Course Information
The following courses are expected to be offered during this Academic Year. Courses listed on this site are subject to change. For official course listings please refer to the Western Academic Calendar and Timetable.
Have questions? Please reach out to askearthsci@uwo.ca
The OFFICIAL 2026-2027 Timetable will be available early June. The below Fall/Winter listings are subject to change.
Summer 2026 Earth Science Courses
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Earth Sciences 1086A: Origin and Geology of the Solar System Instructor: Robert Shcherbakov |
Our best perception of the origin of the Universe, the Milky Way Galaxy, and our Solar System, meteorites, asteroids, comets and the formation of planets. The slow growth of Planetary Science reason and analysis of hypotheses. Why and how Earth evolved along a path radically different than the other planets.
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Fall 2026 Environmental Science Courses
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ENV1021F: Environmental Science & Sustainability Instructor: TBA |
An overview of the science underlying key environmental issues (e.g. climate change, loss of biodiversity and ecosystem function, air and water pollution, and resource use) and how each issue impacts environmental sustainability from the local to global scale.
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ENV2300F: Foundations in Environmental Science (Replaces ENV3300) Instructor: TBA |
A foundational course exposing students to the interdisciplinary fields of environmental science by identifying how current environmental issues (e.g., resource extraction, climate change) are addressed by different disciplines. Sustainability metrics will also be explored. Students will work through insightful case studies and assess scientific literature from different stakeholder perspectives.
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ENV2400A: Environmental Science in the Field Returns Fall 2027 |
A foundational field and in-class course exposing students to the interdisciplinary aspects of environmental science by studying various off-campus sites throughout the term. Students will gain hands-on and team-based learning skills by investigating the problems, processes, and results of humankind’s impacts on natural systems. |
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ENV4999E: Honors Research Project Instructor: TBA |
A major laboratory or field project that emphasizes experimental design, instrumentation, collection and analysis of data, and communication of experimental results by oral and written presentations.
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Winter 2027 Environmental Science Courses
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ENV1021G: Environmental Science & Sustainability Instructor: TBA |
An overview of the science underlying key environmental issues (e.g. climate change, loss of biodiversity and ecosystem function, air and water pollution, and resource use) and how each issue impacts environmental sustainability from the local to global scale.
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ENV3350G: Research Techniques in Environmental Science Instructor: TBA |
A multi-module course where a case study approach will be used to acquaint students with the research tools of environmental science, and the analysis, interpretation and presentation of environmental data.
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ENV4999E: Honours Research Project Continued from Fall term Instructor: TBA |
A major laboratory or field project that emphasizes experimental design, instrumentation, collection and analysis of data, and communication of experimental results by oral and written presentations.
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Fall 2026 Earth Sciences Courses
Key courses for the Geophysics module are highlighted; it is important to enroll when these courses are offered.
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ES4451Z: Geophysics Field Techniques Aug 29 – Sept 8 2026
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An 11-day short course. Course delivery will be in person on campus with four field days just outside of London (day trips). Contact instructor at smolnar8@uwo.ca for more details. |
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ES1022A: Earth Rocks Instructor: TBA |
What our planet is made of, how it works, and how it affects us. Framed on the interactions of the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere. Specific topics include: geological time and earth history; formation of rocks and minerals; rock deformation; volcanoes and earthquakes; plate tectonics and mountain building; natural resources.
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ES1023A/ES2123F: Planet Earth Shaken & Stirred/The Dynamic Earth Instructor: TBA |
An overview of the origin and development of Earth and solar system; constitution and active processes of Earth interior; how these processes have shaped Earth evolution in the past and how they continue to control surface phenomena such as earthquake and volcanic activity. Labs will introduce the main resource exploration techniques.
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ES1083A: Life on Planet Earth Instructor: TBA |
Concepts of the development of life on Earth. Darwinian evolution and modern concepts of evolution. Genetics and evolution. Mode and rate of evolution. A survey of the vertebrate fossil record with focus on particular groups, including dinosaurs. Major extinction events in the fossil record. Origin of the geological time scale.
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ES1086A: Origin & Geology of the Solar System Online Instructor: TBA |
Our best perception of the origin of the Universe, the Milky Way Galaxy, and our Solar System, meteorites, asteroids, comets and the formation of planets. The slow growth of Planetary Science reason and analysis of hypotheses. Why and how Earth evolved along a path radically different than the other planets.
