Course Descriptions

GLG 101IN - Physical Geology [SUN# GLG 1101]

1. Utilize scientific methods to formulate and answer questions.
2. Describe the cause, associated processes, and consequences of plate tectonics.
3. Demonstrate the ability to classify and identify common minerals.
4. Describe rock-formation processes and distinguishing properties of common igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.
5. Describe the hydrologic cycle and the properties of surface and subsurface water.
6. Observe and interpret crustal deformation.
7. Describe the scope of geologic time and the techniques used to make geochronometric measurements.
8. Observe and interpret geologic formations in a natural, outdoor setting.

1. Perform activities to demonstrate improvement in the general education goals of communication and critical thinking.
2. Demonstrate the ability to measure mass, length, and volume in metrics using appropriate scientific measurement tools.
3. Use and interpret geologic maps and cross-sections. 
4. Use the scientific method to design and conduct an experiment. 
5. Discuss the historic development of geologic concepts.
6. Describe the scope of geologic time and the nature of geochronometric measurements.
7. Describe the principles of plate tectonics and their contribution to understanding Earth’s history. 
8. Describe the character of the earth’s interior and how this is determined.
9. Identify and assess the major rock types and their constituent minerals and properties using hands-on field methods such as hardness, cleavage and their relationships to one another. 
10. Explain the interactions of the various materials and processes of the “rock cycle”.
11. Describe the various processes associated with igneous rock formation.
12. Describe the various processes associated with sediments and the formation of sedimentary rocks.
13. Describe the various processes of metamorphism and the formation of metamorphic rocks.
14. Describe the oceans and the hydrologic cycle.
15. Describe the various surface processes, such as weathering, soil formation, erosion, transport, deposition, weather, and climate, which affect the Earth’s surface. 
16. Discuss groundwater and surface water resources with respect to quality, storage, use, and depletion.
17. Describe the subsurface conditions and processes within the Earth, including earthquakes, heat, and pressure.
18. Relate common geologic structures to the forces and processes that create them and modify the Earth’s surface topography.
19. Discuss geologic resources and how humans have used and altered them.
20. Describe the geologic history of the Earth and discuss its relevance to human history.
21. Make observations of geologic formations and structures in a natural, outdoor setting and explain the forces and processes that created them.
22. Observe and identify rocks and minerals in a natural, outdoor setting.

1. Scientific Measurements, Maps, Cross Sections, and the Scientific Method
   1. Maps on a curved surface (Earth)
   2. Geologic cross sections
   3. Metric measurements and conversion factors
   4. The Scientific Method(s)
2. Introduction to Geology
   1. Historic development of geologic concepts
   2. Geologic time
   3. Plate tectonics
   4. The Earth as a system
3. Earth’s Composition
   1. The Earth’s interior
   2. Minerals
   3. Rocks and the rock cycle
4. Surface Processes and Investigative Tools
   1. Weather and climate
   2. Weathering and soil formation
   3. Oceans and the hydrologic cycle
   4. Erosion and deposition, landslides, floods, glaciation, shoreline processes, desert formation
5. Subsurface Processes and Investigative Tools
   1. Heat and pressure conditions
   2. Layers, plate tectonics and earthquakes
   3. Heat sources and convection
   4. Magnetic field
6. Geologic Structures
   1. Faults
   2. Folds
   3. Plate movements and mountain building
   4. Continents and ocean basins
7. Geologic Resources
   1. Atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere
   2. Groundwater and surface water resources
   3. Mineral resources
   4. Fossil fuels and energy minerals
   5. Construction materials
   6. Soils
8. History of Earth and Solar System
   1. Planetary
   2. Plate tectonics
   3. Catastrophes, mass extinctions, and climate extremes
9. Observation of Rocks and Minerals in a Natural, Outdoor Setting

GLG 102IN - Historical Geology [SUN# GLG 1102]

1. Utilize scientific methods to formulate and answer questions.
2. Describe major concepts in historical geology, radiometric dating techniques, and the organization of the geologic timescale.
3. Describe the formation and evolution of life on earth through identification and classification of major fossil groups.
4. Describe plate tectonics, associated phenomena, its role in the evolution of Earth’s surface, the formation of geologic resources, and the evolution of life.
5. Explain the necessary conditions and processes involved in the formation of igneous, metamorphic, and (especially) sedimentary rocks.
6. Observe and interpret geologic formations in a natural, outdoor setting.

