Graduate Courses

The course schedule is subject to change. Please refer to student centre for the most up to date information. Registration for fall courses opens in early August, Winter courses in December and Summer courses in April.

Summer 2026

GEOLOGY 9650: Field Structural Analysis

May 1-11, 2026 Field School

Instructor: Dazhi Jiang djiang3@uwo.ca

Course Outline: 9650

*Crosslisted with ES 3350Y

A field school in a deformed metamorphic region. Emphasis will be on mapping techniques at large scales (from individual outcrops to macroscopic scales). The students will learn how to identify, measure, and document geological features at the outcrop scale and to make connections between outcrops. They are required to understand the structure of their map area in three-dimensions and to establish a kinematic synthesis for the history of their map area.

PLANETSC 9605: Planetary Surface Processes Field School

May 5-17, 2026 Field School

Instructor: Gordon Osinski gosinski@uwo.ca

Course Outline: 9605

*Crosslisted with ES 4001Y

The goal of this course is to provide students with an interdisciplinary field studies experience with an
emphasis on comparative planetology through the study of terrestrial analogues. Terrestrial analogues
are places on Earth that approximate the geological and environmental conditions on the Moon, Mars
and other planetary bodies, either at the present-day or in the past. This course will introduce students from a wide range of backgrounds to various aspects of planetary science, with an emphasis on planetary surface processes. The topics of astrobiology and planetary materials will also be integrated into this field program. This course will develop relationships and collaboration between students from very different backgrounds, unified in their pursuit of planetary science.

Fall 2026

GP9509A: Geophysics Field Techniques

Instructor: Sheri Molnar

See field courses below.

PS9603A: Introduction to Planetary Science

August 31 - September 6, 2026

Instructor: Catherine Neish

This intensive 7-day course is designed for graduate students, researchers, industry professionals, and government employees. It is mandatory for new Western planetary science graduate students, ideally taken in the first year. The course covers fundamental processes shaping planets, moons, asteroids, and comets, with lectures by leading experts and hands-on activities using data from recent planetary missions.

Contact instructor at cneish@uwo.ca for more details.

Course Outline: 9603

GP9572A: Physics of the Earth I

NEW online format
May not be offered next year

Instructor: TBA

An introduction to physics of the Earth's interior. Major topics are: Earth structure from seismic observations, heat flow, the physics of minerals under high temperatures and pressures, equations of state, seismological, thermal and compositional models.

Course Outline: 9572

GL9506A: Stable Isotope Geochemistry

Instructor: TBA

Stable isotopes (O,H,C,S,N), atmosphere, hydrosphere, sedimentary and diagenetic systems, hydrothermal systems, fluid migration, ore-forming fluids, igneous and metamorphic rocks. Environmental applications: groundwater, oceans, wetlands, acid rain; acid mine drainage, climate fluctuation; global cycle modification.

Course Outline: 9506

HRR9573A: Natural Catastrophes

Instructor: TBA

Natural hazarads and disaster risk reduction is a rapidly evolving interdisciplinary field in Canada and globally, spanning natural sciences, applied engineering, data sciences, and risk financing. This course introduces natural catastrophe modelling, covering hazard characterization, exposure modelling, volunerability assessment, and financial risk analysis.

Course Outline: 9573

Winter 2027

GL/GP9580B: Grad Seminar

Instructor: TBA

This is a required course for all new M.Sc. and Ph.D. students. The objectives of the course are to: i) write and present a thesis/project proposal, ii) develop strong research skills, iii) learn how to effectively present information orally, iv) become familiar with grant proposal writing, and v) practice scientific and professional learning skills through teamwork exercises.

Course Outline: 9508

GL95##B: Origin of Planetary Materials

New

Instructor: TBA

* Crosslisted with ES4312

Course description coming soon.

GP9505B: Forward & Inverse Theory Modelling

May not be offered next year

Instructor: TBA

An introduction into parameter estimation and data inversion for several geophysical problems. Students will be given an overview of fundamental concepts related to the construction of forward models, design of optimization methods and algorithms, and inversion of data for the underlying geophysical processes. Topics will include discrete linear inverse problems, maximum likelihood methods, singular value decomposition,
uniqueness and accuracy, data and model weighting, Bayesian formulation of the inverse problems, and non-linear inverse problems.

Course Outline: 9505

GP9507B: Advanced Mineral Physics

May not be offered next year

Instructor: TBA

The course introduces elementary solid state theory, thermodynamics, elasticity, equation
of state, stress and strength, phase transformations, high pressure and high temperature
science and technique, mineral physics of mantle and core.

Course Outline: 9507

GL9576B: Advanced Glacial Geology

Returns Winter 2028

Explore glacier types, dynamics, budgets. Study glacial movement and erosional depositional landforms. Examine glacial sediments, facies, environments. Review icebergs, sea-ice, ice shelves, fjords, lakes, paleosols, and permafrost. Reveal climate change and impacts on the Canadian North. Investigate latest Quaternary glaciations, climate cycles, and delve into untouched deep-ocean records. Discover Holocene and Anthropocene climate-human interactions and ancient glaciations. Learn about glacial resources, earthquake engineering, and work on case studies of environmental site assessments and Western glacial cores.