GEOS 550 Geology of National Parks
#9581
W 5:30-8:30PM Rossey 617 Instructor: Dr. Deborah Freile
Office: Rossey 628
Tel.: 201.200.3188
E-mail: dfreile@njcu.edu
Office Hours: W 4-5:30PM;
Catalog Description: The course explores the geologic framework that underlie the geologic processes and principles of mountain building, volcanism, stream erosion, glacial and shoreline processes and explains the geological history and features of selected National Parks, Monuments and National Seashores. Lecture course supplemented with an 8 to 10 day field trip to localities of interest.
Course Prerequisites : GEOS 112, GEOS 222 or permission of the instructor
Rationale: This course is designed to give students an overview of geologic processes through the lens of our National Park
System. We will explore the concepts of geologic time, plate tectonics, and the rock cycle, by studying individual national parks that highlight some of the best geologic examples of the material covered. The course has been designed to teach students aspects of physical and historical geology, regional geography, and environmental awareness, using National Parks and
Monuments as the primary venue for presentation.
Required Texts: Lillie, R.J., 2005, Parks and Plates:
W.W. Norton, 298p.
The Geology of our National Parks, Monuments and Seashores ,
For Additional Books See Below
Student Learning Outcomes and Course Goals:
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this course students will be able to: a) b)
Value the exceptional natural beauty of the landscape
Distinguish visually, and on maps, and satellite images (Google Earth), the various geologic features that underlie a landscape c) d)
Analyze the origin (i.e., the geologic process and materials) and geologic history of these features
Asses each park or monument in the geological context in the surrounding region and/or physiographic e) province
Evaluate mineral resources, recreational access, population (visitor) control, and related environmental matters affecting the future of the park system.
Course Goals:
This course will improve student
1.
Understanding of the major components of the earth and the processes that affect them.
Comprehension of deep time and how it relates to the human perspective, particularly their own. 2.
3.
4.
Identify common rocks/minerals and basic landforms.
Evaluate the geology and human history of several U.S. national parks.
5.
Interpret the formation of numerous fundamental geologic features and the processes controlling their development.
6.
7.
Evaluate and report on the formation of numerous fundamental geologic features and the processes controlling their development.
Enumerate controversial uses as it relates to recreation, development, and economics in our national parks.
8.
Criticize and report those controversies related to use, recreation, development, and economics in our national parks.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Attendance: Attendance is mandatory . Attendance will be taken at the start of each class period. Excused absences from class will be granted only upon a written medical notification. This is a SHORT summer class, if the student comes to class late, it is his or her responsibility to inform the instructor and sign the attendance sheet. Once the instructor leaves the classroom, any student not appearing on the attendance sheet will be counted as absent. Attendance counts towards class participation points. From the
NJCU catalogue: “Each student is expected to fulfill the attendance requirements as determined by the faculty member. Failure to

attend classes without a valid excuse as determined by the faculty member may be factored into the evaluation of the student’s performance and achievement for the course. Each student shall be required to take all examinations on the days scheduled for such, provided these schedules are announced in advance by the faculty member(s) responsible for the course. To ensure compliance with Federal and State aid requirements, instructors are required to keep such records as will enable them to complete the Monthly Veterans Attendance Rosters and the Mid-Semester Audit Report Forms and to certify the last date of attendance of students receiving aid. Financial aid recipients who never attend one or more of their classes or who stop attending all of their classes will be paid a reduced amount of aid and are subject to forfeiture of their financial aid”.
Instructional Procedures:
The course is a mixture of lectures with a strong field component.
This course will employ the following pedagogic techniques;
Lecture and discussion of material.
Audio visual instruction in the form of PowerPoint presentations and/or specific VHS tapes or DVDs
Instructor’s Website http://faculty.njcu.edu/dfreile o Testing/Quizzes o Short class oral presentation (5-8 minutes) o Short Written assignments/HW Assignments o Field work (Term Project)
Evaluation Components and Grading Scale
2 in class exams (15% each) 30%
Quiz
1 in class presentation on a National Park
Field Notebook or Term Project
In class exercises/HW
Attendance & Participation
05%
10%
30%
20%
05%
100%
Grading Scale
95-100 A
90-94 A-
87-89 B+
84-86 B
80-83
77-79
B-
C+
74-76
68-73
C
C-
56-67
To achieve these goals, the course material will be presented in two parts:
D
A lecture format consisting of concepts of global geology, in order to provide a broad context and physiographic concepts followed by a 10 day field trip for in depth observation in area context.
(1) Geologic Processes — a review of various geologic processes that account for the scenic diversity found within the park system, together with presentation on parks and monuments that illustrate these processes; and,
(2) Physiography of the US — a review of the geographic provinces of the United States, emphasizing the role that geology plays in controlling landscape evolution, along with a discussion of the geology of representative parks and monuments.
Course Organization
This course is designed to maximize the number of national parks, monuments, seashores with unique geologic histories and/or features that could be visited during a 10 day trip. The course will require a significant amount of traveling, several nights of motel stays, and a willingness to be outdoors in a variety of conditions. Students will be expected to actively participate, maintain a field notebook and journal, complete short field exercises, become a class “expert” on one of the parks, and prepare an oral presentation.
