My current offerings are in carbonate sedimentolgy and stratigraphy, and the history of geology.  In addition, I have taught historical geology, paleontology and conducted field trip courses for both geoscience and honors students.

History of Geological Thought

This course covers the development of geological thought by examining how observations, field practice and theory interwove to produce a constantly shifting mosaic of ideas. This fastinating history provides a useful perspective on how a uniquely geological perspective evolved. The inital focus is on the emergence of geology from natural history traditions as a distinct science by the early nineteenth century. The later part of the course will consider the growth of various sub-disciplines, particularly tectonics, and their integration within plate tectonics.

Carbonate Sedimentology

This course covers the interpretation of depositional environments of carbonate sediments. The primary objective is for students to develop the ability to accurately describe carbonate facies, interpret their depositional settings, and to develop a reasonable stratigraphic intepretation. The course stresses comparative sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy as general approaches for interpreting carbonate rocks.

My past courses also include:

• Historical Geology
• Introduction to Paleontology
• Honors and Geosciences Seminars (mostly on the history of geology)
• Carbonate Petrology and Diagenesis
• Conducted Field Trips
  • Silurian and Carboniferous of the Illinois Basin
  • Permian Reef Complex of the Permian Basin of West Texas
  • Paleozoic of the Northern Appalachians (with John Isbell)
  • Upper Ordovician-Lower Silurian of the Great Basin
  • Carboniferous Environments of eastern Kentucky and southern Indiana (with John Isbell)