COURSE CURRICULUM

The Earth Sciences program offers a wide range of courses that provide students with both foundational knowledge and advanced expertise in the field. Introductory courses such as GEOL 1340 (The Dynamic Earth) and GEOL 1400 (Time-Trekker's Travelog: Our Evolving Earth) explore Earth's structure, processes, and geological history. Students gain hands-on experience identifying and analyzing minerals in GEOL 2500 (Introduction to Mineralogy) and studying the formation of rocks in GEOL 2520 (Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology). GEOL 2800 (Optics and Spectroscopy of Minerals) offers insight into analytical techniques used to examine minerals, while GEOL 2770 (Principles of Inorganic Geochemistry) focuses on the chemical behavior of Earth materials. Students also explore ancient life forms in GEOL 3310 (Paleontology) and investigate glacial processes in GEOL 3490 (Glacial Geology and Geomorphology). Advanced field training is available through GEOL 4260 (Applied Geophysics Field Course), which emphasizes data collection and interpretation in real-world settings. GEOL 4670 (Global Tectonics) rounds out the curriculum by examining the large-scale processes that shape Earth's crust. These diverse course offerings prepare students for careers in environmental consulting, mining, resource management, and further academic research in Earth sciences.