2021-2022 Pierce College Catalog 
    
    Apr 25, 2024  
2021-2022 Pierce College Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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GEOL& 120 Volcanoes (5 credits)



Distribution Area Fulfilled Natural Sciences with Lab; General Transfer Elective
Formerly GEOL 282 - CCN

Course Description
A study of volcanoes, volcanic processes and volcanic hazards. Appropriate for non-science and science majors. Field trips required. Lab included.

Student Outcomes
1. Describe the basic relationships between the solid earth, water, atmosphere, and life through geologic time.
2. Apply the scientific method and relate basic scientific concepts to geologic processes (e.g. plate tectonics).
3. Identify common rock forming minerals.
4. Use mineral properties to identify common rock-forming and ore minerals.
5. Explain the rock cycle.
6. Distinguish between mafic, intermediate, and felsic magmas based on their chemical composition, and describe the properties of each.
7. Relate important plate tectonic processes and environments to the generation of magma and to the formation and location of volcanoes.
8. Describe and analyze the origin and ascent of magmas, including various mechanisms of melting.
9. Compare magmas of varying chemistries, including evolution by partial melting and magmatic differentiation, and explain why magmas of different chemistries are produced in different tectonic settings.
10. Explain how silica and gas content control the eruptive violence of volcanoes.
11. Describe shield volcanoes in terms of landforms, lava types, and tectonic settings
12. Assess the hazards that shield volcanoes pose to humans and property, and analyze mitigating measures.
13. Describe composite volcanoes in terms of landforms, lava types, and tectonic settings.
14. Assess the hazards that composite volcanoes pose to humans and property, and analyze mitigating measures.
15. Discuss the main concepts of other relevant topics in vulcanology as determined by the instructor (such as Volcanism of a Selected Region, Submarine Volcanism, Flood Basalts, Volcanism and Mineral Resources, Volcanism and Global Climate, Volcanism and Meteor Impacts).
16. Responsibility: Recognizes Interconnectedness. See self as part of more extended humankind and global community. Describe self and others in relation to volcanic processes and hazards.
17. Critical, Creative, and Reflective Thinking: Conclusions and Judgments. Combine some aspects of experience, reason, and information to make conclusions and judgments (e.g. the relationships between plate tectonics and volcano distribution).
18. 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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