Our Geological Wonderland
Class - Spring Only | Registration opens Monday, January 5, 2026 9:30 AM MST
This course covers local and regional geological topics including our local National Parks. Lectures will include some basic geological concepts and the amazing geology of our local region and other significant areas of the United States. We'll cover several new topics this semester, with a different topic each week:
1. Introduction: What is Geology and What Can You Do with It?
2. Geological Concepts That Mess with Your Brain
3. Plate Tectonics: How the Earth Works
4. The Virgin: A River Runs Through Here
5. An Ancient Ocean: Kaibab Formation.
6. Lots of Mud and Gypsum: Moenkopi Formation
7. Terrestrial Environments and Volcanoes: Chinle Formation
8. Dinosaurs on Vacation at Lake Dixie: Moenave Formation
9. From a Jungle to a Desert: Kayenta Formation and Navajo Formation
10. A Visit to Our “Local” National Parks
11. How Geology Made America Great
12. Death and Destruction: Geologic Hazards in St. George
NO CLASS on March 12 (Spring Break)
Rick Miller
Rick Miller began teaching geology in the 1960s as a Teaching Assistant and began his career as a lecturer in geology in 1970. He holds a PhD from UCLA, 1975. His research interests focused on Micropaleontology and Earth History. He taught various subjects in Geology at the California State College & University System until 2001, when he retired early and moved to St. George. He taught as an adjunct at DSU for five years, for the ICL program since 2004 and for the Community Education program since 2018.