PHS 114 - Natural Disasters

3 credit hours - Three hours of lecture weekly; one term.
This course meets the Biological and Physical Sciences General Education Requirement.

Examine the causes, effects, and societal responses to events such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and landslides. Explore the scientific principles behind these phenomena, their distribution and frequency, and how they affect communities across the globe. Develop a deeper understanding of the relationship between humans and the Earth system using case studies and current events.

Location(s) Typically Offered: Arnold Main Campus (MC)

Term(s) Typically Offered: Fall

Course Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

Explain the scientific principles behind major natural disasters.
Describe the Earth system processes that contribute to the occurrence and distribution of natural disasters.
Interpret data and maps related to natural hazards
Evaluate the societal impacts on natural disasters, including economic, environmental, and human consequences.
Analyze how human activity and land use decisions can influence the frequency, severity, and risk of natural disasters.
Compare disaster preparedness, mitigation, and response strategies across different regions and events.
Communicate scientific information about geohazards effectively in written and oral formats to diverse audiences.