May 05, 2024  
2019-2021 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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2019-2021 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Course Descriptions

Course descriptions are organized in alphabetical order by subject. Information on courses can be found under appropriate headings in the below sequence.

Dual-Level (400) Courses

Some courses numbered 400 to 499 are open to graduate students and undergraduate students who meet course or program prerequisites. Credits will apply at either the undergraduate or graduate level but not at both. Each student should consult his/her advisor, program director, and/or dean concerning the policy and the appropriateness of the course prior to enrolling in any 400-level courses.
 

Earth Science
  

  • ESS 108 - Introduction to Environmental Sustainability Credits: 3

    Analyzes humanity’s relationship to the natural environment and its resources.  Attention is given to both current utilization and predicted future availability of natural resources.  Specific topics may include population demographics, agriculture, mineral and energy resources, climate change, ecology, and water resources.  Along with understanding the underlying science, all topics are examined using the perspective of current economic, social, and political conditions. 

    Category: Citizenship & Responsibility - S
  

  • ESS 110 - Introduction to Geology Credits: 3

    Examines and analyzes the geological processes and elements involved in the mobile earth, with emphasis on earth materials, external and internal processes, and earth history. Attention given to human interaction with the geological environment. Topographic maps, fossils, minerals and rocks are used to enhance understanding and student involvement. Lab/lecture.

    Category: Natural World & Technology - N
  

  • ESS 111 - Introduction to the Atmosphere Credits: 3

    Examines and analyzes the interrelated processes and elements of our atmospheric environment, including air-sea interactions, which produce our patterns of weather and climate. Attention given to interaction of the environmental elements and people with emphasis on areas of pollution, atmospheric modification, political and legal aspects, and economic implications of the atmospheric environment. Maps, space and aerial photographs, and instruments are used to enhance understanding and involvement in environmental problems. Lab/lecture.

    Category: Natural World & Technology - N
  

  • ESS 190 - General Education Special Topics Credits: 3

    Opportunity to offer courses in areas of departmental general education interest not covered by the regular general education courses.

    Category: Cat C - Bio and Phys Sciences
  

  • ESS 191 - General Education Special Topics Credits: 3

    Opportunity to offer courses in areas of departmental general education interest not covered by the regular general education courses.

    Category: Cat C - Bio and Phys Sciences
  

  • ESS 210 - Physical Geology Credits: 3

    Deals with basic principles of mineralogy, petrology, earth structures, and surficial processes. Comprehensive analysis of the Plate Tectonic Theory. Lab/lecture.

    Category: Natural World & Technology - N
  

  • ESS 212 - Historical Geology Credits: 3

    Deals with origin and evolution of the geological and biological earth. Major areas include principles of historical geology, significance of sedimentary rocks, fossil records, and history of the Earth. Lab/lecture.

    Prerequisite(s): ESS 110   or HON 244   or ESS 210  
  

  • ESS 214 - Geology of National Parks Credits: 3

    Presents broad overview and basic geology in limited detail of the North American continent and Hawaii, particularly as represented by the National Parks. Classroom discussion supplemented by demonstration/laboratory exercises with earth materials, models, maps, and stereo photos.

    Prerequisite(s): ESS 110   or ESS 210   or HON 244  
  

  • ESS 220 - Oceanography Credits: 3

    Comprehensive study of the ocean and surroundings. Main topics include origin of the ocean basins; water of the sea; physiography of the sea floor; plate tectonics; marine sediments; chemical properties of the sea; ocean circulation; waves, tides, beach, and shoreline processes; estuaries and life of the ocean.

    Prerequisite(s): ESS 110   or ESS 210   or CHM 103   or CHM 105   or HON 244   or HON 196   or permission of instructor
  

  • ESS 340 - Marine Geology Credits: 3
  

  • ESS 355 - Meteorology Credits: 3

    Deals with atmosphere and stresses those forces which bring about changes within it. Insolation, temperature, precipitation, humidity, winds, storms, and cloudiness are the chief topics studied. Origin and development of cyclones and their significance in weather forecasting play an important interpretative part of this course. Two hours lecture and two hours lab/week.
  

  • ESS 393 - Selected Topics in Earth Science Credits: 1-3

    Opportunity to offer courses in areas of departmental major interest not covered by the regular courses.
  

  • ESS 397 - Introduction to Research Credits: 3

    Opportunity to do research under the guidance of selected faculty members.
  

  • ESS 399 - Independent Study in Earth Science Credits: 3

    Independent study affords students the opportunity to engage in independent study related to their major field, a supporting area, or specialized interest.
  

