The Grand Canyon

Catalog description

This course covers central aspects of the geology, biology, anthropology and history of the US Southwest, concentrating on the areas contiguous with the path of the Colorado River through what is today Northern Arizona. After a semester of classroom work, familiarizing the students with geography, geology, flora, fauna, peoples, cultures and histories of the region, the class will travel to Lee's Ferry and the float for seven days on Hatch River Expeditions rafts through a natural laboratory. Those students taking this course as a capstone in Environmental Studies will pay special attention to landforms and waterways, water law, the environmental and biological consequences of damming, and endangered species. Students taking this course for elective credit in Anthropology or Geology must write their term papers on a topic in their discipline.