Name of the department : Geology
Year of establishment : 2018
Program Offered : UG
No. of Teaching posts sanctioned : 1
No. of Teaching posts filled : 1

Course Structure : Geology

Course structure B.Sc. with Geology (UG yearly programme w.e.f. 2018)

Program Objective :

The aims and objectives of our UG educational program in B.Sc. with Geology in particular should be structured to :

• Create the facilities and environment in the college, to introduce and consolidate the knowledge acquired at +2 levels and to motivate and inspire the students to create deep interest in Geology, to develop broad and balanced knowledge and understanding of geological concepts, principles and theories of stratigraphy, geological mapping, and exploration of natural resources and understand Earth evolution.
• Learn, design and perform experiments in the labs to demonstrate the concepts, principles and theories learned in the classrooms.
• Develop the ability to apply the knowledge acquired in the classroom and laboratories to specific problems in theoretical and applied Geology.
• Expose the student to the vast scope of Geosciences as a theoretical and experimental science with applications in solving most of the geogenic problems in nature spanning from disaster management, watershed management, water pollution, oil exploration and mining, etc.
• Emphasize the need for integrating Geosciences as one of the most important branch of science for pursuing the interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary higher education and/or research in interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary areas.
• To emphasize the importance of Geology as the most important discipline for sustaining the existing industries and establishing new ones to create job opportunities at all levels of employment.
• Critical thinking: The combination of different subjects in the graduation level is offered by the students in a way that apart from the knowledge gathering, they must develop critical thinking about the subject and also be able to checking the assumption and ideas from different prospection.
• Effective communication: Apart from the science subjects, language paper is also included in the graduation programme, must be aiming toward development of communication skills. Hence at the time of graduation students will be able to connect people, ideas, books, media and technology.
• Social interaction: In graduation programme, apart from the practical practices most of the subjects carry field excursion and fields studies for better exposure and participation in discussion with industrialist, entrepreneurs, social activists, scientists, etc., help them to reach conclusion in setting.
• Effective Citizenship: During the regular three-year degree programme, students actively participate in NCC, NSS, Red cross society, Rovers and Rangers group activities. This participation will help them in developing effective citizenship, awareness of issues and concern about the national development.
• Ethics: College administration during the implementation of syllabus sees that the subjects of science field given to the students in theories and practical’s in such a way that they develop value system among the students and better approach regarding the moral dimensions.<,/
• Environment and Sustainability: As per the Supreme Court guideline the graduation syllabus contains the studies related to environmental issues in which the students are given projects pertaining to the social concern. Apart from this, different subjects like Botany, Geology, Chemistry, and Zoology are including localized environmental issues for studies. It will help students to understand the issues of environmental contexts and sustainable development.
• Self-directed and lifelong learning: With the changing time and as per need of an hour the syllabus is constructed and implemented in such a way that students even after completing their graduation may acquire their ability to lifelong learning process. For this applied aspect of syllabus are taken into consideration.

Program Outcomes :

The student graduating with the Degree B.Sc. with Geology should :

• Acquire a solid base of knowledge in the science of geology as a whole as well as earth materials, earth history, sedimentation and stratigraphy, deformational processes and structural features, and geomorphic processes and landforms.
• Know the geologic time scale and place important geologic events in a temporal framework.
• Use compasses, survey instruments, and images in geological investigations.
• Understand the pathways, fluxes, and influence of water and other fluids at Earth’s surface and in the subsurface.
• Interpret topographic maps and terrain models and create profiles.
• Interpret geologic maps and construct cross sections from them.
• Interpret geophysical measurements of subsurface properties.
• Distinguish between various structural features and determine the types of stress responsible for their formation.
• Describe and interpret types of surgical deposits and landforms.
• Apply principles of mathematics, chemistry, and physics to geologic problems.
• Develop proficiency in conveying complex geologic concepts in clear, technically correct writing.
• Develop proficiency in oral communication of complex geologic concepts.
• Develop the aptitudes and dispositions necessary to help democratize society by obtaining and maintaining employment as a professional geologist.

Subject specific outcomes

DSC 1 : Physical Geology and Geomorphology

The study of this paper strengthens student’s knowledge with respect to understanding the essentials of the dynamic processes and evolution of the earth.

