Program Requirements
The program curriculum is designed to provide a rigorous foundation in physical sciences and the flexibility to create an individualized program in preparation for careers in industry, teaching, and research. It is intended to provide an excellent preparation for graduate work in the earth and planetary sciences.
Note: Honours students must maintain a CGPA equal to or greater than 3.20.
Required Courses (66 credits)
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EPSC 210 Introductory Mineralogy (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Elementary crystallography, chemistry and identification of the principal rock-forming and ore minerals, in hand specimens and using optical microscopy. Demonstrations of other techniques applied to the identification of minerals and to the analysis of their composition and structure. Optional 2-day field trip.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Paquette, Jeanne; Baker, Don (Fall)
Fall
2 hours lectures, 3 hours laboratory
Prerequisite(s): CHEM 110 or equivalent, or permission of the instructor.
A nominal fee is charged to cover expenses of materials and supplies for identification kits (pen magnet, streak plate, hand lens and acid bottle) used to identify minerals during laboratory exercises.
Des frais seront prelevés pour couvrir l'usage des collections d'enseignement et les accessoires (loupe, aimant, bouteille d'acide chlorhydrique dilué, plaque de porcelaine) essentiels à l'identification des minéraux pendant les travaux pratiques.
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EPSC 212 Introductory Petrology (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : A survey of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks and the processes responsible for their formation. The laboratory will emphasize the recognition of rocks in both hand-specimen and thin section using optical microscopes.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Berlo, Kim (Winter)
Winter
2 hours lectures, 3 hours laboratory
Prerequisite: EPSC 210
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EPSC 220 Principles of Geochemistry (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Basic concepts in geochemistry and the application of geochemical principles of chemistry to geological subdisciplines. Particular emphasis on origin of elements, controls on their distribution in Earth and cosmos, isotopes, organic geochemistry and water chemistry. Application of phase diagrams to geology.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Baker, Don (Fall)
Fall
2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory
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EPSC 231 Field School 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Geological mapping of selected areas, preparation of maps, reports from field notes, aerial photographs, etc.
Terms: Summer 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Prerequisite: EPSC 240, or permission of the instructor.
This field course, given in the U.S,.has an additional fee projected to be $628.08 to cover the costs of transportation, some meals and accommodation as well as other field expenses. The fee is only refundable prior to the deadline to withdraw with full refund. The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences subsidizes a portion of the cost for this activity.
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EPSC 233 Earth and Life History (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Interpretation of stratified rocks; history of Earth with special emphasis on the regions of North America; outline of the history of life recorded in fossils.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Halverson, Galen; Mahmoudi, Nagissa (Fall)
Fall
3 hours lectures
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EPSC 240 Geology in the Field (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Lectures and field-based exercises, held locally on campus and in the Montreal area, introduce students to the reading and interpretation of a topographic map, the basic description of a stratigraphic section and the inference of its depositional environment, the nature of intrusive contacts, and the field measurement of some structural features and geophysical properties. Students plot geological information on a map, identify landforms in aerial views and learn the tectonic features diagnostic of plate margins. By the end of the course, the students relate a geological map to the geological history of Quebec.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Boianju, Inga; Minarik, William (Fall)
Restriction: Priority is given to students in programs for which this course is required.
Open to U0 students with permission of the instructor.
