Student Learning Outcomes

• Students will be able to design and implement field or laboratory strategies/methods and explain their purpose in addressing the research problem.
• Students will be able to recognize a research problem.
• Students will be able to use a university library to compile a bibliography of essential peer-reviewed literature relevant to the project.
• Students will be able to summarize the essence of 3 to 5 peer-reviewed journal articles relevant to the project.
• Students will be able to analyze data acquired through project activities.
• Students will be able to validate project information in an appropriate mode -- essay, report, spreadsheet/graphical analysis, journal article or multimedia or poster presentation
• Students will be able to develop accurate and complete records of project activities.
• Students will be able to apply the scientific method in analyzing Earth's processes.
• Students will be able to interpret information portrayed on graphs, tables, and maps.
• Students will be able to classify and identify essential minerals and rocks that compose the Earth's crust.
• Students will be able to describe the steps and results of a scientific investigation.
• Students will be able to utilize appropriate methods and tools for data collection in the Earth Sciences.
• Students will be able to interpret spatial data in the Earth Sciences.
• Students will be able to apply simple mathematical formulas in describing the velocity of seismic waves, locating an earthquake epicenter, calculating rates of motion of tectonic plates, and determining physical characteristics of ocean waves.