Current Courses: Spring 2026

GEOL 100: Earth in Action (Credits: 3)

If you ever found a rock and wondered what it was, how it was formed, or where it came from, this class is perfect for you. This class is a 3-credit-hour introductory geology lecture that covers a variety of topics (topics may differ depending on the instructor). In this class, you will learn about: the scientific method, different spheres of the Earth and their interactions, the theory of plate tectonics, the basics of earthquakes and volcanoes, and the science of climate change. Various active learning and student engagement techniques, such as virtual reality field trips (and real field trips for the First Year Seminar section), are used.

GEOL 103 (Geology Laboratory) may be taken with this course to make it an elective with a lab section. It is also offered online through Global Campus. K-State 8 tags Historical Perspectives, Natural & Physical Sciences

GEOL 103: Geology Laboratory (Credits: 1)

This class is a 1 credit hour introductory geology laboratory that meets once a week for 2 hours. In this lab you will learn about basic geology topics in a hands-on active session. The topics include identification of rocks and minerals, geologic maps, topographic maps, streams and groundwater and landforms. During the lab session you will use an augmented-reality sandbox to learn about topographic maps, virtual reality field trips to learn about different landforms, a stream table to learn about evolution of riverbeds over time and many other hands-on activities involving mineral and rock specimens, and different maps.

Prerequisite or co-requisite: GEOL 100, GEOL 102, or GEOL 125. K-State 8 tag Natural & Physical Sciences.

GEOL 115: Environmental Geology (Credits: 3)

This course is intended to provide you with a scientific overview of geology as it relates to human activities and the interaction between human activity and geological processes. In particular, we will investigate (a) the physical constraints imposed on human activities by the near-surface and surface geological processes that are continually shaping the environment that we live in, (b) the resources that we utilize to sustain our lives on Earth, and (c) global environmental issues such as climate change, geologic hazards, natural resources, and water use.

This course is offered online through Global Campus. K-State 8 tag Global Issues & Perspectives, Natural & Physical Sciences.

GEOL 125: Natural Disasters (Credits: 3)

This introductory lecture course introduces you to geological phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods, with particular emphasis on their causes, effects, and significance as hazards. By enrolling in this course, you will learn about Earth's processes, gain an appreciation for natural forces that impact our lives in very significant ways, and become a better-informed citizen. This course meets natural and physical science and social science requirements of K-State 8.

Geology 103 (Geology Laboratory) may be taken with this course to make it an elective with a lab section. It is also offered online through Global Campus. K-State 8 tag Natural & Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences.

GEOL 200: Earth through Time (Credits: 3)

The purpose of this course is to tell you the story about how the Earth came to be, how the planet and life on it evolved from its formation 4.5 billion years ago to the present, and to discuss the interconnectedness of the physical and biological realms. You will also learn how scientists know all that! By the end of the course, you should be able to (1) understand the internal and external processes in the Earth, (2) have a general notion of the techniques applied to historical geology, and (3) have an overall view of the history of the Earth, understanding the interrelationship between major events and the evolution of life, geologic time; plate tectonics and the evolution of continents, oceans; history of life as revealed in the geologic record; and past climates. GEOL 103 (Geology Laboratory) may be taken with this course to make it an elective with a lab section. It is also offered online through Global Campus. K-State 8 tags Historical Perspectives, Natural & Physical Sciences

GEOL 501: Independent Study in Geology (Credits: 1-3)

Independent reading; field or laboratory investigations, or both, of geologic problems.

GEOL 503: Petrology (Credits: 3)

In Petrology, you will learn to recognize common igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks in both hand specimen and by using microscope techniques. In addition, you will learn to interpret parts of the geologic history of the rocks. A rock’s mineralogy, mineral textures, mineral chemistry, and bulk chemistry provide a language that we can read and ultimately interpret as a way of understanding the geologic history of a particular location or time period on the Earth.

GEOL 560 Field Methods (Credits: 3)

Introduction to methods used to collect geologic data in the field. Emphasis is placed on map-reading, rock description, use of aerial photographs, and construction of geologic maps and cross sections.

