gerickson@sullivan.suny.edu

Two Year College

15-30

This is an introductory course with no pre-requisites and does not serve as a prerequisite for other courses. Typically, 40% of the students are environmental science or science majors and 60% take the course to satisfy a general education requirement. The course has a required lab. Students who want to major in geology may take an additional course in physical geology.

Students should be able to:

1. evaluate an area in terms of geologic hazards; make observations, interpret the information and create a plan of attack for dealing with the hazard.

2. predict impacts in an area of an environmental problem given certain circumstances; given data, interpret that data and create a plan of attack for dealing with the problem.

3. analyze global environmental and resource issues; take a side and defend it for each issue

Short-term projects throughout the semester will use map and numerical data to evaluate case studies. Where possible, the data will be real and local.

basic quantitative skills
writing and oral communication

Math will be necessary to complete assignments.
There will be a written assignment and PowerPoint presentation on a topic involving a specific geologic hazard or environment issue.

developing students' sense of stewardship of the Earth
changing student attitudes toward science

Activity-based learning should increase student interest in science.
Written and oral assignments will allow students to develop and express their own opinions and ethics.