USC Schedule of Classes

Geological Sciences (GEOL)

• D class assignments for undergraduates available in ZHS-117; Phone: (213) 740-6106.
• D class assignments for graduate students available in ZHS-117; Phone: (213) 740-6106.
• NOTE: Proof of insurance is mandatory when participating in field trips for credit in any Earth Sciences class. Email address to request D clearance: Earthsci@usc.edu.

GEOL 105Lg: Planet Earth (4.0 units)

Geologic structure and evolution of planet earth. Principles ofplate tectonics, rocks and minerals, processes of mountainbuilding, continent and ocean formation, earthquakes, volcanism,development of landforms by running water and glaciers. Lecture, 3hours; laboratory, 2 hours. One all-day or two-day field triprequired.

• General Education: This course satisfies the university's general education requirement.
• Note: Register for lecture and one lab

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
24800R	001	Lecture	3:30-4:50pm	Tue, Thu	225 of 225	Sylvain Barbot	THH201	PDF (317833 KB)
24801R	001	Lab	8:00-9:50am	Tuesday	15 of 15	Shreya Ramesh	ZHSB54
24802R	001	Lab	8:00-9:50am	Wednesday	15 of 15	Binhao Wang	ZHSB54
24803R	001	Lab	8:00-9:50am	Thursday	15 of 15	Judith Gauriau	ZHSB54
24804R	001	Lab	10:00-11:50am	Tuesday	16 of 15	Shreya Ramesh	ZHSB54
24806R	001	Lab	10:00-11:50am	Wednesday	15 of 15	Siyuan Zhang	ZHSB54
24808R	001	Lab	10:00-11:50am	Thursday	15 of 15	Judith Gauriau	ZHSB54
24809R	001	Lab	10:00-11:50am	Friday	14 of 15	Judith Gauriau	ZHSB54
24812R	001	Lab	12:00-1:50pm	Tuesday	15 of 15	Siyuan Zhang	ZHSB54
24814R	001	Lab	12:00-1:50pm	Wednesday	16 of 16	Shreya Ramesh	ZHSB54
24816R	001	Lab	12:00-1:50pm	Thursday	14 of 15	Siyuan Zhang	ZHSB54
24819R	001	Lab	12:00-1:50pm	Friday	16 of 16	Zhengze Li	ZHSB54
24820R	001	Lab	2:00-3:50pm	Wednesday	15 of 15	Binhao Wang	ZHSB54
24821R	001	Lab	2:00-3:50pm	Friday	16 of 16	Zhengze Li	ZHSB54
24822R	001	Lab	4:00-5:50pm	Wednesday	15 of 15	Zhengze Li	ZHSB54
24823R	001	Lab	4:00-5:50pm	Friday	13 of 15	Binhao Wang	ZHSB54

GEOL 107Lg: Oceanography (4.0 units)

Physical, chemical, and geological character of the oceans andocean basins. Origin of the oceans. Ocean processes and agents.Economic value of the oceans. Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 2 hours. One all-day field trip required.

• General Education: This course satisfies the university's general education requirement.
• Note: Register for lecture and one lab

