Course Syllabus

GEO 1050 Geology of the National Parks

Course Description

This course is an introduction to the principles of geology as observed and studied in the national parks of a selected area. Designed for non-science majors. In-person/hybrid sections will require either 3-4 weekend field trips or a 1-2 week trip to selected national parks. In-person sections will require a course fee to partially cover field trip expenses.Online sections will utilize virtual field trips to selected national parks and will not require a course fee.

Justification

This course is intended to introduce non-science majors to the science of geology, past and present geologic processes and features, how humans interact with modern geologic processes, and to help students appreciate the remarkable beauty, human history, and natural geologic laboratory present in the US National Parks. This class meets the Physical Science requirement for GE at Snow College and is a common course at other public colleges in Utah.

General Education Outcomes

1. A student who completes the GE curriculum has a fundamental knowledge of human cultures and the natural world. Upon completion of this course students will be able to demonstrate a fundamental knowledge of how the natural world works. This knowledge will include how rocks and fossils form, plate tectonics, how landforms arise, how mountains form, and the history of the earth including the fossil record. Students will also be able to demonstrate an understanding of how humans both affect and are affected by the natural world.
2. A student who completes the GE curriculum can read and research effectively within disciplines. Upon completion of this course students will be familiar with basic geologic vocabulary and how to read and understand maps and figures that communicate geologic information. They will practice and apply this knowledge to learn about the geology of the national parks through readings and independent research on course topics.
3. A student who completes the GE curriculum can draw from multiple disciplines to address complex problems. Geology is an inherently multi-disciplinary subject. Upon completion of this course students will be able to draw connections between geologic processes affecting the solid earth (geosphere) and how these interact with processes in the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere (e.g., evolution and climate). The use of the national parks as a learning setting in this course also provides a natural opportunity to discuss the relationship of humans with the natural world and the complex social issues involved.
4. A student who completes the GE curriculum can reason analytically, critically, and creatively. Upon completion of this course students will be able to systematically identify and interpret common rocks, minerals, fossils, and landforms and the geologic processes that produce them. They will then apply these skills to analyze the geologic history of the complex rocks and landscapes in the national parks.

General Education Knowledge Area Outcomes

1. This course introduces students to the scientific method as the foundation of geology and demonstrates how science is used to interpret the natural world. Upon completion of this course students will be able to make observations, form hypotheses, and draw evidence-based conclusions about rocks, fossils, and landforms. By applying these methods to real geological features in the national parks, students gain firsthand experience with science as a process of discovery and as a systematic way to understand Earth’s history and the physical environment. This course introduces students to the scientific method as the foundation of geology and demonstrates how science is used to interpret the natural world. Upon completion of this course students will be able to make observations, form hypotheses, and draw evidence-based conclusions about rocks, fossils, and landforms. By applying these methods to real geological features in the national parks, students gain firsthand experience with science as a process of discovery and as a systematic way to understand Earth’s history and the physical environment.
2. UNDERSTAND: Demonstrate understanding of matter, energy, and their influence on physical systems. Upon completion of this course students will be able to describe how matter and energy interact within and between Earth’s systems—the geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. Through topics like plate tectonics, volcanic activity, and erosion, they learn how forces such as heat, gravity, and water flow move and transform materials on and beneath Earth’s surface. Students will be able to connect theory to reality when observing these processes in the landscapes of the national parks allows. They will be able to see through these observations how energy drives geological change and how matter cycles through natural systems over time.
3. EVALUATE: Evaluate the credibility of various sources of information about science-related issues. Upon completion of this course students will be able to critically evaluate sources of scientific information, especially those relevant to geoscience. Students will learn to assess the reliability and credibility of various sources of scientific information. They practice distinguishing peer-reviewed research from less credible sources and discuss how to identify bias and evaluate scientific claims using evidence-based reasoning.
4. APPLY: Describe how the Physical Sciences utilize their foundational principles to confront and solve pressing local and global challenges, shaping historical, ethical, or social landscapes in the process.  Upon completion of this course students will be able to apply the principles of physical science to real-world issues such as natural hazards, land management, and climate change. This will be achieved in part by studying geology in the context of the national parks. The course connects scientific understanding with historical, ethical, and social perspectives, showing how geological knowledge informs conservation, policy, and public awareness. Students will learn how science not only explains natural processes but also shapes human decisions and responses to local and global challenges.

Course Content

Course content will be covered by reading assignments and through lectures/exercises in the field (in-person sections) or virtual field trip experiences (online sections). Topics may include: - The Scientific Method- Identification and interpretation of common rock types, fossils, and landforms- Common geologic processes including common tectonic, volcanic, and surface processes- How observations of geologic features may be used to interpret Earth History- The development and use of the Geologic Time Scale- The causes and impacts of past and present climate change on national park units- Discussions of the multi-faceted human benefits and challenges resulting from designating lands as part of the National Park System- Additional topics as the instructor sees fit