Structural Geology Course
Natasha Mulhearn
In the mid-1990s the course was entitled Structural Geology (GEOL 401) and was populated by junior and senior Geology majors, in 2006 we changed up our Geology curriculum and the course became a 2nd-level geology course entitled Earth Structure & Dynamics (GEOL 323). In total, 439 students have completed either GEOL 401 or GEOL 323. As the graph below illustrates enrollment has grown in recent years; that follows as Geology has more majors than ever before.
Has my grading changed? Has the course become easier or harder over the years? The plot below illustrates the average class GPA per year (orange diamonds); the long-term average for the course is a 3.07 (on the traditional 4 point scale). This is the average GPA for the whole class, some students earn a better grade and others earn a worse grade. Overall, the average grade is a B, although in the best years it has topped out at 3.3 (a B+ average), and in some years it has dipped down to nearly 2.8. From year-to-year, and from class-to-class, the average grade bounces around quite a bit, and I do not discern any long-term trend. Put another way, the grades in my structural geology course are about the same now as they were in the late 1990s.
It is super interesting to see where my Structure year fell in the overall averages! I remember the class before me (2004 GEOL-401) as superstars and it looks like they were! Low class size though, perhaps that has some effect too. Good for you for reflecting like this- it is important to know if your averages have changed!
Learn to set effective course goals from the Course Design Tutorial. You can also browse course descriptions and syllabi from your colleagues to gauge the range of structural geology courses currently offered.
Aligning your assessment strategies with the goals of your course is an essential part of the design process. You can learn more about assessment in the section about Assessing Student Learning in the Course Design Tutorial and through our module on Observing and Assessing Student Learning.
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The trip is a 10-day round trip from Las Vegas, covering about 2,500 miles in 4WD vehicles. Industry participants should plan to arrive in Las Vegas no later than Wednesday evening, as the trip leaves early on Thursday morning. Industry participants should plan to depart from Las Vegas no earlier than Saturday night, September 7.
This includes ground transportation, all lunches in the field, double-occupancy accommodations in motels each night during the trip, and course materials. Breakfasts and most dinners are the responsibility of participants. Industry participants must also provide transportation to and from Las Vegas and their accommodations the night before and after the trip.
This 9-day short course designed for members of the industry and graduate students is led by Eric Seedorff, Mark D. Barton, and others. It focuses on exploration geology, including 3 days of lectures, 2 days of labs in Tucson, and 3 days of field trips to representative ore systems in Arizona. (course no. 504C)
This intensive course deals with the lithologic, structural, and geochemical characteristics of selected major ore deposit types. Each offering focuses on an in-depth examination of a selected family mineral deposits, including fundamental and comparative characteristics, petrology and genesis, and how these can influence metallurgical, engineering, economic, and historical aspects of mining.
The lecture sessions are held at the Marriott University Park Hotel on the edge of the campus at the University of Arizona. The laboratory sessions take place mostly at the Gould-Simpson Building, which is home to the Geosciences Department. The building is located at 1040 East 4th Street, Tucson, AZ 85721- 0077, and is located within walking distance from the Marriott Hotel.
We work with the Marriott to get a discounted rate for the short course participants. Most participants enjoy staying at the Marriott because of the accommodations and the convenience to the lectures and labs.
The lecture sessions are usually held at the Marriott University Park Hotel on the edge of the campus at the University of Arizona. The laboratory sessions take place mostly at the Gould-Simpson Building, home to the Geosciences Department. The building is located at 1040 East 4th Street, Tucson, AZ 85721-0077, and is located within walking distance from the Marriott Hotel.
Knowledge: Students will acquire knowledge about up to date aspects of theoretical and experimental structural geology from micro to macro scale. These include: rheological properties of rocks, state of stress, deformation regimes, deformation mechanisms, fault types, fault mechanics, brittle and ductile structures analysis and characterization, kinematic markers... The course will also highlight applied aspects of structural geology, including integrated structural data analysis, visualization and interpretation. Some exercise on offshore seismic reflection data will also be proposed.
Skills: Students will strengthen their skills in the broad field of structural geology and will learn to examine structures and deformation processes at all scales in a holistic fashion, by integrating their knowledge in different geological fields.
This four-week online course will teach you the basics of structural geology and how to analyse structures in drill core. It will emphasise the importance of structural geology to the exploration and mining industry, and teach the basics of what to measure, methods of measurement, and how to record data.
Through this experience he has developed a unified and systematic approach to structural analysis, which includes new and simple methods of dealing with structures such as lineations, folds, and shear zones.
Knowledge: Students will learn about stress, strain and the deformation of rocks. They will learn how geological structures such as faults, shear zones, folds, foliations and lineations form in the Earths crust and how they are classified, measured and analysed. They will also learn about how structural geology is applied in society.
Skills: Students will be able to interpret geological maps and profiles and use stereographic projection to solve structural geologic problems. Students will be able to use tools such as compass, stereonet and GPS as well as relevant digital tools to collect and interpret data.
This free online course introduces you to the main concepts in structural geology. You will learn about the architecture of rock formations and their development over geological time periods, and how deformed rocks and structures conceal a series of tales.
It begins with structural elements, measurements and stereographic projections of linear and planer features. You will learn about the concepts of stress, strain and rheology of rocks. This course provides insights into the deformation mechanisms of rocks, folds, foliation and lineation, boudinage, faults and joints, ductile shear zone and much more. The course also examines how rocks deform and change shape and how we can recognise and use structures within rocks, to determine ancient magnitudes and the orientations of stress fields.
Students of this course will be introduced to the techniques of recording and analysing structural data. They will be taught how to map rock sequences in the field and interrogate a region, to determine how it formed and what has happened to the area since formation. This course will be of interest to students studying geology-related subjects, laypersons interested in the topic and for career-development purposes. Start this course today and learn more about structural geology and its applications.
All Alison courses are free to enrol study and complete. To successfully complete this course and become an Alison Graduate, you need to achieve 80% or higher in each course assessment. Once you have completed this course, you have the option to acquire an official Diploma, which is a great way to share your achievement with the world.
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