Course Content:
Description and Objectives
The precursor to the U.S. National Park System (close to 400 National Parks, National Monuments, National Seashores and the like) was established by an act of Congress on March 1, 1872, when it established Yellowstone National Park in the Territories of Montana and Wyoming “as a public park or pleasuring-ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people”. When we observe our natural surroundings, we can appreciate that the Earth is a dynamic planet whose geology is extremely complex. Some of the most magnificent and instructive expression of this complex geology is found within
America’s National Park System. National Parks, Monuments and the like provide a splendid framework for the study of the principles of physical and historical geology. Such geologic agents as volcanism, mountain building, weathering and erosion, aeolian action, stream flow, glaciation, cave formation, shoreline processes, etc., are all dramatically illustrated by some segment of the National Park System.
Course Schedule- Class will meet July 7, 14, 21 and 28
July 7-Part 1: Prologue- Chapters 1 and 2 and Transform Plate Boundaries Ch. 7

Introduction, Overview of the Park System Interior of the Earth
History of the Park Service
Physiographic Province Overview,
National Parks Grand Tour
Geologic Time
Plate Tectonics
San Andreas
See Writing & Spreadsheet Assignment for next
Week & Quiz
Geologic Structures
July 14-Part 2: Geologic Processes: Divergent Plate Boundaries Chapters3-4 and Convergent Boundaries Ch. 5 and 6
Continental Rifts, Basin and Range Ancient Subduction- Sierra Nevada
Ancient Continental Rifting Ancient Continent to Continent Collisions ( The
Passive Continental margins- National Seashores
(Modern), Ancient
The Colorado Plateau
Cascadia SubductionCascades, Crater Lake
July 21-Part 3: Geologic Processes: Hotspots Ch. 8 and 9
Oceanic HotspotsHawaii Volcanoes
Continental Hotspots- Columbia Plateau, Yellowstone
See Spreadsheet Assignment for next Week
Appalachians )
QUIZ on Location of National Parks
Writing Assignment #1 & #2 Due
Test #1
July 28-Part 4: Geologic Processes: Building the North American Continent, Ch. 10 North American Craton
Undeformed Shield & Platform- Badlands, Mammoth Caves, Theodore Roosevelt
Deformed Craton- Arches, Bryce, Canyon de Chelly, Dinosaur, Zion; Devils Tower, Mount Rushmore, Glacier
Assignment #3 Due
PRESENTATIONS
August 4- Test #2/Assignment#4/Term Project Due
August 8-Field Journal Due
Academic Dishonesty: Students are expected to demonstrate academic integrity at all times. NJCU condemns cheating and plagiarism in any form. Plagiarism is defined as intentionally using the ideas, knowledge, words, and/or visual images of another individual as if those were original to the writer or speaker (INCLUDING THE IMPROPER
CITATION OF THOSE WORKS USED); and any other forms of deceit in relation to the student’s affiliation with and commitment to the university. [According to the Student Rights and Responsibilities: Code of Conduct- Some specific activities that are not to be tolerated on the campus are: (7). Fraud in any for, whether it be altering or changing
University records, or cheating in any form. Prohibited activities include (12). Academic dishonesty (a). Plagiarism, cheating (b). Use of term papers or reports not completely prepared by the student. In this course any student caught cheating on any test or plagiarizing any work will receive an ‘F’ for the entire course.
Withdrawal: Please note that July 22 is the last day to withdraw from a course with a grade of “W”.
Cell Phones and Pagers: Please turn OFF all cell phones and pagers . If a phone rings during class time the student will be asked to leave and counted as absent for that day.
Use of cell phones, IPods, MP3 players or any other electronic device is PROHIBITED during class or EXAMS.
Any student using the device will be asked to LEAVE immediately and if taking an exam the exam grade will result in a zero (0).
Supporting Bibliography
Alt, D.D. and Hyndman, D.W., Northwest Exposures: A Geologic Study of the Northwest , Mountain Press
Publishing, 443p.
Anderson, P.B., Chidsey, T.C., Jr. and Sprinkel, D.A., editors, Geology of Utah’s National Parks and
Monuments , Bryce Canyon Natural History Association and Utah Geological Association, 562p.
Baars, D.L., 2000, The Colorado Plateau: a Geologic History , University of New Mexico Press, 268p.
Baars, D.L., 2002, Traveler’s Guide to the Geology of the Colorado Plateau , University of Utah Press, 250p.

*Baldridge, W.S., 2007, Geology of the American Southwest: a Journey through 2 Million Years of Plate
Tectonic History , Cambridge Press, 296p.
Bauer, C.M., 2005, The Geology of Yellowstone National Park , Kessinger Publishing, 84p.
Chronic, H. and Chronic, L.M., 2004, Pages of Stone: Geology of the Grand Canyon & Plateau Country
National Parks & Monuments, 2 nd edition, Mountaineers Books, 176p.
