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Sedimentary Geology OpenCourseWare: MIT's Free Undergraduate Geology Course on Sedimentary Geology

Published Jan 31, 2009

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Discover the features of sedimentary elements, both modern and ancient, and their relation to environmental concerns and cycles in this free online OpenCourseWare from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). 'Sedimentary Geology' explores varied aspects of sedimentary rock, such as fossil content and other sediments. After completing MIT's 'Introduction to Geology' OpenCourseWare, students may want to consider taking this course as a follow-up, especially those pursuing a Geosciences degree.

Sedimentary Geology: Course Specifics

Degree Level Free Audio Video Downloads
Undergraduate Yes No No Yes

Lectures/Notes Study Materials Tests/Quizzes
Yes Yes No

Sedimentary Geology: Course Description

Professor John Southard of MIT's Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS) teaches the OpenCourseWare version of 'Sedimentary Geology,' an important component of a Bachelor of Science in Geoscience. Students examine ancient sedimentary deposits, their evolution over time and their present condition to predict future sedimentary cycles and the availability of fossil fuels. The course taps into students' previous knowledge of biology, chemistry, physics, geology and mathematics and expands their theoretical comprehension and practical application. 'Sedimentary Geology' begins with lessons on sediment characteristics and transitions into covering paleontology and sediment basins. The final lecture examines the characteristics and accessibility of coal and petroleum in the context of the world's dependence on fossil fuels. The OpenCourseWare includes 16 lectures originally given by Professor John Southard. The lecture files include charts, graphs and illustrations to aid students' comprehension of the material.

Lecture notes and sample field reports written by former students may be downloaded in PDF format from the OpenCourseWare site. If you're interested in this free online course, visit the Sedimentary Geology course page.

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