Nov 22, 2024  
2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

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ES 130 - Physical Geography in the Southwestern U.S. (SR)


Credits: 4 credits

Physical Geography is introduced through lab- and field-intensive instruction The centerpiece of the course is a 9-day March field trip in Arizona, California, and Nevada. The on-campus component of the course consists of lectures and lab periods prior to the field trip. Aspecrts of physical geology covered in this course are those that are most readily investigated in the field in the Southwestern U.S. This notably includes a range of igneous, sedimentary, and some metamorphic rock types, sedimentary features and unconfomities, faults, and earthquakes, paleogeographic reconstruction, fluvial erosion and transport,m volcanism, plate tectonics, mountain building, and of course, the big concept of time.

This is a Sustainability Related (SR) course.

Prerequisite/Corequisite
None

Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will:

  1. Distinguish igneous rock types based on major mineral compositiion and make correlations between rock type and the origin of the magma in a tectonic context.
  2. Identify clastic sedimentary rock types and infer the original mode and environment of deposition.
  3. Knowledgeably discuss the major tectonic features of the US Southwest and relate them to Mesozoic and Cenozoic tectonism.
  4. Use a geologic field compass to measure both structural and sedimentologic planar and linear feaatures, such as fold axial planes and paleocurrent directions, and be able to represent those data on a map.
  5. Explain the key features of the theory of plate tectonics and Earth’s structure,.
  6. Present the societally relevant aspects of seismicity (earthquakes), volcanism, and other geological phenomena.
  7. Recognize major groups of Paleozooic and Mesozoic fossils and their geological significance,
Notes
A Supplemental fee is charged for the expenses of the field trip.

Frequency of Offering:
Offered every other spring semester - even years.



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