Geovetenskap: Grundkurs

The course includes 30 credits at undergraduate level and is a compulsory course in the N1GVS Bachelor's programme in Earth Sciences. The course is offered as an elective course subject to availability.

The course can be part of the following programmes:

1. Bachelor's Programme in Earth Sciences (N1GVS)
2. Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science (N1MVN)

The course consists of two modules:

1. Geosphere, 15 credits

Grading scale: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U). The module is divided in two parts:

1. The deep Earth, 7,5 credits
   Covers plate tectonics, minerals and rocks resources, volcanoes, earthquakes, geophysics, structural geology, natural resources, early history of the Earth, "deep time" and geological principles.
2. The shallow Earth, 7,5 credits
   Covers geomorphology, Quartenary geology, Phanerozic evolution, landslides and sea level changes.

2. Hydrosphere, biosphere, weather and climate, 7,5 credits

Grading scale: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U). The module is divided in two parts:

1. Hydrosphere and biosphere, 5 credits
   Covers the hydrological cycle, surface, ground and groundwater, watercourses dynamics. Geophysical investigations of soil layers with focus on geology, archaeology and infrastructure in soil. 
2. Weather and climate, 10 credits
   Covers the physics of the atmosphere, meteorology - weather, clouds, preciptation, wind, atmospheric circulation, radiation balance and wind systems, regional climatology, climate of Scandinavia, local climatology.

On succesful completion of the course the student will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

Subcourse 1 Geosphere

The deep Earth

• large-scale processes; plate tectonics and mantle convection
• Earth's composition - mineralogy and geochemistry
• volcanoes formation, earthquake and geophysics
• formations, transformations and deformation of rocks
• geological natural resources (ores and industrial raw materials)

The shallow Earth

• primary processes that transform the landscape
• landforms and their evolution
• sedimentological and stratigraphic principles

History of the Earth

• evolution of continents and oceans
• geological periods
• evolution of life
• Earth's climate history

Subcourse 2 Hydrosphere, biosphere, weather and climate

• the hydrological cycle, surface water, soil and groundwater and the dynamics of watercourses
• evolution and structure of soils, physical and chemical properties of soil investigating the shallow soil layers by geophysical methods. The focus is on archaeological geophysics and understanding the interaction between soils and archaeology. 
• atmospheric physics, meteorology - weather, clouds, preciptation, wind, atmospheric circulatio - radiation balance and wind systems, regional climatology, Scandinavian climate, local climatology

Competence and skills

Subcourse 1 Geosphere

• identify minerals, rocks, soils and fossils
• calculate the strike and dip/direction of different geological structures and geological profiles
• using remote sensing to identify landforms and other geological structures

Subcourse 2 Hydrosphere, biosphere, weather and climate

• use simple programming methods for calculation and simulation
• perform basic climatological analyses

Judgement and approach

• develop a scientific approach
• evaluate and analyse literature and data

The teaching consists of lectures, compulsory field trips/excursions, compulsory practical sessions and self-study.

Language of instruction: Swedish.

Some lectures and/or course literature may be in English.

The Deep Earth, Theory, 5 credits: U/G/VG

The Deep Earth, Exercises and excursions, 2,5 credits: U/G

The Shallow Earth, Theory, 5 credits: U/G/VG

The Shallow Earth, Exercises and reports, 2,5 credits: U/G

Hydrosphere and biosphere, Theory, 2,5 credits: U/G/VG

Hydrosphere and biosphere, Exercises and reports, 2,5 credits: U/G

Weather and climate, Theory, 7 credits: U/G/VG

Weather and climate, Exercises and reports, 3 credits: U/G

Written digital examination is given for each module. Other forms of examination may also occur.


If a student who has twice received a failing grade for the same examination component wishes to chnage examiner ahead of the next examination session, such a request should be made to the department in writing and should be approved by the department unless there are special reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 of the Higher Education Ordinance).

If a student has received a recommendation from the Univsersity of Gothenburg for study support for students with disabilitis, the examiner may, where it is compatible with the objectives of the course and provided that no unreasonable resources are required, decide to allow the student to sit an adjusted exam or alternative form of assessment.

In the event that a course has ceased or undergone major changs, students are to be guaranteed at least three examination sessions (including the ordinary examination session) over a period of at least one year, but no morre than two years after the course has ceased/been changed. The same applies to internships and professional placements (VFU), although this is restricted to just one additional examination session.

The grading scale comprises: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U).

For the grade Pass (G) on the entire course, all parts within within all modules must be passed. For the grade Pass with Distinction (VG) on the entire course, at least 12 credits graded Pass with Distinction (VG) in the modules graded U/G/VG.

The students are given the opportunity to make an anonymous written evaluation of the course.

The result of and possible changes to the course will be shared with the students who participated in the evaluation and stundets who are starting the course.