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About the University of Calgary
 Graduate Studies Calendar 2023-2024 Courses of Instruction Course Descriptions G Geology GLGY
Geology GLGY
GLGY 601 602 605 609 611 615 623 633 637 639 641 647 655 660 663 670 675 683 697 698 699 705 707
 

For more information about these courses, see the Department of Geoscience science.ucalgary.ca/geoscience.
 
Graduate Courses
 
Geology 601       Advanced Physical Hydrogeology
An advanced treatment of topics covered in Geology 401.
Course Hours: 3 units; (3-2)
Prerequisite(s): Admission to a graduate-level Geoscience program or consent of the department.
Antirequisite(s): Credit for Geology 601 and 401 will not be allowed.
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Geology 602       Advanced Aqueous Geochemistry and Environmental Microbiology
An advanced treatment of aqueous geochemistry and environmental microbiology.
Course Hours: 3 units; (3-3)
Prerequisite(s): Admission to a graduate-level Geoscience program or consent of the Department.
Antirequisite(s): Credit for Geology 602 and either Geology 403 or 699.10 will not be allowed.
Notes: This course includes field work in potentially rugged conditions and varying weather, for which participants must be prepared and equipped. A supplementary fee will be assessed to cover additional costs associated with this course.
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Geology 605       Groundwater Flow and Reactive Transport Modelling
Review of the partial differential equations and boundary conditions that describe groundwater flow and transport. Introduction to numerical methods. The course emphasizes the practical aspects of building groundwater and transport models using computer exercises and a groundwater modelling project.
Course Hours: 3 units; (3-2T)
Prerequisite(s): Geology 401 or 601.
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Geology 609       Advanced Contaminant Hydrogeology
An advanced treatment of topics covered in Geology 505.
Course Hours: 3 units; (3-3)
Prerequisite(s): Admission to a graduate-level Geoscience program or consent of the Department.
Antirequisite(s): Credit for Geology 609 and Geology 505 will not be allowed.
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Geology 611       Groundwater Resource Management
Advanced topics related to groundwater resource development and management, including exploration methods, aquifer test analysis, aquifer-aquitard systems, groundwater recharge, and the role of models. Fundamental issues related to regional integrated management of water resources.
Course Hours: 3 units; (2-2)
Prerequisite(s): Mathematics 253 or 267 or 277 or 283 or Applied Mathematics 219 and Geology 401 or Geography 415.
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Geology 615       Advanced Laboratory Methods in Geoscience
An overview of analytical methods in geoscience and their applications. Provides the theoretical background of the techniques as well as opportunities for practical experience. Particular emphasis will be placed on analytical techniques available within the department.
Course Hours: 3 units; (3-3)
Prerequisite(s): Admission to a graduate-level Geoscience program or consent of the Department.
Antirequisite(s): Credit for Geology 615 and 699.57 will not be allowed.
Notes: Students must complete appropriate safety training prior to commencing lab related work.
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Geology 623       Modern Diffraction and Scattering Techniques
Space groups and principles of X-ray, neutron, and electron diffraction and their applications. Crystal structure determination and refinement using single crystal and Rietveld methods. X-ray and neutron scattering techniques (using the Pair Distribution Function, PDF) to examine local disorder in nano-materials and glasses.  Phase transition and structural evolution with pressure, temperature, and composition.  Analyses of experimental data sets and extensive use of computers.
Course Hours: 3 units; (3-3)
Prerequisite(s): Geology 523.
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Geology 633       Advanced Petrologic Methods
Theoretical and applied problems in petrology, including some or all of: numerical techniques in petrology, phase equilibria, geothermometry and geobarometry, kinetics in petrology, physics and chemistry of magmatic processes. Laboratory will consist of petrographic study of rock suites.
Course Hours: 3 units; (3-3)
Prerequisite(s): Geology 543.
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Geology 637       Advanced Geoscience Field Studies
Application of advanced concepts and/or methods to field problems of current interest.
Course Hours: 3 units; (80-100 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Admission to a graduate-level Geoscience program or consent of the Department.
Antirequisite(s): Credit for Geology 637 and any of Geology 435, 537, or 545 will not be allowed.
Notes: A maximum of 6 units may be taken in Geology 637.
MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT
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Geology 639       Field Laboratory in Groundwater Hydrogeology

Entails a week at a hydrogeology field site in Alberta or British Columbia. Hydrogeology and geotechnical techniques will be demonstrated and will involve hands-on participation by students. After the field work, students will conduct extensive analysis and interpretation of data gathered during the field session, complete exercises and prepare a written report. Relative to Geology 441, Geology 639 requires more sophisticated analyses of data and additional exercises. Geology 639 normally runs for two to three weeks following Winter Term Final Examinations or prior to the Fall Term.
Course Hours: 3 units; (80-100 hours)
Prerequisite(s): Geology 401 or 601 and admission to a graduate-level Geoscience program or consent of the Department.
Antirequisite(s): Credit for Geology 639 and 441 will not be allowed.
Notes: This course has limited enrolment. This course occurs in rugged field conditions and varying weather, for which participants must be prepared and equipped. Students will be required to cover food and accommodation costs. A supplementary fee will be assessed to cover additional costs associated with this course. Students will require consent of the department to drop this course.
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Geology 641       Advanced Structural Methods