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
24824R	001	Lecture	2:00-3:20pm	Mon, Wed	249 of 257	William Berelson	SGM123	Word (161508 KB)
24826R	001	Lab	8:00-9:50am	Tuesday	14 of 15	Amanda Godbold	ZHSB61
24828R	001	Lab	8:00-9:50am	Wednesday	14 of 15	Rucha Wani	ZHSB61
24830R	001	Lab	8:00-9:50am	Thursday	14 of 15	Matthew Quinan	ZHSB61
24834R	001	Lab	10:00-11:50am	Tuesday	15 of 15	Amanda Godbold	ZHSB61
24835R	001	Lab	10:00-11:50am	Wednesday	15 of 15	Matthew Quinan	ZHSB61
24836R	001	Lab	10:00-11:50am	Thursday	15 of 15	Rucha Wani	ZHSB61
24837R	001	Lab	10:00-11:50am	Friday	14 of 16	Emily Seelen	ZHSB61
24838D	001	Lab	12:00-1:50pm	Tuesday	16 of 16	Amanda Godbold	ZHSB61
24840R	001	Lab	12:00-1:50pm	Wednesday	15 of 15	Matthew Quinan	ZHSB61
24842R	001	Lab	12:00-1:50pm	Thursday	13 of 15	Rucha Wani	ZHSB61
24846R	001	Lab	2:00-3:50pm	Tuesday	15 of 15	Jessica Zaiss-Bowman	ZHSB61
24847R	001	Lab	2:00-3:50pm	Thursday	15 of 15	Adit Ghosh	ZHSB61
24848R	001	Lab	2:00-3:50pm	Friday	14 of 15	Adit Ghosh	ZHSB61
24850R	001	Lab	4:00-5:50pm	Tuesday	15 of 15	Jessica Zaiss-Bowman	ZHSB61
24852R	001	Lab	4:00-5:50pm	Wednesday	15 of 15	Matthew Quinan	ZHSB61
24853R	001	Lab	4:00-5:50pm	Thursday	15 of 15	Adit Ghosh	ZHSB61
24854R	001	Lab	6:00-7:50pm	Tuesday	15 of 15	Jessica Zaiss-Bowman	ZHSB61

GEOL 150Lg: Climate Change (4.0 units)

Exploration of factors that influence climate and the scientific basis for concern about rising greenhouse gases, the threat to human society know as global warming.

• General Education: This course satisfies the university's general education requirement.
• Note: Register for lecture and one lab

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
24920R	001	Lecture	11:00-12:20pm	Tue, Thu	174 of 180	Lowell Stott	ONLINE	PDF (262615 KB)
24921R	001	Lab	8:00-9:50am	Tuesday	15 of 15	Paige Wise	ZHSB65
24922R	001	Lab	8:00-9:50am	Wednesday	15 of 15	Obin Sturm	ZHSB65
24923R	001	Lab	8:00-9:50am	Thursday	15 of 15	Paige Wise	ZHSB65
24925R	001	Lab	8:00-9:50am	Friday	12 of 15	Obin Sturm	ZHSB65
24926R	001	Lab	10:00-11:50am	Wednesday	15 of 15	Obin Sturm	ZHSB65
24928R	001	Lab	10:00-11:50am	Friday	14 of 15	Kilian Ashley	ZHSB65
24929R	001	Lab	12:00-1:50pm	Wednesday	16 of 17	Kilian Ashley	ZHSB65
24930R	001	Lab	2:00-3:50pm	Tuesday	14 of 15	Kilian Ashley	ZHSB65
24931R	001	Lab	2:00-3:50pm	Thursday	15 of 15	Priyanka Soni	ZHSB65
24932R	001	Lab	2:00-3:50pm	Friday	13 of 15	Priyanka Soni	ZHSB65
24934R	001	Lab	4:00-5:50pm	Tuesday	15 of 15	Paige Wise	ZHSB65
24936R	001	Lab	4:00-5:50pm	Thursday	15 of 15	Priyanka Soni	ZHSB65

GEOL 160Lg: Introduction to Geosystems (4.0 units)

Survey of natural geological/ environmental processes (systems) and variability active near the earth's surface in the region that houses most life (the biosphere).

• General Education: This course satisfies the university's general education requirement.
• Note: Register for lecture and one lab

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
24937R	001	Lecture	9:00-9:50am	MWF	128 of 135	Steve Lund	THH301
24938R	001	Lab	10:00-11:50am	Tuesday	15 of 15	Jagannathan Sathyamoorthy	ZHSB56
24941R	001	Lab	10:00-11:50am	Thursday	15 of 15	James Beech	ZHSB56
24943R	001	Lab	12:00-1:50pm	Tuesday	15 of 15	Jagannathan Sathyamoorthy	ZHSB56
24946D	001	Lab	12:00-1:50pm	Thursday	14 of 16	Yu-Fang Hsu	ZHSB56
24947R	001	Lab	2:00-3:50pm	Tuesday	15 of 15	Jagannathan Sathyamoorthy	ZHSB56
24949R	001	Lab	2:00-3:50pm	Thursday	13 of 15	Yu-Fang Hsu	ZHSB56
24953R	001	Lab	4:00-5:50pm	Tuesday	11 of 15	Yu-Fang Hsu	ZHSB56
24955R	001	Lab	4:00-5:50pm	Wednesday	15 of 15	James Beech	ZHSB56
24957R	001	Lab	4:00-5:50pm	Thursday	15 of 15	James Beech	ZHSB56

GEOL 165g: Metals and Life on Earth (4.0 units)

The role of metals in life, from the origin of life to modern environmental problems.

