EAR104 Earth Sciences Laboratory (Fall, Spring)

Through practical exercises over seven lab sessions and four field trips, students will gain direct, hands-on experience in relation to the material taught in EAR105. Students will learn:

  • How plates move and shape continents and ocean basins,
  • To identify rocks and minerals,
  • To read topogaphic maps,
  • How ocean currents move water throughout the oceans, and
  • How species become extinct.

Students will analyze the impact of overuse of resources such as minerals, how mountains are built, how species evolve, and the main problems the Earth is facing at present. 

By the end of the semester, students should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate how to theoretically date minerals and rocks.
  2. Explain how mountains are built and what forces are involved.
  3. Calculate the speed of ocean currents and which direction they take.
  4. Understand the influence of their surroundings on how species evolve.
  5. Analyze the major trends and events in the evolution of life, including mass extinctions, and other global issues such as climate change. 

Matriculated Syracuse students:  Together with EAR105, this course meets the natural science laboratory requirement. You may not receive credit for both EAR 104 and EAR 110.

Corequisite: EAR105 (3 credits)

Department: Earth Science

Location: Madrid

Semesters: Fall, Spring

Credits: 1