GEOL 560: Laser Ablation ICP-MS Theory and Applications in the Sciences

Geology · 5 credits

The course covers the scientific underpinnings of laser ablation inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) and its application for determining the trace element chemistry of solid materials. This course provides valuable hands-on experience operating this advanced analytical instrument. The graduate-level course focuses on utilization of LA-ICP-MS in the Earth Sciences specifically, and therefore requires a background in mineralogy and petrology.

Offered in 2 of the 26 listed terms (Winter 2022 to Winter 2026).

Catalog entry Browse Classes Textbooks (WWU Bookstore)

Prerequisites

GEOL 406

Prerequisite tree

Each course's own prerequisites, down to the first courses in the chain.

GEOL 406 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology
requires (CHEM 121 or CHEM 161) and (CHEM 122 or CHEM 162 or CHEM 125 or CHEM 175 or CHEM 126 or CHEM 176) and GEOL 306 and (CHEM 163 or CHEM 123 or CHEM 225)
- CHEM 161 General Chemistry I
  requires MATH 114 or MATH 156 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 115 or MATH 157 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65
  - MATH 114 Precalculus I
    requires MPT General - Scaled Score, score 153 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 55 or MATH 112 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 3 or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70
    - MATH 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods
      requires MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or MATH 099 (minimum grade YP) or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or Intermediate Algebra (IA), score 1.70 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 148 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 35 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 2 or MATH 197C (minimum grade S) or MATH 109 (minimum grade S)
      - MATH 099 Introductory Algebra
        requires ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 1
      - MATH 197C Support Topics for Functions and Algebraic Methods
        requires ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 30
      - MATH 109 Support for Functions and Algebraic Methods
        requires ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 30
  - MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics
    requires MPT General - Scaled Score, score 152 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 55 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 3 or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or MATH 112
    - MATH 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods (shown above)
  - MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus
    requires MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 70
  - MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I
    requires MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 153 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 5 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 2.30 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 80
    - MATH 115 Precalculus II
      requires MATH 114 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65
      - MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
    - MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
  - MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II
    requires MATH 124 or MATH 134 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 4 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 4
    - MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
    - MATH 134 Calculus I Honors
      requires MATH 115 (minimum grade A) or MATH 118 (minimum grade A) or Math Placement - Advanced 2, score 20 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 5
      - MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
      - MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
  - MATH 134 Calculus I Honors
    requires MATH 115 (minimum grade A) or MATH 118 (minimum grade A) or Math Placement - Advanced 2, score 20 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 5
    - MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
    - MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
  - MATH 135 Calculus II Honors
  - MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus
    requires Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 4 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 4 or (Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 2 and Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 3)
  - MATH 115 Precalculus II
    requires MATH 114 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65
    - MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
  - MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics
    requires MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 148 or MATH 156 or MATH 114 or MATH 118 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 2.30 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 2.3 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 2.3 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2
    - MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
    - MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
    - MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
- CHEM 162 General Chemistry II
  requires CHEM 121 or CHEM 161
  - CHEM 161 General Chemistry I (shown above)
- CHEM 175 General Chemistry I, Honors
  requires MATH 114 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 156 or MATH 157 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 1.70 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65
  - MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
  - MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
  - MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
  - MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
  - MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
  - MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
  - MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
  - MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
  - MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
  - MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- CHEM 176 General Chemistry II, Honors
  requires CHEM 175
  - CHEM 175 General Chemistry I, Honors (shown above)
- GEOL 306 Mineralogy
  requires (GEOL 211 or HNRS 212 or GEOL 211A) and (CHEM 121 or CHEM 161) and (CHEM 122 or CHEM 162 or CHEM 123 or CHEM 163 or CHEM 125 or CHEM 175 or CHEM 126 or CHEM 176 or CHEM 225)
  - GEOL 211 Physical Geology
    requires MATH 114 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 156 or MATH 157 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65
    - MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
    - MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
    - MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
    - MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
    - MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
    - MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
    - MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
    - MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
    - MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
    - MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
  - HNRS 212 Colloquium in Geology
    requires MATH 114 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 156 or MATH 157 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149
    - MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
    - MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
    - MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
    - MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
    - MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
    - MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
    - MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
    - MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
    - MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
    - MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
  - GEOL 211A Physical Geology Review
    requires (MATH 114 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 156 or MATH 157 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65) and (GEOL 101 (minimum grade B-) or HNRS 158 or HNRS 212 or SCED 202 (minimum grade B-))
    - MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
    - MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
    - MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
    - MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
    - MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
    - MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
    - MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
    - MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
    - MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
    - MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
    - GEOL 101 Introduction to Geology
      requires MATH 107 or MATH 108 or MATH 112 or MATH 114 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 156 or MATH 157 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 153 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 2 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Statistics AP Exam, score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 30
      - MATH 107 Mathematical Reasoning and Its Applications
        requires MATH 099 (minimum grade YP) or MATH 112 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 145 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or Intermediate Algebra (IA), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 25 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 2
        MATH 099 Introductory Algebra (shown above)
        MATH 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods (shown above)
      - MATH 108 Math Applications & Reasoning
        requires MATH 099 (minimum grade YP) or MATH 112 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 145 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or Intermediate Algebra (IA), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 25 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 2
        MATH 099 Introductory Algebra (shown above)
        MATH 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods (shown above)
      - MATH 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods (shown above)
      - MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
      - MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
      - MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
      - MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
      - MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
      - MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
      - MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
      - MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
      - MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
      - MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
    - HNRS 212 Colloquium in Geology (shown above)
    - SCED 202 Matter and Energy in Earth Systems
  - CHEM 161 General Chemistry I (shown above)
  - CHEM 162 General Chemistry II (shown above)
  - CHEM 163 General Chemistry III
    requires CHEM 122 or CHEM 162
    - CHEM 162 General Chemistry II (shown above)
  - CHEM 175 General Chemistry I, Honors (shown above)
  - CHEM 176 General Chemistry II, Honors (shown above)
  - CHEM 225 General Chemistry III, Honors
    requires CHEM 126 or CHEM 176
    - CHEM 176 General Chemistry II, Honors (shown above)
- CHEM 163 General Chemistry III
  requires CHEM 122 or CHEM 162
  - CHEM 162 General Chemistry II (shown above)
- CHEM 225 General Chemistry III, Honors
  requires CHEM 126 or CHEM 176
  - CHEM 176 General Chemistry II, Honors (shown above)

From Banner's catalog for Spring 2027. Banner lists only the requisites it enforces, so check the catalog entry too.

Required by (0)

No course lists it as a prerequisite.

Syllabi and course websites

None listed yet.

Suggest a syllabus link

Instructors

Instructor	Sections	Terms
Sas, Mai	2	Winter 2022 to Winter 2026

Every offering in the listed terms (2 sections)

Term	Sec	CRN	Type	Meets	Instructor	Enrolled	Delivery
Winter 2026	0	12701	Lecture/Lab	MW 2:00pm-3:50pm · ES 223	Sas, Mai	6/6	Face to Face Instruction
Winter 2022	0 ICP-MS Theory and Application in the Earth Sciences	13683	Lecture/Lab	TR 8:00am-9:50am · ES 223	Sas, Mai	2/6	Face to Face Instruction