GEO 101 - Physical Geology

5 Credits

An introduction to the Earth as a dynamic and complex system, including earthquakes, volcanoes, movement of continents, and the Earth’s interior. We will examine plate tectonics and other geologic topics including rock and mineral identification. This class is for all students that live on this planet, but may be particularly helpful to those considering Earth sciences as a career.

Pre-requisite(s) MATH 081 or higher min 2.0
Placement Eligibility Math 91 or higher
Course Note Previously GEOL 101
FeesGeology Fee Science Lab Support Fee

Quarters Typically Offered
Fall Day, Evening
Winter Day, Evening
Spring Day, Evening

Designed to Serve This course is designed for the general student. It is an introductory course to the geology sequence and a necessary prerequisite to other geology courses.
Active Date 20240322T08:52:27

Grading Basis Decimal Grade
Class Limit 24
Contact Hours: Lecture 44 Lab 22
Total Contact Hours 66
Degree Distributions:
AA

Science
Science Lab

Course Outline

Mineral and Rock Identification
Sedimentary Processes and Rocks
Weathering
Erosion
The Rock Cycle
Volcanism
Igneous Processes and Rocks
Metamorphic Processes and Rocks
The Interior of the Earth
Plate Tectonics, Earthquakes
Local Plate Tectonic Setting
Paleomagnetism, Mountain Building (optional)
Origin of the Earth, Earth History (brief)
Deformation including folding and faulting
Geologic Time
Topographic maps (oprtional)

Student Learning Outcomes
Students will communicate in verbal, written, and graphical formats the impacts of geology on everyday life using a working knowledge of the fundamentals of geology

Students will describe geologic processes associated with plate tectonics, the rock cycle, and geologic time using appropriate terminology in a clear and correct manner

Students will clearly differentiate between geologic processes and products, and observations and interpretations

Students will use qualitative and quantitative means of telling of geologic time, and describe relative and absolute methods by which the age of the Earth and other geologic events are determined

Students will identify and describe commonly occurring minerals and rocks using textural observations and testing of physical properties

Students will use geologic maps and cross-sections to create reasonable hypotheses interpreting geologic histories or orders-of-events

Students will use plate tectonics to describe the geologic setting of the Pacific Northwest

Students will use quantitative skills to read complex graphics, use the metric system, create simple x-y plots of data, and use quantitative information to describe, interpret, and effectively synthesize scientific investigations

Students will apply critical thinking and the scientific method towards solving geologic problems by creating geologically reasonable hypotheses, collecting relevant data, and determining if the hypotheses are verified or falsified