Geol 100: Physical Geology & Lab
Appreciation for the complexity, timelessness, and awesome nature of the Earth requires a modest foundation in the processes that affect the Earth – the science of geology. Much of the science of geology is directly relevant to our lives.  By the end of this course you will: appreciate the geology and geologic processes that surround you, have a greater understanding of the relationship between human beings and the natural world, and evaluate many of the factors affecting the Earth's past, present, and future. 

Geology 100 is a designated core class, which fullfills one of two Mathematics/Natural Science class requirements for every Mercyhurst student. The class website is accessed through Blackboard. If you're a Mercyhurst student and would like to to learn more about the class, stop by my office (Zurn 9) or send me an email and I'll add your name to the list of students with access.

Class Syllabus (Fall 2006)

Lab Syllabus (Fall 2006)

Geol 215: Geomorphology and Lab Geomorphology is the study landscapes and landforms.  Geomorphology entails the systematic description of landforms, analysis of the processes that form them, and understanding their response to changes in energy or the progression of time. Geomorphology draws upon all fields of geology, such as: structural geology, geophysics, mineralogy, petrology, sedimentation and stratigraphy, hydrology, glacial geology, paleoclimatology, etc., as well as related fields in climatology, biology, physics, chemistry, engineering, and mathematics.

Class Syllabus (Spring 2006)

Geol 245: Sedimentology and Lab The purpose of this course is to provide you the knowledge and skills necessary to describe, understand, and interpret sediments, sedimentary rocks, and sedimentary environments. The history of the earth is to a large degree written in sedimentary rocks, primarily because sedimentary rocks can record the passage of time and environmental change.  The ultimate goal of this course is to give you the ability to make careful observations, and from these interpret and understand modern and ancient sedimentary environments.  Practicing good geology is more about knowing which questions to ask rather than knowing the answers, because the answers are usually simple.  This course will help you to discern which questions to ask. 

Class Syllabus (Fall 2005)

Geol 247: Stratigraphy and Lab Stratigraphy is the follow-up class to Sedimentology (Geo 245).  Sedimentology focuses on sedimentary process and sedimentary environments; stratigraphy focuses on the vertical and lateral relationships between rocks and sediments.  Many concepts fundamental to stratigraphy were introduced in Geol 245 because understanding sedimentary environments necessitates understanding spatial relationships in sediment deposition.  These spatial relationships are presented in the rock record via changes in stratigraphy.   The science of stratigraphy builds on the study of sediments by not only attempting to understand environments of deposition, but also geologic time and change. 

Class Syllabus (Winter 2005-6)

Geol 255: Field Methods At it's heart, geology is a field science. This is a capstone class for all geology majors that ties together the geology program. The class focusus on challenging student projects that develop problem solving skills, provide pratical experience (such as ArcGIS proficiency), and integrate and synthesize past courses.