Planetary Science Minor
As a minor in planetary science, you will gain a broad understanding of the national environment and natural resources. Because the planetary sciences have natural links with many other disciplines, a minor is an attractive option for students majoring in a variety of other fields, such as biology, chemistry, economics, engineering, mathematics, and physics.
sample courses:
In-depth look at suites of materials from the Moon, Mars, Vesta, and selected other achondrite meteorite groups. Mineralogy, geochemistry, petrography, and petrology of samples and their geologic settings. Relationships between samples and orbital mineralogical and geochemical data. Comparative planetology and origins.
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).
