Hydrogeology Lecture Syllabus
Hydrogeology Lecture Syllabus
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Occurrence, movement, and properties of subsurface water with special emphasis on geological
aspects of ground water. Secondary emphasis is placed on ground-water flow evaluation and
ground-water contamination, flow-net analysis, and pump test.
COURSE OVERVIEW
Hydrogeology will introduce the concepts related to the occurrence and movement of
groundwater, as well as evaluation of groundwater resources. Major topics of the course include
examination of governing equations, analyses of aquifer properties, regional groundwater flow,
groundwater contamination, and field methods. The history of hydrogeology will be discussed
throughout the semester. Final projects will give students the opportunity to investigate a
specific problem, site, or historical figure related to hydrogeology.
PRE/COREQUISITES
Prerequisite: MATH 1720 or higher with a minimum grade of D
Corequisite: GEOL 4251, Hydrogeology Lab
TEXTBOOK/READINGS
Fetter, C.W., 2001. Applied Hydrogeology, 4th edition, Prentice-Hall, Inc., New Jersey.
Note that you will need the CD, which comes with the book, for certain assignments.
Additional journal articles will be assigned throughout the semester and will be available on
AP-Online (D2L).
GRADING
Final grades will be based on the following:
30% Midterm Exam (Note that this exam will be taken during lab on Oct. 18)
30% Final Exam
30% Final Project (15% each for paper and presentation)
10% Four Problem Sets (2.5% for each)
Grading scale for the course:
90-100% = A
80-89% = B
70-79% = C
60-69% = D
Less than 60% = F
COURSE POLICIES
Students are expected to attend all classes and to be on time. If you are absent you are
expected to get notes from another student and catch up on your own. Students are expected to
conduct themselves appropriately at all times. Academic and classroom misconduct will not be
tolerated. Students should read the “Code of Student Conduct” in the new Student Handbook for
an understanding of what will be expected of them within the academic setting. Cell phones
must be off or on silent and put away in your pocket, backpack or purse. They should not be
visible during class. Audio and/or visual recording devices including, but not limited to,
computers, personal digital assistants (PDA’s), ipods, tape recorders, and cameras are not
permitted to be on—they should be turned off and put away in your pocket, backpack or purse.
Failure to comply with these policies will result in exclusion from the class.
ALL work, including units, should be shown on problem sets and exams. On problem
sets, clearly label the problem number and draw a box around your final answer. A penalty of
10% per day will be assigned to late problem sets and final projects.
Exams may not be taken prior to or after the scheduled date of the exam. If a student
misses an exam he/she will receive a zero for that exam. Make-up exams will only be allowed if
the student can document hospitalization, involvement in an accident, or death of a family
member. A letter of proof from the proper authority will be required, and such
letters/documentation will be verified by the instructor. Forgery and or falsification of
documents will result in severe academic disciplinary action(s).
DISABILITY ISSUES
Any student who has a condition that may affect his/her academic performance is encouraged to
make an appointment with the instructor and/or the Office of Disability Services, located in
Morgan University Center, Room 114, phone 221-6230.
POLICY ON MINORS
Minors (any non-student under the age of 18) accompanying staff, faculty, students or visitors on
campus are not permitted in the classroom.
Presentations should be 10-12 minutes in length, with each student presenting approximately half
of the material. Presentations must be done using PowerPoint. Guidelines for presenting will
also be discussed during lab later in the semester.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE (Note * indicates days additional readings will likely be assigned)
Week Day Topic Reading Assignments
1 27-Aug Intro/Hydrologic Cycle Ch 1 & 2
29-Aug Hydrologic Cycle Ch 1 & 2 PS1 assigned
31-Aug Porosity/Permeability/Darcy Sections 3.1-3.5;*
2 3-Sep NO CLASS-LABOR DAY
5-Sep Aquifers/Aquitards Sections 3.6-3.12
7-Sep Aquifers/Aquitards Sections 3.6-3.12
3 10-Sep Hydraulic Head Sections 4.1-4.5
12-Sep Groundwater Flow Equations Sections 4.6-4.8 PS1 due
14-Sep Grad h and steady flow Sections 4.9-4.10; 4.13-4.14 PS2 assigned
4 17-Sep Flow nets Sections 4.11-4.12
19-Sep Wells: drawdown Sections 5.1-5.4;*
21-Sep Wells: pumping tests Sections 5.5; 5.7-5.10
5 24-Sep Wells: pumping tests Sections 5.5; 5.7-5.11
26-Sep Wells: slug tests Section 5.6
28-Sep Unsaturated Zone Ch 6
6 1-Oct Regional Groundwater Flow Sections 7.1-7.5; 7.7; * PS2 due
3-Oct Regional Groundwater Flow Sections 7.1-7.5; 7.7 PS3 assigned
5-Oct Regional GW Flow: Case Studies Section 7.6, *
7 8-Oct Geology & Groundwater: Seds/Rocks Sections 8.1-8.4
10-Oct Geology & Groundwater: Regions Sections 8.5-8.10
12-Oct Groundwater Modeling Ch 13, * PS3 due
8 15-Oct NO CLASS-FALL BREAK
17-Oct Exam Review
19-Oct Groundwater Modeling Ch 13
9 22-Oct Groundwater Modeling Ch 13
Final Project
24-Oct Water Chemistry I Sections 9.1-9.8
Topic Due 5pm
26-Oct Water Chemistry II Sections 9.9-9.14 PS4 assigned
10 29-Oct Mass Transport Section 10.6
31-Oct Groundwater Contamination Sections 10.1-10.2; 10.7, *
2-Nov GW Monitoring and Remediation Sections 10.3-10.5; 10.8-10.10
11 5-Nov WORK DAY (GSA)-FINAL PROJECTS
7-Nov WORK DAY (GSA)-FINAL PROJECTS
9-Nov Safe Yield/Water Law Sections 11.1-11.6
12 12-Nov NO CLASS-VETERAN'S DAY
14-Nov Water Mgmt./Protection & Global Issues Sections 11.7-11.11
16-Nov Intro to Field Methods/Site Evaluation Sections 12.1-12.2; 12.5-12.7 PS4 due
13 19-Nov Geophysics Sections 12.3-12.4
21-Nov Geophysics Sections 12.3-12.4
23-Nov NO CLASS-THANKSGIVING
14 26-Nov Special Topics to be determined
28-Nov Special Topics to be determined
30-Nov Special Topics to be determined
15 3-Dec Final Project Presentations
Final Project
5-Dec Final Project Presentations
Paper Due 5pm
7-Dec 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. FINAL EXAM!!!
CAVEAT
The above schedule and procedures are subject to change in the event of extenuating
circumstances.