GEO 1020      Life of the Past



Credits:   3.0

Taught by:   Pete VanValkenburg

Semesters offered:   Fall

Formats:   Classroom

General education requirements fulfilled:   PS - Physical Science

Fee:   $15.00

Course Description:

Life of the Past is a 3-credit general education course for non-science majors. It is a general survey of historical geology, which examines the basic principles of historical geology including the relationship between the tectonic history of the earth and the evolution of life through time. This course will use lectures, labs, slides, and videos to help the students gain an understanding of the history of the earth. Successful completion of this course will enable the student to appreciate how earth and life evolved through time. A lab fee is required for transportation. A three (3) - lecture hours per week and one field trip are required.

Course Objectives:

The students, at the end of this course, will:
1. Explain and apply major concepts in the physical sciences.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the process of science.
3. Communicate scientific ideas through oral or written assignments.
4. Understanding the internal and external processes acting upon the earth today as well as in the past. 5. Identify and describe past and present landforms.
6. Identify and describe earth materials.
7. Understand the principles of geologic time to analyze the rates of geologic processes.
8. Understand the concept of evolution and how life has evolved through geologic time.
9. Identify various types of organisms that were characteristic for each of the various periods of time.
10. Integrate information learned in class and laboratory studies to evaluate geologic processes in the field.

Required Materials
Historical Geology: The Fourth Edition: By Wicander & Monroe
Course content will follow the text. It is essential that you read and study the assigned pages prior to the lecture. This will allow you to better understand the material and ask pertinent questions.