Geology 104 - Geology of the American West

North America is a dynamic, at times cataclysmic, continent with a deep geologic past. Iconic and dramatically diverse landscapes characterize the western United States, including snow-capped mountain ranges, deep canyons, volcanoes, monuments of stone, geyser fields, and vast lava-capped plateaus - in marked contrast to the more
subdued lands of the east. In this course, we will focus our attention on the Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountain and Glacier National Parks, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Columbia Plateau. By placing these parks in their geologic context, students will gain a framework within which the geology of many additional western landscapes and national parks can be understood. No prior study of geology is necessary. Participants in this course will be introduced to fundamental concepts in earth science: rock types and their origins; plate tectonics and crustal dynamics; weathering, glaciation and the carving of landscapes; sea level rise and fall; measuring geologic time; and reading geologic and topographic maps. This course will meet for two two-hour sessions each week that will include lecture and hands-on, skill-building exercises. The course will culminate in the joint production of a geologic guidebook for visitors to select parts of the west.

Not open to students who have completed Geology 111 and cannot be taken concurrently with 111.

Fall semester. Professor Harms 
 

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Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: Students who enroll in this course will be expected to engage in visual learning, with practice in three-dimensional visualization and reasoning. Conventional lecture and reading format will also be a part of the course. Weekly collaborative hands-on exercises, weekly short in-class assessments, and a final project presented orally and in writing will be the forms of assessment.