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EPSC 303 Structural Geology (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Primary igneous and sedimentary structures, attitudes of planes and lines, stress and strain, fracturing of rocks, faulting, homogeneous strain, description and classification of folds, foliation and lineation, orthographic and stereographic projections.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Boianju, Inga (Winter)
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EPSC 320 Elementary Earth Physics (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Physical properties of Earth and the processes associated with its existence as inferred from astronomy, geodesy, seismology, geology, terrestrial magnetism and thermal evolution.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Chien, Justin Shih-Han (Fall)
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EPSC 340 Earth and Planetary Inference (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Introduction to modern techniques for combining geological, geophysical, and geochemical measurements with theoretical knowledge about Earth and other planets. Use of tools from time series analysis and inverse methods to build models and test hypotheses within the Earth and Planetary Sciences.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Fall
2 hours lectures, 3 hours laboratory
Prerequisites: Completion of U1 year in Earth & Planetary Sciences or permission of instructor
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EPSC 350 Tectonics (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Rheology of the Earth, mechanics of the crust and mantle and core, convection in the mantle, evolution and kinematics and deformations of the oceanic and continental plates, thermal evolution of the Earth, the unifying theory of plate tectonics.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Winter
3 hours lectures
Prerequisite(s): EPSC 320
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EPSC 423 Igneous Petrology (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Physical properties, nucleation, crystallization, differentiation and emplacement of magmas. Integrated studies on various rock suites.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Fall
2 hours lectures, 3 hours laboratory
Prerequisites: EPSC 212, and enrolment in U2 or U3 EPS program.
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EPSC 480D1 Honours Research Thesis (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Research project, designed by a student in consultation with a departmental faculty member, leading to a thesis.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Restriction: For Honours students in 3rd year
Students must register for both EPSC 480D1 and EPSC 480D2
No credit will be given for this course unless both EPSC 480D1 and EPSC 480D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
A statement of the proposed project and method of evaluation, signed by the student and supervisor, must be submitted to the departmental Director of Undergraduate Studies for approval by the add/drop deadline of the first semester in which the student registers for this course. The results of the research must be presented in the form of an undergraduate thesis.
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EPSC 480D2 Honours Research Thesis (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : See EPSC 480D1 for course description.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Prerequisite: EPSC 480D1
No credit will be given for this course unless both EPSC 480D1 and EPSC 480D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
A statement of the proposed project and method of evaluation, signed by the student and supervisor, must be submitted to the departmental Director of Undergraduate Studies for approval by the add/drop deadline of the first semester in which the student registers for this course. The results of the research must be presented in the form of an undergraduate thesis.
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EPSC 510 Climate and Geodynamics (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Topics in geodynamics and its connection to climate and surface processes, including the Earth's gravity field, body and orbital dynamics, tidal interactions, Earth deformation under static and dynamic loads including glacial isostatic adjustment and sea level change, the history and dynamics of the Earth's climate and of surface ice and water.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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EPSC 570 Cosmochemistry (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Examines the implications of phase equilibria and the compositions of meteorites and the solar system for the formation and internal differentiation of the terrestrial planets and the nature of chemical fractionation processes in both planetary interiors and the solar system as a whole.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Minarik, William (Fall)
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MATH 222 Calculus 3 (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Taylor series, Taylor's theorem in one and several variables. Review of vector geometry. Partial differentiation, directional derivative. Extreme of functions of 2 or 3 variables. Parametric curves and arc length. Polar and spherical coordinates. Multiple integrals.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Summer 2025
Instructors: Pym, Brent; Tageddine, Damien (Fall) Mazakian, Hovsep (Winter)
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MATH 223 Linear Algebra (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Review of matrix algebra, determinants and systems of linear equations. Vector spaces, linear operators and their matrix representations, orthogonality. Eigenvalues and eigenvectors, diagonalization of Hermitian matrices. Applications.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Elaidi, Shereen; Bellemare, Hugues (Fall) Macdonald, Jeremy (Winter)
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MATH 314 Advanced Calculus (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Derivative as a matrix. Chain rule. Implicit functions. Constrained maxima and minima. Jacobians. Multiple integration. Line and surface integrals. Theorems of Green, Stokes and Gauss. Fourier series with applications.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Martine, Gabriel (Fall) Borthwick, Jack Anthony (Winter)
