GEOL105

This course will provide an introduction to the geological sciences. The course begins with the underlying geologic principles and the exploration of Plate Tectonics. Subsequent topics include: the formation of the major rock-forming minerals, and common igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks; the major geophysical processes and the formation of resultant features (volcanoes, earthquakes, mountain belts, ocean basins, and structural geologic features); the major surface processes (weathering, erosion, water, ice, and wind); the structure and processes operating in the oceans and atmosphere; and the physical and biological history of the planet. This information will be presented in a plate tectonic framework. This is a lecture-laboratory course. Students must take both the lecture and laboratory sections. GEOL 105 is required for the Environmental Science and Integrated Science Studies majors, the Environmental Science and Earth Science minors, and can be used to fulfill requirements for the Environmental Studies major and minor as well as the 100-level Scientific Reasoning category of General Education. It is the recommended foundation course for Earth Science teacher certification. It is a Writing Intensive course.