Processes that shape Earth and affect humans: Earth’s structure, plate tectonics, geologic time and superficial processes. Earth Science encompasses many different phenomena relevant for life on our planet. The ever-increasing demand for commodities and the changing climate makes Earth Science a discipline of considerable societal significance. Understanding geological processes is the basis for defining both the history of the Earth and the sustainable use of the territory and of the Earth’s resources. In addition, minerals and rocks represent the foundation of the technological evolution of our society since the dawn of life.
The course introduces students to the basics of Earth Science focusing primarily on physical geology through an examination of the basic structure and composition of the Earth’s materials and of the processes that drive the internal dynamics of the planet, which are responsible for major geologic phenomena.
Registration restrictions: Enrollment priority to Discovery Florence students.
Notes for matriculated SU Students:
- While this course can count as the first course in an EAR sequence for the natural sciences and mathematics divisional requirement in the Liberal Arts Core, EAR 105 does not fulfill a lab requirement. Students needing laboratory credit are advised to take EAR 104/105 on the main campus.
- Students may not receive credit for both this course and EAR 110 – Dynamic Earth.
This course has an associated course fee. See the Course Fees webpage for more information.
Department: Earth Science
Location: Florence
Semester: Fall
Credits: 3