2013-2014 CATALOG

This is an archived copy of the 2013-2014 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.miracosta.edu

Geology

Geology is the scientific study of the origin, history, and structure of the earth. Students take courses to prepare for a major in geology and to fulfill general education requirements. With a bachelor's degree, students find career options within private corporations (such as petroleum, mining, engineering, hydrology, and environmental consulting companies), government agencies (such as the U.S. Geological Survey, the California Department of Conservation, and regional planning offices), and education.

Contact Information

Department Chair: Chris Metzler

Dean: Carlos Lopez

www.miracosta.edu/GEOL

Department: Physical Sciences

Office: Building OC3600, 760.795.6844

Full-Time Faculty

Keith Meldahl
Chris Metzler
John Turbeville

How to Read Course Descriptions

Courses listed in this catalog apply to the fall 2013, spring 2014, and summer 2014 terms. Courses are numbered numerically within alphabetically arranged subject areas.

The bolded first line begins with a capitalized abbreviation that designates the subject area. This subject-area designator is followed by the official course number and a descriptive title. The next lines indicate the course's unit value; prerequisites, corequisites, advisories, and limitations on enrollment if they exist; CSU/UC credit acceptance; and lecture and lab hours followed by a Taxonomy of Program number in parentheses.

Prerequisites: This is a requirement that must be met before a student can enroll in the course.
Corequisites: This is a course the student must take in the same semester.
Advisories: This is recommended preparation the student is advised but not required to have before or in conjunction with the course.
Enrollment Limitations: Some courses place restrictions on enrollment. Most of these restrictions prevent students from duplicating course work. Others specify something the student must do prior to enrolling in a course, such as audition or obtain special approval. Some enrollment limitations restrict the number of units a student can earn within a group of similar courses.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU means the course is accepted for transfer at any California State University (CSU) campus; UC means it is accepted for transfer at any University of California (UC) campus. Some courses can be used to satisfy general education or major requirements while others transfer as elective credit. UC Credit Limitation means credit for the course may have UC transfer restrictions; these restrictions are identified at the end of the course description.
Lecture and Lab Hours: These are the number of hours the course meets for lecture and/or lab per week.
Taxonomy of Program (TOP) Number: The TOP number is identified in parentheses after the lecture and lab hours. This number serves an administrative purpose and is not intended for student use.

The course description summarizes the purpose and key topical areas of the course, and it includes special requirements if any exist. Some course descriptions end with information about whether the course was "formerly" another course, how many times the course may be repeated, if the course is offered pass/no pass, or what the UC credit limitation is.

Some course descriptions are followed by a C-ID number. The purpose of C-ID numbers is to identify comparable courses within the California community college system. When a course has a C-ID number, students can be assured the course will be accepted in lieu of a course bearing the same C-ID designation at another community college.

How to Read Course Descriptions

Courses

GEOL 101: Physical Geology

Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with credit in GEOL 101H.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours. (1914.00)

Physical geology introduces the processes at work changing the earth today. Within the context of global tectonics, it explores the origins of rocks and minerals and the dynamics of processes such as igneous activity, seismicity, and crustal deformation driven by the release of earth's internal heat. It also examines how air, water, and ice move in response to gravity and energy from the sun, sculpting earth's surface by eroding, transporting, and depositing weathered rock materials.

GEOL 101H: Physical Geology (Honors)

Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with credit in GEOL 101.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC Credit limitation
Lecture 3 hours. (1914.00)

This course introduces the processes at work changing the earth today. Within the context of global tectonics, it explores the origins of rocks and minerals and the dynamics of processes such as igneous activity, seismicity, and crustal deformation driven by the release of earth's internal heat. It also examines how air, water, and ice move in response to gravity and energy from the sun, sculpting earth's surface by eroding, transporting, and depositing weathered rock materials. This honors course offers highly motivated students the opportunity to complete, document, and discuss independent scientific research. UC CREDIT LIMITATION: Credit for GEOL 101 or GEOL 101H.

GEOL 101L: Physical Geology Laboratory

Units: 1
Prerequisites: GEOL 101 or GEOL 101H
Corequisite: GEOL 101 or GEOL 101H if prerequisite not met.
Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with credit in GEOL 101LH.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Laboratory 3 hours. (1914.00)

GEOL 101LH: Physical Geology Laboratory (Honors)

Units: 1
Prerequisites: GEOL 101 or GEOL 101H
Corequisite: GEOL 101 or GEOL 101H if prerequisite not met.
Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with credit in GEOL 101L.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC Credit limitation
Laboratory 3 hours. (1914.00)

This course, which is intended to accompany GEOL 101/GEOL 101H, provides hands-on experience in identifying mineral samples, rock samples, and fossils, interpreting geologic and topographic data from various maps, and analyzing geologic exposures. This honors course offers highly motivated students the opportunity to complete and present independent scientific research and its application to geologic problems in the field. Students perform field observations at specific geologic points of interest off campus. UC CREDIT LIMITATION: Credit for GEOL 101L or GEOL 101LH.

GEOL 120: Environmental Geology: Earth Hazards and Humanity

Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours. (1914.00)

This course explores the interaction of humans with the geologic environment. Topics include earth processes that produce geologic hazards (flooding, earthquakes, landslides, volcanoes, coastal hazards); formation, distribution, and exploitation of geologic resources (soils, surface water, groundwater, fossil fuels, and ore deposits); and human effects on the earth environment (global warming, ozone depletion, hazardous waste disposal, landfills, river dams, and land subsidence).

GEOL 292: Internship Studies

Units: 0.5-3
Prerequisites: None
Corequisite: Complete 75 hrs paid or 60 hrs non-paid work per unit.
Enrollment Limitation: Instructor, dept chair, and Career Center approval. May not enroll in any combination of cooperative work experience and/or internship studies concurrently.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU

This course provides students the opportunity to apply the theories and techniques of their discipline in an internship position in a professional setting under the instruction of a faculty-mentor and site supervisor. It introduces students to aspects of the roles and responsibilities of professionals employed in the field of study. Topics include goal-setting, employability skills development, and examination of the world of work as it relates to the student's career plans. Students must develop new learning objectives and/or intern at a new site upon each repetition. Students may not earn more than 16 units in any combination of cooperative work experience (general or occupational) and/or internship studies during community college attendance.

GEOL 298: Directed Study in Geology

Units: 1-3
Prerequisites: None
Enrollment Limitation: Instructor and department chair approval and successful completion of 12 units of college work with at least a 3.0 grade-point average.
Repeatability Rule: May be taken for a total of 3 units.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Laboratory 3 hours
Laboratory 6 hours
Laboratory 9 hours. (1914.00)

This course allows students to pursue a special area of interest in order to achieve specific goals beyond the scope of existing courses within the discipline. Students work independently and interact directly with an instructor on an individual basis and as prescribed by the Directed Study Agreement.