2009 - 2010 Catalog (Archived)
Course Descriptions for GEOL

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GEOL 1401   Earth Science (4)
This is a Texas Common Course Number.
Prerequisite: Developmental Reading 0093 or English as a Second Language (ESOL) 0044 or have met the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) standard in Reading.
This course is for the non-science major. It is an introductory survey of physical geology, historical geology, oceanography, meteorology, and astronomy. It relates the interaction of the earth sciences to the physical world. (3 Lec., 3 Lab.)
Coordinating Board Academic Approval Number 4006015103

GEOL 1403   Physical Geology (4)
This is a Texas Common Course Number.
Prerequisite: Developmental Reading 0093 or English as a Second Language (ESOL) 0044 or have met the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) standard in Reading.
This course is for science and non-science majors. It is an integrated study of earth materials and processes and interactions between solid earth, oceans, atmosphere, and biosphere. Included is an introduction to plate tectonic theory, geochemistry, geophysics, hydrology, geomorphology, and the earth's setting in space. (3 Lec., 3 Lab.)
Coordinating Board Academic Approval Number 4006015403

GEOL 1404   Historical Geology (4)
This is a Texas Common Course Number.
Prerequisite: Developmental Reading 0093 or English as a Second Language (ESOL) 0044 or have met the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) standard in Reading.
This course is for non-science and science majors. It is a study of earth materials and processes within a developmental time perspective. Topics include: fossil taxonomy and preservation, stratigraphy, geologic time scale, relative and absolute age dating, geologic maps, plate tectonics, astronomy, events during each major interval of the geologic time scale, glaciation, evolution and energy. The geologic history of North America is emphasized. (3 Lec., 3 Lab.)
Coordinating Board Academic Approval Number 4006015403

GEOL 1445   Oceanography (4)
This is a Texas Common Course Number.
Prerequisite: Developmental Reading 0093 or English as a Second Language (ESOL) 0044 or have met the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) standard in Reading.
This is an introductory study of the geological, chemical, physical and biological characteristics and processes of earth's oceans. Topics include the formation of ocean basins and geologic materials, composition of seawater, currents, waves and tides, oceanic interaction with the atmosphere, marine pollution, marine resources, and life in the ocean. (3 Lec., 3 Lab.)
Coordinating Board Academic Approval Number 4006015103

GEOL 1447   Meteorology (4)
This is a Texas Common Course Number.
Prerequisite: Developmental Reading 0093 or English as a Second Language (ESOL) 0044 or have met the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) standard in Reading.
This course will survey weather phenomena, climate, and the processes that control them. Topics covered include composition and structure of the atmosphere, interaction of the ocean and atmosphere, climate, hazards of severe weather, and methods of forecasting weather. (3 Lec., 3 Lab.)
Coordinating Board Academic Approval Number 4006015103

GEOL 2409   Introduction to Rocks and Mineral Identification (4)
This is a Texas Common Course Number.
Prerequisite: Geology 1403 and 1404.
This course introduces crystallography, geochemistry, descriptive mineralogy, petrology, and phase equilibria. Crystal models and hand specimens are studied as an aid to rock and mineral identification. (3 Lec., 3 Lab.)
Coordinating Board Academic Approval Number 4006015203


Academic Courses
Designated by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for transfer among community colleges and state public four year colleges and universities as freshman and sophomore general education courses.

WECM Courses
Designated by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board as workforce education (technical) courses offered for credit and CEUs (Continuing Education Units). While these courses are designed to transfer among state community colleges, they are not designed to automatically transfer to public four year colleges and universities.