• General Education: This course satisfies the university's general education requirement.
• Note: Register for lecture and one discussion

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
24975R	001	Lecture	11:00-12:20pm	Tue, Thu	103 of 166	Seth John	GFS116 & ONLINE
24976R	001	Discussion	8:00-9:50am	Wednesday	5 of 15	Caleb Rosen	ZHS118
24977R	001	Discussion	10:00-11:50am	Wednesday	10 of 15	Caleb Rosen	ZHS118
24978R	001	Discussion	10:00-11:50am	Friday	13 of 15	Hengdi Liang	ZHS118
24980R	001	Discussion	12:00-1:50pm	Wednesday	12 of 15	Cat Odendahl	ZHS118
24982R	001	Discussion	12:00-1:50pm	Friday	11 of 15	Hengdi Liang	ZHS118
24984R	001	Discussion	2:00-3:50pm	Tuesday	9 of 15	Xiaopeng Bian	ZHS118
24986R	001	Discussion	2:00-3:50pm	Wednesday	6 of 15	Xiaopeng Bian	ZHS118
24987R	001	Discussion	2:00-3:50pm	Thursday	10 of 15	Caleb Rosen	ZHS118
24988R	001	Discussion	2:00-3:50pm	Friday	3 of 15	Hengdi Liang	ZHS118
24989R	001	Discussion	4:00-5:50pm	Tuesday	9 of 15	Cat Odendahl	ZHS118
24990R	001	Discussion	4:00-5:50pm	Wednesday	7 of 15	Cat Odendahl	ZHS118
24991R	001	Discussion	4:00-5:50pm	Thursday	8 of 15	Xiaopeng Bian	ZHS118

GEOL 240Lg: Earthquakes (4.0 units)

Causes of earthquakes and nature of large faults; earthquake hazard and risk; world's great earthquakes; understanding the Richter scale. Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 2 hours; one fieldtrip required.

• General Education: This course satisfies the university's general education requirement.
• Note: Register for lecture and one lab.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
24950D	001	Lecture	12:30-1:50pm	Tue, Thu	113 of 135	James Dolan	SAL101
24952R	001	Lab	8:00-9:50am	Wednesday	11 of 15	Dannielle Fougere	ZHSB63
24954R	001	Lab	8:00-9:50am	Thursday	6 of 15	Christoffel Anthonissen	ZHSB63
24956R	001	Lab	10:00-11:50am	Wednesday	15 of 15	Dannielle Fougere	ZHSB63
24958R	001	Lab	10:00-11:50am	Thursday	14 of 15	Dannielle Fougere	ZHSB63
24962R	001	Lab	2:00-3:50pm	Tuesday	14 of 15	Caje Kindred Weigandt	ZHSB63
24964R	001	Lab	2:00-3:50pm	Wednesday	13 of 15	Caje Kindred Weigandt	ZHSB63
24966R	001	Lab	2:00-3:50pm	Thursday	14 of 15	Christoffel Anthonissen	ZHSB63
24972R	001	Lab	4:00-5:50pm	Wednesday	14 of 15	Christoffel Anthonissen	ZHSB63
24974R	001	Lab	4:00-5:50pm	Thursday	12 of 15	Caje Kindred Weigandt	ZHSB63

GEOL 290L: Special Laboratory (1.0 unit)

Laboratory component for GEOL 105Lg, 107Lxg, 108Lg, 125Lxg, 130Lxg, 150Lxg, or 240Lxg for students with equivalent lecture credit from another institution.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
Tba
24945D	001	Lecture-Lab	TBA	TBA	8 of 12	Frank Corsetti	OFFICE

GEOL 315L: Minerals and Earth Systems (4.0 units)

Minerals and their formation in Earth geosystems; includes discussions of mineral properties, crystal structures, uses and biogeochemical importance. Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 6 hours; required field trips. Recommended preparation: any introductory GEOL course.

