I. ASCRC General Education Form
Group
Dept/Program Geosciences
Course Title The History of Life
Prerequisite none
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Credits 3
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature Date
8/27/08 Phone / Email
Program Chair george.stanley@umontana.
edu
William Woessner
Dean Jerry Fetz
III. Description and purpose of the course: General Education courses must be introductory and foundational. They must emphasize breadth, context, and connectedness; and relate course content to students’ future lives: See Preamble: http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/gened/GEPreamble_final.htm
Documents the evolution of microbes, plants and animals (including humans) through immense geologic time, highlighting the major events of life during the history of the Earth.
Includes a laboratory “hands on” experience with fossils, writing of reports, group discussions and oral communication skills.
The purpose of the course is to create competent individuals who will gain an appreciation and an understanding of the natural world of life and how it came into existence. Students also will gain an appreciation of historical science toward understand the general principles and how these principles operates. Students also gain an appreciation of where humans and the rest of life came from, how life changed during geologic time, and how we can use this knowledge to guide our understanding of global biotic change today and specifically where humanity is headed in the distant future.
IV. Criteria: Briefly explain how this course meets the criteria for the group. See: http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/ASCRCx/Adocuments/GE_Criteria5-1-08.htm
Course will explore a discipline in the natural sciences, demonstrating how the scientific method is used to draw scientific conclusions.
Course will address through examples, the rigorous processes required in science to take an idea to a hypothesis stage and then to a validated scientific theory.

Lab component will engage students in inquiry-based learning in historical
Course will include rigorous requirement of descriptive writing and science, allowing them to examine the geologic and fossil evidence and formulate and test specific hypothesis, collecting and interpreting evidence to analysis in reports, summaries of group discussions and practical laboratory experiences.
each a conclusion.
V. Student Learning Goals: Briefly explain how this course will meet the applicable learning goals. See: http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/ASCRCx/Adocuments/GE_Criteria5-1-08.htm
Understanding the general principles associated with Earth history and the evolution of life will be gained by instruction and hands on experiences.
Students will learn how to detect patterns, draw conclusions, develop conjectures and hypotheses , and test them in the context of a historical science.
Methodology and activities scientists use to gather, validate and interpret data related to natural processes will be employed in the course.
Students will understand how scientific theories are verified in a historical science by both quantitative and qualitative assessment and measurement of scientific observation in order to achieve logical/critical reasoning skills.
VII. Syllabus: Paste syllabus below or attach and send digital copy with form.
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The syllabus should clearly describe how the above criteria are satisfied. For assistance on syllabus preparation see: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/syllabus.html
*Please note: As an instructor of a general education course, you will be expected to provide sample assessment items and corresponding responses to the Assessment Advisory Committee.