Geology: Earth Through Time

Discover Earth's record of over 4.5 billion years of history, spanning the formation of the planet and its building blocks to the evolution of continents, oceans, and the atmosphere. Topics include how geologic processes link to the formation of life, mass extinctions, natural resources and changing climate, how geoscientists decode the record of Earth's stories preserved by sediments, rocks, and fossils, and how different technologies provide a deeper understanding of Earth's dynamic history.

First Year and Sophomores only during the week of registration; Open to degree and PACE students

Planet Earth has many secrets to tell. Are you curious to explore over ~4.6 billion years of fascinating and sometimes catastrophic events, from the birth of Earth, the formation of continents and oceans, to the evolution of life and mass extinctions? We will explore these topics and how they link to the formation of natural resources we depend on today and our changing climate. We decode the record of Earth’s stories as preserved by rocks and fossils, and discover how probing the deep Earth using technology gives us a deeper understanding of our dynamic planet.

Your attendance at lecture and participation in class and online/asynchronous activities is expected. Weekly readings, lecture poll questions, and quizzes will allow you to explore topics in detail and assess your learning as the semester progresses. This class has a midterm and a final exam.

Grades in this course will be based on: Attendance and participation 20% Weekly quizzes 40% Midterm 20% Final 20 %