Geology Course Descriptions
GEOL 110 Physical Geology, 4 credit hours. Three lectures. One two-hour laboratory. Materials and processes of the surface and interior of the earth, including the origin of minerals and rocks, earthquakes, volcanoes, earth structure, and plate tectonics. Resources, energy, and environmental problems are emphasized. Laboratory includes study of rocks, minerals, and maps.
GEOL 115 Historical Geology, 4 credit hours. Three lectures. One two-hour laboratory. History of the earth as recorded in rocks, life history as shown by fossil evidence, and rocks as records of ancient conditions and environments. Geologic history of North America is emphasized. Laboratory covers rocks, fossils, ancient environments, and maps.
GEOL 120 Introduction to Planetary Science, 4 credit hours. Survey of astronomy. Enrollment limited to majors in Elementary and Early Childhood Teacher Education and Middle and Secondary School General Science Education. This course does not fulfill any science requirement outside of these programs.
GEOL 215 Plate Tectonics, 3 credit hours. Lithospheric plates, earth structure, earthquakes, and volcanoes, economic cost or benefit of a tectonic margin, historical development of plate tectonics. Prerequisite: GEOL 110 or 115 or consent of instructor.