Physical
Geology Syllabus (Geosciences 1410) - Fall, 2006
There
are no prerequisites for this course.
Instructor
- Dr. Richard Schofield, Professor of Geology
Instructor’s
office - Rm 224,
Required
textbooks:
The
Earth by Tarbuck and Lutkens , 1999(bring each
time for lecture)
Lab
Manual for Physical Geology by Zumberge, Rutford and Carter - Up-dated 10th edition,
1999
( bring each time for lab). In particular, if you do not obtain a new lab
manual and bring it to class you may be dropped from the course.
Course objectives--to learn about earth materials and the processes on
our planet.
Attendance
requirements – see attached sheet
Course
requirements: You must take all lecture exams, a final exam and lab tests. In
addition, there is a field trip. If any of these are missed and not made up you
get a zero on that assignment.
Lecture
assignments: read the pertinent assignments prior to each class. These are from
the Tarbuck and Lutgens
text. You are responsible for any material in these chapters as well as lecture
material on exams.
Chap.
1, 2 Introduction
to Geology, Plate Tectonics
Chap.
3 Matter and Minerals
Chap.
4 Igneous Rocks
Chap.
5 Volcanic Activity
Test
I
Chap.
6 Weathering and Soils
Chap.
7 Sedimentary Rocks
Chap.
8 Metamorphic Rocks
Chap.
9 Geologic Time
Chap.
15 Mass Wasting
Test
II
Chap.
16 Running Water
Chap.
17 Groundwater
Chap.
10 Crustal
Deformation
Test
III
Chap.
11 Earthquakes
Chap.
12 Earth’s Interior
Final
Exam ???- comprehensive - counts the same as the first three tests.
Grade Scale
A 92
A- 88
B+ 84
B 80
B- 76
C+ 72
C 68
C- 64
D 54
F below 54
75%
of the grade is based on the lecture tests plus the final exam. 25% is based on
lab work.
Microcomputer
assignment- there will be an assignment to do getting information from the
world-wide web. More on this will be discussed in class.
Policy
on cheating or plagarism – handled on an individual
basis
Lab Schedule
Lab 1 – Plate Tectonics video
and exercises in lab manual
Lab 2 – Minerals – hand
sample identification
Lab 3 – Minerals - quiz
Lab 4 – Igneous Rocks- hand
samples
Lab 5 – Volcanic Eruptions–
two lab videos - discussion
Lab 6 – Sedimentary rocks –
hand sample exercise
Lab 7 – Sedimentary Rocks –
field trip to the
Lab 8 –Metamorphic Rocks -
hand samples and Geologic Time
Lab 9 –Introduction to maps –
naming them, locating positions, and determining distances. We also do various map
exercises.
Lab 10 – Video on Landslides
– discussion and map exercises
Lab 11 - Videos on river
flooding and map exercises
Lab 12 – Video(s) on Coastal
flooding and map exercises
Final Lab – lab test
Attendance and Make-Up Policy for Dr. Schofield
Usually class attendance and grades show a close
correlation so try to attend all classes if possible. Attendance at labs and
lecture exams is required and students should be there unless there is a valid
excuse. Those who miss my labs or lecture exams make extra work for me. Please
do not miss them if at all possible.
Labs – Come to your scheduled lab each week but if
you do miss it try to attend an alternative lab for the week. If you do miss a
weekly lab completely then you need to make it up ASAP. Check with me about how
to make it up. If you do not make it up
you get a zero for that lab. Also, the lab must be made up in a reasonable
period of time.
Lecture and Final Exams - if you miss an exam for any reason then I want
a typewritten note explaining why you missed it. A hand-written note from a
dean, coach, or doctor that you give me can substitute for this. If you
do not give me this note when you do make up the exam I reserve the right to
deduct points from your exam. Also, if you miss an exam for a non-valid reason
I reserve the right to deduct points from that exam. Employment during exams is
not an excuse to miss exams nor is " personal
business"!
Missed
exams should be made up ASAP (within four days of your return to school) and if
delayed too long may result in your being dropped from the course.
McMurry University abides by
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which stipulates that no
otherwise qualified student shall be denied the benefits of an education
“solely by reason of a handicap”. If you have a documented disability that may
impact your performance in this class and for which you may require
accommodations, you must be registered with and provide documentation of your
disability to the Disability Services Office, located in Old Main, Room 102.
For more information, contact James Greer at 793-4880 or jgreer@mcm.edu