Student Learning Outcomes

Revised 10/2000

Goal 1: Graduates should understand how scientific methodology is applied in the earth sciences.

Goal 2: Graduates should have a thorough knowledge and understanding of core concepts in the earth sciences, including the following areas:

1. Processes occurring at different types of lithospheric plate boundaries;
2. Major physical and biological events in Earth history, and the methods used to interpret this history;
3. Surface processes and their impact on development of landforms, and the ability to identify and interpret landforms;
4. Basic tectonic processes, and the ability to interpret structural relations from geologic data;
5. Basic rock forming processes, and the ability to identify common minerals and use minerals and textures to interpret environments in which rocks formed;
6. Major geological cycles and their interactions with Earth systems.

Goal 3: Graduates should have a set of fundamental skills that they can apply to a variety of situations; including:

1. Problem Solving Skills -- the ability to formulate strategies, collect data, apply algebraic and graphical techniques to arrive at solutions, and interpret results related to geologic processes.
2. Communication Skills -- the ability to clearly express earth science concepts and present results from laboratory and field work orally, graphically, and in writing.