calculus; Introductory Physics, Introductory Earth Science; Spreadsheet data analysis.

EAES 578. Ecohydrology. 4 hours.

Analysis of interactions between water and ecosystems across the aquatic continuum, from uplands to the coastal ocean. Feedbacks between ecological/biogeochemical processes and the hydrologic cycles. Course Information: Extensive computer use required. Basic experience with Matlab, R, or Python recommended. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor. Recommended Background: Differential Equations, Introductory Earth Science.

EAES 579. Climate Change and Ecosystem Science. 4 hours.

Exploration of global climate change using conceptual, quantitative, field, and laboratory methods of ecosystem science, including soil biogeochemistry, ecosystem ecology, and Earth system modeling. Course Information: Field trip required at a nominal fee. Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing; and consent of the instructor. Recommended background: Introductory Chemistry; Introductory Biology; Introductory Earth Science; Spreadsheet data analysis.

EAES 580. Aquatic Science. 3 hours.

Addresses environmental issues related to lakes, rivers, estuaries, and coastal zones. Topics will cover sampling techniques, impact of humans, and global change. Course Information: Field trip required at nominal fee. Prerequisite(s): EAES 475; or consent of the instructor.

EAES 595. Departmental Seminar. 1 hour.

Special one-hour seminar, every Thursday, by invited speakers from other earth and environmental sciences departments, governmental agencies, and industry. Course Information: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only.

EAES 596. Advanced Studies in Earth and Environmental Sciences. 1-6 hours.

Independent study or research with faculty supervision, leading to a written report. Course Information: May be repeated. A maximum of 4 hours of credit may be applied toward the requirements for the M.S. degree. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the head of the department and the faculty member who will supervise the study.

EAES 598. Master's Thesis Research. 0-16 hours.

Individual work under the supervision of faculty members in their respective fields. Course Information: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the thesis supervisor.

EAES 599. Ph.D. Thesis Research. 0-16 hours.

Individual work under the supervision of faculty members in their respective fields. Course Information: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the thesis supervisor.