GEOL 311: Earth Materials

Geology · 5 credits

Examines geologic materials (minerals, rocks, and soils) from the scale of atoms to tectonic plates. Lecture foci range from the esoteric (mineral symmetry) to the practical (economic minerals). Laboratory exercises emphasize the scientific skills of observation, identification, and classification in lab and in the field. Field trips are required.

Offered in 14 of the 26 listed terms (Winter 2021 to Spring 2027).

Catalog entry Browse Classes Textbooks (WWU Bookstore)

Prerequisites

(GEOL 211 or HNRS 212 or GEOL 211A or SCED 202) and (CHEM 121 or CHEM 161 or CHEM 122 or CHEM 162 or CHEM 123 or CHEM 163 or CHEM 125 or CHEM 175 or CHEM 126 or CHEM 176 or CHEM 225 or SCED 204)

Prerequisite tree

Each course's own prerequisites, down to the first courses in the chain.

GEOL 211 Physical Geology
requires MATH 114 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 156 or MATH 157 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65
- MATH 114 Precalculus I
  requires MPT General - Scaled Score, score 153 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 55 or MATH 112 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 3 or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70
  - MATH 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods
    requires MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or MATH 099 (minimum grade YP) or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or Intermediate Algebra (IA), score 1.70 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 148 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 35 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 2 or MATH 197C (minimum grade S) or MATH 109 (minimum grade S)
    - MATH 099 Introductory Algebra
      requires ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 1
    - MATH 197C Support Topics for Functions and Algebraic Methods
      requires ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 30
    - MATH 109 Support for Functions and Algebraic Methods
      requires ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 30
- MATH 115 Precalculus II
  requires MATH 114 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65
  - MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
- MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus
  requires MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 70
- MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I
  requires MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 153 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 5 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 2.30 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 80
  - MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
  - MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
- MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II
  requires MATH 124 or MATH 134 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 4 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 4
  - MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
  - MATH 134 Calculus I Honors
    requires MATH 115 (minimum grade A) or MATH 118 (minimum grade A) or Math Placement - Advanced 2, score 20 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 5
    - MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
    - MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
- MATH 134 Calculus I Honors
  requires MATH 115 (minimum grade A) or MATH 118 (minimum grade A) or Math Placement - Advanced 2, score 20 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 5
  - MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
  - MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
- MATH 135 Calculus II Honors
- MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus
  requires Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 4 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 4 or (Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 2 and Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 3)
- MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics
  requires MPT General - Scaled Score, score 152 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 55 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 3 or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or MATH 112
  - MATH 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods (shown above)
- MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics
  requires MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 148 or MATH 156 or MATH 114 or MATH 118 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 2.30 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 2.3 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 2.3 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2
  - MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
  - MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
  - MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
HNRS 212 Colloquium in Geology
requires MATH 114 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 156 or MATH 157 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149
- MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
- MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
- MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
- MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
- MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
- MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
- MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
- MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
- MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
GEOL 211A Physical Geology Review
requires (MATH 114 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 156 or MATH 157 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65) and (GEOL 101 (minimum grade B-) or HNRS 158 or HNRS 212 or SCED 202 (minimum grade B-))
- MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
- MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
- MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
- MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
- MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
- MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
- MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
- MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
- MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- GEOL 101 Introduction to Geology
  requires MATH 107 or MATH 108 or MATH 112 or MATH 114 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 156 or MATH 157 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 153 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 2 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Statistics AP Exam, score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 30
  - MATH 107 Mathematical Reasoning and Its Applications
    requires MATH 099 (minimum grade YP) or MATH 112 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 145 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or Intermediate Algebra (IA), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 25 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 2
    - MATH 099 Introductory Algebra (shown above)
    - MATH 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods (shown above)
  - MATH 108 Math Applications & Reasoning
    requires MATH 099 (minimum grade YP) or MATH 112 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 145 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or Intermediate Algebra (IA), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 25 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 2
    - MATH 099 Introductory Algebra (shown above)
    - MATH 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods (shown above)
  - MATH 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods (shown above)
  - MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
  - MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
  - MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
  - MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
  - MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
  - MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
  - MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
  - MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
  - MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
  - MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- HNRS 212 Colloquium in Geology (shown above)
- SCED 202 Matter and Energy in Earth Systems
SCED 202 Matter and Energy in Earth Systems
CHEM 161 General Chemistry I
requires MATH 114 or MATH 156 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 115 or MATH 157 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65
- MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
- MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
- MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
- MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
- MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
- MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
- MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
- MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
- MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
CHEM 162 General Chemistry II
requires CHEM 121 or CHEM 161
- CHEM 161 General Chemistry I (shown above)
CHEM 163 General Chemistry III
requires CHEM 122 or CHEM 162
- CHEM 162 General Chemistry II (shown above)
CHEM 175 General Chemistry I, Honors
requires MATH 114 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 156 or MATH 157 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 1.70 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65
- MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
- MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
- MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
- MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
- MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
- MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
- MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
- MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
- MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
CHEM 176 General Chemistry II, Honors
requires CHEM 175
- CHEM 175 General Chemistry I, Honors (shown above)
CHEM 225 General Chemistry III, Honors
requires CHEM 126 or CHEM 176
- CHEM 176 General Chemistry II, Honors (shown above)
SCED 204 Matter and Energy in Chemical Systems

From Banner's catalog for Spring 2027. Banner lists only the requisites it enforces, so check the catalog entry too.

