Program Outcomes
Develop an understanding of the Earth’s physical characteristics and processes, the history of the Earth as recorded in the rock record, the development of life on Earth, and how humans interact with the Earth and its resources.
Identify minerals and rocks and develop an understanding to evaluate their origin from a textural and geochemical perspective and place their importance into a broader plate tectonics perspective.
Develop an ability to read and interpret geologic maps including the 3-dimensional analysis of maps to produce geological cross sections in order to develop an understanding the processes that are responsible for geologic structures.
Develop an understanding of sedimentary systems: depositional environment, sedimentary structures and their uses, sedimentary basin evolution and tectonics, sediment provenance and relation to tectonic setting, and sedimentary sequences.
Develop a strong foundation in the fundamentals of collecting and interpreting geologic data from field and laboratory activities; preparation of geologic maps, cross sections, and reports.
Integrate geologic principles learned in geology classes and related math and sciences fields to research problems in the geosciences. Geologic interpretation, writing and presentation techniques as applied to research problems.