Note: This is the 2020–2021 eCalendar. Update the year in your browser's URL bar for the most recent version of this page, or .
Program Requirements
The program curriculum is designed to provide a rigorous foundation in the fundamental earth science disciplines and in the advanced subjects relevant to fundamental and applied research in exploration for energy resources or industrial and ore minerals, and in environmental geosciences. The program meets the academic requirements shared by the professional orders for geologists and environmental geoscientists in most Canadian provinces. It is intended to provide an excellent preparation for graduate work in the earth sciences but offers enough flexibility to prepare for a wide range of careers in industry and teaching.
Required Courses (42 credits)
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EPSC 210 Introductory Mineralogy (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Elementary crystallography, chemistry and identification of the principal rock-forming and ore minerals, in hand specimens and using optical microscopy. Demonstrations of other techniques applied to the identification of minerals and to the analysis of their composition and structure. Optional 2-day field trip.
Terms: Fall 2020
Instructors: Paquette, Jeanne; Baker, Don (Fall)
Fall
2 hours lectures, 3 hours laboratory
Prerequisite(s): CHEM 110 or equivalent, or permission of the instructor.
A nominal fee is charged to cover expenses of materials and supplies for identification kits (pen magnet, streak plate, hand lens and acid bottle) used to identify minerals during laboratory exercises.
Des frais seront prelevés pour couvrir l'usage des collections d'enseignement et les accessoires (loupe, aimant, bouteille d'acide chlorhydrique dilué, plaque de porcelaine) essentiels à l'identification des minéraux pendant les travaux pratiques.
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EPSC 212 Introductory Petrology (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : A survey of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks and the processes responsible for their formation. The laboratory will emphasize the recognition of rocks in both hand-specimen and thin section using optical microscopes.
Terms: Winter 2021
Instructors: Berlo, Kim (Winter)
Winter
2 hours lectures, 3 hours laboratory
Prerequisite: EPSC 210
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EPSC 220 Principles of Geochemistry (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Basic concepts in geochemistry and the application of geochemical principles of chemistry to geological subdisciplines. Particular emphasis on origin of elements, controls on their distribution in Earth and cosmos, isotopes, organic geochemistry and water chemistry. Application of phase diagrams to geology.
Terms: Fall 2020
Instructors: Baker, Don (Fall)
Fall
2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory
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EPSC 231 Field School 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Geological mapping of selected areas, preparation of maps, reports from field notes, aerial photographs, etc.
Terms: Summer 2021
Instructors: Rowe, Christen Danielle (Summer)
Prerequisite: EPSC 240, or permission of the instructor.
This field course, given in the U.S,.has an additional fee projected to be $594.10 to cover the costs of transportation, some meals and accommodation as well as other field expenses. The fee is only refundable prior to the deadline to withdraw with full refund. The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences subsidizes a portion of the cost for this activity.
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EPSC 233 Earth and Life History (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Interpretation of stratified rocks; history of Earth with special emphasis on the regions of North America; outline of the history of life recorded in fossils.
Terms: Fall 2020
Instructors: Halverson, Galen (Fall)
Fall
3 hours lectures
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EPSC 240 Geology in the Field (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Lectures and field-based exercises, held locally on campus and in the Montreal area, introduce students to the reading and interpretation of a topographic map, the basic description of a stratigraphic section and the inference of its depositional environment, the nature of intrusive contacts, and the field measurement of some structural features and geophysical properties. Students plot geological information on a map, identify landforms in aerial views and learn the tectonic features diagnostic of plate margins. By the end of the course, the students relate a geological map to the geological history of Quebec.
Terms: Fall 2020
Instructors: Rowe, Christen Danielle (Fall)
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EPSC 303 Structural Geology (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Primary igneous and sedimentary structures, attitudes of planes and lines, stress and strain, fracturing of rocks, faulting, homogeneous strain, description and classification of folds, foliation and lineation, orthographic and stereographic projections.
Terms: Fall 2020
Instructors: Kirkpatrick, James (Fall)
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EPSC 320 Elementary Earth Physics (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Physical properties of Earth and the processes associated with its existence as inferred from astronomy, geodesy, seismology, geology, terrestrial magnetism and thermal evolution.
Terms: Fall 2020
Instructors: Liu, Yajing (Fall)
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EPSC 340 Earth and Planetary Inference (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Introduction to modern techniques for combining geological, geophysical, and geochemical measurements with theoretical knowledge about Earth and other planets. Use of tools from time series analysis and inverse methods to build models and test hypotheses within the Earth and Planetary Sciences.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Fall
2 hours lectures, 3 hours laboratory
Prerequisites: Completion of U1 year in Earth & Planetary Sciences or permission of instructor
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EPSC 480D1 Honours Research Thesis (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Research project, designed by a student in consultation with a departmental faculty member, leading to a thesis.
