Course Listings — Spring 2006

Geology 110B - Introductory Geology
(4 credits)
Miller, David

Open to all students, except those who have previously taken Geology 110B-115B, 150B, or 160B.
A math placement score of 22 or above is recommended.
This course provides students with a topical view of Physical Geology and how it relates to the human race. Students will gain an understanding of the nature of scientific inquiry, geological processes, and geological issues. Much of the material we will treat consists of items covered by the media and is intended to give students practical knowledge that they can apply to everyday life and to other disciplines.

A Math Placement score of 22 or above is strongly recommended, as many lab exercises incorporate basic math skills. This course has both lecture and lab periods that each student must attend. The lab manual fee of $5.00 is billed directly. Note the required Saturday field trip to Ohio Caverns and Cedar Bog April 16.


Geology 111B – Volcanoes and Earthquakes
(4 credits)
Bladh, Katherine

Open to all students, except those who have previously taken Geology 110B-115B, 150B, or 160B.
A math placement score of 22 or above is recommended.
Intended for non-science majors. Fulfills General Education requirement for natural science with a lab. This course focuses on the geology of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. A geologic understanding of these hazards, by means of class study of such topics as the products of deadly eruptions and how earth materials respond to earthquake shaking, allows educated citizens to make informed decisions in order to lessen damage and loss of life caused by these hazards. $15.00 will be added to tuition bill to pay for class books. This amount covers the textbook and lab manual (no other book is required). The course has two one-hour lectures and one two-hour lab per week. Attendance at both hours of lab is required.

Geology 112B – The Hydrologic Cycle
(4 credits)
Ritter, John

Open to all students, except those who have previously taken Geology 110B-115B, 150B, or 160B.
A math placement score of 22 or above is recommended.
This course will survey the hydrologic cycle, reservoirs and pathways of water in it, methods geologists use to study it, its role in shaping earth’s landscape, and environmental issues associated with it. The laboratory component of the course will concentrate on methodology, experimentation, and observations used by geologists in attempting to understand the hydrologic cycle and its impact on our earth. A $5.00 charge for the lab manual will be billed directly.

Geology 113B - Ohio Geology
(4 credits)
Zaleha, Michael

Open to all students, except those who have previously taken Geology 110B-115B, 150B, or 160B.
A math placement score of 22 or above is recommended.
This General Education course is intended for the non-science major. The course treats the geologic history of Ohio, from ancient oceans, rivers, and swamps preserved in sedimentary rocks, to massive glaciers that sculpted the landscape. In order to understand the geology of Ohio, many fundamentals of geology, in general, also will be covered. Such topics include the identification and interpretation of igneous and sedimentary rocks, Earth structure and plate tectonics, paleontology and evolution, geologic time, and the use of topographic and geologic maps. However, the course format is flexible to allow for more in-depth exploration of topics that are of most interest to students. Numerous field experiences augment the course. Lab manual fee of $5 is billed directly.

Geology 151 - Physical Geology Lab Practicum
(1 credit)
Zaleha, Michael

Prerequisites: Geology 160 or one course from the Geol 110B-115B Series and permission of the Department Chair. A Math placement score of 22 or above is recommended.
This course is the lab portion of Geology 150. It is available for students who have completed a course in the Geology 110 series (Geol 110-115) and wish to take advanced geology courses or major in Geology or Earth Science. Students who have completed Geology 160 and wish to major in Geology or Earth Science are also required to take this course. Will meet for one 3-hour lab per week.

Geology 160B – Environmental Geology
(5 credits)
Ritter, John

Open to all students, except those who have previously taken Geology 110B-115B, or 150B.
A Math placement score of 22 or above is recommended.
Environmental Geology is intended as an introduction to applied geology for both science and non-science students. The primary objective of the course is to understand human interaction with the physical environment. We will study natural hazards, such as flooding, mass wasting, and coastal erosion, and natural resources, such as groundwater and wetlands. Labs will focus on techniques used by geologists to study natural hazards and problems associated with natural resources and to develop mitigation strategies. Geology 150 counts as an introductory course for the geology major and minor, the environmental studies minor, and the marine science minor.

Geology 260 - Sedimentology
(5 credits)
Zaleha, Michael

Prerequisite: Geology 150B
This course is a process-based approach to the study of sediments and sedimentary rocks. The first part of the course will investigate the physical processes of sediment erosion, transport, and deposition. These principles will then be applied to the study of modern depositional environments and processes as they relate to the interpretation of ancient deposits. Emphasis will be on siliciclastic and carbonate depositional environments and rocks. The course will conclude with brief treatments of stratigraphy, basin analysis, and sedimentological/tectonic/eustatic/ climatic interactions. Labs include flume work, identification of important sedimentary structures, lab and field methods, and field trips.

Geology 291 – Spatial Analysis in the Natural Sciences
(2 credits)
Ritter, John

Prerequisite: A 100-level course in Biology, Environmental Studies, Geology, or Physical Geography
A raster-based approach to problem solving, this course introduces the student to the utility and availability of raster data and the methods for incorporating and analyzing it relative to interdisciplinary problems, particularly in the natural sciences. Students will be encouraged to incorporate available raster data into their course work that will allow them to focus on their major disciplines or areas of interest. For example, students conducting independent studies, preparing research proposals, or working concurrently on projects in other courses will be able to tailor data analysis in GEOL 291 on those projects where appropriate data is available.