Earth Science Minor
As a minor in Earth science, you will study the geology, geochemistry, and geophysics of the Earth. Within the major, you will learn about the formation of the planets, spatial organization and tectonic origins of minerals and other natural resources, processes that shape the planet’s surface, and geological and climatological hazards. This minor is housed in the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences.
sample courses:
This course is designed for undergraduate majors and minors in the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences to master fundamentals of mineralogy and their context within sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks, including an introduction to mineral resources and the role of minerals and mineral resources in current environmental issues. The course will provide fundamentals of mineralogy and crystallography, important mineral groups, and foundations of sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rock systems. It will provide an overview and lab demo of the modern analytical methods used in mineralogy. The course includes lecture (three hours per week) and a lab component (two hours per week).
Basic concepts regarding the forces that act upon the Earth, how geological materials react to these forces, and the time scale over which they respond. Emphasis on physical concepts needed to understand the geodynamical behavior of the Earth over a broad range of length and time scales. Application and interpretation of geophysical methods to probe the interior of the Earth. Prerequisite: EEPS 202 (may be taken concurrently) and Phys 191. Three class hours and one two-hour laboratory a week.