1. Perform activities to demonstrate improvement in the general education goals of communication and critical thinking.
2. Demonstrate the ability to measure mass, length, and volume in metrics using appropriate scientific measurement tools.
3. Use and interpret geologic maps and cross-sections. 
4. Use the scientific method and appropriate analytic and synthesis skills to evaluate rock composition, texture, and structures in order to interpret geologic processes and related biological processes.
5. Discuss development of major concepts in historical geology, including modern positions on “Uniformitarianism” and “Catastrophism”.
6. Describe the scope of geologic time, including major subdivisions of eras and periods, relative dating using fossils, and the nature of geochronometric measurements.
7. Recognize the characteristics of the major rock types and their constituent minerals, with an emphasis on sedimentary rocks and structures.
8. Describe the principles of plate tectonics, giving examples of plate interactions that create various mountain building episodes, unconformities, advances of shallow seas, and recurring Ice Ages throughout Earth’s history. 
9. Explain scientific theories of the origin of life and the evolution of organisms, including the major trends through geologic time.
10. Describe the physical evolution of the universe, galaxy, solar system, and planets, especially the Earth.
11. Describe the physical, chemical, and biological evolution of the Earth’s surface, considering the interactions between the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere.
12. Understand the contribution of plate tectonics to the interpretation of geologic processes, mountain building, climate, and the geologic history of North America.
13. Describe life on earth, including its geologic history, classification, evolution, and evolutionary relationships.
14. Relate the occurrence of natural resources to the geologic history of the Earth
15. Identify and classify the major fossil groups according to their ages and ecosystems using hands-on field methods and references.
16. Discuss the evolution and impacts of humans with respect to the geologic history of the earth
17. Observe geologic and paleontologic evidence and interpret the geologic history of surface and subsurface earth processes in a natural, outdoor setting.

1. Scientific Measurements, Maps and the Scientific Method
   1. Maps on a sphere (Earth)
   2. Metric measurements and conversion factors
   3. The scientific method
2. Introduction to Historical Geology
   1. Development of early geologic concepts (superposition, uniformitarianism & catastrophism)
   2. Geologic time
   3. Radiometric age dating
   4. Fossils, a potential record of time and place
3. Geologic evidence for interpreting Earth history
   1. Rock and mineral identification
   2. Sedimentary textures and structures
   3. Geologic maps
4. Plate Tectonics
   1. Development of theory from continental drift to sea-floor spreading
   2. Evidence supporting plate tectonics
   3. Plate tectonic processes (divergence, convergence, and transform)
5. Precambrian - Archean
   1. The formation of the universe, galaxy, solar system and planets
   2. Formation of Earth and Moon
   3. Early chemical and thermal evolution of Earth
   4. Origin and evolution of atmosphere and hydrosphere
   5. Evidence of early crust formation and oldest dated crustal rocks –from cratons
   6. Early continents and ocean basins
   7. Prokaryotes (± 4 bya to present) and oldest fossils (3.5 bya)
   8. Natural resources, such as gold, uranium, and diamond deposits, formed in Archean
6. Proterozoic
   1. Mountain building episodes
   2. Eukaryotes (± 2.7 bya to present) and oldest eukaryotic fossils (1.2 bya)
   3. Ocean basins and epeiric seas
   4. Ice Age
   5. Great Unconformity
   6. Natural resources, such as iron and other metal deposits, formed in Proterozoic
7. Paleozoic
   1. Plate tectonic examples of convergence and divergence of continents
   2. Cratonic sequences (onlap and offlap of shallow seas onto cratons)
   3. Invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds
   4. Land plants, conifers, and flowering plants
   5. Ice Age
   6. Major extinction event
   7. Natural resources, such as coal, oil, and iron, formed in Paleozoic
8. Mesozoic
   1. Plate tectonic example of Atlantic sea-floor spreading
   2. Evolution of dinosaurs
   3. Evolution of conifers and flowering plants
   4. Extinction event
   5. Natural resources, such as uranium, copper, coal, and limestone, formed in Mesozoic
9. Cenozoic
   1. Plate tectonic example of mountain-building episodes
   2. Evolution of mammals
   3. Pleistocene glaciation and human evolution
   4. Natural resources, such as copper, coal, oil, sand, and gravel, formed in Cenozoic
10. Organic Evolution
    1. Historic development of the theory of evolution
    2. Evidence from the fossil record
    3. Evidence from genetics
    4. Organic evolution of the species is a fact
    5. Identification of major fossil phyla (trilobites, cnidaria, bryozoa, brachiopods, mollusks, echinoderms, protozoans, plants, and vertebrates) and trends through geologic time
11. Interpretations of Earth history and trends
    1. Global warming / global cooling cycles
    2. Human population expansion
    3. Consumption of nonrenewable natural resources and fossil fuels