Terms: Fall 2020
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Restriction: For Honours students in 3rd year
Students must register for both EPSC 480D1 and EPSC 480D2
No credit will be given for this course unless both EPSC 480D1 and EPSC 480D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
A statement of the proposed project and method of evaluation, signed by the student and supervisor, must be submitted to the departmental Director of Undergraduate Studies for approval by the add/drop deadline of the first semester in which the student registers for this course. The results of the research must be presented in the form of an undergraduate thesis.
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EPSC 480D2 Honours Research Thesis (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : See EPSC 480D1 for course description.
Terms: Winter 2021
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Prerequisite: EPSC 480D1
No credit will be given for this course unless both EPSC 480D1 and EPSC 480D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
A statement of the proposed project and method of evaluation, signed by the student and supervisor, must be submitted to the departmental Director of Undergraduate Studies for approval by the add/drop deadline of the first semester in which the student registers for this course. The results of the research must be presented in the form of an undergraduate thesis.
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MATH 222 Calculus 3 (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Taylor series, Taylor's theorem in one and several variables. Review of vector geometry. Partial differentiation, directional derivative. Extreme of functions of 2 or 3 variables. Parametric curves and arc length. Polar and spherical coordinates. Multiple integrals.
Terms: Fall 2020, Winter 2021, Summer 2021
Instructors: Fortier, Jérôme; Kelome, Djivede (Fall) Vetois, Jerome (Winter) Trudeau, Sidney (Summer)
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MATH 314 Advanced Calculus (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Derivative as a matrix. Chain rule. Implicit functions. Constrained maxima and minima. Jacobians. Multiple integration. Line and surface integrals. Theorems of Green, Stokes and Gauss. Fourier series with applications.
Terms: Fall 2020, Winter 2021
Instructors: Roth, Charles (Fall) Toth, John A (Winter)
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MATH 315 Ordinary Differential Equations (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : First order ordinary differential equations including elementary numerical methods. Linear differential equations. Laplace transforms. Series solutions.
Terms: Fall 2020, Winter 2021, Summer 2021
Instructors: Paquette, Courtney (Fall) Shirazi, Mohammad (Winter) Roth, Charles (Summer)
Complementary Courses (33 credits)
15 credits of advanced earth science
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EPSC 334 Invertebrate Paleontology (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Preservation of fossils; the fossil record of invertebrates; use of fossils in stratigraphy and paleoecology; fossils in evolutionary studies. Fossils of invertebrates are studied in the laboratory.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
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EPSC 355 Sedimentary Geology (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : The origin, classification, diagenesis and economic importance of sedimentary rocks. The physical properties of sedimentary rocks, the processes by which sediments are transported and deposited, and the environments in which they accumulate. Introduction to techniques for describing and analyzing sedimentary rocks in thin section, hand specimen, and on the outcrop.
Terms: Winter 2021
Instructors: Halverson, Galen (Winter)
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EPSC 423 Igneous Petrology (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Physical properties, nucleation, crystallization, differentiation and emplacement of magmas. Integrated studies on various rock suites.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Fall
2 hours lectures, 3 hours laboratory
Prerequisites: EPSC 212, and enrolment in U2 or U3 EPS program.
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EPSC 425 Sediments to Sequences (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Advanced techniques for interrogating the stratigraphic record. Topics include cyclicity in the sedimentary record, sequence stratigraphy, chemostratigraphy, sedimentary control on the fossil record, and the record of deep sea sediment cores.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
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EPSC 445 Metamorphic Petrology (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : The origin, classification and petrological significance of metamorphic rocks, from the point of view of theory, experiment and field observations.
Terms: Winter 2021
Instructors: van Hinsberg, Vincent Johan (Winter)
Winter
2 hours lectures, 3 hours laboratory
Prerequisite(s): EPSC 212, enrolment in U2 or U3 EPS program.
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EPSC 452 Mineral Deposits (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : A systematic review of the nature and origin of the major types of metallic and non-metallic mineral deposits; typical occurrences; geographic distribution; applications to exploration. Emphasis on magmatic ores, massive sulfides, iron formations.
Terms: Fall 2020
Instructors: Williams-Jones, Anthony E (Fall)
Fall
2 hours lectures, 3 hours laboratory
Prerequisite: EPSC 220, enrolment in U2 or U3 EPS program
3 credits of field school
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EPSC 331 Field School 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Two week field studies in selected branches of the geosciences.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Two-week intensive field school to a range of national and international locations.
