PHYSICAL GEOLOGY

GEOL 1303                                                                                                                  Syllabus                         10:00-10:50 MWF                    MANNING 140

Spring 2001

Course Description: A survey of the basic concepts of Physical Geology.  This course includes Understanding the Earth System, Surface Processes, Internal Processes, and Resources of the Earth.  Prerequisites None

Instructor:   Dr. Thomas McGehee

Office            Manning 135

Office Hours 8:00-10:00M-W-F

Telephone    593-3590                                                                                                                 

Email address: kftlm00@tamuk.edu

Textbook: Understanding Earth by Press and Sievers

Published by Freeman and Company

Course Objectives: This is a lecture (1303) and laboratory (1101) survey course in Physical Geology.  This course is designed to provide the fundamental understanding, the scientific appreciation, and the communication skills necessary for today’s student to function efficiently in the increasingly technological world of tomorrow.

The follow-up course in this series is Environmental Geology, which is offered in the Fall 2001 semester.  These courses will provide you with the university science literacy requirement.

Method of Evaluating the Grades: Four, 1 hour lecture exams will be given during the semester.   The lowest one hour lecture exam grade will be dropped.  In addition, a final exam (which is comprehensive) will be administered during Finals Week. 

Lecture Grade: (The lowest one hour lecture exam will be dropped)                        

One hour - Lecture Exam 1                         22%

One hour - Lecture Exam 2                         22%

One hour - Lecture Exam 3                         22%

10 pop-quizes                                             12%

Final Exam                                                   22%

Class Attendance and Deportment: (up to +2 points added to final average) Class attendance will be checked daily to make sure the student arrives on time, stay the full period, and are considerate and mature in their behavior

There will be a number of field trips you can attend (optional) which will provide bonus credit on your one-hour exams.  These include trips to the Natural Science Museum in Houston, Geology of Central Texas (up to Fredricksburg, Tx), Geology of the Coastal Bend (up to Padre Island), and Urban and Environmental Geologic Studies of the South Texas area (local).  You must attend the presentation and field trip for the extra credit.

PHYSICAL GEOLOGY

LECTURE OUTLINE AND EXAM SCHEDULE

Introduction

Part One: Understanding the Earth System

Chapter 1: Building a Planet

Chapter 2: Minerals-Building Blocks of Life

Chapter 3: Rocks-Records of Geologic Processes

Chapter 4: Igneous Rocks-Solids from Melts

Chapter 5: Volcanism

Exam 1: Introduction - Chapter 1-5

Chapter 6: Weathering and Erosion

Chapter 7: Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks

Chapter 8: Metamorphic Rocks

Chapter 9: The Rock Record and Geologic Time Scale

Chapter 10: Folds, Faults, and other Records of Rock Deformation

Exam 2: Chapters 6-10

Part 2: Surface Processes

Chapter 11: Mass Wasting

Chapter 12: The Hydrologic Cycle and Groundwater

Chapter 13: Rivers

Chapter 14: Winds and Deserts

Chapter 15: Glaciers

Exam 3: Chapters 11-15

Chapter 16: Landscape Evolution

Part 4: Internal Processes

Chapter 18: Earthquakes

Chapter 19: Exploring Earth’s Interior

Chapter 20: Plate Tectonics

Chapter 21: Deformation of the Continental Crust

                Exam 4: Chapters 16-21

Chapter 22: Energy Resources from the Earth

                Chapter 23: Mineral Resources from the Earth

                Chapter 24: Earth Systems and Cycles

Final Exam: Chapters 1-24