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Current Courses Taught at USC Aiken:
GEOL A405 - Global Biogeochemical Cycles: An upper level elective course for biology and geology students. Students explore how the elements crucial to life on Earth (C, N, P, S, and some metals) cycle through the different spheres (atmo-, bio-, litho-, hydro-) and systems of the Earth, with focus on the key processes and players, as well as the ways in which anthropogenic activities have modified the natural cycling of these elements. Three lecture and three laboratory hours per week; required field trips. Typical class size: 15 students.
GEOL A301 - Oceanography: This course is designed to present an integrated overview of the geology, chemistry, physics, biology, of the world’s oceans. Students will explore the evolution and structure of the ocean basins, the physical and chemical properties of the ocean and its role in major global cycles (water, carbon, climate), major marine communities from estuarine environments to the deep sea, and societal interaction with the ocean and its resources, from mineral to organic. Topics of current interest, including the climate crisis, coral bleaching, deep sea exploration and mining, exploitation of endangered species, and coastal development are presented throughout the course.Three lecture and three laboratory hours per week, with required field trips. Typical class size: 15 students.
GEOL A103 - Environmental Earth Science: An introductory course for majors, this course explores the processes, characteristics, and interactions of the Earth systems (atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, anthroposphere), and their interplay with human society. This exploration involves an introduction into basic geological processes (plate tectonics and the rock cycle), hydrology (surface and groundwater, the oceans and cryosphere), atmosphere (components of the atmosphere, weather and climate), and the biosphere (soils, microbes, and people!). As students gain an understanding of our Earth’s systems, they consider societal impacts on the natural world and the role we can play in shaping our planet’s future. Three lecture and three laboratory hours per week, with required field trips. Typical class size: 24 students
GEOL A101 – Introduction to Physical Geology: An introductory course for majors, Physical Geology provides students with the opportunity to explore the solid and liquid matter that forms the earth, the geological processes that shape the earth, and the approach of studying the earth as a system and is the foundation for further study in the geoscience. Students also use chemistry, physics, and math to understand earth processes and concepts. Students learn to explore questions about the world via the scientific method, and how to think critically and problem solve in and outside of the classroom. Labs include a minimum of three field trips and at least two labs that utilize recent/current data from online databases (regional when available). Typical class size: 24 students
Classes taught at University of South Carolina have included:
MSCI 313 - Chemistry of the Sea: This required course for majors covers the following topics in chemical oceanography: biogeochemical cycling, carbonate chemistry, climate change, hydrothermal vents, stable isotopes, trace metals, radioactive tracers, mass balance, and properties of sea water. Three lecture and three laboratory hours per week. During lab sections, students build a microcosm, for which they measure changes in various physical and chemical properties throughout the semester. Typical class size 55-65 students.
MSCI 210- Oceans and Society: This intro class for non-majors provides students with an opportunity to explore the world of oceanography from the perspective of both a scientist (and a citizen). The course briefly touches upon a number of topics in earth and ocean science including the origins of the universe, solar system, and our planet; plate tectonics (seismic hazards); atmospheric and oceanic circulation (storms); waves and tides (tsunamis); the coast (development; pollution); marine life, ecology, and ecosystems (exploitation of marine biological resources); and human impacts and climate change. Lectures are supported by a day trip to the Charleston area for coastal and marine biology activities.
GEOL A405 - Global Biogeochemical Cycles: An upper level elective course for biology and geology students. Students explore how the elements crucial to life on Earth (C, N, P, S, and some metals) cycle through the different spheres (atmo-, bio-, litho-, hydro-) and systems of the Earth, with focus on the key processes and players, as well as the ways in which anthropogenic activities have modified the natural cycling of these elements. Three lecture and three laboratory hours per week; required field trips. Typical class size: 15 students.
GEOL A301 - Oceanography: This course is designed to present an integrated overview of the geology, chemistry, physics, biology, of the world’s oceans. Students will explore the evolution and structure of the ocean basins, the physical and chemical properties of the ocean and its role in major global cycles (water, carbon, climate), major marine communities from estuarine environments to the deep sea, and societal interaction with the ocean and its resources, from mineral to organic. Topics of current interest, including the climate crisis, coral bleaching, deep sea exploration and mining, exploitation of endangered species, and coastal development are presented throughout the course.Three lecture and three laboratory hours per week, with required field trips. Typical class size: 15 students.
GEOL A103 - Environmental Earth Science: An introductory course for majors, this course explores the processes, characteristics, and interactions of the Earth systems (atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, anthroposphere), and their interplay with human society. This exploration involves an introduction into basic geological processes (plate tectonics and the rock cycle), hydrology (surface and groundwater, the oceans and cryosphere), atmosphere (components of the atmosphere, weather and climate), and the biosphere (soils, microbes, and people!). As students gain an understanding of our Earth’s systems, they consider societal impacts on the natural world and the role we can play in shaping our planet’s future. Three lecture and three laboratory hours per week, with required field trips. Typical class size: 24 students
GEOL A101 – Introduction to Physical Geology: An introductory course for majors, Physical Geology provides students with the opportunity to explore the solid and liquid matter that forms the earth, the geological processes that shape the earth, and the approach of studying the earth as a system and is the foundation for further study in the geoscience. Students also use chemistry, physics, and math to understand earth processes and concepts. Students learn to explore questions about the world via the scientific method, and how to think critically and problem solve in and outside of the classroom. Labs include a minimum of three field trips and at least two labs that utilize recent/current data from online databases (regional when available). Typical class size: 24 students
Classes taught at University of South Carolina have included:
MSCI 313 - Chemistry of the Sea: This required course for majors covers the following topics in chemical oceanography: biogeochemical cycling, carbonate chemistry, climate change, hydrothermal vents, stable isotopes, trace metals, radioactive tracers, mass balance, and properties of sea water. Three lecture and three laboratory hours per week. During lab sections, students build a microcosm, for which they measure changes in various physical and chemical properties throughout the semester. Typical class size 55-65 students.
MSCI 210- Oceans and Society: This intro class for non-majors provides students with an opportunity to explore the world of oceanography from the perspective of both a scientist (and a citizen). The course briefly touches upon a number of topics in earth and ocean science including the origins of the universe, solar system, and our planet; plate tectonics (seismic hazards); atmospheric and oceanic circulation (storms); waves and tides (tsunamis); the coast (development; pollution); marine life, ecology, and ecosystems (exploitation of marine biological resources); and human impacts and climate change. Lectures are supported by a day trip to the Charleston area for coastal and marine biology activities.