Required by (12)

GEOL 301, GEOL 312, GEOL 318, GEOL 397J, GEOL 415, GEOL 422, GEOL 460, GEOL 469, GEOL 497W, GEOL 522, GEOL 569, GEOL 597W

What it leads to

Courses that list it as a prerequisite, then the courses that list those, 2 levels deep.

GEOL 301 Geology Writing Co-Requisite
GEOL 312 Environmental Geochemistry
GEOL 318 Structural Geology
- GEOL 397G Geological Field Methods
- GEOL 409 Field Methods and Theory
- GEOL 412 Tectonic Geomorphology
- GEOL 425 Advanced Metamorphic Petrology
- GEOL 450 Advanced Structural Geology
- GEOL 451 Active Tectonics Seminar
- GEOL 454 Magnetic Fabrics and Geologic Processes
- GEOL 456 Orogenic Belts
- GEOL 457 Practical Paleomagnetism
- GEOL 463 Introduction to Seismology
- GEOL 470 Landslides and Slope Stability
- GEOL 497A Lab Camp: Marine Sedimentary Processes
- GEOL 497B Lab Camp: Quaternary Geomorphic Processes
- GEOL 497C Lab Camp: Tectonics Processes
- GEOL 512 Tectonic Geomorphology
- GEOL 525 Advanced Metamorphic Petrology
- GEOL 550 Advanced Structural Geology
- GEOL 554 Magnetic Fabrics and Geologic Processes
- GEOL 556 Orogenic Belts
- GEOL 557 Practical Paleomagnetism
GEOL 397J Environmental Geochemistry
GEOL 415 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
- GEOL 409 Field Methods and Theory (shown above)
- GEOL 424 Advanced Stratigraphy
- GEOL 428 Marine Depositional Environments
- GEOL 450 Advanced Structural Geology (shown above)
- GEOL 454 Magnetic Fabrics and Geologic Processes (shown above)
- GEOL 456 Orogenic Belts (shown above)
- GEOL 457 Practical Paleomagnetism (shown above)
- GEOL 497A Lab Camp: Marine Sedimentary Processes (shown above)
- GEOL 497B Lab Camp: Quaternary Geomorphic Processes (shown above)
- GEOL 497C Lab Camp: Tectonics Processes (shown above)
- GEOL 524 Advanced Stratigraphy
- GEOL 550 Advanced Structural Geology (shown above)
- GEOL 554 Magnetic Fabrics and Geologic Processes (shown above)
- GEOL 556 Orogenic Belts (shown above)
- GEOL 557 Practical Paleomagnetism (shown above)
GEOL 422 Convergent Margins Seminar
GEOL 460 Laser Ablation ICP-MS Theory and Applications in the Sciences
GEOL 469 Cosmochemistry
GEOL 497W Geochem. of the solar sys.
GEOL 522 Convergent Margins Seminar
GEOL 569 Cosmochemistry
GEOL 597W Geochemistry of the Solar System

Syllabi and course websites

None listed yet.

Suggest a syllabus link

Instructors

Instructor	Sections	Terms
Sas, Mai	9	Winter 2021 to Spring 2027
Walowski, Kristina	3	Fall 2023 to Fall 2026
Mulcahy, Sean	2	Fall 2024 to Spring 2026

Every offering in the listed terms (14 sections)

Term	CRN	Type	Meets	Instructor	Enrolled	Delivery
Spring 2027	20471	Lecture/Lab	MW 11:00am-1:50pm · ES 223	Sas, Mai	0/25	Face to Face Instruction
Fall 2026	43626	Lecture/Lab	TR 9:00am-11:50am · ES 223	Walowski, Kristina	21/25	Face to Face Instruction
Spring 2026	20518	Lecture/Lab	TR 9:00am-11:50am · ES 223	Mulcahy, Sean	25/25	Face to Face Instruction
Winter 2026	13480	Lecture/Lab	TR 9:00am-11:50am · ES 223	Walowski, Kristina	24/25	Face to Face Instruction
Spring 2025	20554	Lecture/Lab	TR 9:00am-11:50am · ES 223	Sas, Mai	25/25	Face to Face Instruction
Fall 2024	41851	Lecture/Lab	TR 1:00pm-3:50pm · ES 223	Mulcahy, Sean	24/25	Face to Face Instruction
Spring 2024	20644	Lecture/Lab	TR 9:00am-11:50am · ES 223	Sas, Mai	25/25	Face to Face Instruction
Fall 2023	42177	Lecture/Lab	TR 1:00pm-3:50pm · ES 223	Walowski, Kristina	14/25	Face to Face Instruction
Spring 2023	20672	Lecture/Lab	TR 9:00am-11:50am · ES 223	Sas, Mai	24/25	Face to Face Instruction
Fall 2022	42422	Lecture/Lab	TR 1:00pm-3:50pm · ES 223	Sas, Mai	16/25	Face to Face Instruction
Spring 2022	20721	Lecture/Lab	MWF 3:00pm-4:50pm · ES 223	Sas, Mai	25/25	Face to Face Instruction
Fall 2021	42765	Lecture/Lab	TR 1:00pm-3:50pm · ES 223	Sas, Mai	12/25	Face to Face Instruction
Spring 2021	20774	Lecture/Lab	MWF 3:00pm-4:50pm · REMOTE SYNC	Sas, Mai	13/25	Face to Face Instruction
Winter 2021	13320	Lecture	MW 12:00pm-1:50pm · REMOTE SYNC F 1:00pm-2:50pm · REMOTE SYNC	Sas, Mai	16/25	Face to Face Instruction