The
Department of Geological Sciences of Jahangirnagar University was
established in 1985 to meet the growing need of the country for trained
and specialized manpower in the field of geological sciences. The primary
aims of this action was
(i)
to offer Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) with Honors courses in geological
sciences and specialized post-graduate courses leading to Post-Graduate
Diploma, Master of Science (M. Sc.) and Doctor of Philosophy
(Ph.D.),
(ii)
to conduct research on various fields of geological sciences relevant to
national and scientific importance and
(iii)
to provide short-term training courses of different levels and categories
for geoscientists serving in various concerned organizations.
Support
Systems:
The
Department has a well organized library with more than one thousand books,
journals and other materials most of which are latest publications in
concerned field of geological sciences. All the basic laboratory and field
equipment, mineral, rock and fossil samples, maps and models, aerial
photographs, satellite imageries, geophysical equipment, audio-visual
systems are available in the Department. An advanced petrographic
laboratory is fast nearing completion, where state of the art rock cutting
and slide preparation sections and microscope-study areas are being
developed. The Department also possesses a laboratory for chemical
analysis of sediment and water samples. Plans are taken to establish
full-fledged sedimentological, hydrogeological and geotechnical
laboratories in the very near future. The Department has enough computing
facilities to support sophisticated research requirements of academic
staff members and is expected to be extended to all post-graduate students
soon.
Future
Direction
The Department shall continue to be committed to make
significant contributions in the field of geological sciences as a whole;
particularly to the use of geoscience to the development of Bangladesh and
our region. All efforts shall be made to maintain the delicate balance
between fundamental and applied research. Special care shall be taken to
involve the Department, very deeply, with the emerging and highly
prospective “Petroleum Sector” of our country. Agreements have already
been reached, on principle, with some of the foreign companies, operating
in Bangladesh, regarding research collaborations; these will be
implemented any time and discussions are underway for further expansion of
such collaborations. The issue of environmental impact due to spatial and
temporal variations, resulting from human interference on the fluvio-deltaic
systems of the country, will be given proper attention. Problems resulting
from unplanned urbanisation will also be highlighted. The Department will
continue to be committed to play a significant role in combating the
present crisis in “Arsenic Pollution” of the country.
Description
of different curricula/courses of B.Sc. (Honours), M.Sc. and Ph.D.
The Department of Geological Sciences offers a complete
and detailed syllabus for all the general and specialised courses at the
graduate and post-graduate levels giving due considerations to latest
developments in geological sciences, practical nature of the course and
the country’s requirements. The latest lay out of the courses leading to
the degree of Bachelor of Sciences (B.Sc.) with Honours in Geological
Sciences are designed to equip the students with adequate theoretical and
practical knowledge that would enable them to meet the demands of the
professional organisations and to undertake any specialised studies at
post-graduate level; courses for Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree would
equip students to become specialists in particular area of geological
sciences. This should enable them to perform highly specialised jobs, and
fundamental research.
The
Department introduced 4-year B.Sc. (Honours) course from 1996-97 academic
session and had further updated its course design. Apart from the basic
courses of geology such as mineralogy, petrology, sedimentology,
stratigraphy, structural geology, paleontology, geophysics etc., the
course design duly emphasises some of the applied frontiers of the
geoscience, such as engineering geology, surface-water geology and
geomorphology, biostratigraphy and paleo-ecology, planetary geology,
Quaternary geology etc. Compulsory unit courses on physics, mathematics,
computing, chemistry and statistics are also included in the syllabus.
At
the M.Sc. level, all students will be expected to perform a research work
and submit a thesis as partial requirement for the degree. Presently, due
to limitations of support systems, only top few students are conducting
formal research on important geologic problems of the country. Students in
the “General Group”, on the other hand, are required to submit a
review report on a selected geologic topic and present a seminar. Besides,
all students are to take compulsory courses on few basic (but advanced)
and a number of applied branches of geological sciences.
To
qualify for a Ph.D. degree, a researcher is required (i) to carry out
independent research involving a comprehensive study of a scope and size
that could normally be expected to be completed in the equivalent of 3
years full-time study; and (ii) to make a substantial contribution to
learning and demonstrate a capacity to relate the research done by the
candidate to the broader framework of the discipline or disciplines within
which it falls at the standard internationally recognised for the degree
in the relevant discipline or disciplines.
