A seminar for graduate students covering various fields of zoological research, including limnology and marine science.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
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The department at a glance
All recorded grades average GPA
A / AB grades
letter grades
How grades break down
Grades over time
Red: department · Gray: UW–Madison
About these statistics
GPA and percentages are weighted by recorded letter grades. UW comparisons use the same terms. Cross-listed courses count once within this department and once across UW; department totals should not be added together. Grade counts are not unique students. Offering counts reflect captured records, not a complete historical schedule.
Fall 2026
Recorded this termcourses with offerings
instructors recorded
Grades have not been recorded for this term. Historical results remain in the overview above.
Find your next class
38 coursesHistorical grades cover up to five years through the selected term. Grade sorting prioritizes courses with at least 100 letter grades.
ATMOCN/ENVIRST/GEOG/GEOSCI 335 examines climate variability across timescales, focusing on external forcings, earth system feedbacks, and human activity.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
The course is not too hard, with exams that are manageable if students use the textbook to understand the material covered.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025CLIMATE AND CLIMATE CHANGE describes basic climate principles, variability, and the science behind the greenhouse effect and model forecasts.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Michael Notaro: Quizzes are described as easy if students study the provided study guide document.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2024–Spring 2026PROBLEMS IN OCEANOGRAPHY introduces techniques for studying the biology, chemistry, geology, and physics of the marine environment.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2024 · limited sampleNATURAL HAZARDS AND DISASTERS explores the science behind major natural disasters and addresses hazard assessment, forecasting, and mitigation.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Shaun Marcott, Teri Boundy: Workload consists of quizzes, exercises, and homework, with some instructors requiring careful textbook reading and office hour attendance that impacts grades.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY applies geology to problems from intense use of the earth and its resources.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
The course features weekly online quizzes with two attempts and mandatory weekly labs. Quizzes are described as tough and sometimes misaligned with lecture content, while labs range from easy to math-heavy.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026An introductory course covering geologic processes, Earth's structure and history, and phenomena like earthquakes, volcanoes, and climate change.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Grades depend on weekly quizzes and labs rather than exams. Quizzes can be tricky, and labs are the most taxing component, requiring careful note-taking and preparation from lecture materials.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026GEOSCI 109 explores the geologic story of US National Parks through physiography, tectonics, and fundamental geologic processes.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Many reviewers describe the class as extremely difficult and stressful, citing packed content, hard-to-follow lectures, and quizzes that feel unfair despite diligent study and attendance at office hours.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025GEOSCI 110
Evolution and Extinction
4 creditsCovers the origin and diversification of life, evolutionary processes, and crises such as mass extinctions and Earth-life co-evolution.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
The course requires weekly quizzes based on articles and lecture material, with no textbook. Exams are multiple-choice, but the volume of material requires students to keep up with readings and attend class.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026Explores microbial life diversity in modern and ancient geological extreme environments.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025GEOSCI 198
Directed Study
1–3 creditsGEOSCI 198 is a directed study course allowing independent research arranged with a faculty member.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
GEOSCI 199
Directed Study
1–3 creditsGEOSCI 199 is a directed study course allowing students to conduct independent research or study arranged with a faculty member.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sampleIntroduction to recognition and mapping of geologic structures in the field
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Tests are described as tough and hard to finish, while homework expectations can sometimes be unclear.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sampleGEOSCI 304
Geobiology
3 creditsGEOBIOLOGY explores the integrative interaction of Earth's spheres and their evolution through history.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sampleGEOSCI 331 explores the formation, collection, properties, and treatment of popular gemstones.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Students must manage numerous PDF lectures and create study aids like diagrams and spreadsheets. Exams are timed, 30-question tests that require linking multiple details from the lectures.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026GEOSCI 557
Structural Petrology
3 creditsStructural petrology course focusing on petrographic investigation of rock fabrics and deformation using thin sections and SEMs.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2023–Fall 2023 · limited sampleGEOSCI 610 teaches the application of radioisotopic and cosmogenic dating methods to determine geologic timescales and rates of geologic processes.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2023–Fall 2023 · limited sampleGEOSCI 681
Senior Honors Thesis
3 creditsGEOSCI 681 is a senior mentored study course for students completing theses for Honors in the Major.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
GEOSCI 682
Senior Honors Thesis
3 creditsGEOSCI 682 is an individual mentored study course for seniors completing theses for Honors in the Major.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sampleGEOSCI 691
Senior Thesis
3–4 creditsGEOSCI 691 is a mentored individual research course for students completing a senior thesis.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
GEOSCI 692
Senior Thesis
3–4 creditsGEOSCI 692 is a mentored individual research course for students completing a senior thesis.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sampleGEOSCI 698
Directed Study
1–6 creditsGEOSCI 698 is a directed study course allowing independent research arranged with a faculty member.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
GEOSCI 699
Directed Study
1–6 creditsGEOSCI 699 is a directed study course allowing students to conduct independent research or study arranged with a faculty member.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sampleQuantitative Geomorphology studies Earth's surface processes through theory and field observations of hillslopes, rivers, and glaciers.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2022 · limited sampleGEOSCI 720
Glaciology
3 creditsGEOSCI 720 covers glaciology fundamentals, glacier mechanics, and the mathematical principles governing ice flow and landform formation.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2022 · limited sampleAdvanced structural geology covering structures in layered, intrusive, and metamorphic rocks and structural analysis.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
GEOSCI 777 teaches the operation of electron probes and SEM for microanalysis using WDS and EDS, including their applications and limitations.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2024 · limited sampleGEOSCI 875
Advanced Topics in Geology
1–3 creditsGEOSCI 875 covers advanced and special topics in geology and geoscience for graduate students.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of David Lovelace: Students must proactively contact the instructor to arrange directed study classes.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026This graduate seminar explores modern glacial, glaciology, and Pleistocene geology literature and includes a field trip to local glacial geology sites.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2023–Fall 2025 · limited sampleGEOSCI 990
Research
1–12 creditsGEOSCI 990 is a research course where students conduct supervised independent study projects.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
Across course levels
Recorded this termNo released grades for this term.
Recorded offerings over time
Offering snapshots currently cover Fall 2026. Earlier grade records do not provide a complete offering history.