ASTR 317
Current topics in Planetary Geology Spring 2021
Division III Writing Skills
Cross-listed GEOS 317
This is not the current course catalog

Class Details

We will look in detail at geological processes on rocky and icy bodies of the Solar System. Each week will have a specific theme, and students will read a series of scientific articles on that topic. The readings will form the basis for writing and discussion. Areas to be investigated may include ice ages on Mars, the origin of Earth’s moon, tectonics on Venus, chaos terrain on Europa, geysers on Enceladus, cryovolcanism on Triton, methane lakes on Titan, the viability of mining in the Asteroid Belt, and the prospects for life on other worlds. This course is in the Solid Earth group for the Geosciences major.
The Class: Format: seminar; Students meet with the professor weekly, in pairs, with one student writing each week and the other critiquing; and both engaging in detailed discussion of the readings.
Limit: 10
Expected: 6
Class#: 5104
Grading: yes pass/fail option, yes fifth course option
Requirements/Evaluation: Evaluation is based on written papers, critiques, and discussion.
Prerequisites: GEOS/ASTR 217 (Planets and Moons); OR any two courses at 200-level or higher in Geosciences and/or Astronomy; OR permission of instructor
Enrollment Preferences: Geosciences and Astronomy majors and prospective majors
Distributions: Division III Writing Skills
Notes: This course is cross-listed and the prefixes carry the following divisional credit:
ASTR 317 Division III GEOS 317 Division III
WS Notes: This tutorial-style course focuses on writing, with 6 papers (5-7 pages) written bi-weekly throughout the semester, and partner critiques in alternate weeks.
Attributes: GEOS Group C Electives - Solid Earth

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