Physical Science (PSSC)

PSSC 153, PHYSICAL SCIENCE 4 (5)

Course designed for non-science majors. Topics include motion, force, energy, electricity, magnetism, light and sound. Laboratory required. (A special fee will be assessed.) Natural Science Core Course. (OT 36)

General Education: GEO1, GEO2, GEO6, GEO7

Course Entry Requirement(s): Course placement policy: Satisfactory placement assessment into college level mathematics or previous or concurrent enrollment in a co-requisite mathematics course.

Typically Offered: Spring Semester

PSSC 156, PHYSICAL GEOLOGY 4 (5)

Course designed for non-science majors. Introduction to principles of geology. Topics include internal structure of the Earth, processes associated with the Earth's crust, and structure of Earth materials. Laboratory required. (A special fee will be assessed.) Natural Science Core Course. (OT 36, TAG)

General Education: GEO2, GEO6, GEO7

Typically Offered: Fall and Spring Semesters

PSSC 157, HISTORICAL GEOLOGY 4 (5)

Geologic history of the Earth with emphasis on paleography and paleoclimate. Topics include plate tectonics, relative and absolute dating, rocks and minerals, interpretation of geologic maps, evolution, fossilization, major groups of fossils, and survey of geologic time. Laboratory required. (A special fee will be assessed.) Natural Science Core Course. (OT 36, TAG)

General Education: GEO2, GEO6, GEO7

Typically Offered: Spring Semester

PSSC 158G, METEOROLOGY 3 (4)

Introductory science course designed to familiarize students with the basics of meteorology. The course focuses on the principles of the natural world and the causes of weather. The impact of human activities on weather and the global system will also be explored. Students will analyze and interpret the effects of the atmosphere on our natural and human ecosystems using real-time data from the National Weather Service. Laboratory required. (A special fee assessed.) Natural Science Core Course. (OT 36)

General Education: GEO2, GEO6, GEO7

Typically Offered: Summer, Fall and Spring Semesters

PSSC 159G, OCEAN STUDIES 3 (4)

Introductory science course designed to examine the world's oceans from an earth science perspective. Students will explore the physical, chemical, biological, and geographical properties of oceans and investigate the interactions between the oceans and the hydrosphere, atmosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere. Laboratory required. (A special fee will be assessed.) Natural Science Core Course.

General Education: GEO1, GEO2, GEO6, GEO7

Typically Offered: Spring Semester

PSSC 160G, INTRODUCTION TO CLIMATE STUDIES 3 (3)

An introductory science course designed to familiarize students with the basics of climatology as well as the challenges and opportunities presented by global climate change. Students will become acquainted with the important process of acquiring and assessing climate observations and will be introduced to various observational networks and climate data formats with the goal of raising their level of understanding of climate variability topics including: the difference between climate and weather; statistical techniques used in climate studies; dynamics, physical mechanisms, and impacts of climate variability phenomena; the science behind and limitations of climate prediction center (CPC) prediction product; and the physical and feedback mechanism involved in global climate change. The course places students in a dynamic and highly motivational educational environment where they investigate Earth's climate system using real-world environmental data. Students will analyze and interpret the effects of climate on our natural and human ecosystems, past and present, as well as explore the impact of climate change on human existence. (OT 36)

General Education: GEO2, GEO6

Typically Offered: Not offered this year

PSSC 161G, EARTH SCIENCE 3 (3)

Course designed for non-science majors. Study of the Earth's major systems and their interrelationships. Topics include atmosphere and climate, geological composition, ocean environments, and processes that produce and modify the Earth's crust. Natural Science Core Course. (OT 36)

General Education: GEO1, GEO2, GEO6, GEO7

Typically Offered: Summer, Fall and Spring Semesters

PSSC 299, INDIVIDUALIZED STUDIES IN PHYSICAL SCIENCE 1-3 (1)

An in-depth study of areas in physical science presented by discussion and/or individual research and reading. Topics will vary. Repeatable up to six (6) times for a total of six (6) credit hours.

Course Entry Requirement(s): Prerequisite: Second year standing and division approval.

Typically Offered: Offer as required