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MATH 315 Ordinary Differential Equations (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : First order ordinary differential equations including elementary numerical methods. Linear differential equations. Laplace transforms. Series solutions.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Paquette, Courtney (Fall) Kamran, Niky (Winter)
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MATH 317 Numerical Analysis (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Error analysis. Numerical solutions of equations by iteration. Interpolation. Numerical differentiation and integration. Introduction to numerical solutions of differential equations.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Duchesne, Gabriel William (Fall)
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MATH 319 Partial Differential
Equations
(3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : First order equations, geometric theory; second order equations, classification; Laplace, wave and heat equations, Sturm-Liouville theory, Fourier series, boundary and initial value problems.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Lin, Jessica (Winter)
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PHYS 340 Majors Electricity and Magnetism (3 credits)
Overview
Physics : The electrostatic field and scalar potential. Dielectric properties of matter. Energy in the electrostatic field. Methods for solving problems in electrostatics. The magnetic field. Induction and inductance. Energy in the magnetic field. Magnetic properties of matter. Maxwell's equations. The dipole approximation.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Liu, Adrian (Fall)
Complementary Courses (12 credits)
3 credits from:
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PHYS 230 Dynamics of Simple Systems (3 credits)
Overview
Physics : Translational motion under Newton's laws; forces, momentum, work/energy theorem. Special relativity; Lorentz transforms, relativistic mechanics, mass/energy equivalence. Topics in rotational dynamics. Noninertial frames.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Guo, Hong (Fall)
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PHYS 251 Honours Classical Mechanics 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Physics : Newton's laws, work energy, angular momentum. Harmonic oscillator, forced oscillations. Inertial forces, rotating frames. Central forces, centre of mass, planetary orbits, Kepler's laws.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Chiang, Hsin Cynthia (Fall)
plus 9 credits (three courses) chosen from the following:
Note: Courses at the 300 level or higher in other departments in the Faculties of Science and Engineering may also be used as complementary credits, with the permission of the Director of undergraduate studies.
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EPSC 334 Invertebrate Paleontology (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Preservation of fossils; the fossil record of invertebrates; use of fossils in stratigraphy and paleoecology; fossils in evolutionary studies. Fossils of invertebrates are studied in the laboratory.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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EPSC 425 Sediments to Sequences (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Advanced techniques for interrogating the sedimentary record. Exploration of both descriptive and quantitative approaches to describing and interpreting the stratigraphic record, including sedimentary facies analysis, seismic stratigraphy, sequence stratigraphy, and chemostratigraphy. Other topics include methods for dating and age-calibrating the stratigraphic record and approaches to analyzing sedimentary cycles.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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EPSC 445 Metamorphic Petrology (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : The origin, classification and petrological significance of metamorphic rocks, from the point of view of theory, experiment and field observations.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: van Hinsberg, Vincent Johan (Fall)
Winter
2 hours lectures, 3 hours laboratory
Prerequisite(s): EPSC 212, enrolment in U2 or U3 EPS program.
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EPSC 501 Crystal Chemistry (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Discussion of crystal structures and compositions of important mineral groups, especially oxides, sulphides and silicates. Solid solution. Relation of structure to morphology and to chemical and physical properties of the rock-forming minerals.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Winter
2 hours lectures, 1 hour seminar
Prerequisite(s): EPSC 210 (or equivalent) and at least one 300- or higher-level course in petrology, or permission of the instructor.
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EPSC 519 Isotopes in Earth and Environmental Science (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : The theory and application of stable and radioactive isotope measurements in the Earth and environmental sciences, including applications in geology, hydrology, climatology, biogeochemistry, and ecology.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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EPSC 520 Earthquake Physics and Geology (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : What are earthquakes and how do we study them? Fundamental mechanics of faulting and earthquake source processes are explored from theoretical and observational perspectives. The lectures cover concepts of earthquake source mechanism, including seismic waves, earthquake energy budget, fracture and friction mechanics, earthquake cycle deformation, earthquake triggering and prediction, and seismic hazards. This is complemented by in-class discussion on recent major discoveries and challenges in the field. Students learn to investigate earthquake source process by using seismic, geodetic and geological data in computer labs and course projects supervised by the instructor(s).
