GEOL 1403 - Physical Geology

Credit Hours: 4
Contact Hours - Lecture: 3 Lab: 3
Physical Geology is a basic science course that focuses on Earth, including its composition, processes of change, history and the tools and methods used to study it. CIP Code: (4006015403)
Prerequisite: College Level Readiness in Reading and Writing; MATH 0308 or higher.
Student Learning Outcomes
1 - Describe how the scientific method has led to our current understanding of Earth’s structure and processes. 2 - Interpret the origin and distribution of minerals, rocks and geologic resources. 3 - Describe the theory of plate tectonics and its relationship to the formation and distribution of Earth’s crustal features. 4 - Quantify the rates of physical and chemical processes acting on Earth and how these processes fit into the context of geologic time. 5 - Communicate how surface processes are driven by interactions among Earth’s systems (e.g., the geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, atmosphere). 6 - Identify and describe the internal structure and dynamics of Earth 7 - Describe the interaction of humans with Earth (e.g., resource development or hazard assessment). 8 - Lab: Classify rocks and minerals based on chemical composition, physical properties, and origin 9 - Apply knowledge of topographic maps to quantify geometrical aspects of topography. 10 - Identify landforms on maps, diagrams, and/or photographs and and explain the process that created them. 11 - Differentiate the types of plate boundaries and their associated features on maps and profiles and explain the processes the occur at each type of boundary. 12 - Identify basic structural features on maps, block diagrams and cross sections and infer how they were created. 13 - Demonstrate the collection, analysis, and reporting of data.
Core Category Life & Physical Sciences [30]