Exploring Earth and Environmental Science

Catalog description

The introductory Earth and Environmental Science courses at WOU explore the processes that formed our dynamic planet and continue to shape Earth’s systems and surface environments. This course focuses on the nature of science; processes driven by the interior of Earth, including plate tectonics, earthquakes, and volcanism; introduction to Earth materials and resources; surface environments such as rivers; and human impacts on water resources. Active learning strategies threaded through the lecture portion of the course and inquiry-based labs emphasize scientific reasoning and application of appropriate techniques to define and solve problems. Three hours of lecture and one two-hour laboratory per week.