DSC 2 : Structural Geology and Mineralogy

Studying the basics of mineralogy helps in understanding and building the overall knowledge in Geology.
The course deals with the study of minerals, their chemistry and identification in hand specimen.

DSC 3 : Petrology

On completion of the course the students will have gained an understanding of the processes involved in the formation of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, their textures, structures, classifications and their importance.
Petrology is the science of rocks. The course will help the students to exhibit an improved understanding of fundamental petrologic processes and common rock types.

DSC 4 : Stratigraphy and Palaeontology

The study of Stratigraphy and Palaeontology encompasses the aspects of the age of the earth, chronological arrangement of rocks and appearance and evolution of life through the geologic time. The knowledge of the concepts in stratigraphy, correlation, and palaeontology would enable the students to understand the changes that occurred in the history of the earth and relate them to their field observations and also, in understanding the framework of the stratigraphy of India.
Stratigraphy and Palaeontology, the two branches of Geology work together to unearth the secrets of age from rocks of the earth’s crust. Stratigraphers study the composition and arrangement of layered or stratified rocks. Palaeontologists study the remains of plants and animals which have been preserved in the earth’s crust by natural processes. With these objectives in mind it becomes pertinent to understand the basic concepts of Stratigraphy and Palaeontology.

SECC 1 : Geochemistry

A student will be able to understand and learn about geochemical models of the Earth. Students will have insight into the geochemical evolution of the Earth, cosmic abundance of elements and to the distribution of various elements in different types of rocks.

SECC 2 : Fuel Geology

A student will understand and learn about the basic concepts of Fuel Geology with respect to geology as to enable them to work as a Coal and/or Petroleum Geologist.

SECC 3 : Photo Geology and Remote Sensing

The course is meant to address the fundamental techniques used for remote sensing. At the end of this course, the student will be appraised with all the theoretical knowledge, information and skills to use Remotely Sensed data for geological applications.

This course intends to introduce students to the fundamental principles and techniques of remote sensing, basic properties of electromagnetic radiation and its interaction with matter, It will also include topics like instruments and platforms used for remote sensing, and the ways those systems can be used to determine geological structure and rock types.

This course provides a theoretical and practical, hands-on approach to spatial database design and spatial data analysis with Geographical Information Systems as applied to the various fields of geosciences.

SECC 4 : Himalayan Geology

The Indian sub-continent exposes a wide range of lithologies that span from 3.6 billion years to present. Ancient rock types from the Indian Peninsula, Cretaceous Deccan volcanism and Tethyan sediments exposed in the mighty Himalayas is noteworthy. The student will gain knowledge about the stratigraphy and geology of Himalayas which will help in understanding the different episodes in the formation of Himalayas during the geologic past.

DSE 1 : Applied and Economic Geology

Upon completion of the course the student will become aware of the importance of geological studies and its applicability to various engineering problems.
By the end of this course the student will have learnt about techniques of mineral exploration and exploitation, estimation of ore reserves, environmental impact of mining, and the importance conservation of mineral resources.
The course provides the student essential and basic concepts of mineral expiration techniques and the art and science of mining mineral resources.

DSE 2 : Environmental Geology and Geohydrology

Know the basic fundamentals of earth science as applied to the interaction between human activity and the natural environment. Understand the occurrence and availability of both surface and subsurface water resources and the role of the hydrologic cycle and pollution. Understand the role of plate tectonics in causing earthquakes and how this understanding can aid the assessment of seismic hazard.

On completion of the course, the student will have gained an understanding of hydrogeological concepts, exploration, exploitation and recharge of groundwater and methods of monitoring groundwater quality and sources of pollution.

Activities :

• Collaboration is done with Dr Mahesh Thakur (PI, DST Project), Asst. Prof., Centre for advanced study in Geology, Punjab University, Chandigarh to carry out landslide studies and the safety of equipments installed at Manikaran. Joint field work and other research activities (seminars) will be carried out by Dr Mahesh Thakur, Principal investigator, for our students.
• A webinar was organized on 28th of December 2020 in which students got to learn some practical aspects and general attributes of Engineering Geology and the role of a geologist in the construction of important engineering structures like tunnels, bridges, highways and dams. The speaker is a research scholar from Punjab University, Chandigarh.