Professor Mary Savina Reviews
Class Ratings
Professor Rating
Prof: Mary Savina / Fall 2015
Apr 8, 2022
This is a fairly easy class within the geology department, and it was one of my absolute favorite subjects. I think it's the best-suited "upper-level" geo class for non-geo majors, and if the department ever introduces minors, it would be a solid choice.
Geomorphology focuses on surface-level, "young" geology. This includes the formation of soils, rivers, and glaciers, and the effects they have on topography. There were weekly lab field trips either in the Arb or around southern Minnesota, teaching some practical outdoor field research techniques with a straightforward assignment each week. I'm certain exams have changed since I took it in 2015, but I remember one having the prompt of "pitch a Comps research project based on the content of this course." That exercise spurred my actual Comps research a year and a half later, and it was invaluable to me.
Mary has since retired, so I cannot comment on whoever the current professor will be. In case she comes back as an emerita professor, she is a very easy grader but an average lecturer. Going to her office hours and getting her advice during labs in small groups was much more effective than lectures in day-to-day classes.