Geological Studies

Program Overview

St Lawrence College's Geological Studies program offers an in-depth exploration of Earth science through online courses. Students gain knowledge of geological phenomena, minerals, rocks, fossils, and environmental concerns. The program provides opportunities to explore related fields like Oceanography, Meteorology, and Astronomy, preparing graduates for careers in mining, paleontology, and science communication.

Program Outline

Outline

The program provides an in-depth exploration of the Earth's science through a series of online courses. They delve into various geological phenomena like volcanoes, earthquakes, landslides, and natural disasters. Additionally, they gain extensive knowledge of minerals, rocks, fossils, and the interplay between environmental concerns and Geology.

Program Structure:

• Part-time online program with flexible course schedules.
• Maximum completion time of five years.
• Self-paced learning with a suggested order of courses.
Covers rocks, minerals, fossils, and related careers.
• Minerals (CSSL 13): Investigates the composition, classification, and identification of minerals.
Introduces the use of descriptive and identifying properties and a mineral 'key'. Examines gemstones, ore minerals, essential minerals, and prominent mineral collecting sites.
• Introduction to Petrology (CSSL 14): Examines various rock categories, their formation processes, identification characteristics, and locations.
• Environmental Geology (CSSL 46): Explores the intricate relationship between Geology and the surrounding environment.
Analyzes geological events like volcanoes, tsunamis, earthquakes, landslides, and avalanches, focusing on their impact on humans and other life. Examines human responses to these hazards and disasters.
• Geological Disasters (CSSL 27): Studies the events, causes, and effects of significant geological natural disasters, including earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, weather-related events, floods, fires, extinctions, and impacts from space.
Provides advice on preparedness and defense against these disasters.

Elective Courses (Choose 2):

• Oceanography (CSSL 19): Examines the oceans from historical, geographical, geological, and biological perspectives.
Covers various topics like ocean history, ocean waters, productivity, seafloor sediments, plankton, nekton, ocean currents, waves, tides, and the Benthos.
• Astronomy (CSSL 47): Explores the celestial objects beyond Earth, including the Moon, Sun, planets, stars, constellations, meteors, and galaxies.
Teaches students how to navigate the night sky and analyze astronomical phenomena.
• Meteorology (CSSL 48): Introduces weather and weather-related phenomena, covering various aspects of Meteorology.
Develops a comprehensive understanding of weather patterns and causes.
• Introduction to Paleontology (CSSL 15): Explores the formation of fossils, their types, and a selection of fossils from each geological time period.

Careers

Graduates may find employment opportunities as assistants in various fields like mining reclamation, rock and mineral museums, flood water analysis, paleontology, field geology, and writing/editing news stories related to Earth Sciences. The program includes 5 required courses and 2 elective courses from a pool of 5 options. Students are advised to register early due to high demand for part-time courses.