The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Geology Program
Department of Physics, Geology and Astronomy
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J. W. Mies
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| Syllabus | This is a .pdf file that requires Acrobat Reader. |
About the course
Geology 116 is a three-hour general education course (natural sciences) that focuses on important current issues related to geology, society, and the environment. The course promotes an understanding of Earth that is conducive to making conscientious environmental decisions. It also demonstrates, by way of example, the important role of Earth science and related technology in human development.
Geology 116 is designed specifically for general education purposes. Although no college-level background in science is expected, any such background relates well to the course. The complex issues of people and Earth straddle the provincial boundaries of classical disciplines and offer an opportunity to apply and inter-relate all that we know.
Course Objectives
As a result of completing Geology 116, students should better understand:
1. spatial and temporal relationships and fundamental geologic principles, concepts, theories, and processes, as they impact the way we perceive our place on Earth (e.g. uniformitarianism, geologic time and Earth history, plate tectonics, Earth systems, and cycles),
2. at least two of the following, depending upon current issues and the instructor's interests:
- natural hazards (e.g. earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, floods, and landslides) as normal geologic processes that can catastrophically impact human life
- the occurrence and behavior of water in the terrestrial environment, the various ways in which humans depend on water, and the many considerations of safeguarding and apportioning our sources of water
- the variety of energy sources (e.g. fossil fuels, geothermal, hydroelectric, solar, and nuclear) and considerations of utilizing and managing those sources (e.g. geologic occurrence, sustainability, reserves, efficiency, economics, and environmental impact)
- our dependencies on nonfuel minerals , the geologic occurrence and global distribution of mineral resources, and considerations of utilizing and conserving those resources (e.g. reserves, economics, mining and processing methods, environmental impact, and recycling)
- problems of pollution and waste disposal , including that of bulk waste, hazardous chemical waste, radioactive waste, and biologically active waste, particularly with regard to geologic considerations
- controls of Earth's climate and atmosphere and the potential role of man in modifying these aspects of his environment, both locally and on a global scale,
3. sociogeologic issues , in addition to those listed above, that are current (to the semester) and/or of local interest (Chattanooga area),
and
4. the roles of science and technology in identifying and addressing issues of a sustainable future and in the grand scheme of human development.