GEOL& 120 Volcanoes (5 credits)

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.

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