Students in structural geology and tectonics in the GEOLOGY DEPARTMENT at UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY take advantage of the tremendous geology in the Rocky Mountain west to do field-oriented master's theses in structure and tectonics. Students working with JIM EVANS combine mapping with microstructures, subsurface analyses and kinematic modeling. Those working with SUSANNE JANECKE combine field mapping, geochronology, paleomagnetism, volcanology, and stratigraphy. The courses which are commonly taken by structure/tectonic students include:
In addition, we usually have a graduate seminar each year--for example, we have had seminars on the form and kinematics of large structures and on the interaction between geologic and hydrologic processes.
Our program is also strong in hydrogeology, Quaternary geology, and sedimentology. Depending on your interests you might take courses in remote sensing, geographic information systems, or fluvial geomorphology offered through the Geography Department. In spite of the small size of our department, students generally have plenty of courses to select from. Some planning is required, however, because many of the graduate courses are offered every other year.
Our GEOLOGY DEPARTMENT has 8 faculty so our students receive more personal attention than they might in larger departments, particularly ones with a Ph.D. program. In spite of the small size of the department we have two faculty in structure and tectonics. In addition, northern Utah has a group of really good structure/tectonics faculty. Adolph Yonkee at Weber State University is an adjunct professor, and we regularly interact with John Bartley and Ron Bruhn at the University of Utah.
Because of our location at the transition from Basin and Range to Fold and thrust belt, we have access to geology of all kinds. We have a number of class-related field trips, and two departmental trips each year, which have in the past gone to the Snake River Plain, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park, The WInd River Basin, Moab and the Colorado Plateau, the Uinta Mountains and the thrust belt, southwestern Montana, and eastern Nevada.
Students who work in structure/tectonics at USU have been successful in the work world. Our students work for medium to large environmental and engineering firms, have or are getting Ph.D.'s, work in the mining business either as explorationists or on the environmental side, or teach.
We offer a number of graduate or senior level courses to prepare you for your thesis research and to round out your education as a geologist. Courses that you might take as part of a structure-tectonics thesis at Utah State University include:
Our program is also strong in hydrogeology, surficial geology, and sedimentology. Depending on your interests you might take courses in remote sensing, geographic information systems, or fluvial geomorphology offered through the Geography Department. In spite of the small size of our department, students generally have plenty of courses to select from. Some planning is required, however, because many of the graduate courses are offered every other year.
Our geology department is fairly small (8 faculty) so our students receive more personal attention than they might in larger departments, particularly ones with a Ph.D. program. In spite of the small size of the department we have two faculty in structure and tectonics (SUSANNE JANECKE and JIM EVANS) and are within 90 miles of three other universities with four structural geologists. Another positive aspect of our department is its location in a mountain valley in the transition between the Basin and Range province and the fold and thrust belt. This allows for numerous field trips and quick access to field projects. The areas I work in are within easy striking distance--about a 5-7 hour drive from Logan. Logan is a scenic small town (about 50,000 people) in the middle of a rural county. Some people think that is great, whereas others don't.
This page created by Caleb H. Thompson (slg9x@cc.usu.edu). Last Updated 29 Sept 1995