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ES2200A: Fundamentals of Earth Sciences Instructor: TBA |
An overview of the processes that operate on and within our planet within the context of plate tectonics and geologic time, the characteristics and distribution of the materials produced by these processes, and the economic and environmental significance of these materials to humans, including mineral and energy resources. Laboratories focus on rock identification in hand specimens and geologic environments.  Course Outline: 2200 |
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ES2206A: Mineral Systems, Crystallography, and Optics Instructor: TBA |
Introduction to mineral chemistry, crystal chemistry and mineral paragenesis, with emphasis on rock-forming minerals and ore minerals. Identification of minerals and mineral properties in hand specimen and thin section. |
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ES2240F: Catastrophic Events in Earth History Online Instructor: TBA |
Rare events so catastrophic that they leave evidence in the geologic record and threaten life on Earth. Included are impacts by asteroids and comets, eruptions from giant resurgent volcanic calderas, large to mega-earthquakes and associated tsunami, and dramatic reduction of atmospheric oxygen by release of reservoirs of methane hydrate.
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ES2260A: Stratigraphy and Sedimentology from Basins to Beds Instructor: TBA |
Origins of sedimentary grains. Transport processes. Characteristics of the main types of sedimentary basins. Stratigraphic methods, including litho-, allo-, bio-, chrono-, and magneto-stratigraphy. Labs include examination of sedimentary rocks, well-log correlation and seismic stratigraphic analysis. At least one field trip is organized.
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ES2265A: Paleobiology & Paleoecology Instructor: TBA |
A survey of the fossil record from bacteria, protista, calcareous algae, to invertebrate animals. Topics on each group of fossils include functional morphology, evolutionary trend, ancient living environments, contribution to sediment accumulation and reef-building, utility for dating and correlating rocks and for understanding long-term biodiversity change.
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ES3316A: Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology Instructor: TBA |
Study of igneous and metamorphic processes using rock and thin section descriptions (petrography). Discussion of factors such as temperature, pressure, composition and fluid activity that control the mineralogy, texture and structure of igneous and metamorphic rocks. Use of phase equilibria and geochronology to understand the histories of rocks. Relationships between rock types and different plate tectonic settings
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ES4321A: Physics of the Earth I NEW online format Formerly ES3321A Instructor: TBA |
Course description coming soon.
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ES3340A: Watershed Hydrology Not offered next year Instructor: TBA |
Occurrence, movement, and behavior of water in the hydrologic cycle. The development of quantitative representations of hydrologic processes (e.g., precipitation, evapotranspirtation, runoff, infiltration and unsaturated flow, saturated flow, surface flow). Analysis of stream response hydrographs. Statistical models of predicting flood responses and water resource management.
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ES4431A: Stable Isotopes Geochemistry in Earth & Environmental Sciences 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.
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ES4490E: Senior Thesis Instructor: TBA |
A presentation of research on a chosen problem. Original data must be generated from field or laboratory studies and analyzed using appropriate methodologies. The results must be integrated into the existing literature on the topic. Independence in the conduct and reporting of research must be demonstrated.
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Winter 2027 Earth Sciences Courses
Key courses for the Geophysics module are highlighted; it is important to enroll when these courses are offered.
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ES1022B: Earth Rocks Instructor: TBA |
What our planet is made of, how it works, and how it affects us. Framed on the interactions of the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere. Specific topics include: geological time and earth history; formation of rocks and minerals; rock deformation; volcanoes and earthquakes; plate tectonics and mountain building; natural resources.
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ES1023B/ES2123G: Earth Shaken & Stirred/Dynamic Earth Instructor: TBA |
An overview of the origin and development of Earth and solar system; constitution and active processes of Earth interior; how these processes have shaped Earth evolution in the past and how they continue to control surface phenomena such as earthquake and volcanic activity. Labs will introduce the main resource exploration techniques.
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ES1086B: Origin & Geology of the Solar System, online Instructor: TBA |
Our best perception of the origin of the Universe, the Milky Way Galaxy, and our Solar System, meteorites, asteroids, comets and the formation of planets. The slow growth of Planetary Science reason and analysis of hypotheses. Why and how Earth evolved along a path radically different than the other planets.
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ES1089G: Earth, Art, and Culture Instructor: TBA |
An examination of Earth materials used over the history of human culture. Topics include: Earth materials as media in the Visual Arts (pigments, stone and clay); rocks, minerals and fossils as motifs in famous works of art; landscape photography; gemstones and jewelery; earth materials in wine and cuisine, and modern technology.
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ES2201B: Structural Geology Instructor: TBA |
Deformation of Earth's crust; description of geological structures; construction and interpretation of geologic maps, cross sections and block diagrams; stereographic and orthographic representation of structural data; mechanical behavior of rocks; origin and tectonic significance of geological structures.
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ES2220B: Environmental & Exploration Geophysics Instructor: TBA |
A brief introduction to applied seismology – the investigation of Earth structure using sound waves in rocks. Topics include: seismic reflection methods, a cornerstone of oil and gas exploration; seismic refraction methods; earthquake seismology. This lab-oriented course will provide hands-on experience with computers and analysis of large digital data sets.
