THE
FACULTY
SENATE
Senate
Document Number 2209S
Date
of Senate Approval 01/22/09
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Statement
of Faculty Senate Action:
APC Document 10: Add
new course, ENVR 106, Earth History;
Add
new course, ENVR 310, Economic Geology
Effective
Date: Fall 2009
1. Add: On page
141, new course, ENVR 106, Earth History
106 Earth
History (3)
Introduction to the
development of Earth as preserved in the rock record. Includes geologic time,
stratigraphy, major mountain building events, and evolution of life forms. Even
years Fall.
Impact:
Minimal. This course will be part of the teaching
responsibility of current (now in second year) faculty. Other faculty can also
teach it if needed.
Rationale:
The Earth History course will allow for expanded
coverage of historical geology, radiometric dating methods, and stratigraphy,
which previously had been covered in abbreviated form in ENVR 105, Physical
Geology. Having two separate general geology courses will provide time in
Physical Geology for coverage of geomorphologic subjects, such as glaciology
and desert landforms, among other subjects, which are covered in normal general
geology sequences.
2. Add: On page
141, new course, ENVR 310, Economic Geology:
310 Economic
Geology (3)
Study of economic mineral deposits with emphasis on
representative types, formation, and methods and environmental effects of extraction.
Will include field trips. Prerequisite: ENVR 105. Odd years Fall.
Impact:
Minimal. The content of the course has been taught as
a major part of Environmental Geology (ENVR 382), which will be dropped from
four credits to three credits. Contact hours for teaching Environmental Geology
(ENVR 282) and Economic Geology (ENVR 310) versus teaching the previous
Environmental Geology (ENVR 382) will remain the same (total of six), while
credit hours for students will increase to six compared to four, as in the
current incarnation of the concentration. Lab experiences will be accomplished
through mini-labs and one all-day field trip.
Rationale:
Along with the change to make Environmental Geology
more accessible to all Environmental Studies majors as part of the
Environmental Studies core courses, we also wanted to maintain this more
focused course for the Earth Science concentration. Offering of courses on
mineral resources and their stewardship in American universities waned in the
past few decades as metal mining activities for all but gold in the