University with graduate programs, including doctoral programs

15-30

This is an introductory environmental geology course that serves as a science/lab elective for non-majors, and a geology elective for geology majors. The class is mostly populated by non-geology majors - (engineering, business, biology, forestry, computer science, arts). The class includes a weekly 3-hour laboratory. There are no prerequisites.

1)Students should be able to measure the velocity and calculate the discharge of a stream.

2)Students should be able to interpret a stream hydrograph and predict conditions in a watershed based on the shape of the hydrograph.

3)Students should be able to recognize whether a mineral is susceptible to produce acid mine drainage based on the mineral's chemical formula and write a general chemical reaction for acid production.

4)Students should be able to assess the stability of a slope and its potential for failure by calculating a factor of safety.

5)Students should be able to calculate the recurrence interval and probability of a particular sized flood and calculate the size of a 10, 50 or 100 year flood.

6)Students should be able to interpret the direction of groundwater flow using a water table contour map and also calculate the groundwater flow velocity using Darcy's Law.

Homework and laboratory activities provide problems that the student must solve to meet the discipline-related goals. Similar exam questions are used for assessment.