An introductory course that applies basic geological concepts to current environmental issues including the availability and use of water and soil resources, pollution causes, effects and solutions, and causes and prediction of environmental hazards including floods, landslides, subsidence, earthquakes and volcanoes.

Humans impact the environment through extraction of resources (oil, coal, gold), and pollution of water, soil, and air. Humans in turn are impacted by the environment in the form of climate change, hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters. This course examines these impacts in the context of the relationship between humans and the planet they inhabit.