  • ESS 404 - Applied Meteorology and Climatology Credits: 3

    Intensive study of interaction between various atmospheric parameters and the natural or human-modified surfaces of the earth centered on the applied nature of the atmosphere including discussion of urban, human, agricultural, architectural, and commercial aspects of society. Computer simulations and mapping are utilized to enhance understanding. Each student carries out a field study on a particular problem of atmospheric interest.

    Prerequisite(s): ESS 111   or ESS 355  
    Graduate Credit: This course is available for graduate credit.
  

  • ESS 410 - Sedimentary Geology and Paleoenvironments Credits: 3

    Sedimentary Geology involves the study of physical, chemical, and biologic processes that result in the formation, transportation and deposition of soils, sediments, fossils, and sedimentary rocks. These earth materials accumulate in a range of terrestrial, marginal-marine and marine depositional environments that experience processes that are often characteristic and unique to those environments. This course will engage students in an exploration of various earth materials (soils, sediments, and sedimentary rocks), sedimentary structures, and fossils, and the chemical, physical, and biologic processes that impact their formation. Students will also explore how soils, sediments, fossils, and sedimentary rocks record spatial and temporal changes in plate tectonics, earth system processes, and environments. An important focus will be on how geoscientists reconstruct ancient environments using earth materials and how they generate scientific models to help test short-term and long-term changes in the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and lithosphere through time. The course will entail lectures, local and regional field trips that make occur on the weekend, as well as laboratory assignments that are designed to provide students with substantial hands-on, field experience.

    Prerequisite(s): (ESS 110   or ESS 210   )
    Graduate Credit: This course is available for graduate credit.
  

  • ESS 413 - Mineral and Rock Resources Credits: 3

    Deals with metallic ore deposits such as iron, ferroalloys and nonferrous metals, mineral fuels, and other selected minerals of economic significance. Emphasis on geologic occurrence and mode of origin, geographical distribution, and importance to humans.

    Prerequisite(s): ESS 110   or ESS 210   or HON 244  
    Graduate Credit: This course is available for graduate credit.
  

  • ESS 442 - Environmental Geology Credits: 3

    Deals with relationships between man and the geological habitat. Concerned with problems people have in using the earth and the reaction of the earth to that use in both a rural and urban setting. Stress placed on developing problem-solving skills in collecting, recording, and interpreting data through field investigations and simulation techniques.

    Prerequisite(s): (ESS 110   or HON 244   or ESS 210   )
    Graduate Credit: This course is available for graduate credit.
  

  • ESS 451 - Coastal Environmental Oceanography Credits: 3

    This field-intensive course examines the interaction of biological, chemical, physical, geological, and ecological ocean processes as applied to coastal environments. A significant emphasis is focused on describing and documenting coastal environments, their biotas, their environmental tolerances and ranges. Emphasis is also placed on environmental management issues of the coastal zone. Topics include water quality analysis, barrier island geology and ecology, estuarine pollution, beach defense and biological implications in areas of coastal upwelling and coastal fronts. Specific cases in coastal pollution, human impacts on coastal landforms, shoreline erosion, wetland loss, sea-level fluctuations, nutrients in estuaries, and climate change will be examined from coastal environments around the U.S. Lecture, field trips, and laboratory exercises are designed to provide students with hands-on experience with field and laboratory equipment used to solve real-world problems in diverse coastal settings. The course is field-based and taught out of the Marine Science Consortium, Wallops Island, Virginia. The course may also include a travel component to the Florida Keys Marine Lab or similar research facility for additional field experience.

    Prerequisite(s): ESS 220   or permission of instructor
    Graduate Credit: This course is available for graduate credit.
  

  • ESS 475 - Problems in the Marine Science Environment Credits: 3

    Graduate Credit: This course is available for graduate credit.
  

  • ESS 490 - Selected Topics in Earth Science Credits: 1-3

    Opportunity to offer courses in areas of departmental major interest not covered by the regular courses.

    Graduate Credit: This course is available for graduate credit.
  

  • ESS 491 - Selected Topics in Earth Science Credits: 3

    Opportunity to offer courses in areas of departmental major interest not covered by the regular courses.

    Graduate Credit: This course is available for graduate credit.
  

  • ESS 492 - Selected Topics in Earth Science Credits: 3

    Opportunity to offer courses in areas of departmental major interest not covered by the regular courses.

    Graduate Credit: This course is available for graduate credit.
  

  • ESS 493 - Selected Topics in Earth Science Credits: 3

    Opportunity to offer courses in areas of departmental major interest not covered by the regular courses.

    Graduate Credit: This course is available for graduate credit.
  

  • ESS 494 - Selected Topics in Earth Science Credits: 3

    Opportunity to offer courses in areas of departmental major interest not covered by the regular courses.

    Graduate Credit: This course is available for graduate credit.