Prerequisites: EPSC 240, enrolment in U2 or U3 EPS program, and permission of the instructor.
Alternates years with EPSC 341.
The field school will be based around the Bay of Fundy, and central Nova Scotia and has an additional fee of $563.27 to cover the costs of transportation and accommodation as well as other field expenses. Six days will be spent around the Chignecto peninsula, including visits to Parrsboro, Joggins, and Cape Chignecto park. The remaining time will be spent between Pictou, Wolfville and the Annapolis valley, and the coast south of Halifax.
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EPSC 341 Field School 3 (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Two week field studies in selected branches of the geosciences to examine processes in geology.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Two week intensive field school to a range of national and international locations.
Prerequisites: EPSC 240, enrolment in U2 or U3 EPS program and permission of the instructor.
Alternates years with EPSC 331.
This course, given every alternate year, has an additional fee of $563.27 to cover the costs of airfare, meals and accommodation as well as other field expenses. The fee is only refundable prior to the deadline to withdraw with full refund. The department of Earth and Planetary Science subsidizes a portion of the cost for this activity.
3 credits of environmental and ore-forming processes
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EPSC 513 Climate and the Carbon Cycle (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : What does the rapid increase in CO2, currently driven by human activities, mean for future climate? Where will the carbon released by humans go, and how long will it take? An overview of the mechanisms governing global climate, the carbon cycle, and geological evidence for past changes in climate and the carbon cycle. Through assignments, students build their own simple Earth System models in order to explore basic principles of the coupling between climate and the carbon cycle. Output from General Circulation Models is analysed and recent peer-reviewed scientific literature is discussed.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
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EPSC 519 Isotopes in Earth and Environmental Science (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : The theory and application of stable and radioactive isotope measurements in the Earth and environmental sciences, including applications in geology, hydrology, climatology, biogeochemistry, and ecology.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
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EPSC 542 Chemical Oceanography (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : History of chemical oceanography. Seawater composition and definition of salinity/chlorinity. Minor and trace-element distribution in the ocean. Geochemical mass balance. Dissolved gases in sea water. CO2 and the carbonate system. Chemical speciation. Physical chemistry of seawater. Organic matter and the carbon cycle in the marine environment. Sediment geochemistry.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
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EPSC 549 Hydrogeology (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Introduction to groundwater flow through porous media. Notions of fluid potential and hydraulic head. Darcy flux and Darcy's Law. Physical properties of porous media and their measurement. Equation of groundwater flow. Flow systems. Hydraulics of pumping and recharging wells. Notions of hydrology. Groundwater quality and contamination. Physical processes of contaminant transport.
Terms: Winter 2021
Instructors: Alazard, Marina (Winter)
Winter
3 hours lectures
Prerequisite: permission of the instructor
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EPSC 561 Ore-forming Processes (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Physicochemical controls of hydrothermal mineral deposition. Discussion of fluid inclusion theory and application; stable isotope systematics, wall-rock alteration; ore mineral solubility and speciation; and mechanisms of mineral deposition.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
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EPSC 580 Aqueous Geochemistry (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : The use of chemical thermodynamics to study fluid-rock interactions with an emphasis on the aqueous phase. The course will introduce basic concepts and will discuss aqueous complexation, mineral surface adsorption, and other controls on crustal fluid compositions. Applications will range from considering contaminated groundwater systems to metamorphic reactions.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
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EPSC 590 Applied Geochemistry Seminar (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Seminar course devoted to field case studies that illustrate the applications of geochemical principles to solving geologic problems. Each student will prepare and lead a class devoted to a geochemical subject of their own choosing.
Terms: Winter 2021
Instructors: Douglas, Peter; Williams-Jones, Anthony E (Winter)
Winter
3 hours seminar
Prerequisite: permission of instructor
12 credits of other specializations can be drawn from the categories above or from:
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EPSC 350 Tectonics (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Rheology of the Earth, mechanics of the crust and mantle and core, convection in the mantle, evolution and kinematics and deformations of the oceanic and continental plates, thermal evolution of the Earth, the unifying theory of plate tectonics.