Prerequisite: GEOL 503. K-State 8 tags Empirical & Quantitative Reasoning, Natural & Physical Sciences

GEOL599: Senior Thesis (Credits: 1-3)

Directed research and preparation of a senior thesis.

GEOL 611: Hydrogeology (Credits: 3)

You will understand the physical processes underlying the movement of fluids through the subsurface. You will also understand the transport of particulates and solutes, including contaminants, within flow regimes. You will learn more than concepts and terminology; you will develop the ability to quantitatively solve problems encountered in professional practice. You will learn how these problems arise in addressing contaminated sites, remediating subsurface pollution, and managing and protecting groundwater resources. You will also understand how to extend the concepts toward understanding the flow of fluids (oil, water, gas) in aquifers and reservoirs.

GEOL 630: Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (Credits: 3)

Sedimentary rocks cover up to 75% of the Earth’s surface, recording the evolution of life and telling the story of how the environments have changed through time. This course will introduce the basic principles of Sedimentology, which deals with how sediments are transported and deposited, and Stratigraphy, the study of the spatial and temporal relations between sedimentary layers that record many of the details of the Earth's history: effects of sea level change, global climate, tectonic processes, and geochemical cycles. By learning about the processes that take place in modern environments, you will be able to interpret and reconstruct past sedimentary environments. In this course, you will develop the skills necessary to describe and interpret sedimentary rocks and stratigraphic successions, so you can understand the geologic history of a region. Prerequisite: GEOL 503.

GEOL 642: Field Geophysics (Credits: 3)

This course provides hands-on training in the area of applied geophysics, comprising field and data acquisition and processing experience with applications to near-surface environmental and engineering applications. The syllabus covers several geophysical methods, including seismic reflection and refraction, gravity, analysis of surface seismic waves, electrical resistivity tomography, and ground-penetrating radar. This course enables students to learn how to utilize geophysical equipment and methods to characterize the subsurface, from tens of inches to hundreds of feet, in order to answer questions pertaining to groundwater studies, environmental mapping, and/or engineering site characterization.

GEOL 650: Geomicrobiology (Credits: 3)

Microorganisms are very small, but they have a big impact the world around us. They affect the quality of our water resources, the composition of the atmosphere, the fertility of soils, the abundance and properties of energy resources, and more. This course includes lab and lecture components and will help you learn basic information about microbes and the major biogeochemical cycles, how natural environments influence the activities of microbes, and how microbes, in turn, impact natural environments. Because this course covers basic information about microorganism, you will not need to have much prior experience with microbiology prior to the course. Note that this course satisfies the College of Arts and Sciences Life Science requirement.

GEOL 701: Economic Geology (Credits: 3)

Do you want to understand how economic mineral deposits form on Earth? This course is a 3-credit hour course focused on how ore deposits, including elements critical to the ongoing energy transition and modern society, form in magmatic, hydrothermal, and sedimentary environments? We will focus on the fundamental concepts of ore-forming processes and the techniques used to decipher how these deposits form (and are found) from a global-tectonic scale to the nanoscale.

GEOL 712: Advanced Geochemistry (Credits: 3)

This course will expand your knowledge of high temperature geochemistry as well as engage in hands-on, practical project-based research. Theory will be addressed in a ‘flipped classroom’ style. By the end of the course, you should be able to use and manipulate geochemical data to solve petrological problems as well as integrate and utilize a variety of scientific techniques (e.g., microscopy, geochemical analysis, modelling, theory) to solve problems and communicate your ideas effectively through oral and written communication. It will be assumed that you already have a firm grasp of petrography.

GEOL 715: Dating Earth Materials

Discusses how ages are measured for rocks, minerals, waters, and sediments by analysis of isotopes produced by radioactive decay or cosmic rays.
Prerequisite: CHM 230, GEOL 503.

GEOL 790: Problems in Geology (Credits: 0-18)

Work is offered in mineralogy, paleobiology, paleoecology, stratigraphy, structural geology, igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary petrology, geomorphology, planetary geology, hydrogeology, geochemistry, and isotope geology.

GEOL 898: Master’s Report Research (Credits: 1-2)

Research or practice of geology is summarized in a scholarly report.

GEOL 899: Master’s Theses Research (Credits: 1-6)

Research in geology culminating in a master’s thesis.