Syllabus
Geology 1403 (006)(009), Physical Geology
Section 41030, 41033, Fall, 2006

Lecture (006):                                   MW 7:45-9:00, 2228                                    Lab: MW 9:10-10:25, 2228
Lecture (009):                                   MW 10:35-11:50, 2213                                Lab: MW 12:00-1:15, 2228
Instructor:                                         David Froehlich
Office:                                                NRG 2215
Office Hours:                                    MW 1:15-3:00, TTh 9:00-2:50, F 10-3 By Appt.
Telephone:                                       Office: (NRG) 223-4894
                        Home: 833-6845 (No calls after 10:00PM)
Fax:                                                     223-4641
Email:                                                 eohippus@austincc.edu             Alternate: eohippus@mail.utexas.edu
Web Page:                                         http://www2.austincc.edu/eohippus/
Course Description: An introduction to geology, minerals, rocks, plate tectonics, geological processes, landforms, and structural geology. A field trip will be required.
Prerequisites: reading, writing, and math proficiency.  Students who lack the prerequisites will be dropped from the course.
Required Texts and Materials:

  1. Understanding Earth (5th  edition, Grotzinger, Jordan, Press and Siever, 2007)
  2. Exercises in physical geology (12h edition, Hamblin and Howard, 2005): (Note: If you have a used lab manual make sure that it has 297 numbered pages and two end pages)
  3. Metric/English Unit Ruler
  4. Glue stick or glue
  5. Colored pencils (at lease 10 colors)
  6. No. 2 pencils and pencil eraser
  7. Protractor
  8. Electronic calculator
  9. Optional materials - Drafting compass, Scissors, Vented goggles marked ANSI Z87.1

Instructional Methodology: This course will be taught in illustrated lecture, discussion, laboratory exercise, and field investigation formats.  Student learning will be assessed through examinations of lecture and field trip material, and through practical quizzes on laboratory and field exercises.
Course Rationale: As the world's population grows and expands, humans are placing a greater demand on earth resources, encountering natural hazards more frequently, and are causing a rapid change in our climate.  To make educated decisions about these changes, consumers, voters, and decision-makers must understand how the Earth system works and how scientists have obtained this knowledge.  Studying physical geology provides a valuable perspective for this understanding.  This course is designed to give a basic understanding of geology and geological techniques for both geology and non-geology majors.
Course Objectives:

  1. Learn the basic principles of geology and how to identify common rocks and minerals.
  2. Review and apply basic concepts of mathematics, chemistry, and physics to geology.
  3. Develop the ability to interpret earth materials, processes and features.
  4. Develop an understanding of the methods that geologists use to study the Earth.
  5. Learn to make scientific observations and ask meaningful questions about the Earth.
  6. Conduct safe and productive laboratory and field investigations of the Earth.

Course Evaluation/Grading: Grades will be based on class exams (4, the last will be optional and comprehensive and can be used to replace another test score), lab quizzes, lab and field exercises, and participation.  The lecture exams will consist of a mix of definition, identification, fill in the blank, multiple choice, and essay/long answer questions with some of those questions based upon a provided reading assignment.  These tests will be administered during class time.  Four lab quizzes will be administered during lab.  These lab quizzes will contain practical questions about samples of Earth materials, maps, and photographs, as well as short answer questions about terminology and methodology.  Each lab will be graded based on participation, clean up, and a lab report that will be turned in one week following completion of the lab.
Field Trip: There will be a mandatory field trip in this class (Date TBD).  You must participate in an ACC physical geology field trip to pass this course.  Departmental policy states that students who do not attend the required field trip will fail this class.  If you are unable to participate in the scheduled class field trip it is your responsibility to make arrangements in advance to participate in another professor’s field trip.

First three exams (100 points each)                                                               300 pts
Final exam (100 pts., comprehensive, optional, replacing one grade above)            
Lab Quizzes (4 – 25 points each)                                                               100 pts
Lab and Field exercises (calculated from the lab/field exercise average)           50 pts
                                                                                    Total                450 pts
Grading scale: A > 403, B = 402 - 358, C = 357 - 313, D = 312 - 268, F < 268
Extra Credit: Minimal (< 5%) extra credit will be available on examinations.