Town Branch, Illinois

In this class, students learn about the impact of the Earth on human communities and about the impact of human communities on the Earth.  Students learn some tools and techniques of geologists including how  to identify rocks and minerals, interpret topographic maps, and use aerial photographs.

Topics covered include rocks and minerals, plate tectonics, natural earth hazards, water resources, and human waste disposal and pollution.  Students will study volcanoes, earthquakes, flooding, mass wasting, groundwater processes,  waste disposal and other issues of human sustainability.

There are classroom and homework experiences associated with this class to give students hands-on experience with minerals, rocks, map techniques, and other geologic tools.

Textbook:  Environmental Geology, 7th edition  by C.W. Montgomery

 Syllabus