Environmental Geology

Curriculum guideline

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Course
EAES 2605
Discontinued
No
Course code
EAES 2605
Descriptive
Environmental Geology
Department
Earth & Environmental Sciences
Faculty
Science & Technology
Credits
4.00
Start date
End term
Not Specified
PLAR
No
Semester length
15 weeks
Max class size
35
Course designation
None
Industry designation
None
Contact hours

Lecture: 2 hours/week
Lab: 4 hours/week
Weekend field trips may be required.

Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Lab
Course description
This course explores the interaction between Earth and human activities. Students will investigate how geology is applied to solving environmental problems such as natural hazards, exploitation of resources and global issues of environmental change. Field trips may be required.
Course content

1.Introduction to humans and the environment

  • Population
  • Urbanization
  • Sustainability

2. Terrain analysis

  • Surficial materials
  • Soil classification
  • Glacial geology

3. Natural hazards

  • Flooding
  • Mass movements
  • Earthquakes
  • Volcanoes

4. Environmental resources and risk assessment

  • Risk assessment
  • Water resources
  • Mineral extraction
  • Energy resources
  • Solid waste disposal

5. Global environmental change

  • Climate change
  • Trends in resource usage

6.  Lab and field topics may include

  • Air photo interpretation
  • Terrain and terrain stability mapping
  • Earthquakes
  • Mass movement
  • Volcanic hazard mapping
  • Groundwater contamination
  • Climate change implications
  • Urban geology
Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this course, successful students will be able to:

1. Discuss the drivers of the relationship between humans and their environment.

2. Classify terrain based on physical properties such as surficial materials, expressions and processes.

3. Explain the causes, processes and potential mitigations of various natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods, mass wasting events and volcanoes.

4. Describe how the components of environmental risk and hazard assessment apply to various environmental issues.

5. Discuss how the relationship between humans, their environment and resources will change in the future.

 

Means of assessment

Evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. Evaluation will be based on the following:

Field reports and assignments (none more than 20%) 10-30%

Lab assignments                                                      10-30%

Lab tests                                                                 20-30%

Term tests                                                               15-25%

Final exam                                                               25-30%

Total                                                                        100%

  

 

 

 

 

Textbook materials

Consult the Douglas College Bookstore for the latest required textbooks and materials. Example textbooks and materials may include:

  • Keller, E.A., Environmental Geology, current edition, Prentice Hall
  • Earle, S., Environmental Geology, Pressbooks
Prerequisites

EAES 1120 or GEOG 1120

Which prerequisite

None.