Education Abroad

CanÌýGeologyÌýmajors study abroad?

Yes.ÌýStudents hoping to go abroad for a semester will need to planÌýin advance, but it is absolutely possible.ÌýShort-terms programs also provide good options during summer or winter breaks, which might involve the study of Geology, or perhaps provide an opportunity to fulfill your A&S Core (or general degree elective credits). TheÌýÌýprovides information about how to plan for your time abroad.ÌýYou will need to work with both yourÌýGeologyÌýAdvisor andÌýÌýthroughout the program selection/pre-departure process.

GEOL 4719/5719 - Field Tectonics in the French Alps

Geological cross section and continental collisional processes across the Western Alps (France)

  • International Exchange program between ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä and University of Marie and Louis Pasteur (UMLP), Besançon, France
  • When: Course dates are typically in May with the course running 10 days plus travel on either end.
  • Credits: 2 credits transferred under GEOL 4719 or 5719. Will be listed on ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä transcript as Study Abroad Pass Plus (for C- or better), Study Abroad Pass (D- to D+), or Study Abroad Fail (less than D-). Credit for GEOL 4719 with grade of Study Abroad Pass Plus will count towards the Earth Science BSc degree and meets department’s advanced field course requirement for the Geology major. For Masters students, credit for GEOL 5719 with grade of Study Abroad Pass Plus and letter from UMLP stating that the student received a grade equivalent to C or better will count towards graduate degree. For PhD students, credit for GEOL 5719 with grade of Study Abroad Pass Plus and letter from UMLP stating that the student received a grade equivalent to B- or better will count towards graduate degree.
  • Pre-requisites: GEOL 2700 Intro Field Methods; GEOL 3120 Intro Structural Geology; or equivalents
  • Instructors: Dr. Philippe Goncalves, Dr. Pierre Trap (ULMP), also Dr. Kevin Mahan (¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä) and Dr. Brice LaCroix (KSU)
  • Enrollment cap: up to 8 students from ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder, will also include 15-20 French students from UMLP and approx. 5 students from Kansas State University
  • Contact Dr. Kevin Mahan (kevin.mahan@colorado.edu) and/or ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä’s Education Abroad office for more info or to express interest
  • ApplicationsÌýthrough ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä’s Education Abroad office. The application deadline is March 1st, 2026 but spaces may fill before then. Website for course is atÌý. Search under France and Besancon.

This course will introduce you to basic concepts of field and tectonic analysis of deformed sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous rocks, and to large-scale mountain building processes, and is based on an approximately 100 km field transect across a modern collisional belt in the Western Alps.

French Alps

Southeastern France is ideal for exploring the major components of the western Alpine mountain belt, one of the world’s premier records of Cenozoic oceanic subduction and continental collision. The field transect will cross several key terranes, including (1) folded and faulted platform sedimentary rocks , (2) External Crystalline Massifs that locally expose windows into the deeper and older European basement (like Belledonne and Pelvoux massifs) and preserve spectacular evidence for pre-Apine (Jurassic) extension prior to Alpine shortening, (3) the Penninic realm which locally preserves a complete obducted ophiolite sequence (Chenaillet) as well as overthrust microcontinental fragments and oceanic slices including high-pressure blueschist. Key geographic waypoints include Besançon at the foot of the Jura Mountains, the Chartreuse Mountains near Grenoble, and Briançon, France’s highest city in the Alps. On this geological field traverse, we will also visit famous passes of the Tour de France like the col du Galibier at 2642 meters and the col de l’Izoard at 2360 meters.Ìý

Juneau Icefield Research Program

A unique opportunity that students can participate in for ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Geological Sciences field credit.


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