GEOL 120 Environmental Geology

This course explores human interactions with the geologic environment to consider how humans exploit, rely upon, require, and impact the earth as we extract and use the materials and resources we need for a productive and functional society. Geologic hazards including earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, landslides, and subsidence are considered from a geologic viewpoint, and topics such as waste disposal, pollution, mining, fossil fuels, land management, and environmental protection are addressed.

Credits

3

Prerequisite

Eligible to enroll in ENGL 121

Hours Weekly

3

Course Objectives

1. Apply scientific principles, scientific reasoning, and appropriate mathematical techniques to solve problems pertaining, but not limited, to natural hazards, groundwater and surface water pollution and movement, feedback loops, and mining and resource development and use.
2. Effectively communicate concepts in environmental geology using appropriate principles, symbols, and vocabulary.
3. Use sound geologic and scientific reasoning to analyze, evaluate, or interpret data to determine the reasonableness of a solution to issues faced during the development and use of resources.
4. State one’s own perspective of ethical issues in resource development and use, and apply alternative perspectives by exploring the competing concerns (economic, social, environmental, and geological) of other stakeholders.
5. Explain the human impact on natural environments and the potential impacts of natural geologic events on society.
6. Understand the geologic origins of and reasons for the natural abundances of important chemical elements in natural environments (water, soils, rocks).
7. Apply geologic principles, spacial relationships, chemical data, and location history to write a capstone environmental site assessment report.

Course Objectives

1. Apply scientific principles, scientific reasoning, and appropriate mathematical techniques to solve problems pertaining, but not limited, to natural hazards, groundwater and surface water pollution and movement, feedback loops, and mining and resource development and use.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Scientific Reasoning Rubric
2. Effectively communicate concepts in environmental geology using appropriate principles, symbols, and vocabulary.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Exam questions

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Scientific Reasoning Rubric
3. Use sound geologic and scientific reasoning to analyze, evaluate, or interpret data to determine the reasonableness of a solution to issues faced during the development and use of resources.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Exam questions

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Scientific Reasoning Rubric

   Ethics Goals

   • ET1
4. State one’s own perspective of ethical issues in resource development and use, and apply alternative perspectives by exploring the competing concerns (economic, social, environmental, and geological) of other stakeholders.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Class discussions / debates

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Ethics Rubric

   Ethics Goals

   • ET1
   • ET2
   • ET3
5. Explain the human impact on natural environments and the potential impacts of natural geologic events on society.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

6. Understand the geologic origins of and reasons for the natural abundances of important chemical elements in natural environments (water, soils, rocks).

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Exam questions
7. Apply geologic principles, spacial relationships, chemical data, and location history to write a capstone environmental site assessment report.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments