This paper explores the Earth's interior and its dynamic interaction with the crust, including: the major rocks and minerals; interpreting the rock record and geologic maps; the geological time scale and fossils; plate tectonics; volcanism; earthquakes.

This paper is composed of lectures, laboratories and a field trip. Students are required to attend one three-hour laboratory session per week. Labs will start in the first week of the semester. As part of the requirements of this paper, students must attend a one-day field trip.

Learning resources accessed via Moodle support the paper, and a printed Field and Lab Manual containing printed lab resources is available for purchase from Waikato Print. Panopto will be used to record lectures.

A summary of the course programme appears below, and there are more detailed versions at the start of the Field and Lab Manual and available on Moodle.

The final examination is the only compulsory piece of assessment. However, attendance at laboratory sessions and the field trip all constitute part of the final assessment, so absences should be explained.

The assessed laboratory work consists of a) pre-lab questions, to be completed online in Moodle before each lab; (b) lab quizzes at the end of each lab; and c) a three-hour practical test in the last week of semester. There will be a (d) geological report, following the field trip and using supporting samples in the lab, and (e) a field activity booklet. Two 30-minute online theory tests will be held during the semester.

The paper programme appears at the start of the Study Guide and will be available on Moodle. It may be necessary to alter the programme after the paper starts, in which case the version on Moodle will be the most current.

The paper is supported by learning resources accessed via Moodle, and the Study Guide containing printed lab resources, which is available for purchase.

Online support will be provided via Moodle, which is accessible to all students who are enrolled in the paper. PLEASE NOTE: Moodle will be used for class notices etc. and it is your responsibility to check the site regularly. Instructions provided on Moodle and in lectures are considered to be given to the class as a whole.

A 100-level 15 point paper in any of the science subjects offered by the University of Waikato typically involves less than 80 hours of supervised study and it is assumed that up to 70 hours will be spent in private study by an 'average' student.

There are 29 lectures (usually 3, but sometimes 2 per week), and 12 three-hour laboratories per week; and a one-day field trip. Several assessments are to be completed during laboratory sessions, namely the laboratory quizzes and the practical test. The field trip activity booklet is to be completed during the field trip.

Students are expected to spend 30 minutes before each laboratory session to familiarise themselves with the content of the laboratory exercise and complete the pre-lab questions. Revision for the practical test can be undertaken during laboratory sessions and it is expected that students will spend a further 10 hours of revision in their own time. Students are expected to spend up to 15 hours to prepare their geological report. The two theory tests will run for 30 minutes each and are to be completed in the student's own time during the period they are open on Moodle. The remaining non-contact time should be spent revising for the theory tests and the final exam.