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Home >> Information >> Areas of Concentration |
| Areas of Concentration |
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 Students who select this specialization
combine elements of the modern, process-oriented geology curriculum
(sedimentology, geomorphology, petrology, basin analysis, seismology,
potential-field geophysics, organic and water geochemistry, tectonics,
and paleo-environmental analysis) with allied disciplines to prepare
for research into a broad range of environmental studies. This concentration
emphasizes the geological process approach to analysis of such problems
as flooding, earthquake hazards, land-use practices, aquifer degradation,
and mine site remediation. |
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 Energy and mineral resources include hydrocarbons (oil, natural
gas, coal, and their naturally-occurring and manufactured derivatives),
and both metallic and non-metallic (industrial) mineral and rock deposits.
This specialization comprises studies of the origins and physical occurrences
of these resources, together with technologies and policies concerning
their extraction and use. |
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 Making and administering environmental policy has become an exceedingly
complex arena where science interacts strongly with law and the political
process. Students enrolled in this concentration will examine these interactions
and complexities with a focus on the socioeconomic driving forces that
generate resource use and attendant environmental problems, and the political
and legal frameworks through which societies make and implement public
policy in the environmental field. |
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 Many environmental problems, challenges and policies take place
on rural landscapes where forestry and agricultural land uses are intermingled
with non-farm rural residents and others. Many rural land uses contribute
to environmental problems and the development of environmentally benign
and sustainable methods of production are goals of environmental policy.
Consequently, through this concentration, students will examine the interaction
among environmental quality, production, and the process and institutions
of public policy. |
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 Modern environmental sciences, management and planning rely on acquisition,
analysis and integration of large data bases using remote sensing, digital
image processing, geographic information systems and environmental modeling.
The purpose of this concentration is to enable students to develop high
skills in these areas and to apply them to one or more natural resource
domains (e.g., hydrogeology, forest inventory, spatial decision support
systems, environmental modeling). |
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 As a critical flow resource, water is of central importance to society
and, through hydrologic processes, is involved in many environmental issues
from water shortages in populous arid regions to ground water quality concerns
associated with agri-chemical use. Through this concentration, students
will examine the interaction among hydrologic processes, environmental
quality, water resource use, and the processes and institutions of the
private sector and public policy that govern water resources. |
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