| Aug | 23 | A Strange World: The Earth from Mars (chapter 1) | |
| 25 | Some simple facts and figures about the Earth (chapter 1 & 2) |
| 28 | Chemicals. minerals, and rocks; gases, liquids, and solids (chapter 3) |
| 30 | Minerals: Crystalline chemicals in Earth (chapter 3) |
| Sep | 1 | Minerals for fun and profit (chapter 3) |
| 4 | Labor Day |
| 6 | Volcanoes of the world (chapter 5) |
| 8 | Eruption of lava (chapter 5) |
| 11 | Formation and crystallization of magma (chapter 4) |
| 13 | Differentiation in igneous processes (chapter 4) |
| 15 | Structures of igneous rocks (chapter 4) |
| 18 | Weathering and erosion of igneous rocks (chapter 6) |
| 20 | Sedimentation and the formation of sedimentary rocks (chapter 7) |
| 22 | Sedimentary rocks and sedimentary environments (chapter 7) |
| 25 | Exam I |
| 27 | Metamorphism and metamorphic rocks (chapter 8) |
| 29 | Regional metamorphic processes (chapter 8) |
| Oct | 2 | Metamorphism and fluids in the Earth’s crust (chapter 8) |
| 4 | Geologic time: Stratigraphic principles (chapter 9) |
| 6 | Geologic time: Radiometric age determination (chapter 9) |
| 9 | Strength of rocks: Brittle deformation (chapter 10) |
| 11 | Strength of rocks: Ductile deformation (chapter 10) |
| 13 | Fall break |
| 16 | Seismic waves: The sound of rocks breaking (chapter 11) |
| 18 | Earthquakes - Occurrence and detection (chapter 11) |
| 20 | Earthquakes and the interior of Earth (chapter 12) |
| 23 | Exam II (Geological Society of America Annual Meeting) |
| 25 | Geological Society of America Annual Meeting — no class |
| 27 | Development of a global tectonic theory |
| 30 | Elements of plate tectonics (chapter 2) |
| Nov | 1 | Plates and plate boundaries (chapter 2) |
| 3 | Oceanic features and divergent plate margins (chapter 13) |
| 6 | Continental features and convergent plate margins (chapter 14) |
| 8 | Driving forces for plate motion: Hot spots and convection (chapter 2 & 12) |
| 10 | Magnetism of Earth and rocks (chapter 2) |
| 13 | Magnetism of rocks and the rates of plate motions (chapter 2) |
| 15 | Origin of plate tectonics: Evidence from Moon and other planets (chapter 22) |
| 17 | Systems at the Earth's surface: the hydrologic cycle (chapter 16) |
| 20 | Rivers and water conservation (chapter 16) |
| 22 | Water underground (chapter 17) |
| 24 | Thanksgiving break |
| 27 | Glaciers: Rivers of ice and glacial features (chapter 18) |
| 29 | All dried up - the deserts (chapter 19) |
| Dec | 1 | At the shore (chapter 20) |
| 4 | Stewards of Earth |
| 13 | Exam III 2:45 |
