COURSE DESCRIPTION

Investigates geologic phenomena. Includes activities such as observation of regional geology and landforms, collection of samples, and measurements and interpretation of geologic structures. Variable hours per week.

GENERAL COURSE PURPOSE

The course is intended to serve the needs of a college transfer student who is interested in pursuing a career in the natural or earth sciences. Field experiences is an absolute necessity for an earth science student as most textbook descriptions and diagrams provide inadequate explanations or geologic materials, processes, and the methods of obtaining geological information.

ENTRY LEVEL COMPETENCY

The student is assumed to have had a one year introductory college course in earth or natural sciences.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Depending on the exact description of the course, the student should be able to do one or more of the following:

1. Describe and understand the field relations of faulted and/or folded rocks.
2. Measure a stratigraphic section.
3. Collect and identify fossils and date the strata in which they are found.
4. Make a topographic and/or geologic map of an area.
5. Explain how to use a variety of geological surveying instruments.
6. Reconstruct the geologic history of rocks exposed in any outcrop.
7. Understand the formation and geologic evolution of coves.

The course content will depend on the specific purpose of the course. It will be developed in order to implement one or more of the course objectives listed above.

Revised 2/93