Courses

Thinking of taking an intro Earth Science course? Any course listed below can serve as a gateway to the Earth Sciences major!

  • clarks fork valley

    Students on the Stretch off campus program examin the geomorphology of the Clarks Fork Valley, WY

Concepts and skills

All introductory Earth Sciences course cover the following concepts and skills:

  • To understand how the process of science and the evolution of scientific concepts has led to our current understanding of Earth as a dynamic system including physical, chemical and biological interactions.
  • To understand Earth's origins, including an appreciation for geologic time and spatial scales.
  • To be able to generate, read, and understand maps and spatial data.
  • To develop an awareness of the impact of geology and natural resources on the evolution of life and vice versa.
  • To understand the concept of uncertainty as it applies to the analysis of Earth processes, resources, and hazards.
     
EARS 1

How the Earth Works

Learn about our Earth environment—the natural materials, structure, and processes that literally shape the world in which we live. (Offered each year during Fall & Spring terms)

EARS 2

Evolution of Earth and Life

Learn about the co-evolution of life and environment through time with a focus on placing modern climate change in geological context. (Winter)

EARS 3

ELEMENTARY OCEANOGRAPHY

Your chance to learn everything you wanted to know about the last major frontier on our planet. (Spring)

EARS 5

NATURAL DISASTERS AND CATASTROPHES

From Hurricane Katrina in 2005 to the devastating Haitian and Chilean earthquakes of 2010, the Earth can be a dangerous place. Learn how scientists think about natural disasters and some of what they think they know – what, where, why and, sometimes, even when. (Summer)

EARS 6

Environmental Change

Most of us do not like change; but like it or not, our global climate now appears to be undergoing one of its more rapid transformations in Earth's long history. Learn how scientists study past, present, and future change in the Earth environment. (Fall)

EARS 8

CARBON SEQUESTRATION: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

Global warming and ocean acidification resulting from the rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations are a serious threat to modern civilization and future generations. Learn about the scale of the problem and study the science behind strategies that could potentially mitigate these changes. (Fall)

EARS 9

Earth Resources

Learn about the occurrence of some of Earth's greatest hidden gifts, and how Earth Scientists find these gifts for societal benefit. (Winter)

EARS 18

Environmental Earth Sciences

The science of environmental issues such as climate change, air/water pollution, soil degradation, and water resources is investigated as dynamic systems impacted by various natural processes and human activities. Skills in collecting, interpreting, and reporting scientific data are developed using weekly field trips to local environments. (Fall)

ORC

The latest course info

Please check out the ORC for the latest course information.

THE LATEST EARS COURSE INFORMATION

 

 Upcoming Courses in the EARS Department - for a tentative list of upcoming courses offered by the Department of Earth Sciences. PLEASE NOTE: This is a tentative course schedule that is subject to constant modifications. Please make sure to check back on this regularly and always confirm with final updates from the ORC.

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