The significance for society of the environmental findings of science is considered. Constitutes an overview of major physical phenomena of Earth, its composition, structure, major surface and subsurface processes, as well as climate and weather, and how Earth compares to other planets in the solar system.
Courses emphasize the interaction of Earth's processes and features as a global system.
They also explore the principles of historical inference in the geological sciences, the character of organic evolution, and the interaction of geological and biological processes that produced the history of Earth and the planets. Students discover the relationships between human society and science, particularly with reference to the role of societal attitudes in shaping scientific concepts, as well as the influence of scientific knowledge on our concept of humanity and our place in nature. Field trip required. This course sequence will fulfill the university's general education natural science requirement. Stereoscopic aerial photography and satellite imagery are introduced.