Students demonstrate an understanding of the formation of the solar system, the planet Earth, the continents and rocks and minerals which give them a better comprehension of earth processes such as earthquakes and volcanoes, and mineral and fossil fuel exploration. Students gain a global perspective of the environment, including the hydrosphere, the biosphere and the atmosphere. Students gain an understanding of physical history of the earth from its origin as a planet through the Great Ice Age. They acquire a balanced perspective on the history of continents with emphasis on North America. CHEM 1121 or CHEM 1122 or Concurrent Enrollment Students demonstrate an understanding of crystallography, crystal chemistry, optical properties and identification of minerals utilizing the petrographic microscope.
Students also relate relationships of minerals within igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.