This course provides a study of the structure and composition of the earths crust. Emphasis is placed on mountain building forces, weathering, natural hazards, rocks and minerals, and structural change. Upon completion, students should be able to explain the structure, composition, and formation of the earths crust. There will be a required field trip that will take the time of a lecture and lab.
Quarters Offered
Winter,
Spring
Course Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to demonstrate the following knowledge or skills:
- Describe the origin and nature of the earth.
- Discuss composition of the earth and the conditions under which various materials were formed.
- Identify erosional processes (water, wind, glaciation).
- Describe the processes of plate tectonics.
- Explain rock and landform occurrences using plate tectonics.
- Interpret topographic maps regarding fluvial, glacial, structural, and coastal geomorphology.
- Distinguish earth processes such as mass wasting, weathering, surface water, ground water and glaciation.
- Identify igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks.
- Describe igneous processes and volcanism.
- Describe stress and related processes to earthquakes.
Institutional Outcomes
IO2 Quantitative Reasoning: Students will be able to reason mathematically.
Course Content Outline
Lecture
- Introduction to science and the scientific method
- Origin of the Earth and plate tectonics
- Rock cycle and minerals
- Igneous rocks and volcanism
- Sedimentary rocks and weathering processes
- Metamorphic rocks
- Deformation and mountain building
- Earthquakes
- Tsunamis
- Glaciation and Climate Change (as time permits)
- Geology in our lives
- Measuring distance and unit conversion
- Topographic contours
- Mineral identification
- Earthquake Triangulation
- Rock types and identification
- Geologic maps
- Cross sections and folds
- Geomorphology