Graduate Programs - Earth System Science
Graduate Course Offerings
Last modified January 11, 2007.
ED5700 Science Education Research - ONLINE
2 credits, Fall Semester
In-depth study of education research methods pertaining to classroom practice,
curriculum standards, and program evaluation. Course will include an
opportunity to design research to answer questions relevant to classroom teaching
and learning.
ED5730 Science Learning Materials, Inquiry, and Assessment -
ONLINE
2 credits, Spring Semester
Examination of learning materials that enable inquiry-based learning as prescribed
by National Science Education Standards. Assessment techniques to measure
this type of learning will be considered.
ED5740 Connecting Michigan Science Benchmarks and Research -
ONLINE
2 credits, Fall Semester
Current research and classroom practice will be examined using the Michigan
Mathematics and Science Benchmarks. The objective is to further understanding
of how goals can promote higher levels of learning.
ENG5300
Engineering Applications in the Earth Sciences
4 credits
Students will complete hands-on explorations in engineering disciplines related
to the earth sciences (Geological, Mining, Mineral Processing, Environmental,
Aerospace, and Civil Engineering disciplines). Students will explore
how math and science are applied in these disciplines and will work on projects
suitable for inclusion in their pre-college classes. Review of math and
science principles will be included as necessary to complete the course material. Sessions
will also be conducted on the state and national science and math education
standards as they apply to the earth sciences. During the fall semester
after participation in the summer course, students will be required to write
a paper demonstrating how they have implemented what they have learned in their
pre-college classrooms. Prerequisite: ENG5100.
July 9-13, 2007 - the first half of this
course will be offered as ENG5301 "Engineering for Earth Science Education" (2 credits).
June 25-29, 2007 - the second half of this course will be
offered as ENG5302 "Engineering in Earth Science" (2 credits).
GE 5020 Earth System Science I - ONLINE
4 credits
This course includes basic geologic content traditionally covered in university- level physical geology and historical geology. ESS I approaches the necessary content by stepping through geologic time from the present into the past. The course takes a place-based approach, using the geologic record of Michigan. Layers of rock in Michigan and surrounding areas contain physical evidence of Earth system processes that operated in the past. The course works backward in time by moving down through the layers of rock in the Michigan basin and nearby regions. Much of the rock record in Michigan is sedimentary in origin and contains a record of changes in paleogeography and life through time. The course covers the origin of the sedimentary rocks in the basin, how scientists know the origin of the rocks, and why certain nearby areas (e.g., the Appalachians) were elevated and acted as source areas for sediments at particular times. Gaps in the geologic record (unconformities and hiatuses) are addressed in terms of their Earth system significance (including climate and sea level changes).
GE 5030 Earth System Science II - ONLINE
4 credits
ESS II focuses on material traditionally covered in courses on astronomy, meteorology, and oceanography. ESS II addresses content from these fields by focusing on the Earth’s climate system. Earth’s climate depends on astronomical, meteorological, and oceanographic processes. The course investigates long- and short-term climate change, as well as the data that are used by scientists to document past climate change. A variety of data sources will be used by teachers during the course, including ice core data from the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, deep sea drilling data, meteorological measurements from sites such as Mauna Loa, and astronomical parameters available from the U.S. Naval Observatory and other sources. The Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences at MTU is part of MTU’s Remote Sensing Institute, and a great deal of expertise is available in the department related to the use of GIS and satellite data in synoptic evaluation of the Earth’s climate system. Through the use of large real-time, near real-time, and long-term datasets, teachers taking the course will become familiar with the techniques and tools that practicing geoscientists use to study Earth’s climate.
SS5150 Natural Hazards and Human Impacts
3 credits
This course includes content typically found in courses on Natural Hazards and Social Science (which are both required in the undergraduate pre- service program at MTU). The HI course emphasizes the impact of Earth system processes on societies, and human impacts on local, regional, and global Earth processes. The course uses a combination of field, laboratory, and classroom-based activities to compare modern events and their human impacts with the geologic record of the same types of events. MTU is located in and adjacent to the 1.1 Ga mid-continent rift system and Paleozoic to Recent rocks surround the rift. Rock exposures are widely present in the MTU area because the region had much of its post-Paleozoic cover removed during the last glaciation. Glacial deposits are common in the region and provide excellent evidence of the effects of long-term global climate change. The course also emphasizes the use of field-based activities as a means of insuring deep learning. Integrating pedagogical approaches with scientific and social scientific content knowledge will enhance the utility of the course for in-service teachers.
GE5130 Geology of Utah’s National Parks
4 credits
A two-week, field-based course taught in Utah’s National Parks. Course requires a project and special assignments. Participants conduct research to identify the Earth system processes (tectonics, sea level change, climate change, etc.) responsible for development of landforms in and around Utah’s National Parks.
GE5999 Graduate Research
2 credits
Research of an acceptable geological engineering, mining engineering, geology, or geophysics problem and preparation of a report.
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