Terms: Winter 2021
Instructors: Kirkpatrick, James (Winter)
Winter
3 hours lectures
Prerequisite(s): EPSC 320
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EPSC 435 Applied Geophysics (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Methods in geophysical surveying including gravity, magnetism, electromagnetism, resistivity and seismology; application to exploration and near surface environmental and hydrological targets are included, along with field applications of techniques.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
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EPSC 501 Crystal Chemistry (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Discussion of crystal structures and compositions of important mineral groups, especially oxides, sulphides and silicates. Solid solution. Relation of structure to morphology and to chemical and physical properties of the rock-forming minerals.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Winter
2 hours lectures, 1 hour seminar
Prerequisite(s): EPSC 210 (or equivalent) and at least one 300- or higher-level course in petrology, or permission of the instructor.
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EPSC 503 Advanced Structural Geology (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : The fundamental concepts of stress, strain and deformation mechanisms in rocks are explored. Topics include, but are not restricted to, theory of continuum mechanics, brittle deformation, intracrystalline deformation, and frictional sliding. Deformation structures are studied in the field and/or using petrographic and micro-analytical methods to link the theory to natural systems. Problem solving through effective use of field and laboratory data and observations is integrated throughout, with emphasis on basic numerical methods developed in Matlab .
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Prerequisite: EPSC 303 or permission of instructor
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EPSC 510 Geodynamics (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Topics in geodynamics including the gravity field of the Earth and planets, the body and orbital dynamics of planets and moons, tidal interactions, Earth deformation under static and dynamic loads including glacial isostatic adjustment and sea level change, the history and dynamics of the Earth's climate and of surface ice and water.
Terms: Winter 2021
Instructors: Gomez, Natalya (Winter)
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EPSC 520 Earthquake Physics and Geology (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : What are earthquakes and how do we study them? Fundamental mechanics of faulting and earthquake source processes are explored from theoretical and observational perspectives. The lectures cover concepts of earthquake source mechanism, including seismic waves, earthquake energy budget, fracture and friction mechanics, earthquake cycle deformation, earthquake triggering and prediction, and seismic hazards. This is complemented by in-class discussion on recent major discoveries and challenges in the field. Students learn to investigate earthquake source process by using seismic, geodetic and geological data in computer labs and course projects supervised by the instructor(s).
Terms: Winter 2021
Instructors: Liu, Yajing (Winter)
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EPSC 530 Volcanology (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : The physical mechanisms which drive volcanoes and volcanic activity are presented. Descriptive, practical and theoretical approaches to the study of volcanoes are discussed.
Terms: Fall 2020
Instructors: Stix, John (Fall)
Winter
2 hours lectures, 3 hours laboratory
Prerequisites: EPSC 212 or equivalent, or permission of instructor.
Prerequisites: Enrolment in U2 or U3 EPS program
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EPSC 547 Modelling Geochemical Processes (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Advanced thermodynamics and kinetics will be applied to construct models that quantitatively investigate geochemical processes. Topics include, but are not restricted to: activity-composition relationships in solids, liquids and fluids, crystallization and melting, precipitation and dissolution, rates of geochemical processes, interaction of geological liquids and fluids with rocks and minerals.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
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EPSC 548 Processes of Igneous Petrology (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Investigation of the primary mechanisms causing the diversity of igneous rock compositions on the Earth, other planets, asteroids, and meteorite parent bodies.
Terms: Winter 2021
Instructors: Baker, Don (Winter)
Winter
2 hours lectures, 1 hour seminar
Prerequisite: EPSC 423
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EPSC 550 Selected Topics 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Research seminar and/or lecture with readings in topics concerning aspects of current interests in Earth & Planetary Sciences.
Terms: Fall 2020, Winter 2021, Summer 2021
Instructors: Halverson, Galen (Fall)
Fall or Winter
2 hours seminar, permission of department undergraduate advisor
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EPSC 551 Selected Topics 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Research seminar and/or lecture with readings in topics concerning aspects of current interest in Earth & Planetary Sciences.
Terms: Fall 2020, Winter 2021, Summer 2021
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Fall or Winter
2 hours seminar, permission of department undergraduate advisor
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EPSC 552 Selected Topics 3 (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Research seminar and/or lecture with readings in topics concerning aspects of current interest in Earth & Planetary Sciences.
Terms: Winter 2021
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Fall or Winter
2 hours seminar, permission of department undergraduate advisor
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EPSC 567 Advanced Volcanology (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : An in-depth approach to physical and chemical processes associated with volcanic systems. Examination of magma chamber dynamics, magma behaviour in conduits, and eruption mechanisms. Study of eruptive products including pyroclastic deposits, lava flows and lava domes, and volcanic gases. Volcanic-tectonic and magma-hydrothermal interactions.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Prerequisite: EPSC 530 or permission of instructor
Courses from other departments may also be used, with the permission of the Director of undergraduate studies, when they meet the academic requirements of professional orders in most Canadian provinces.