Chronic, Halka (1984) Pages of Stone -- Geology of Western National Parks and Monuments: Vol. 1, Rocky
Mountains and Western Great Plains . The Mountaineers Books, 192 pp.
_____________ (1986) Pages of Stone -- Geology of Western National Parks and Monuments: Vol. 2, Sierra
Nevada, Cascades & Pacific Coast. The Mountaineers Books, 184 pp.
_____________ (1986) Pages of Stone -- Geology of Western National Parks and Monuments: Vol. 3, The
Desert Southwest. The Mountaineers Books, 184 pp.
Easterbrook, D.J. (1999) Surface Processes and Landforms, 2nd Edition . Prentice-Hall, 546 pp.k
Elias, S.A. (1995) The Ice-age History of Alaskan National Parks . Smithsonian Institution Press, 150 pp.
_____________ (1996) The Ice-age History of National Parks of the Rocky Mountains . Smithsonian Institution
Press, 170 pp.
_____________ (1997) The Ice-age History of Southwestern National Parks . Smithsonian Institution Press, 200 pp.
Elwood, B.B., 1996, Geology and the National Parks , Prentice-Hall, 372p
Ellwood, B. (1996)
Geology and America’s National Park Areas
. Prentice-Hall Inc., 372 pp.
Farb, Peter (1963) The Face of North America. Harper & Row, 316 pp.
Fleisher, P. Jay (1975) Geology of Selected National Parks and Monuments . Kendall-Hunt, 183 pp.
Gregory, J.L. and Baldwin, E.J., 1988, Geology of the Death Valley Region: Annual Field Trip Guidebook #16 ,
South Coast Geological Society, 429p.
Harris, A.G., Tuttle, E. and Tuttle S.D., 2004, Geology of National Parks , Kendal Hunt, 896p
Harris, D.V. and Kiver, E.P. (1985) The Geologic Story of the National Parks and Monuments, 4th Edition .
Wiley, 464 pp.
Henry, J.A. and Mossa, J. (1995) Natural Landscapes of the United States, 5th Edition . Kendall-Hunt Publishing
Co., 398 pp.
Hill, M., 2006, Geology of the Sierra Nevada, University of California Press, 468p.
Hunt, C.B. (1974) Natural Regions of the United States and Canada . Freeman, 725 pp.
King, P.B. (1977) The Evolution of North America, Revised Edition . Princeton University Press, 197 pp.
Kiver, Eugene P. and Harris, David V. (1999) Geology of U.S. Parklands, 5th Edition . Wiley, 902 pp.
*Mathews, W.H. (1968) A Guide to the National Parks: Their Landscape and Geology . Natural History Press,
529 pp.
Miller, M.B. and Wright, L.A., 2004, Geology of Death Valley: Landforms, Crustal Extension, Geologic
History, Road Guides , Kendall-Hunt, 138p
Orr, W.N. and Orr, E.L., 2006, Geology of the Pacific Northwest , 2 nd edition, Waveland Press, 377p.

Rowe, Royal C. (1974) Geology of our Western National Parks and Monuments . Binfords and Mort, 220 pp.
Sharp, R.P. and Glazner, A.F., 1997, Geology Underfoot in Death Valley and Owens Valley , Mountain Press
Publishing, 319p.
Smith, R.B. and Siegel, L.J., 2000, Windows into the Earth:The Geologic Story of Yellowstone and Grand Teton
National Parks , Oxford University Press, 256p..
Relevant Peer-Reviewed Periodical Sources
*Geological Society of America Bulletin
*Geology
*Geology Today
Journal of Geological Education
*Nature
*Science
Relevant Websites
U.S. Geological Survey
Geology in the Parks: [http://wrgis.wr.usgs.gov/docs/usgsnps/project/home.html]
Volcano information: [http://volcanoes.usgs.gov]
Earthquake information: [http://earthquake.usgs.gov]
National Park Service : [http://www.nps.gov]
Geological Resources Division: [http://www2.nature.nps.gov/grd/]
Geologist-in-the-Parks Program: [http://www2.nature.nps.gov/grd/geojob/index.htm]
Park (Virtual) Geology Tours: [http://www2.nature.nps.gov/grd/tour.index.htm]
Write a brief (~300 word) essay describing the Cascade Volcanoes. What types of volcanoes are the
Cascades? Where are they? What is their plate tectonic setting? Do they pose threats to any major population centers? If so, what, specifically are the threats? What is the likelihood that a Cascade Volcano will erupt anytime in the near future? Which volcano is the most ‘dangerous’? Is there any ongoing activity-
-volcanic or seismic--associated with any of the volcanoes? What type of activity is it? What can geologists do to help alleviate the dangers? Use information from your text and the Cascade Volcano Observatory homepage to answer these questions. You can go directly to the CVO homepage at
The answers to some of these questions will be immediately apparent and easy to describe. Others will require more thought and some research.
A few suggestions:
Decide beforehand on your major points and group them in clear paragraphs.
As with any written assignment, provide concrete, specific examples to illustrate your points.
Watch for typographical errors and grammar and keep it to 300 words (which is HALF a page single-space
10 point font, as a guide)