Introduces the regional geology of the Pacific Northwest with emphasis on Oregon geology. Includes basic geologic principles, earth materials and geology of Pacific Northwest provinces.
Geology of the Pacific Northwest (G207) is a one-term introductory course in geology. The purpose of this course is to acquaint the student with basic geologic principles and the general geology of the Pacific Northwest. The emphasis is on the geology of Oregon and Washington. This course can be used to partly fulfill graduation requirements for the Associate Degree, and has been approved for block transfer. The text and materials have been chosen by the faculty and the emphasis of the course will be the viewpoint of the author(s). This includes the geologic time scale and the evolution of the Earth.
Upon completion of the course students should be able to:
- Use an understanding of earth materials and landforms to infer the surficial and internal processes which formed the landscape and underlying geology of the physiographic provinces of the Pacific Northwest.
- Use an understanding of plate tectonics and surficial processes to unravel the sequence of geologic events which have acted over time to create the physiographic provinces of the Pacific Northwest from diverse geologic terranes.
- Access earth science information about the Pacific Northwest from a variety of sources, evaluate the quality of this information, and compare this information with current models of the formation and development of the physiographic provinces of the Pacific Northwest, identifying areas of congruence and discrepancy.
- Make field and laboratory based observations and measurements of earth materials and landforms, use scientific reasoning to interpret these observations and measurements, and compare the results with current models of geological processes affecting the Pacific Northwest, identifying areas of congruence and discrepancy.
- Use scientifically valid modes of inquiry, individually and collaboratively, to critically evaluate the hazards and risks posed by the geological processes which are still shaping the Pacific Northwest both to themselves and society as a whole, evaluate the efficacy of possible ethically robust responses to these risks, and effectively communicate the results of this analysis to their peers.
- Assess the contributions of physical and historical geology to our evolving understanding of global change and sustainability while placing the development of the geology of the Pacific Northwest in its historical and cultural context.
Equivalent placement test scores also accepted. MTH 58 or MTH 65 accepted.
Recommendation: Prior geology experience.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Science, Math, Computer Science/AAOT, Science, Math, Computer Science/AS, Science, Math, Computer Science/AAS, Science, Math, Computer Science/AGS.
Evolution Statement
Regarding the teaching of basic scientific principles (such as geologic time and the theory of evolution), Oregon Coast Community College affirms the following statements about what is constitutes science.
- Science is a non-dogmatic and self-correcting investigatory process. A scientific theory is neither a guess, dogma, nor myth. Instead, theories are explanations for natural phenomena based on a preponderance of evidence. Theories developed through scientific investigation are not decided in advance, but can be and often are revised through observation and experimentation.
- The theory of evolution meets the criteria of a scientific theory. In contrast, “creation science,” “intelligent design,” or similar designations are neither self-examining nor investigatory. “Creation science” is not considered a legitimate science, but a form of religious advocacy and pseudoscience. This position is established by legal precedence (Webster v. New Lenox School District #122, 917 F.2d 1004).
- Geology/General Science instructors at Oregon Coast Community College will teach the basic geologic principles (such as geologic time and the theory of evolution) not as absolute truth, but as the most widely accepted explanation for our observations of the world around us. Instructors will not teach that “creation science” is anything other than pseudoscience.
- Because "creation science", "scientific creationism", "intelligent design", and similar designations are essentially religious doctrines that are at odds with open scientific inquiry, Oregon Coast Community College stands with such organizations such as the National Association of Geoscience Teachers, the American Geophysical Union, the Geological Society of America, and the American Geological Institute in excluding these doctrines from our science curriculum.