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School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Geology
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Mission |
Outcomes |
Assessment |
Faculty |
Student Work |
Program Learning Goals and Objectives:
| GOAL I: |
Students will have basic knowledge and
understanding of the content of modern geology.
|
| Objective A: |
Students will be able to explain the
nature of tectonic forces in the Earth’s crust and their
effects on most geological processes.
Criteria: Students will be rated on a field mapping
exercises and associated paper regarding their ability
to recognize and interpret deformed rocks in the context
of tectonic forces. Students will be graded on questions
in exams from most geology classes concerning the role
of the plate tectonic paradigm in each of the earth
science subdisciplines.
|
| Objective B: |
Students will understand and be able to
explain geologic time and fossil record.
Criteria: Students will be rated on associated
laboratory exercises and required senior thesis
projects.
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| Objective C: |
Students will understand and be able to
explain basic surficial processes and human
interrelationships with Earth’s surface.
Criteria: Students will be rated on associated
laboratory exercises and required senior thesis
projects. |
| GOAL II: |
Students will acquire knowledge and
demonstrate skills to collect and analyze Earth’s
minerals and rocks.
|
| Objective A: |
Students will demonstrate the skills
necessary to gather and interpret field and other types
of geologic data.
Criteria: Students will be rated on a field trip for
sample collection and a paper on interpretation of data.
Students will be rated on construction and
interpretation of geologic maps.
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| Objective B: |
Students will be able to identify
samples of basic mineral and rock material found on
Earth’s surface.
Criteria: Students will take a laboratory exam on the
identification of unlabeled specimens.
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| Objective C: |
Students will understand and be able to
explain the basic physical and chemical attributes of
Earth’s minerals and rocks.
Criteria: Students will take a laboratory exam on the
identification of unlabeled specimens.
|
| Objective D: |
Students will be able to explain how
Earth’s basic minerals and rocks form chemically and
physically.
Criteria: Students will take a lecture exams and be
required to write a review paper relevant to this
objective. |
| GOAL III: |
Students will understand the
philosophical, mathematical and physical science
foundations of geology.
|
| Objective A: |
Students will demonstrate the ability
to test multiple working hypotheses in the application
of the scientific method to the geosciences.
Criteria: Students will engage in this activity
during field trips in most classes, during a required
senior research project, and in the culminative field
mapping course taken and assessed at other universities.
|
| Objective B: |
Students will demonstrate the
mathematical and computer skills necessary to interpret
geological data and to communicate scientifically.
Criteria: Students will be tested in laboratory
activities relevant to this activity in the more
quantitative classes (e.g., Structural Geology,
Geochemistry, Geophysics) during a required senior
research project, and in all courses using our
GeoTechnology Training Center.
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| Objective C: |
Students will demonstrate a basic
understanding of the physical science foundations of
geology.
Criteria: Students will be tested in laboratory
activities relevant to this activity in the more
quantitative classes (e.g., Mineralogy, Structural
Geology, Geochemistry, Geophysics) |
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