Geoscience field school . . . a course like none other

Our field courses are the most exciting and intensive learning activities offered by the Department of Geoscience. They are unique experiences that provide students with the opportunity to do real Geoscience, work with real scientific data, and learn about natural environments. Teamwork is strongly encouraged, so you can expect to forge bonds with your fellow students that will last throughout your entire university experience and beyond. The geology field courses provide opportunities to study rocks and geologic structures where they are best exposed and most easily interpreted. Field exercises include orienteering, mapping surficial deposits, measuring sections in sedimentary rocks, and mapping geologic structures in sedimentary and/or igneous & metamorphic rocks. The hydrogeology and geophysics field courses provide opportunities to collect field data using geotechnical and geophysical equipment, then analyze and interpret the data using mathematical and computational methods. Each field course runs for 12 – 14 days off-campus, in either the late summer before classes begin (August – September) or early spring after classes end (April – May). Most field sites are located beside or near roads, but some are only accessible by hiking in, often through very rugged terrain. You must be in reasonable physical condition, fully mobile, confident on slopes and in high places, and mentally prepared for working long days outdoors in a variety of environmental conditions, including hot sun, rain or snow, in places like the Canadian Shield, Alberta prairies, Rocky Mountains and deserts of southwest USA.

 

The Department of Geoscience offers the following field courses:

GLGY 337 – Introduction to Geologic Field Methods

GLGY 435 – Field Methods II

GLGY 537 – Field Methods III

GLGY 550 – Advanced Geology Field Camp - not currently offered

GLGY 441/639 – Field Techniques in Hydrogeology

GOPH 549 – Geophysics Field School

 

Click on the links above to learn more about each field course. < NEW POLICIES & PROCEDURES!

Please read through the information provided on the pages above very carefully if you intend to sign up for a field school in 2012/2013 or later.

 

To see the complete 2012/2013 Field School Schedule, click here.