Analysis of mesoscopic and megascopic structural data; the construction and analytical use of cross-sections, subsurface maps and 3-dimensional models; structural analysis of the Canadian Cordillera.
Course Hours: 3 units; (3-3)
Prerequisite(s): Admission to a graduate-level Geoscience program or consent of the Department.
Antirequisite(s): Credit for Geology 641 and 541 will not be allowed.
Notes: There may be a weekend field excursion during the term.
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Geology 647       Geology Well Log Applications
Geological applications of petrophysical well logs and integration with core descriptions and core analysis data. Derivation of reservoir properties from single-well and multi-well studies.
Course Hours: 3 units, (2-2-2T)
Prerequisite(s): Admission to a graduate-level Geoscience program or consent of the Department.
Antirequisite(s): Credit for Geology 647 and any of Geology 449, 699.71, or Geophysics 449 will not be allowed.
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Geology 655       Unconventional Gas Reservoir Characterization and Evaluation
Overview of the unique storage and production mechanisms associated with coalbed methane, tight gas and shale gas reservoirs; adsorbed gas storage and modelling; gas-in-place determination and volumetric reserves estimation; material balance techniques; fracture and matrix flow mechanisms; completion/stimulation methods; reservoir characterization methods including core analysis, rate-transient and pressure-transient analysis; exploration and development concepts.
Course Hours: 3 units; (3-0)
Prerequisite(s): Petroleum Engineering 523 and admission to a graduate-level Geoscience program or consent of the Department.
Antirequisite(s): Credit for Geology 655 and Geology 699.37 will not be allowed.
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Geology 660       Advanced Sequence Stratigraphy
Concepts and application of sequence stratigraphy to seismic, outcrops, cores, and well logs, with a focus on siliciclastic depositional systems.
Course Hours: 3 units; (3-3)
Prerequisite(s): Admission to a graduate-level Geoscience program or consent of the Department.
Antirequisite(s): Credit for Geology 660 and either Geology 561 or 699.34 will not be allowed.
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Geology 663       Applications of Stable Isotopes
Application of stable isotope techniques with special focus on Hydrogeology, Geology and Environmental Sciences. The use of isotopes to understand the water, carbon, nitrogen and sulphur cycles is demonstrated. Topics include hydrology, paleoclimates, geothermometry, fossil fuels exploration and recovery, pollutant tracing, food webs, forensic investigations, among others.
Course Hours: 3 units; (2-1)
Prerequisite(s): Admission to a graduate-level Geoscience program or consent of the Department.
Also known as: (Physics 663)
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Geology 670       Independent Study
A written report based on laboratory and field studies, or literature review is required.
Course Hours: 3 units; (0-6)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of Department.
MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT
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Geology 675       Advanced Topics in Dinosaur Paleontology
Topics related to the paleobiology, paleoecology, and paleoenvironments of the Dinosauria will be covered.
Course Hours: 3 units; (3-0)
Prerequisite(s): Consent of the Department or enrolment in a paleontology-based graduate program.
MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT
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Geology 683       Advanced Carbonate Sedimentology
Advanced coverage of carbonate sedimentology, including the origin of carbonate sediments, modern and ancient, and their depositional and diagenetic environments.
Course Hours: 3 units; (3-3)
Prerequisite(s): Admission to a graduate-level Geoscience program or consent of the Department.
Antirequisite(s): Credit for Geology 683 and either Geology 483 or 699.02 will not be allowed.
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Geology 697       Advanced Geostatistics

Advanced treatment of the topics covered in Geology 597.
Course Hours: 3 units; (3-3)
Prerequisite(s): Mathematics 253 or 267 or 277 or 283 or Applied Mathematics 219 and Mathematics 211.
Antirequisite(s): Credit for Geology 697 and 597 will not be allowed.
Notes: Completion of Mathematics 331 and/or Statistics 357 or 327 is recommended prior to taking this course.
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Geology 698       Reservoir Characterization for Field Development
A team-based, integrated reservoir description experience working with geophysical, geological, petrophysical, and engineering data to produce a field development plan.
Course Hours: 6 units; (3-0)
Prerequisite(s): Chemical Engineering 621 and Geology 697 and Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources 789, and admission to the Master of Science in Geoscience with Reservoir Characterization Specialization.
Also known as: (Chemical Engineering 698)
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Geology 699       Selected Topics in Geology
Courses are offered in specific topics in areas such as geochemistry, hydrogeology, mineralogy, paleontology, petroleum geology, petrology, quantitative geology, sedimentology, structural geology, and surficial geology.
Course Hours: 3 units; (3-3) or (3-0)
Prerequisite(s): Admission to a graduate-level Geoscience program or consent of the Department.      
MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT
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Geology 705       Graduate Skills in Geoscience
Provides an overview of professional skills that are key to success in graduate school and beyond. Presentation skills, writing scientific manuscripts, the peer review process, defence and candidacy exams, intellectual property and innovation, and networking basics.
Course Hours: 3 units; (3-3)
Prerequisite(s): Admission to a graduate-level Geoscience program or consent of the Department.
Antirequisite(s): Credit for Geology 705 and Geology 699.56 will not be allowed.
Also known as: (Geophysics 705)
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Geology 707       Geology and Geophysics of Western Canada
Topics include stratigraphy, sedimentology, structure, petrology, geophysics and economic geology. Laboratories contain a field component.
Course Hours: 3 units; (2-2)
Prerequisite(s): Admission to a graduate program in Geoscience.
Notes: This course includes an optional overnight field trip in potentially rugged conditions and varying weather, for which participants must be prepared and equipped.  A supplementary fee will be assessed to cover additional costs associated with this course.
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