Duke University 2003-2004 - Office of the Registrar - Duke University

Research projects have involved fieldwork throughout North and South America,
across Africa, as well as the world’s oceans. In addition, the division is home of the
Duke University Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines, which focuses on
man’s impact on the world’s coastal areas; the Center for Hydrologic Science, which
provides a cohesive program in research and graduate education in hydrology; and
the journal Southeastern Geology.
Laboratory facilities available in the department are described in this bulletin
under the chapter “Resources for Study.”
Degree Requirements
Students entering the graduate program normally have an undergraduate degree
in geology or one of the other natural sciences. It is expected that the incoming student
will have taken one year of college chemistry, one year of college physics, and
mathematics through calculus. Both M.S. and Ph.D. graduate students take 30 credit
hours of courses and research. Typically, the total time for a Ph.D. degree is five years
past the B.S. or three years past the M.S. Because the division encourages participation
in fieldwork and other research opportunities outside the university, there are no firm
time limits for degrees, except as required by the university.
Up-to-date information about the division and the faculty can be found on our
web site, at http://www.env.duke.edu/eos/. For further information on the graduate
program, send email inquiries to dgs@eos.duke.edu.
For Seniors and Graduates
200. Beach and Coastal Processes. The study of sedimentary processes and
geomorphology of nearshore environments with emphasis on both developed and
undeveloped barrier island systems. Instructor: Staff. 3 units.
202. Beach and Island Geological Processes. Field seminar in the evolution of beaches
and barrier islands with emphasis on the interaction of nearshore processes with the
trappings of man. Consent of instructor required. Prerequisite: Earth and Ocean
Sciences 115/215 or consent of instructor. (Given at coast on two weekends.) Instructor:
Staff. 2 units. C-L: Marine Sciences
203. Physical Oceanography. Introduction to the dynamic principles of ocean
circulation with an emphasis on large temporal and spatial scales of motion. Topics
include wind-driven and density-driven flow, western boundary intensification, midocean,
shelf, and tropical circulations. Also taught as Environment 290 and Mechanical
Engineering 290. Prerequisites: Mathematics 31 and 32 or consent of instructor.
Instructor: Lozier. 3 units.
205. Geological Oceanography. 3 units. C-L: see Environment 291
206S. Principles of Geological Oceanography. Geological aspects of the ocean basins
including coastal to deep water sediment types and sedimentation processes, sea floor
physiography, and environmental problems. Not open to students who have taken
Earth and Ocean Sciences 205. Consent of instructor required. Instructor: Baker. 3 units.
209S. Climate Dynamics and the Paleoclimatic Record. Review of climate fluctuations
throughout Earth history and discussions of mechanisms proposed to explain them.
Topics include Holocene climate variability, the Pleistocene ice ages, pre-Pleistocene
fluctuations, general theory of climate, paleoclimate modeling and comparisons with
observations, and methodologies of interpreting paleoclimate records. Some
background in physical sciences recommended; consent of instructor required.
Instructor: Crowley. 3 units.
210S. Paleoenvironmental Analysis. Methods of paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic
analysis. Includes radiometric and other methods of dating, stable isotopes, trace
elements, paleobiotic and other methods of reconstructing climate, hydrology and
environment of the past. Also includes approaches to modeling paleoenvironmental
data. Instructor: Baker. 3 units.
112 Courses and Academic Programs