• Corequisite: 1 from (CHEM 105a or CHEM 115a)
• Note: Register for lecture and lab

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
24940R	001	Lecture	11:00-12:20pm	Tue, Thu	10 of 20	Emily H. G. Cooperdock	ZHS200
24942R	001	Lab	12:00-1:50pm	Mon, Fri	10 of 20	Justine Grabiec	ZHSB65

GEOL 321L: Structural Geology and Tectonics (4.0 units)

Field and theorectical aspects of rock deformation, analysis of structural systems, and stress and strain; orogenic belts and plate tectonics; introduction to field techniques and construction of geologic maps. Recommended preparation: GEOL 320L

• Note: Register for lecture and lab

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
24981R	001	Lecture	10:30-11:50am	Mon, Wed	7 of 20	John Platt	ZHS200
24983R	001	Lab	12:00-1:50pm	Thursday	7 of 20	Naomi Rodgers	ZHSB65

GEOL 433L: Paleontology and Evolution in Deep Time (4.0 units)

Origin and evolution of life; Precambrian life; evolutionary history of major groups during the Phanerozoic; mass extinctions; deep time and evolutionary processes. Recommended preparation: any introductory GEOL course. Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 3 hours; required field trips.

• Note: Register for lecture and lab

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
25007R	001	Lecture	2:00-3:20pm	Tue, Thu	15 of 20	David Bottjer	ZHS200
25009R	001	Lab	3:00-4:50pm	Wednesday	15 of 20	Shannon Brophy	ZHSB65

Crosslist GEOL 445: Earth Climate: Past, Present, and Future (4.0 units)

Examination of the tools used to reconstruct past climate change and a thorough discussion of past climate changes on Earth with an emphasis on the recent past. Recommended preparation: Any introductory GEOL course.

• Prerequisite: ENST 320b and 1 from (MATH 118 or MATH 125)
• Crosslist: This course is offered by the ENST department but may qualify for major credit in GEOL. To register, enroll in ENST 445.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
33048R	001	Lecture	11:00-12:20pm	Tue, Thu	20 of 30	Victoria Petryshyn	THH112	Word (33148 KB)

GEOL 450L: Geosystems (4.0 units)

Geosystems, such as mantle convection, active faults, climate, and the carbon cycle, will be studied using numerical models and concepts such as chaos, universality, emergence, and intermittency. Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 2 hours. Recommended preparation: MATH 126.

• Prerequisite: MATH 125
• Note: Register for lecture and lab

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
25010R	001	Lecture	1:30-2:50pm	Mon, Wed	4 of 20	Doug Hammond	ZHS200	PDF (152118 KB)
25011R	001	Lab	2:00-3:50pm	Friday	4 of 20	Alexander James	ZHS130

GEOL 490x: Directed Research (1.0-8.0 units, max 12)

Individual research and readings. Not available for graduate credit.

• Restriction: Registration open to the following class level(s): Junior, Senior

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
24994D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	1 of 20	David Bottjer	OFFICE

GEOL 494x: Senior Thesis (2.0 units)

Writing of a thesis under individual faculty supervision. Not available for graduate credit.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
24996D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	3 of 10	David Bottjer	OFFICE

GEOL 501: Paleobiology (3.0 units)

Concepts and methods for functional morphologic analysis of fossil marine invertebrates. Systematics theory and methodology, macroevolution, and broad biotic trends in the Phanerozoic. Prerequisite: 333L recommended. Recommended preparation: GEOL-333L

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
24995R	001	Lecture	4:00-6:20pm	Tuesday	6 of 20	David Bottjer	ZHS200

Crosslist GEOL 512: Introduction to Chemical and Physical Oceanography (4.0 units)

Principles of physical, chemical, and geological oceanography including discussions of air-sea interaction, biogeochemical cycling and the role of the ocean in modulating climate and atmospheric composition; discussion section will cover formulation of basic calculations that illustrate these principles.

