Special Topics in Earth, Environmental and Planetary Science (390-0-1)
Topic
Hydrogeology
Instructors
James H. Harris
Meeting Info
Technological Institute F285: Mon, Wed, Fri 11:00AM - 11:50AM
Overview of class
Groundwater is a critical component of the hydrologic cycle, a major freshwater resource, and an important control on rivers, lakes, wetlands, ecosystems, and water quality. This course introduces the principles of hydrogeology and examines how groundwater is stored, moves through geologic materials, exchanges with surface water, responds to climatic and human stresses, and transports dissolved constituents and contaminants. Topics include groundwater flow, recharge and discharge, groundwater-surface-water interactions, wells and aquifer response, groundwater quality and hydrogeochemistry, contamination and protection, karst and fractured-rock systems, and groundwater in a changing environment.
Registration Requirements
Registration open to undergraduate and graduate students who have completed three or more STEM-based courses.
Learning Objectives
Students will develop a conceptual and quantitative understanding of shallow groundwater systems. By the end of the course, students should be able to explain groundwater storage and flow in porous, fractured, and karst materials; calculate and interpret hydraulic head, gradients, and groundwater flow; interpret hydrographs, maps, and other hydrogeologic observations; evaluate recharge, discharge, and groundwater-surface-water exchange; interpret basic groundwater-quality and hydrogeochemical data; and evaluate groundwater systems in the context of human use, contamination, ecosystems, and climate change.
Teaching Method
Class meetings combine lecture, discussion, quantitative problem solving, interpretation of real-world environmental data, and occasional guided work with scientific software. Applied exercises introduce students to established hydrogeologic methods using structured workflows and real datasets, while an individual research-poster project is developed throughout the quarter. Prior experience with GIS or specialized hydrogeologic software is not required; guidance and example workflows will be provided where needed.
Evaluation Method
Evaluation includes four applied exercises using real hydrologic and hydrogeologic datasets, four short in-class assessments, and an individual research-poster project developed through a series of benchmarks throughout the quarter. The project culminates in a poster presentation during WCAS Reading Period, with options for in-person or virtual participation. There is no traditional midterm or final examination.
Class Materials (Required)
There is no required textbook. Course materials and assigned readings will be provided through Canvas. Optional reference materials include M. M. Uliana, Basic Hydrogeology: An Introduction to the Fundamentals of Groundwater Science (2025), freely available through The Groundwater Project, as well as additional hydrogeology reference texts available through the University or department. Students will not be required to purchase a textbook or specialized software.
Class Materials (Suggested)
Recommended but not strictly required: Dingman, S. Lawrence, Physical Hydrology SECOND edition 2008. ISBN: 978-1577665618 Note that this is the 2008 Second edition.
Class Notes
This course is intended primarily for upper-level science and engineering students but does not assume prior coursework specifically in hydrogeology. Prior experience with GIS, R, or specialized hydrogeologic software is not required. Students should be comfortable with basic quantitative reasoning and interpretation of scientific graphs and data. A laptop is recommended for class meetings involving data analysis or scientific software; required software will be freely available or accessible through Northwestern resources.
Class Attributes
SoC Additional Distro
Enrollment Requirements
Enrollment Requirements: Prerequisite: Students must have completed 3 units of any STEM credits