Geology

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The WVC Earth Sciences Department is committed to offering comprehensive courses that promote understanding the Earth and the universe. Courses range from those designed for the non-science major to Earth Science major transfer students in Geological Sciences, Astronomy, Meteorology, Climatology, and geological or hydrological Environmental Science. The department offers a wide variety of courses designed to meet the general educational, pre-professional and overall academic goals of WVC students.

Program Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate understanding of theories and application of concepts pertinent to Earth Sciences and Astronomy, including the ability to make direct observations of the world and interpret the observations scientifically.

Demonstrate competence and self-confidence required to gain a fuller practical and theoretical understanding of Earth Sciences.

Apply the scientific method and problem-solving skills appropriate to terrestrial and astronomical phenomena.

When applicable, know how to utilize and manipulate laboratory equipment, specimens, field observations, and numerical data to investigate phenomena of the Earth and Universe in a lab setting, in the field, and on a computing device.

Classes

GEOL& 101: Introduction to Physical Geology

Credits

Study the geologic processes that shape the earth. Determine how the earth works and its history by applying principles of geology, chemistry and physics. Topics include plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, rocks, minerals, glaciers, rivers, geologic maps and the structure of the earth. May include field trips. Includes laboratory.

GEOL& 208: Geology of The Pacific Northwest

Credits

Learn Pacific Northwest geology and geologic history by studying rocks, sediments, landforms, fossils, geologic maps and geologic structures. Examine how plate tectonics, volcanoes, faulting, folding, rock formations, geologic time, mountain building, terrain accretion, earthquakes, glaciers, rivers and floods have created our land and resources. May require field trip(s). Includes laboratory.

GEOL 107: Natural Disasters

Credits

Scientific study of earthquakes, floods, landslides, volcanic eruptions, extreme weather, wildfires, asteroid impacts, and other disruptive events. Introduces and applies elements of geology, meteorology, physics, and astronomy. Examines human factors, risk reduction, disaster prediction, monitoring, alert systems, and disaster recovery. Includes historic examples and disasters in the news.

GEOL 218: Environmental Geology

Credits

Explore how the earth environment controls human existence and how earth itself changes in response to human activities. Study the determining factors and predict the effects of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, floods, changing climates and human use of Earth's resources of energy, minerals, water and soil.