GEOL& 110 Environmental Geology (5 credits)

2. Analyze the impact of population growth and human activities on the Earth’s systems (e.g. soil loss, water use, coastal development, natural resources) 3. Apply the scientific method and relate basic scientific concepts to geologic processes (e.g. plate tectonics or other examples.

4. Identify common rock-forming and ore minerals, and describe their importance to environmental geology.

5. Explain the rock cycle and identify important igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks; describe the importance of rocks to environmental geology. 6. Discuss important plate tectonic processes and explain how they relate to geologic hazards and resources.

7. Describe the origin, occurrence, and hazards of earthquakes; describe the difficulties in predicting earthquakes; evaluate the mitigation of earthquake hazards.

8. Analyze the relationship between magmas, volcanic styles, plate tectonics, and the occurrence of volcanic hazards; evaluate the prediction and mitigation of volcanic hazards.

9. Draw and describe the hydrologic cycle; relate stream dynamics and human land use to flood hazards; evaluate the prediction and mitigation of flooding hazards.

10. Analyze the effects of coastal processes and human development on coastal hazards and erosion; evaluate mitigation strategies.

11. Relate slope processes and human development to hazards from mass movement; evaluate preventive measures.

12. Discuss groundwater and surface water resources.

13. Relate weathering and soil formation to soil use and erosion problems.

14. Explain the geographic origin, supply, extraction techniques, impacts of extraction, and mitigation of impacts of mineral resources.

15. Discuss the geologic origin, supply, extraction techniques, impacts of extraction and use, and mitigation of impacts of energy resources. Compare the potential benefits of alternative energy sources.

16. Assess the geologic and political aspects of solid, liquid, hazardous, and radioactive waste disposal.

17. Evaluate human responsibility for sources and mitigation of water pollution.

18. Discuss the main concepts of other relevant special topics in environmental geology as determined by the instructor (such as global climate change, air pollution, medical geology, environmental law, land-use planning and engineering geology, meteorite impacts).

19. Interpret topographic maps, geologic maps, aerial photographs, and satellite imagery to understand geologic processes and solve geologic problems. 20. Critical Thinking: Integrate and analyze quantitative data and qualitative information and ideas in several contexts. Examines assumptions; integrates experience, reason, and information to draw scientific conclusions. Examples: map and photo interpretation, or evaluation of mitigation strategies for geologic hazards.

21. Effective Communication: Can appropriately communicate geologic or environmental data to an audience through reports or presentations.

22. Information Competency: Evaluate and selectively use appropriate tools and sources in order to access and manipulate geologic and environmental information including library research, the Internet, and field research.

23. Responsibility: Examine the relationship between self and the environment, evaluate potential impacts of actions, and make choices based on that examination and evaluation.

Degree Outcomes
Natural Sciences: Graduates use the scientific method to analyze natural phenomena and acquire skills to evaluate authenticity of data/information relative to the natural world.

Critical, Creative and Reflective Thinking: Graduates will evaluate, analyze and synthesize information and ideas in order to construct informed, meaningful and justifiable conclusions.

Global Citizenship: Graduates will be able to critically examine the relationship between self, community, and/or environments, and to evaluate and articulate potential impacts of choices, actions, and contributions for the creation of sustainable and equitable systems.

Lecture Contact Hours 40
Lab Contact Hours 20
Clinical Contact Hours 0
Total Contact Hours 60