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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EPSC 530 Volcanology (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : The physical mechanisms which drive volcanoes and volcanic activity are presented. Descriptive, practical and theoretical approaches to the study of volcanoes are discussed.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Winter
2 hours lectures, 3 hours laboratory
Prerequisites: EPSC 212 or equivalent, or permission of instructor.
Prerequisites: Enrolment in U2 or U3 EPS program
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EPSC 540 Crustal Rheology (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : A mostly qualitative survey that explores the peer-reviewed literature describing rock deformation and tectonic plate motion on a broad scale, with an emphasis on interpreting past deformation from the rock record.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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EPSC 547 Modelling Geochemical Processes (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Modelling will be applied to construct equilibrium and transport models that quantitatively investigate geochemical processes occurring on Earth and other planets. Topics include, but are not restricted to: box modelling of the transport of elements between geochemical reservoirs, chemical reactions of components during flow through systems, interactions between multiple, competing reactions and/or processes. Model applications will vary from the core and mantle of planets to their surface environments and humans' impact upon them.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Baker, Don (Winter)
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EPSC 548 Igneous Petrogenetic Mechanisms (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Investigation of the primary mechanisms causing the diversity of igneous rock compositions on the Earth, other planets, asteroids, and meteorite parent bodies.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Winter
2 hours lectures, 1 hour seminar
Prerequisite: EPSC 423
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EPSC 549 Hydrogeology (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Introduction to groundwater flow through porous media. Notions of fluid potential and hydraulic head. Darcy flux and Darcy's Law. Physical properties of porous media and their measurement. Equation of groundwater flow. Flow systems. Hydraulics of pumping and recharging wells. Notions of hydrology. Groundwater quality and contamination. Physical processes of contaminant transport.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: McKenzie, Jeffrey (Winter)
Winter
3 hours lectures
Prerequisite: permission of the instructor
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EPSC 550 Selected Topics 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Research seminar and/or lecture with readings in topics concerning aspects of current interests in Earth & Planetary Sciences.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: McKenzie, Jeffrey; Gomez, Natalya (Fall) Halverson, Galen (Winter)
Fall or Winter
2 hours seminar, permission of department undergraduate advisor
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EPSC 551 Selected Topics 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Research seminar and/or lecture with readings in topics concerning aspects of current interest in Earth & Planetary Sciences.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: van Hinsberg, Vincent Johan (Fall) van Hinsberg, Vincent Johan (Winter)
Fall or Winter
2 hours seminar, permission of department undergraduate advisor
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EPSC 552 Selected Topics 3 (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Research seminar and/or lecture with readings in topics concerning aspects of current interest in Earth & Planetary Sciences.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Williams-Jones, Anthony E (Fall)
Fall or Winter
2 hours seminar, permission of department undergraduate advisor
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EPSC 561 Ore-forming Processes (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Physicochemical controls of hydrothermal mineral deposition. Discussion of fluid inclusion theory and application; stable isotope systematics, wall-rock alteration; ore mineral solubility and speciation; and mechanisms of mineral deposition.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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EPSC 567 Advanced Volcanology (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : An in-depth approach to physical and chemical processes associated with volcanic systems. Examination of magma chamber dynamics, magma behaviour in conduits, and eruption mechanisms. Study of eruptive products including pyroclastic deposits, lava flows and lava domes, and volcanic gases. Volcanic-tectonic and magma-hydrothermal interactions.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Prerequisite: EPSC 530 or permission of instructor
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EPSC 590 Applied Geochemistry Seminar (3 credits)
Overview
Earth & Planetary Sciences : Seminar course devoted to field case studies that illustrate the applications of geochemical principles to solving geologic problems. Each student will prepare and lead a class devoted to a geochemical subject of their own choosing.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Williams-Jones, Anthony E; van Hinsberg, Vincent Johan (Winter)
Winter
3 hours seminar
Prerequisite: permission of instructor