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ES2222B: Data Analysis in Earth Sciences Returns Winter 2028 |
An introduction to data analysis, digital signal processing, machine learning and visualization techniques. Topics include: statistical methods to characterize uni- to multi-variate data, spatial data, time series and Fourier analyses, digital signal processing and filtering, data analytics and machine learning applications. Geophysics and environmental science applications will be emphasized. |
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ES2230B: Introduction to Geochemistry Instructor: TBA |
Effects of temperature, pressure and bulk composition on stabilities of minerals in natural geological settings are evaluated using thermodynamic principles. Reaction rates among minerals and fluids, including the effects of natural catalysts and inhibitors, and biotic mediation are addressed. Introduction to the principles of radioisotope and stable isotope geochemistry.
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ES2240G: Catastrophic Events in Earth History, online Instructor: TBA |
Rare events so catastrophic that they leave evidence in the geologic record and threaten life on Earth. Included are impacts by asteroids and comets, eruptions from giant resurgent volcanic calderas, large to mega-earthquakes and associated tsunami, and dramatic reduction of atmospheric oxygen by release of reservoirs of methane hydrate.
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ES2266G: Dinosaur and Other Vertebrate Evolution Instructor: TBA |
Introduction to the fossil record that documents the major steps in vertebrate evolution, including the origin and radiation of fishes, amphibians, mammal-like reptiles, dinosaurs, birds, and mammals.
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ES2281B: Geology for Engineers Instructor: TBA |
Introduction to physical geology with emphasis on the engineering oriented aspects of the Earth Sciences. Topics include: minerals and rocks; mass movements; interpretation of aerial photographs, topographic and geologic maps; surficial processes and their manifestations; surface and ground water; structural geology and subsurface processes; and earth resources.
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ES3001B: Astrobiology Instructor: TBA |
The study of life in the universe, including the origin of life on Earth, the possibility of life elsewhere in the solar system/universe, and the future of human life off-Earth. This course will include topics that draw from biology, physics, astronomy, geology, chemistry, and other areas.
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ES3023G: A Field Course in Land Healing and Responsibility May 3 - 12, 2027 Instructor: TBA |
This is an advanced community-based experiential course that combines in-class discussions with community-based research. Students will train in methodologies and ethics of working with First Nations communities. Areas of research may include but not limited to ecological restoration, land claims, self-government, education, health and wellness and urban issues.
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ES3314B: Sedimentary Petrology Instructor: TBA |
Identification and description of various types of siliciclastic and carbonate rocks; the important characteristics of sedimentary rocks and their key sedimentary features for interpretation of present and ancient despositional environments; survey of diagenetic processes that alter original properties of primary sediments.
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ES3341B: Water & Geochem Cycles Instructor: TBA |
Course description coming soon.
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ES3369B: Environmental Microbiology Instructor: TBA |
Course description coming soon.
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ES3370B: Metallogeny 1 Instructor: TBA |
An introductory course to the broad field of mineral deposit geology and the importance of mineral resources. Several ore deposit types are examined within the context of global theories of ore genesis. Various methods, including ore petrology, are related to specific ore types. Laboratory work focuses on reflected-light microscopy in the practical study of ore suites.
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ES4312B: Origin of Meteorites & Planetary Materials A rare offering; enrollment is encouraged during periods of availability Formerly ES3312 Instructor: TBA |
Course description coming soon.
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ES4420B: Forward and Inverse Theory May not be offered next year Instructor: TBA |
Course description coming soon. |
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ES4424B: Advanced Mineral Physics May not be offered next year Instructor: TBA |
Course description coming soon. |
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ES4462B: Glaciers, Ice and Climate 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. |
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ES4490E: Senior Thesis Continued from Fall term Instructor: TBA |
A presentation of research on a chosen problem. Original data must be generated from field or laboratory studies and analyzed using appropriate methodologies. The results must be integrated into the existing literature on the topic. Independence in the conduct and reporting of research must be demonstrated.
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Summer 2027 Earth Sciences Courses
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ES1086A: Origin & Geology of the Solar Sysem Online Instructor: TBA |
Our best perception of the origin of the Universe, the Milky Way Galaxy, and our Solar System, meteorites, asteroids, comets and the formation of planets. The slow growth of Planetary Science reason and analysis of hypotheses. Why and how Earth evolved along a path radically different than the other planets.
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Field Courses
- ES2250Y Introductory Field Mapping Techniques & ES3350Y Advanced Field Mapping Techniques - both courses occur in the first two weeks of May 2027. Field course fees will apply and are to be paid in Winter term.
- ES4450 Regional Field Geology & ES4452 International Geoscience Field Experience --> Not offered 2026-2027.
National mineral deposits field course with industry support in development for 2027-2028. - ES4001 Planetary Surface Processes Field School - Should return in 2027-2028