Detailed
syllabus of the Department of Geological Sciences, Jahangrinagar
University (2000-01, 2001-02 & 2002-03):
FIRST
YEAR
GS 101
General Geology
50
GS 102
Historical Geology
50
GS 103
Elementary Crystallography and Mineralogy
100
GS 104
Elementary Petrology
50
GS 105
Introduction to Structural Geology
50
GS 106
General Physics – I
50
GS 107
General Physics - II
50
GS 108
General Mathematics
100
GS 109 L
Laboratory Work - I
50
Crystallography,
Mineralogy and Petrology
(Based on the
Courses GS 103 and GS 104)
GS 110 L
Laboratory Work - II
50
Surveying, Map
Preparation and Map Reading (Based on the Course GS 105)
GS 111 L
Laboratory Work - III
50
Physics (Based on the Course GS 106)
Viva-Voce
50
SECOND
YEAR
GS 201
Principles of Stratigraphy and Geochronology
100
GS 202
Invertebrate and Vertebrate Paleontology 100
GS 203
Crystal Optics and Mineralogy
50
GS 204
Sedimentary Petrology and Elementary Clay Mineralogy
100
GS 205
General Statistics
50
GS 206
Computer Programming
50
GS 207
General Chemistry 100
GS 208 L
Laboratory Work - IV
50
Invertebrate
and Vertebrate Paleontology
(Based on the
Course GS 202)
GS 209 L
Laboratory Work - V
50
Crystallography,
Crystal Optics and Mineralogy
(Based on the
Courses GS 103 and GS 203)
GS 210 L
Laboratory Work - VI
50
Chemistry
(Based on the
Course GS 207)
GS 211 F
Geological Field Mapping - I
50
Viva-Voce
50
THIRD
YEAR
GS 301
Regional Stratigraphy
100
GS 302
Micropaleontology and Palynology
50
GS 303
Geochemistry
50
GS 304
Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology 100
GS 305
Geotectonics and Structural Geology
50
GS 306
Exploration Geophysics
100
GS 307
Introduction to Geomechanics
50
GS 308
Quaternary Geology
50
GS 309
Photogeology and Remote Sensing
50
GS 310 L
Laboratory Work - VII
50
Sedimentary,
Igneous, and Metamorphic Petrology
(Based on the
Courses GS 204 and GS 304)
GS 311 L
Laboratory Work - VIII
50
Geological Map
Interpretation, Surface and Sub-surface
Structural
Problems, Photogeology & Remote Sensing
(Based on the
Courses GS 305 and GS 308)
GS 312 L
Laboratory Work - IX
50
Micropaleontology
and Palynology
(Based on
Courses GS 302)
GS 313 F
Geological Field Mapping - II
50
Viva-Voce
50
FOURTH
YEAR
GS 401
Geology of the Bengal Basin
50
GS 402
Biostratigraphy and Paleoecology
50
GS 403
Economic Deposits and Exploration Geology
50
GS 404
Sedimentology
50
GS 405
Engineering Geology
50
GS 406
Applied Geophysics
50
GS 407
Petroleum Geology
50
GS 408
Well Logging and Drilling
50
GS 409
Geomorphology
50
GS 410
Groundwater Geology
50
GS 411
Hydrology and Marine Geology 50
GS 412
Geology of Planetary Bodies
50
GS 413 L
Laboratory Work - X
50
Geophysical
Data Interpretation and Computer in Geology
(Based on GS
205, GS 306 and GS 406)
GS 414 L
Laboratory Work - XI
50
Economic
Geology, Mining Geology and Petroleum Geology
(Based
on the Courses GS 303, GS 403, GS 407 and GS 408)
GS 415 L
Laboratory Work - XII
50
Engineering
Geology, Geomorphology and Groundwater
Geology
(Based on the
Courses GS 405, GS 409 and GS 410)
GS 416 F
Geological Field Mapping - III
50
Viva-Voce
50