GLG 110IN - Geological Disasters and Environmental Geology

1. Utilize scientific methods to formulate and answer questions.
2. Describe plate tectonics, associated hazards such as earthquakes and volcanism, and the techniques used to mitigate these hazards.
3. Describe the causes and mitigation techniques associated with mass wasting.
4. Identify and discuss the hazards and environmental impacts associated with surface and subsurface water resources.
5. List and describe the hazards and mitigation techniques associated with coastlines, extreme climate processes and climate change.
6. Describe the formation and environmental impacts of the extraction and utilization of energy and mineral resources.

1. Perform activities to demonstrate improvement in the general education goals of communication and critical thinking.
2. Describe the fundamental concepts of environmental geology.
3. List interactions between humans and their environment that involve geologic processes.
4. Describe the relationship between plate tectonics, earthquakes, and volcanoes.
5. Describe seismic activity and hazards associated with seismic activity.
6. List and describe types of volcanism affecting human habitations and activities.
7. Describe the impact of geologic hazards such as volcanoes, land instability, and earthquakes on humans and their property.
8. Describe the causes of soil erosion and the techniques for preventing erosion.
9. Discuss the processes, hazards, results, and mitigation techniques of mass wasting processes.
10. Identify and discuss particular environmental problems associated with the hydrosphere, such as the causes and results of river flooding and prediction/prevention of flooding and resulting erosion.
11. Discuss groundwater resources, hazards, pollution, usage, and mitigation and conservation solutions.
12. Discuss the hazards, such as tsunamis, hurricanes, erosion, and sea level rise, related to living along or near shorelines.
13. Discuss extreme climates and processes, including glaciation, desertification, greenhouse gases, and climate change, through geologic history.
14. Describe the location and types of energy and mineral resources, the extraction processes, and environmental impacts involved with their use.
15. Discuss the geological basis of global human population distributions and resource usage.
16. Explain problems and solutions associated with waste disposal.
17. Describe the impact of human waste on the environment and human health.
18. Summarize the nature and scope of natural and geological disasters and their effects on human activities
19. Describe how the presence of natural resources impacts human populations.

1. Overview of Geological Hazards, Natural Disasters, and Environmental Geology
2. Plate Tectonics
3. Earthquakes and Seismic Phenomena
4. Volcanoes and Volcanic Hazards
5. Weathering, Erosion, and Soil Resources
6. Mass Wasting
   1. Landslides
   2. Debris flows
   3. Subsidence
7. Hydrologic Cycle
   1. Rivers and floods
   2. Erosion
8. Groundwater
   1. Karst Features
   2. Water supply
   3. Water quality
9. Coastal Hazards
   1. Tsunamis
   2. Hurricanes
   3. Erosion
   4. Sea-level rise
10. Extreme Climates
11. Climate Change
12. Geologic Resources
    1. Soil
    2. Water
    3. Rocks and minerals
    4. Energy
13. Human-Environment Interaction
    1. Resource usage
    2. Air and water pollution
    3. Waste management
    4. Land use and global population
14. Investigation of Local Geologic Hazards in an Outdoor Setting

GLG 296 - Independent Studies in Geology