Specializations
Sedimentology: emphasis on field projects—a) measurement of Recent barrier, lagoonal and estuarine processes, and investigation of lithofacies; b) Recent braided rivers and alluvial fans; c) depositional systems of ancient rocks. Stratigraphy—paleontology: paleoenvironmental reconstructions, historical geology, paleontology, paleobiology. Coastal geomorphology: analysis of coastal land forms using field techniques, remote-sensing aerial and satellite imagery. Emphasis on Rhode Island barriers, Cape Cod, and barrier islands of the Atlantic coast.
Geoarchaeology: two areas are emphasized: 1) the petrographic and geochemical characterization of archaeological artifacts, debitage, and quarry specimen to constrain sources, distribution patterns, trade routes, and other archaeological issues, and 2) landscape development and paleoclimate of late glacial and early post-glacial time using mapping, macrofossil analysis, and dating by radioisotopic methods.
Glacial geology: sedimentary aspects of Pleistocene and Recent glacial paleoenvironments of New England and Alaska; environmental mapping. Hydrogeology: field and laboratory studies of groundwater flow, groundwater chemistry, and the interaction between groundwater and the geologic framework.
Applied geophysics: near-surface geo-physics such as geoelectrics, gravity, and magnetics applied to groundwater and contaminant hydrogeology in cooperation with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Resistivity measurements on unconsolidated laboratory samples. Gravity and magnetic studies of structures in igneous and metamorphic terranes of southern New England.
Remote sensing: applied remote sensing using optical and computer analysis of satellite imagery and aerial photography in geomorphology and coastal, structural, and environmental geology.
Petrology—geochemistry: field and laboratory petrologic studies in the New England Appalachians, in the Sierra Nevada of California, and elsewhere, including petrogenesis of volcanic, plutonic, and metamorphic rocks.
Structure and tectonics: deformation at regional to microscopic scales; neo-tectonic relationship between deformation and metamorphism; emphasis on New England tectonics.
Resource and environmental studies: relevant aspects of the above specializations. Individual programs may include courses and/or research in conjunction with the Graduate School of Oceanography and other departments; interdisciplinary studies are encouraged.
Master of Science
Admission requirements: Bachelor’s degree and GRE exam scores. Background in sciences or engineering recommended. By the end of the first year, students lacking an undergraduate major equivalent to the bachelor of science degree in geology will be required to demonstrate, through course work and/or qualifying examinations, comparable knowledge of geology and related fields.
Program requirements: for thesis option, 30 credits of course work; thesis and defense; an oral preliminary examination; and a graduate seminar (for no program credit).For nonthesis option, 36 credits of course work, not including a graduate seminar, with half or more credits at the 500 level or above and 18 or more credits in geology; GEL 592; advanced seminars in the relevant area(s) of specialization; an oral preliminary examination; and a written comprehensive examination.
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