Core Courses

The SSGP two-course core sequence is a required sequence for all students who accept an SSGP fellowship. The sequence is also open to other qualified students depending on availability of space. For further information, please contact the core course coordinator.

Fall Semester, 2005 - Terrestrial Subsurface Processes I

Course Description: This 4-credit course is the first of a two-course graduate introduction to the physical, chemical, and biological processes that occur in the uppermost part of the Earth’s crust (nominally the first few hundred meters) in terrestrial environments. Topics in course I include subsurface architecture, deformational processes, surficial processes, and chemical processes. The pedagogical goal is a unified treatment that provides as much technical breadth and depth as possible with emphasis on a common vocabulary. Prerequisites: 1 year each of physics, chemistry, biology, and calculus, plus consent of instructor.

Schedule:
Wednesdays and Fridays
11:40AM -12:55PM Mountain
Method of Delivery: H.323 Videoconferencing
First Class: August 31, 2005
Last Class: December 16, 2005
Final Exam: December 21, 2005

Block Topic Instructor
1 Subsurface Architecture McCurry
McCurry
2 Vadose Zone Processes Gribb
Gribb
3 Subsurface Chemical Processes Strawn
Strawn

Spring Semester, 2006 - Terrestrial Subsurface Processes II

Course Description: This 4-credit course is the second of a two-course graduate introduction to the physical, chemical, and biological processes that occur in the uppermost part of the Earth’s crust (nominally the first few hundred meters) in terrestrial environments. Topics in course II include subsurface microbiological processes, kinetically driven biogeochemical processes, and flow and transport processes. The pedagogical goal is a unified treatment that provides as much technical breadth and depth as possible with emphasis on a common vocabulary. Prerequisites: Terrestrial Subsurface Processes I (no exceptions) plus consent of instructor.

Schedule:
Wednesdays and Fridays
11:40AM -12:55PM Mountain
Method of Delivery: H.323 Videoconferencing
First Class: January 18, 2006
Last Class: April 28, 2006
Final Exam: May 9, 2006

Block Topic Instructor
4 Subsurface Microbiological Processes Holben
Holben
5 Kinetically Driven Biogeochemical Processes Hossain
6 Flow and Transport Processes Kaluarachchi
Kaluarachchi

Download the core course schedule 2005-2006 (all instructional blocks).

Elective Courses

Fall Semester, 2005 – Subsurface Contaminant Bioremediation

Course Description: This 3-credit course will be offered to graduate students from subsurface science-related disciplines. This course will be taught asynchronously using text books supplemented by web-based tutorial material supplied by the instructor. Communication between students and instructor will be set up via email and conference call. The goal of the course is to provide students from multiple disciplines with a fundamental understanding of the subsurface processes, both biotic and abiotic, which contribute to the bioremediation of common subsurface contaminants including petroleum hydrocarbons and chlorinated solvents. Subsurface bioremediation is controlled by abiotic processes including multiphase flow, convective mass transport, adsorption/desorption, and phase partitioning, as well as biotic processes, such as microbial biomass growth and contaminant metabolism. Three interactive spreadsheet-based models (including EQUILIBRIUM PARTITIONING MODEL, BIOSCREEN and BIOCHLOR) will be used in this course for self-directed problem solving and concept demonstration. These models will serve as tools for in-depth quantitative demonstration of the interactions among various bioremediation-related processes.

Instructor: Dr. A. B. (Al) Cunningham, Department of Civil Engineering at Montana State University (406-994-6109; al_c@erc.montana.edu)

Method of Delivery: Asynchronous

Archives - Course offerings during the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 academic years

See SSGP Student Biographies