Geomorphology and Palaeogeography

About the program

The profile «Geomorphology and palaeogeography» provides an opportunity to study the theoretical and applied foundations of modern geomorphology, gain basic knowledge of general geology and palaeogeography. A graduate of the profile is able to apply in practice the methods of geographical, geomorphological, paleogeographical research to process, analyze and synthesize information about the structure, origin, dynamics of relief and the history of the development of natural conditions in regional territories and on a planetary scale; is able to assess the degree of geomorphological safety of different types of environmental management; knows the role of relief in natural and social-economic systems, is able to assess geomorphological conditions and factors of their functioning.

The graduate is able to solve applied problems in the geomorphological, geological, and environmental fields; make scientific-production, conduct research, expert-analytical geological and geomorphological surveys. Graduates of the profile are able to solve problems corresponding to research, organizational and managerial, design and production (design and survey) types of professional activity.

Specialized professional competencies of graduates of the profile «Geomorphology and paleogeography» 

A student Possesses knowledge and skills of office and field geomorphological and paleogeographical research, geomorphological zoning and mapping; basic methods of field and analytical research for solving geomorphological and paleogeographic problems (SPK-1).

He/she has knowledge of the geochronology of the main stages of the Earth's development; characteristic natural features of territories of different ranks at certain stages of their history; masters the basics of interpreting analytical data for paleogeographical constructions (SPK-2).

He/she has knowledge about the mechanisms, dynamics and intensity of endogenous and exogenous relief-forming processes; spatial-temporal patterns of formation and development of the main morphostructures and morphosculptures of land and ocean; knows the basics of morpholithogenesis (SPK-3).

A student has knowledge about the ecological functions of the relief and the role of unique geomorphological objects in environmental management and is able to apply them in practice (SPK-4).

He/she is able to apply knowledge about the relief and geological structure of territories to solve applied problems of environmental management and regional planning (SPK-5).

A student possesses basic knowledge and methods of general and historical geology, mineralogy and petrography of igneous rocks, structural geology, the basics of lithology, facies analysis, soil science, hydrogeology, geochemistry and the basics of geophysical methods for studying the Earth's substance (SPK-6).

Disciplines that form the profile «Geomorphology and paleogeography»

2nd year

Introduction to geomorphological research methods

Introduction to the doctrine of morpholithogenesis

Geotectonics

Historical geology

Mineralogical and petrographic research methods

Structural geology and geological mapping

3rd year

Landscape geochemistry

Methods of paleogeographic research

Morphometric analysis and mathematical methods in geomorphology

General paleogeography

Fundamentals of marine geomorphology and geology

The doctrine of facies with the basics of lithology

4th year

Introduction to Applied Geomorphology 

Geomorphology of continents

Geomorphology of sea coasts

Geomorphology of Russia

Environmental geomorphology

Erosion and fluvial processes and fundamentals of hydraulics

An approximate list of disciplines of the student’s choice that form a profile 

Geoinformation analysis and basics of geostatistics in geomorphology

Geomorphological safety of environmental management on sea shores

Geomorphology of megacities

Landscape geophysics

Geophysical methods in geomorphology

Geochemical processes in relief formation

Remote methods for studying the relief of sea coasts

Interpretation of geological and geophysical data when studying the topography of the bottom of the World Ocean

Loess-soil formation as a source of information

Methods for studying fluvial processes

Morpholithogenesis in the Arctic

Fundamentals of soil science and hydrogeology

Fundamentals of permafrost and glaciology

Basics of palynology

Paleogeomorphological reconstructions based on a complex lithological method

Applied geomorphological research in engineering surveys for construction

Reconstruction of landscapes based on palynological data

Relief as an ecotourism resource

Theoretical and applied aspects of geomorphological studies in small catchments