Carroll Community College

GEOSC-100, Earth and Space Science

Credits: 4

General Education Course

Course Description

Earth and Space Science is a one-term course designed for the non-science major and is especially well-suited for students intending to teach at the elementary and middle school level. In addition to concepts of science in general, this course will cover the major concepts of earth science and astronomy, such as the theories of continental drift/plate tectonics and the origin of the universe. Other topics include a comparison of features of the earth and other planets. Content is based on topics recommended by the National Science Education Content Standards and those of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. Prerequisite: exemption/completion of READ-101 and MAT-097 with C grades or better. Three hours lecture, two hours laboratory each week. Four credits. Four billable hours.   GENERAL EDUCATION

Course Objectives and Grading Information

Course Objectives:

1. Students will distinguish among facts, observations, hypotheses, theories, and laws in scientific studies and paradigms.

2. Students will explain how plate tectonics an example of a paradigm in geosciences.

3. Students will relate oceanic and continental landforms to tectonic and gradational processes.

4. Students will compare and contrast ideas of influential scientists, such as Ptolemy, Copernicus, and Kepler, as their ideas related to the movement of bodies in the Solar System.

5. Students will analyze weather variables (temperature, moisture content, pressure, and wind) from reliable data sources on the web as well as weather maps to interpret current and future weather conditions.

6. In laboratory, students will collect and interpret data, such as tidal variations, Sunrise and set, Moonrise and set, and earthquakes to graph results and make valid conclusions.

7. Students will achieve greater scientific literacy through the selection and reading of scientific articles relating to course content.