Student Learning Goals and Outcomes

Department of Geography & Geology, Illinois State University

The specific goals of the I.S.U. Geology program are:

• To provide all students with the opportunity to learn about the nature of science and basic scientific principles through the study of geology.
• To introduce all students to the many ways in which geology is interwoven into the fabric of modern civilization.
• To provide Geology majors with a solid background in the natural sciences.
• To prepare Geology majors to apply mathematics and computer science as tools for performance in Geology.
• To provide Geology majors with the range of basic geologic concepts covering the breadth of the discipline.
• To help students develop the communication analytical quantitative and critical thinking skills necessary for success as a professional scientist.
• To provide specialized training for those students who wish to pursue entry-level employment following completion of the program while simultaneously ensuring the breadth of academic background for those students who will pursue graduate studies in Geology.

Students who complete the non-teaching BS in Geology are expected to:

1. be able to identify describe and classify common and some uncommon earth materials minerals and rocks make scientific observations of these earth materials in the field and in the laboratory and interpret their observations in a scientifically sound manner.
2. be familiar with the arrangement and structure of these earth materials including how they originally form and how they are affected by physical chemical and biological activity after they form.
3. develop skill in the area of constructing and interpreting geologic maps
4. develop models of the geometry and spatial relations of earth materials at depth.
5. develop an appreciation for the enormity of time and the history of the Earth.
6. develop an appreciation of society's dependence on Earth resources and on the interaction between human activities and the natural environment.
7. learn the theoretical bases of geology and utilize opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge to field based problems.
8. develop appropriate analytical and quantitative skills for a career or advanced study in geology.
9. develop appropriate written and oral communication skills for a career or advanced study in geology.