Examines Earth's internal composition and structure, its internal and surficial processes. Major topics: rocks, minerals, weathering, mass movements, erosion, deserts, coasts, ground water, plate tectonics, volcanoes, earthquakes, mountain building, and geologic resources and hazards. Laboratory work includes identification of rocks, minerals, and landforms, interpretation of topographic maps and cross-sections, stereograms, photographs, and satellite images.

Prerequisite: None

Offers a comprehensive one-term study of the Earth?s physical properties and processes. Major topics are rocks and minerals, weathering, erosion, deserts, coasts, ground water, plate tectonics, volcanoes, earthquakes, mountain building, and geologic hazards. Laboratory work, to be completed at home, includes identification of minerals and rocks and map interpretation. This telecourse is recommended only for the strongly self-motivated student. It is not intended for geology majors.

Prerequisite: None

Examines the physical and biological evolution of Earth as determined from evidence preserved in rocks. Major topics include plate tectonics, evolution, biogeography, geologic time, and climate change. Laboraory includes identification of rocks and fossils, determination of relative and absolute ages, and interpretation of past environments. A field trip may be required.

Prerequisite: None

Primarily explores the geology in the Columbia River Gorge between The Dalles, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington. Provides students with the opportunity to observe, and make hypotheses about, the processes that shape our planet and that affect humans, salmon, and other organisms.

Prerequisites: None

Explores the rocks, plate tectonics and other geologic features, and evolution of the Pacific Northwest, including the Cascades, Columbia Plateau, Olympic Mountains, and Yellowstone. Laboratory includes rock identification, interpretation of topographic and geologic maps of the Northwest. Field trips may be required. (Formerly known as GEOL 170).

Prerequisite: None.