Discoveries in Earth and Environmental Science

Catalog description

This course emphasizes critical thinking through the lens of major scientific discoveries that have advanced human knowledge of Earth and its environments. This course examines significant discoveries that shape understanding of Earth’s unique place in the solar system; the age of the Earth; the development of the plate tectonic theory; human impacts on the environment and the global climate; and exploration of catastrophic geologic events that have impacted the Pacific Northwest, with implications for the future sustainability of humans living in the region. Active learning strategies and hands-on exploratory exercises provide students with opportunities to analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and apply information to increase both science literacy and critical thinking skills. Two hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory per week.