Courses in the Earth Science Department
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101 | Physical Geology.
The rocks, landscapes and structures of the earth’s surface and the processes that produced them, including volcanism, earthquakes, landslides, glaciation and continental drift. Mineral and rock identification, topographic map reading and geologic map interpretation are covered in laboratory sessions. A field trip of Lenawee County glacial geology is included. Three lectures, one 2-hour laboratory per week. Fall, spring.
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102 | Historical Geology.
The geologic history of the earth from its origin to the present, with emphasis on the many physical changes that have occurred and the origin and development of life as revealed by fossils and the rock record. Three lectures, one 2-hour laboratory per week.
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103 | Descriptive Astronomy.
Observational and theoretical studies of the solar system and the extra-solar system. Topics include the telescope, planets and their satellites, asteroids, comets, meteors, the sun as a star, characteristics of stars, galaxies, interstellar matter, and the possibility of life elsewhere in the universe. Three lectures, one 2-hour laboratory per week. Fall, spring.
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104 | Regional Geography.
The regions of the world defined climatically to emphasize the interrelationships between human occupancy and climate, vegetation, soils and geology. Fall.
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202 | Climatology.
The basic world climates and their effects on soils and vegetation, with emphasis on the climate of the Great Lakes region. The course includes an investigation of the effects of climate on people and human endeavors such as housing, clothing, health and food choices; and consideration of climatic changes, including possible human-created changes. (Does not satisfy the laboratory science requirement.)
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203 | Meteorology.
The atmosphere and the fundamental elements of weather – temperature, humidity and precipitation, pressure and winds – relating these atmospheric elements to storm formation and explaining the methods and problems of weather forecasting. (Does not satisfy the laboratory science requirement.)
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204 | Oceanography.
The distribution of the earth’s land and water. Topics include the nature, relief and erosion and other changes affecting the sea floor; the properties of sea water; and marine sedimentation, tides, currents and waves. (Does not satisfy the laboratory science requirement.)
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205 | Environmental Geology.
The Interaction between natural systems and society, including the effects of geologic hazards such as volcanic activity, earthquakes, landslides, flooding and water pollution. Fall.
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301 | Mineralogy.
Crystallography, atomic structure and bonding, phase equilibria and crystal chemistry, and the megascopic identification and descriptive mineralogy of nonsilicate and silicate minerals. Two lectures, one 3-hour laboratory per week.
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302 | Petrology.
The origin, classification and occurrence of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, with emphasis on megascopic and optical techniques. Two lectures, one 3-hour laboratory per week.
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307 | Structural Geology.
The behavior of rocks under various kinds of force, with analysis of resulting structural features, including folds, joints and faults, and the nature of the forces that produced them. These concepts are applied to understanding the basic structural and tectonic framework of North America. Two lectures, one 3-hour laboratory per week.
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313 | Sedimentology.
Sedimentary rocks, the environments of deposition they represent, techniques employed in their study, the processes that produced them and their many characteristics; how these characteristics are used to reconstruct ancient environments and geologic history. Three lectures, one 1 1/2-hour laboratory per week. A field trip to West Texas or West Virginia is required.
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315 | Biostratigraphy.
Invertebrate fossils, with particular emphasis on their use in the correlation and reconstruction of ancient environments and geologic history. Three lectures, one 1 1/2-hour laboratory per week. A field trip to Southern Ohio is required.
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317 | Introduction to Geomorphology.
The geological processes that form landscapes, including coverage of surficial geological materials and soils; the physics and chemistry of weathering; the dynamics of streams; wind, waves, glacier ice and mass movement; and the interactions of geomorphology and the environment. Three lectures, one 2-hour laboratory per week.
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318 | Field and Laboratory Methods.
Familiarization with basic field and laboratory techniques, including maps, mapping instruments, air photographs, photography, data reproduction and presentation, sources of geologic information and planning field work and reports. A field problem is required. Two lectures, two 2-hour laboratories per week.
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342 | Optical Techniques.
The basic principles and techniques of mineral identification using the petrographic microscope, with emphasis on the oil immersion technique, identification of opaque and non-opaque minerals in thin section and determination of rock type by point counting. Two lectures, two 2-hour laboratories per week.
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Advanced and Special Classes
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199 | Exploratory Internship.
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299 | Experimental Course.
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399 | Professional Internship.
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451 | Independent Study.
A program of independent study supervised by a departmental faculty member. The work may be theoretical, experimental or a field problem. May be repeated.
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499 | Advanced Experimental Course.
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Faculty
