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Apr 23, 2024
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GEOL& 103 Historical Geology (5 credits)
Distribution Area Fulfilled Natural Sciences with Lab; General Transfer Elective
Formerly GEOL 103 - CCN
Course Description
A study of the development and interactions of the Earth’s crust, life, oceans, and atmosphere through geologic time, in order to provide a perspective on present-day global environmental concerns. Includes studies of the formation and break-up of supercontinent; global climate change; fossil, dinosaur and other mass extinctions; and meteor impact effects. Appropriate for non-science and science majors. Field trip required. Lab included.
Student Outcomes
1. Describe the basic relationships between the solid earth, water, atmosphere, and life of the earth through geologic time.
2. Apply the scientific method and relate basic scientific concepts to geologic processes (e.g. plate tectonics or other examples).
3. Identify common rock-forming and ore minerals.
4. Explain the rock cycle and identify important igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.
5. Describe sedimentary structures, depositional environments, and stratigraphic relationships.
6. Apply the methods of relative and absolute dating of rocks and geologic events; reproduce the eras and periods of the geologic time scale.
8. Describe the formation of fossils; discuss their use in correlation and determining sedimentary environments.
9. Explain the mechanisms of biological evolution and supporting evidence.
10. Describe plate tectonic processes and explain the physical evidence that supports plate tectonic theory.
11. Discuss the formation of the universe, solar system, and planets, and discuss the supporting evidence.
12. Explain the relationship between the development of the lithosphere, atmosphere, and oceans in the Archean Eon.
13. Explain the origin and development of life in the Archean Eon.
14. Relate the major geologic events of the Proterozoic Eon to plate tectonics and the development of life.
15. Relate the development of life in the Proterozoic Eon to changes in the atmosphere and oceans.
16. Discuss the relationship between tectonic events and sedimentation in the Paleozoic Era in North America; discuss changes in world plate configurations.
17. Explain the development of life in the Paleozoic Era, including the acquisition of hard parts and the adaptations of animals and plants to life on land.
18. Relate major world and North American geologic events of the Mesozoic Era to the break-up of Pangaea.
19. Describe the rediversification of life in the Mesozoic Era following the Permian mass extinction; evaluate the current theories for Cretaceous mass extinction.
20. Summarize the major geologic and climate events of North America and the world in the Tertiary Period.
21. Describe glaciation and other important geologic events of North America and the world in the Quaternary Period; relate glacial ages to world climate changes.
22. Describe the rediversification of life in the Cenozoic Era following the Cretaceous mass extinction, and relate this to the separation of land masses.
23. Relate human lineages to primate classification; discuss the possible role of climate change in Australopithecus and Homo evolution.
24. Discuss the role of modern humans in today’s world with respect to climate change, environmental degradation, and biodiversity.
25. Critical, Creative, and Reflective Thinking: Conclusions and Judgments. Combine some aspects of experience, reason, and information to make conclusions and judgments (e.g. apply the principles of relative dating and fossil succession to determine the sequence of geologic events in a region).
26. Information Competency: Evaluates Sources and Uses Tools. Evaluate and selectively use most appropriate tools and sources in order to access and manipulate geologic information, including library research, the Internet, and field research.
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