GEOL 1304 - Historical Geology (deactivate Fall 2017)

3 credit hours. 3 lecture hours. 0 lab hours.

A comprehensive survey of the history of life and major events in the physical development of Earth as interpreted from rocks and fossils.

Measurable Learning Outcomes:
Describe how the application of the scientific method has led to our current understanding of Earth history. Explain the historical development of Geology as a science and how it was influenced by early interpretations of fossils and the theory of evolution. Communicate how principles of relative and numerical age dating have been used to develop the Geologic Time Scale. Describe the processes involved in the formation and differentiation of the Earth and identify major milestones in the physical evolution of the planet. Identify the major milestones in the evolution of life from its initial inorganic stages, through development of the major animal and plant groups, to mass extinctions.  Explain how rocks and fossils are used to interpret ancient environments. Identify the major tectonic events in the geologic evolution of North America.