About the Course
233 Miller Hall - phone 6531
Evolution of the Earth (a.k.a. historical geology) is a second semester course designed for majors in the Department of Geology and Environmental Science taught by Lynn S. Fichter at James Madison University. Geology 110: Physical Geology (or another introductory course in geology) is a prerequisite to this class and assumes that all whole enroll in Geology 230 have had a broad introduction to the basics of geology. There have been exceptions to the prerequisite in the past and anyone interested in taking the class should talk with the professor. Taking the class without a physical geology course usually requires extra work, but it has been done - successfully.
To a large extent this class does not repeat the knowledge taught in physical geology but rather expands on it and as well introduces new subjects more appropriate to historical geology. For many of these new subjects a physical geology background is useful, but not essential since the new ideas are developed in detail. In other cases a physical geology background will only be the beginning for a more technical and detailed study.
I love teaching this subject and am willing to work with anyone who wants to take the course. Questions during class are encouraged and expected. If a question requires a more extended answer I will work with people outside of class.
The lecture part of the course is divided into three sections, each with a study guide and test. The final exam is the third test. It is not comprehensive.
The lab part of the course includes the study of rocks - including igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic, but concentrating on the sedimentary, fossil identification, and the skills needed to interpret geologic history, such as reading facies maps, isopach maps, strip logs, correlation, etc. The final project synthesizes all the knowledge into the interpretation of a depositional basin.
Return to GenSci 230: Evolution of the Earth home page