GEOL 106
It's About Time: A History of Earth, Life, and Global Change (GE)
Catalog Entry
It's About Time: A History of Earth, Life, and Global Change (GE) (4)
Two hours lecture; Six hours laboratory.
Prerequisite: GEOL 105 or permission of instructor
This course explores how the Earth’s solid, fluid, atmospheric, and living systems have evolved and interacted over the immensity of geologic time, and how the rock and fossil records are analyzed to reconstruct the co-evolution of Earth systems and life. Students will examine the origin of the Earth and solar system, birth of the oceans and continents, effects of plate tectonics, and the changing atmosphere and climate through time, as well as biological evolution and classification of important groups of fossils, causes and effects of rapid evolution events, and mass extinctions.
Note(s): General Education and Scientific and Quantitative Reasoning designated course.
Detailed Description of Course
The purpose of this course is to provide students with an overview of historical geology, which is that aspect of geology that deals with the origin and evolution of the earth's lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. The study of historical geology involves investigations of cosmology, stratigraphy, paleontology, geochronology, paleoenvironments, structural geology and plate tectonics. Topics addressed in this course include, but are not limited to:
1. Geologic time and the geologic time scale
2. Planetary accretion and origin of Earth and the solar system
3. Geochronology and concepts of relative and absolute age-dating
4. The description and historical significance of sedimentary rocks
5. Stratigraphic terminology and stratigraphic maps
6. Organic evolution
7. Taxonomy
8. The fossil record
9. Development of the earth's major features
a. Lithosphere
b. Hydrosphere
c. Atmosphere
d. Biosphere
9. Plate tectonics
10. Overview of geologic history
a. Hadean and Archean Eons
b. Proterozoic Eon
c. Early Paleozoic Era
c. Late Paleozoic Era
d. Mesozoic Era
e. Cenozoic Era
The laboratory portion of this course is designed to give students hands-on practical experience in the application of lecture concepts in order to interpret the relative and absolute history of geological and biological events, identify and classify rocks and fossils, utilize concepts of geologic time and stratigraphy, and read and interpret geologic maps. In addition to in-class exercises, field trips may be taken. Through lab activities, students will:
1. Calculate rates of geologic processes
2. Order geologic events
3. Determine isotopic age dates
3. Identify and classify rocks, with emphasis on sedimentary rocks
4. Utilize stratigraphic correlation and geologic cross-sections to interpret the geologic history of a region
6. Identify and classify fossils, with emphasis on invertebrate fossil groups
7. Read and interpret paleogeographic, structural and geologic maps
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
This course will include a combination of lectures, readings, videos, class discussions, quizzes, participation in active learning exercises and presentations, and formal lab exercises.
Goals and Objectives of the Course
Students will understand and visualize the magnitude of geologic time, how Earth’s solid, fluid, and atmospheric spheres have evolved through time, and how life has evolved within these spheres, from our earliest scientific evidence to the present.
By completing this course, students will:
1. Understand the methodologies of scientific inquiry, and apply scientific principles to the collection and interpretation of geological data.
2. Think critically about scientific problems, distinguish between findings that are based upon empirical data and those that are not, and apply scientific methods to solve geologic problems.
3. Gain a fundamental knowledge of the natural history of the earth and the life it supports by examining various aspects of cosmology, the origin and development of the solar system and earth, stratigraphic principles, paleontology, organic evolution, geologic time, plate tectonics, and geologic history.
4. Apply knowledge gained in lecture to practical problems in the laboratory.
5. Demonstrate skills in identifying rocks and fossils, reading and interpreting geologic maps, calculating the rates of geologic processes, and performing stratigraphic correlation.
6. Geology majors will obtain the background knowledge they will need for their upper level geology courses.
Assessment Measures
Assessments may include exams, quizzes, homework assignments, laboratory reports and exercises, individual or group projects and/or presentations, and class participation.
Other Course Information
GEOL 106 is a required course for a major and minor in geology.
Approval and Subsequent Reviews
September 10, 2001 Reviewed and Approved Stephen W. Lenhart, Chair
November 8, 2011 Reviewed and Updated Chester W. Watts
June 20, 2016
March 01, 2021