Course Descriptions

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101 Prehistoric Life 115 Landscapes and Geology of North America 112 Earth System Science 121 Geology of Gemstones 131 Geology, the Environment, and Society 132 Volcanoes and Eruptions 151 Geology of America's National Parks 161 Phyisical Geology 162 Historical Geology 214 Meteorology 215 Climatology 221 Economic Geography 234 The Oceans: Past, Present, and Future 261 Advanced Physical Geology 301 Mineralogy 302 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology 315 Paleontology 316 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy 330 World Geography 341 Hydrology 345 Structural Geology 351 Field Geology 390 Geological Field Excursion 402 Volcanology 407 Geomorphology 411 Geology of Soils 414 Petroleum Geology 415 Coal Geology and Exploration 421 Introduction to Geophysics 441 Hydrolgeology 445 Plate Tectonics and Crustal Evolutions 455 Global Quaternary Environmental and Geologic Change 465 Introduction to GIS 475 Remote Sensing and Image Analysis 481 Advanced Environmental Geology 490 Seminar in Geology 499 Independent Research

GEOL 101 - Prehistoric Life (3) Scientific study of the history of life on earth
with emphasis on higher vertebrate groups such as reptiles and mammals.
Discussion of current theories of dinosaur habits and mass extinction.
No prereq. (3-0) UCC, F

GEOG 112 - Earth System Science (3) The study of the whole Earth as a system
of many interacting parts including the solar system; the Earth’s
internal systems and landforms; ocean, atmospheric and climatic systems;
and global ecosystems. Applies scientific method to the study of
changes within and between these systems. No prereq. (3-0) UCC, F, Sp or Sum

GEOL 115 - Landscapes and Geology of North America (3) A study of the
geography and geology of North American landscapes with special reference
to the United States. Factors in landscape development, including
climate, vegetation, erosion, glaciation, tectonics, and human influences
are explored in the context of specific landform. No prereq. (3-0) UCC, F

GEOL 121 - Geology of Gemstones (3) An introduction to major gemstones, their geological origin, the science of their physical properties and identification, and their role in and impact on human civilization. This course is a survey of several major concepts in physical and environmental geology through the lens of gemstones. No prereq. (3-0) UCC, F, Sp or Sum

GEOL 131 - Geology, the Environment, and Society (3) An examination of the
controls on human activity by geology, and the impact of humans on
natural geologic processes. This course is a survey of fundamental geologic
processes and associated hazards (earthquakes, tsunamis, eruptions, flooding,
landslides) and topics such as pollution and land-use planning. The
course provides an opportunity to discuss, from a geologic perspective,
the ramifications of and potential solutions to problems associated with
Earth’s resources (energy, minerals, water). No prereq. (3-0) UCC, Sp

GEOL 132 - Volcanoes and Eruptions (3) An introduction to volcanoes, their
occurrence, different styles of eruption, and the processes that control
volcanic activity, emphasizing the impacts of volcanism, both beneficial
and destructive, to human beings and the global environment. No prereq.
(3-0) UCC, F

GEOL 151 - Geology of Americas National Parks (4) This lecture and laboratory course examines the principles of physical geology through the medium of America’s national parks.  Parks that were designated because of their unique geologic setting will be studied to understand the full range of geologic materials and internal and external Earth processes prereq. Math 100 or placement in Math 111 (3-1), UCC, F

GEOL 161 - Physical Geology (4) Lecture and laboratory studies of the materials,
internal structure, and surface features of the Earth, and the
processes which have shaped them. No prereq. (3-1) UCC, F, Sp

GEOL 162 - Historical Geology (4) Lecture and laboratory studies of the evolution
of the earth and its life forms. Techniques used to interpret Earth
and life history. The concept of geologic time. Prereq: GEOL 161. (3-1)
UCC, Sp