ESS 191 - Geology of the Southwest US National Parks

2-3 hours
This course is a 2‐week field course, introducing students to the geology and geography of the south west United States. The course emphasizes visiting many National Parks, totaling 10‐12, where the geology, geography, and flora & fauna of the region are highly visible, well preserved, and educational opportunities are emphasized. The course will traverse through various belts of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and numerous sites in the Colorado Plateau of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. As a field course, students learn by immersion and place‐based pedagogical strategies. Fundamentals of Earth processes are an integral part of this course, as students learn: to identify glacial, desert, river, volcanic, structural, and canyon surface features; to identify basic igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks; the geologic history of this region. In addition, students learn fundamentals of the regional environment, including: how people interact with the natural resources and natural hazards present; how people, flora, & fauna adapt to the regional climate zones; and about the history, purpose, and operations of many sites within the National Park Service. UG