Introduction | Program Description | Faculty & Locations

2008-2009 Field Program | Transportation, Lodging, and Food

Prerequisites and Tuition (6 credits) | How to Apply | More Information

Introduction

Field camp is a requirement of most undergraduate geology programs. The camps are traditionally taught over the summer term as a six-week course. However, the large time and financial commitment can discourage students from either majoring in geology or completing their degree requirements. The UNLV Geoscience Department offers an alternative to the traditional field program by inviting students to complete the 6 week (6 credit) field camp requirement as two separate, 3 credit courses.

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Program Description

The UNLV Geoscience Department field program offers students a unique learning experience by dividing the traditional 6 week field course into two units. The first unit, GEOL 370–Intermediate Field Geology, is taught during the winter break, typically during the first three weeks of January. The course focuses on strengthening geologic mapping, map preparation, and report writing skills. Mapping projects are designed to develop the student’s ability to independently observe, record, and interpret field relationships in different geologic contexts and settings. The second unit, GEOL 372–Advanced Field Geology, is taught during the beginning of summer, usually during the first three weeks of June. The course builds on skills developed in GEOL 370; however, the focus shifts to the analysis of geologically complex areas, and the preparation of professional maps, cross-sections, and reports.

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Faculty and Locations

Geoscience Department faculty that teach field classes include: Jean Cline, Andrew Hanson, Steve Rowland, Eugene Smith, Wanda Taylor, and Michael Wells. The field locations and projects vary from year to year with the instructor. Previous field class locations include parts of southern California (e.g., Clark, New York, and Little Piute mountains), southern Nevada (e.g., Muddy Mountains, Spring Mountains, and McCullough Range), central Nevada (e.g., Hot Creek, White Pine, Timpahute, and Hiko ranges), northwestern Utah (e.g., Grouse Creek Mountains), southern Idaho (e.g., Albion Range) and western Texas (e.g., Big Bend area)

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2008-2009 Field Program

GEOL 370–In January 2009, the UNLV winter field class will be taught in the southern River Mountains, just north of Boulder City, Nevada. Students will map igneous and sedimentary rocks in this region as the focus of this field experience. The class will be taught from December 27th through January 11th, working every day with the exception of New Year's, and returning to Las Vegas every evening. For more details about the winter field course, please contact Gene Smith at gene.smith@unlv.edu

GEOL 372–Advanced Field Geology will be taught by Andrew Hanson, who has been a UNLV Geoscience Department faculty member since 2000. The field projects will likely focus on both marine and nonmarine, Paleozoic through Tertiary, carbonate and clastic rocks that have been folded and faulted by different generations of deformation. The class will map in the southern Egan range of east-central Nevada with tentative field dates to extend between May 26th and June 17th.

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Transportation, Lodging, and Food

Transportation to and from field locations is provided by the UNLV, Geoscience Department. This cost is included in your course fees. Out-of-state students will need to arrange for their own transportation to and from Las Vegas, Nevada.

Because the field projects are usually in remote mountain locations, we will be camping in tents on undeveloped (i.e., no running water or toilets) BLM or Forest Service land. Occasionally, we will stay in motels or developed campsites (students should be prepared to pay for motel/ campsite costs).

Students bring their own camping (e.g., tents, sleeping bags, pillows, solar showers, etc.) and field (notebooks, map boards, pencils, etc.) supplies. The department will provide cooking equipment (stoves, pots, pans, etc.), coolers, a large group study tent, laptops, and Brunton compasses.

Students are responsible for the cost of all meals (usually <$300 for each 3-week course). Students participate in food preparation and clean-up.

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Prerequisites and Tuition (6 credits)

Students who would like to enroll in these courses must have completed GEOL 220 (Mineralogy), GEOL 221 (Introduction to Optical Mineralogy and Petrography), GEOL 341 (Structural Geology), and GEOL 348 (Field Geology 1), or equivalents, with grades of “C” or better. Contact the UNLV Geoscience Department prior to registration to ensure that you meet the requirements.

Resident/ admitted student tuition (6 credits) is ~$1,045.00*

Non-resident/ non-admitted student tuition (6 credits) is ~$2,351.50*

* This is an estimate and does not include expenses such as food or motel.

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How to Apply

Non-residents or out-of-state students must apply for admission as a Non-Admitted Student. You can apply on-line at:

http://www.unlv.edu/admissions/applyOnline.html

Once your application has been processed you may register for GEOL 370 and 372.

Both courses are offered during Spring semester and must be registered for together.

Registration for the Spring semester usually begins in November.

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For more information contact:

Gene Smith
E-mail: gene.smith@unlv.edu
Tel. 702-895-3971

Or

Department of Geoscience
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
4505 S. Maryland Parkway
Las Vegas, NV 89154-4010
Tel. 702-895-3262
FAX 702-895-4064
E-mail: geodept@unlv.edu

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