Structural Geology

The course includes 7,5 credits at undergraduate level and can be part of an Earth Science bachelor's degree. The course is also offered as an elective course subject to availability.

The course can be part of the following programme:

Bachelor's Programme in Earth Sciences (N1GVS)

Admission to the course requires 90 credits of completed courses in the main subject Earth sciences of which at least 75% with a passing grade. Students with equivalent education may be admitted to the course after assessment.

The course covers basic structural geology with applications to the three main types of rocks (sediment, igneous and metamorphic rocks).

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

Knowledge and understanding

• describe basic terms in structural geology.
• describe rock structures and structures related to kinematics and dynamics.
• describe the deformation behaviour (brittle vs. ductile) of geological materials at different scales and within different tectonic settings. 
• describe the role of structural geology for a sustainable world. 

Competence and skills

• describe, measure and analyse geological structures in deformed rocks.
• analyse structures in stereonets.
• determine stress and strain in geological materials using standard techniques. 
• determine paleostress. 

Judgement and approach

• make interpretations from rocks, geological maps including temporal relationships.
• identify the deformation history of the rock in the field.
• aquire basic knowledge of quantitative structural geology that can be used in applied geology.

The teaching consists of lectures (online and/or on campus) and graded assignments (e.g. laboratory work, group work, student presentations, fieldwork, excursions).

Language of instruction: English

Graded assignments, 7,5 credits: Fail/Pass/Pass with Distinction

If a student who has been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University of Gothenburg with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner may decide, if this is consistent with the course's intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed. The same applies to placement and internship (VFU) except that this is restricted to only one further examination session.

If a student has been noified that they fulfil the requirements for being a student at Riksidrottsuniversitetet (RIU student), to combine elite sports activities with studies, the examiner is entitled to decide on adaption of examinations if this is done in accordance with the Local Rules Regarding RIU Students at the University of Gothenburg.

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

For the grade Pass (G) on the entire course, all graded assignments must be passed and at least >50% for each assignment. For the grade Pass with Distinction (VG) on the entire course, all graded assignments must be passed and at least >85% for each assignment.

Students are given the opportunity to make a written, anonymou evaluation of the course.

The result and any changes in the course structure must be communicated to both the students who completed the evaluation and to the students who will start the course.

Students admitted to N1GVS Bachelor's Programme in Earth Sciences, have priority for the course.

Excursions may involve some additional costs for students. According to the institution's policy, students participating in an excursion must pay up to 200 SEK per night for transportation and accomodation.