The University of British Columbia

Department level learning goals for non-specialist courses

1. Knowledge and major concepts: Students taking a non-specialist course in EOS will learn about ...
   1. the spatial and temporal scales at which Earth's processes operate.
   2. how Earth changes through time.
   3. Earth's materials and their properties.
   4. Earth's systems and complex interactions.
   5. how Earth and humans are inextricably linked.
   6. the methods earth scientists use to collect and analyze evidence.
   7. how to use evidence to evaluate earth science concepts and draw conclusions.
2. Skills: Students taking a non-specialist course in EOS will develop their abilities to ...
   1. read, visualize and interpret spatial representations of Earth science data.
   2. apply high school level math and science skills to real world settings.
   3. distinguish among evidence (data), models, assumptions, hypotheses, theories, interpretations, and predictions / recommendations in non-specialist readings or other media.
   4. reason with incomplete information.
   5. reason with and/or evaluate multiple working hypotheses.
3. Habits and attitudes: non-specialist courses in EOS should actively help students to ...
   1. ... employ appropriate learning skills for the Earth, ocean or atmospheric sciences, including:
      1. identifying and using learning goals for the course, module or lesson;
      2. consciously assessing progress and modifying study actions;
      3. using feedback from instructors, peers, and/or self-reflection.
   2. ... consider science as an ongoing endeavor that embraces curiosity, creativity and societal needs, and is not just a set of facts.
   3. ... recognize and experience two approaches used in the Earth system sciences, including:
      1. historical, descriptive, systems-oriented approaches;
      2. experimental approaches.
   4. ... ask "How do we know?", "Why do we accept it?", and "What is the evidence for ...?"

• First year courses may be taken without EOSC 111
• EOSC 111 cannot be taken without one of EOSC 110, 112, 114 or 116.
• Take EOSC 111 only once.
• Arts students are "advised" to take a science course with a laboratory component to meet their science requirement.
• All EOSC students (Majors and Honors) must take the lab.