• Prerequisite: CHEM 105B and MATH 126
• Crosslist: This course is offered by the OS department but may qualify for major credit in GEOL. To register, enroll in OS 512.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
48300R	001	Lecture	10:00-11:50am	Wed, Fri	11 of 20	Seth John	ZHS130
48303R	001	Discussion	TBA	TBA	11 of 20		TBA

GEOL 552: Advanced Seismology (3.0 units)

Advanced methods of theoretical seismology for studying the generation of seismic waves from natural and artificial sources and the propagation through realistic earth models.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
25015R	001	Lecture	9:00-10:20am	Tue, Thu	7 of 20	Tom Jordan	ZHS118

GEOL 590: Directed Research (1.0-12.0 units)

Research leading to the master's degree. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
25040D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	0 of 40	Frank Corsetti	OFFICE

GEOL 593: Practicum in Teaching the Liberal Arts (2.0 units)

Practical principles for the long-term development of effective teaching within college disciplines. Intended for teaching assistants in Dornsife College.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
25041R	001	Lecture	10:00-11:50am	Monday	10 of 20	Emily H. G. Cooperdock	ZHS118

GEOL 594a: Master's Thesis (2.0 units)

Credit on acceptance of Thesis.

• Restriction: Registration open to the following class level(s): Master Student

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
25042D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	0 of 30		OFFICE

GEOL 594b: Master's Thesis (2.0 units)

Credit on acceptance of Thesis.

• Prerequisite: GEOL 594A
• Restriction: Registration open to the following class level(s): Master Student

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
25044D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	0 of 30		OFFICE

GEOL 594z: Master's Thesis (0.0 units)

Credit on acceptance of Dissertation.

• Prerequisite: GEOL 594B
• Restriction: Registration open to the following class level(s): Master Student

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
25046D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	0 of 30		OFFICE

GEOL 599: Special Topics (2.0-4.0 units, max 9)

Special topics in the geological sciences. Field trip required when appropriate to the topic.

Section	Session	Units	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
Topics in Fault System Behavior
24967R	001	2.0	Lecture	1:00-2:50pm	Monday	5 of 20	James Dolan
Subduction Zone Dynamics
25016R	001	3.0	Lecture	2:00-4:20pm	Thursday	4 of 20	Heidi Houston	ZHS130	PDF (142592 KB)

GEOL 600: Earth Sciences Colloquium (1.0-2.0 units)

Exploration of prominent topics at the frontiers of research in the geosciences, through weekly talks presented by leading researchers in the field. Specific topics vary by semester.

Section	Session	Units	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
25008R	001	2.0	Lecture	3:30-4:20pm	Monday	5 of 20	Sylvain Barbot,	ZHS159	PDF (180089 KB)
				2:00-2:50pm	Monday		Lowell Stott	ZHS118

GEOL 790: Research (1.0-12.0 units)

Research leading to the doctorate. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
25060D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	28 of 40	Frank Corsetti	OFFICE

GEOL 794a: Doctoral Dissertation (2.0 units)

Credit on acceptance of Dissertation.

• Restriction: Registration open to the following class level(s): Doctoral Student

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
25062D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	4 of 30		OFFICE

GEOL 794b: Doctoral Dissertation (2.0 units)

Credit on acceptance of Dissertation.

• Prerequisite: GEOL 794A
• Restriction: Registration open to the following class level(s): Doctoral Student

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
25064D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	1 of 30		OFFICE

GEOL 794c: Doctoral Dissertation (2.0 units)

Credit on acceptance of Dissertation.

• Prerequisite: GEOL 794B
• Restriction: Registration open to the following class level(s): Doctoral Student

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
25066D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	8 of 30		OFFICE

GEOL 794d: Doctoral Dissertation (2.0 units)

Credit on acceptance of Dissertation.

• Prerequisite: GEOL 794C
• Restriction: Registration open to the following class level(s): Doctoral Student

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
25068D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	1 of 30		OFFICE

GEOL 794z: Doctoral Dissertation (0.0 units)

Credit on acceptance of Dissertation.

• Prerequisite: GEOL 794D
• Restriction: Registration open to the following class level(s): Doctoral Student

Section	Session	Type	Time	Days	Registered	Instructor	Location	Syllabus	Info
25070D	001	Lecture	TBA	TBA	10 of 30		OFFICE