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Master's Degree Program with a
Focus on
Hydrogeology and Environmental Geochemistry
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| Hydrogeology
Newsletters |
|
2003
- 2004 |
| Hydrogeology
Program Requirements |
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Since1978,
the Department of Geological Sciences has offered a Master's
Degree Curriculum that integrates coursework and research in Hydrogeology,
Groundwater Management, and Environmental Geochemistry, providing
the necessary foundation for students seeking employment in the geosciences
and eventual State of California certification as registered hydrogeologists
and engineering geologists. The program accommodates working students
by offering required upper division and graduate-level courses in
the late afternoon and early evening. The curriculum is academically
rigorous, as exemplified by former students who either have completed
their Doctorate at institutions such as the University of California,
University of Southern California, and Stanford University or are
currently enrolled in the Doctoral Program at these institutions.
Master's Degree Candidates may select
either a Thesis or Comprehensive
Examination. The philosophy of the Department has been to encourage
independent research, hence, the Comprehensive Examination Option
also includes a research project. Both options include an oral defense
of the Thesis or Research Project to a three member Faculty
Committee. A total of 45 quarter units are required to complete either
option.
Students
who enter the program without a Bachelors Degree in geological
sciences or other appropriate science or engineering training are
required to complete a makeup
program. This program is designed to prepare you
specifically for success in hydrogeology.
You may learn more about the Hydrogeology Option
by referring to the Graduate Program and the University
Catalog.
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| University Setting
and Master's Degree Collaboration |
| California
State University, Los Angeles is an urban campus situated near
agricultural, desert, and coastal environments. As a result, students
have the opportunity to select research topics from a variety of hydrogeologic
and/or geochemical settings for their Master's Degree investigation.
Faculty-private sector relationships (eg. industry, various government
agencies) have been developed to allow students to perform research
of a practical nature and ultimately provide the professional community,
through Master's Degree research, with interpretations of data pertaining
to problems of interest in the region. These joint efforts have been
advantageous for students who typically seek employment after
graduation with the environmental consulting firms, geotechnical firms,
government agencies, or regulatory boards who collaborated with them
on their Master's Degree project. |
| Recent Hydrogeology
and Environmental Geochemistry Master's Degree Topics: |
- Geochemical and Isotopic Evidence for In-Situ
Bioremediation.
- Groundwater Basin Management, Canada Gobermadora,
Orange County, California
- Application of a Dual-Bounded, Unconfined Aquifer
Model, Santa Ana River Canyon, California
- Hydrogeochemical Modeling of Groundwater Flowpaths
in a Karst Terrane, Lees Summit, Missouri
- Sources of Nitrate Contamination, Orange County
- Seasonal Fluctuations in Groundwater Nitrate
Levels, Oxnard Plain, California
- Modeling Reclaimed Water Recharge in Groundwater
Aquifers via Geochemical Tracers
- Groundwater Elevation Fluctuations using Ground
Penetrating Radar
- Biodegradation of Chlorinated Hydrocarbons, San
Gabriel Valley Superfund Site
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| Faculty Areas of Expertise |
| Hydrogeology and Environmental Geochemistry
|
- Barry J. Hibbs, Ph.D., 1993, University of Texas,
Austin:
- Hydrogeology; numerical flow/solute transport
modeling, contaminant hydrogeology, wetlands hydrology, environmental
geophysics.
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- Richard W. Hurst, Ph.D., 1975, UCLA:
- Hydrogeochemistry;
stable and radiogenic isotopes, environmental forensics,
organic and inorganic geochemistry, contaminant transport.
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| Faculty in Related Areas |
- Kim M. Bishop, Ph.D., 1994, USC
- Engineering
Geology; soil mechanics, mass movement, structural geology.
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| Hydrogeology & Environmental Geochemistry
Courses |
| Upper Division/Graduate Courses |
- GEOL 422 Environmental & Forensic Geochemistry
- GEOL 424 Low Temperature Geochemistry
- GEOL 425 Isotope Geology
- GEOL 484 Hydrogeology
- GEOL 485 Groundwater Models & Management
- GEOL 486 Environmental & Engineering Geophysics
- GEOL 490 Special Topics in Geology*
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| Graduate Courses |
- GEOL 560 Hydrogeology
- GEOL 561 Vadose Zone Hydrogeology
- GEOL 562 Contaminant Hydrogeology
- GEOL 563 Water Quality Seminar
- GEOL 570 Special Topics *
- GEOL 581 Engineering Geology
- GEOL 584 Paleoseismology
- GEOL 585 Landslides, Avalanches, and Debris Flows
- GEOL 597 Graduate Research
- GEOL 598 Graduate Directed Study
- GEOL 599 Thesis
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*Examples
of issues addressed in Special Topics Courses and Seminars include:
Water Resources Management, Geology and Geochemistry of Landfills,
Hydrogeochemistry Field Methods
Upper Division and Graduate Courses
are offered on an alternate year basis or upon student demand in the
case of Special Topics Courses. |
| Facilities & Equipment |
- Laboratories Wet
- Chemistry Laboratory; Sedimentological Flume
Laboratory; Soils Analysis Laboratory; Computer Laboratories.
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- Equipment
-
Hach Portable Datalogging Spectrophotometer; Marsh McBirney
Flowmeters (3); Grundfos Pump; Isco Autosamplers (3); Dionex Ion
Chromatographs (2); Turner Designs Fluormeter; Hach
Turbidimeters (2); Orion ISE/ORP Meter Bison Geopro, 12-Channel Reflection/Refraction
Seismograph; Advanced Geocsciences Earth Resistivity Meter; Guelph
Permeameter; Tensiometers; Suction Lysimeters; Soil Sampling Augers;
Streamflow Measuring Meters; Well Sampling Equipment; Pressure
Transducers; and Data loggers; Consolidometer; Direct Shear Instrument;
and a Full Suite of Groundwater/Hydrochemical Software
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| Financial Assistance |
| The Department of Geological Sciences
offers support to help defray the costs of tuition, or graduate thesis
research expenses. At present, graduate students are eligible to apply
for scholarships listed below (intent or restrictions are shown in
parentheses). Additional financial support
may be
available through the Office of Financial Assistance, Student Affairs
Building, Room 124. To be eligible for any scholarship, an application
must be filed with the Office of Scholarships
and Financial Assistance in the Student Affairs Building Room
124. |
- Robert Bean Scholarship (Hydrogeology)
- Chance-Dana Award (Outstanding Students)
- Robert Stone Scholarship (Thesis Expenses)
- Martin Stout Scholarship (Outstanding Promise)
- SFOS Fellowship
- CEA-CREST Fellowship
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| Application Information |
| Students
with a Bachelor's Degree from another institution must submit an application
for admission to the University, official transcripts showing all
prior academic work from every college or university attended, a Departmental
application, and three letters of recommendation sent to the Department
of Geological Sciences. Information is available from the Office of
Admission and University Outreach (323-343-3901) and from the Department
of Geological Sciences Graduate Advisor. |
