Course Schedule - Spring Semester 2026

     

Meeting location information can now be found on student schedules in ESTHER (for students) or on the Course Roster in ESTHER (for faculty and instructors).
Additional information available here.

INDS 508 001 (CRN: 24390)

UNDERSTANDING EARTH AND BEYOND

Long Title: UNDERSTANDING EARTH AND BEYOND
Department: School of Continuing Studies
Instructor: Lee, Cin-Ty
Meeting: 6:00PM - 9:00PM R (12-JAN-2026 - 24-APR-2026) 
Part of Term: Full Term
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Course Type: Seminar
Language of Instruction: Taught in English
Method of Instruction: Face to Face
Credit Hours: 3
Course Syllabus:
Course Materials: Rice Campus Store
 
Restrictions:
Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s):
Graduate
Must be enrolled in one of the following Major(s):
Liberal Studies
Interdisciplinary Studies
Section Max Enrollment: 0 (permission required) Department Permission Required
Section Enrolled: 9
Enrollment data as of: 24-NOV-2025 3:32PM
 
Additional Fees: None
 
Final Exam: GR Course-Dept Schedules Exam
 
Description: In this course, students will gain an understanding of how our planet works, from its deep interior to the oceans, atmosphere, and life. A central theme of the course is to study how our planet works as an interconnected system. For example, we will investigate how plate tectonics makes volcanoes, ocean basins, mountains, continents, and even the atmosphere, and how all these components of the Earth interact with each other to give us the habitable planet we live on. We will learn about how life began on Earth and how life evolved with changing environments. We will also show how the principles of physics, chemistry, biology, and math become beautiful and easy when applied to our planet. Students will come out of this class with a greater appreciation of landscapes and the life around us. The course will also prepare students how to think about societally relevant problems, such as climate change, critical minerals, and natural disasters.