Physical Geology: GEOL 115

SYLLABUS: Fall 2009

Description and Objectives

Note: You must be enrolled in a section of the Physical Geology Lab to complete this course

            This course will introduce students to the fundamentals of physical geology.  Students will explore aspects of Earth systems related to Earth materials and processes, as well as Earth history.  The lecture is closely ties to the lab, and the lab will give students “hands-on” experience with materials and concepts introduced during lectures.  The course is designed for students with little or no background in geology or the other sciences.   Students will gain an appreciation for the complexities of Earth systems, and most will begin to see the relevance of a fundamental understanding of geology to their daily lives.

Course Information

Instructor: Dr. Karl W. Leonard
Office: KH 204
Phone: (218) 477-2682
e-mail: leonardk@mnstate.edu
url: http://web.mnstate.edu/leonard
office hours: M, W, F 1:30- 3:30, T, Th 9:00-11:00 am, or whenever I’m in my office


text: S. Marshak,  Earth: Portrait of a Planet; W. W. Norton & Company, 3rd  ed.
lab text: R. M. Busch, ed., Laboratory Manual in Physical Geology, 8th ed.
Class web page can be found on: http://web.mnstate.edu/leonard
Evaluation/Grading

The total grade is calculated from a 70% contribution from lecture and 30% from lab.  See the laboratory schedule for the details of that part of the grade.  The lecture grade will be determined from:
Exams (50%): There will be 2 lecture exams, each worth 15% of the total grade, and a comprehensive final exam worth 20% of the total grade
Web and in-class exercises (15%):  4-7 web exercises and 3-7 in-class exercises will make up 15% of the total grade.


daily quizzes (5%): daily quizzes will make up 5% of the total grade.
Lab exercises (30%): 12 exercises and 2 field trips; Graded Lab Exercises = 25%, Field Trip Reports = 5% of total grade

Grading Scale: A > 92; A- 90-92; B+ 86-89; B 83-85; B- 80-82; C+ 76-79; C 73-75; C- 70-72; D+ 66-69; D 63-65; D- 60-62; F < 60

Conceptual Framework
 This course helps students achieve the conceptual framework of the educational unit.

Standards of Effective Practice
This course complies with the standards of effective academic practice which can be found at: http://cfl.state.mn.us/teachbrd/8710_2000.html, and INTASC Standards: http://www.ccsso.org/intasc.html

Instructional Strategies:
This course will be presented in a short-lecture format mixed with small and large group activities and discussions.

Course Requirements
There are primary components of this class. 1) Participation includes attendance and daily questions, work in discussion groups, lab exercises, and reports 2) Completion of lab reports.
Policies

Attendance:  Students are expected to attend all class meetings. 


Special Accommodations: Students with disabilities who believe they may need an accommodation in this class are encouraged to contact Greg Toutges, Coordinator of Disability Services at 477-5859 (Voice) or 1-800-627-3529 (MRS/TTY), CMU 114 as soon as possible to ensure that accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.
Academic Honesty:  (See MSUM Student Absence Policy, Student Handbook: http://web.mnstate.edu/sthandbook/ (under bookmark Student Policy Info).

Lecture Schedule (Tentative)

Week                                        Topic                                                                Reading

1          Dynamic Earth              M – Logistics/Introduction                                    Prelude – What is Geology
Aug. 24                                     W – Science and Geology                         Scientific Method p. 7
                                                F - Origins and Structure of Earth                           Ch. 1 & 2

2                                              M – Continental Drift                              Interlude A & Ch. 3
Aug. 31                                     W – Plate Tectonics I                                           Ch. 4
                                                F – Plate Tectonics II                                           Ch. 4

3                                              M - Labor Day – No Class
Sept. 7  Earth Materials             W – What is a Mineral                                         Ch. 5
                                                F -  Mineral Properties    

4                                              M- Mineral Types & Uses
Sept. 14                                     W- Rocks and the Rock Cycle                    Interludes B & C
                                                F - Magma & Igneous Rocks                                 Ch. 6
                                   
5
Sept. 21                                     M- Magma & Igneous Rocks
                                                W- Sediments & Sedimentary Rocks                       Ch. 7
                                                F- Sediments & Sedimentary Rocks

6                                              M - Sediments & Sedimentary Rocks
Sept. 28                                     W- Metamorphic Rocks                                        Ch. 8
                                             F - Exam 1 – Oct. 2                              

7          Surface Processes            M- Hydrologic Cycle & Soils                    Interlude F & Ch. 7
Oct. 5                                        W - Landslides                                                    Ch. 16                          
                                                F- Streams & Floods                                            Ch. 17

8                                              M – Fall Breather – No Class                                         
Oct. 12                                      W- Streams & Floods                                                      
                                                F- Groundwater                                                   Ch. 19

9                                              M- Groundwater
Oct. 19                                      W- Glaciers & Ice Ages                                        Ch. 22                          
                                                F- Glaciers & Ice Ages
                                                           
10         Tectonics                       M - Volcanoes                                                    Ch. 9
Oct. 26                                      W- Volcanoes                                                    
                                                F - Volcanoes                                                                            

11                                             M – Earthquakes                                                  Ch. 10
Nov. 2                                       W- Earthquakes
                                                F- Earthquakes and Seeing Inside Earth                    Interlude D

12                                             M - Crustal Deformation & Mountain Building         Ch. 11
Nov. 9                                       W- Crustal Deformation & Mountain Building
                                                F- Crustal Deformation & Mountain Building                                  

13         Earth History                M- Fossils                                                         Interlude E
Nov. 16                                     W- Geologic Time & Stratigraphy                          Ch. 12                                                                          
F- Geologic Time & Stratigraphy              

14                                             M - Exam 2 – Nov. 19               
Nov. 23                                     W - No Class – Fall Break

                                                F - No Class – Fall Break

15         Earth Resources             M – Petroleum Resources                                     Ch. 14
Nov. 30                                     W- Alternative Energy                                          Ch. 14
                                                F- Discussion – Energy & Politics

16                                             M – Global Change                                             Ch. 23
Dec. 7

 

Final Exam:                  December 11th – 9:00 am                        

 

Lab Schedule (Tentative) - Thursday Section - 3:00-5:50 pm

1                                  Introduction                                                                    Lab 1, p. 1
August 27

2                                  Rock Forming Minerals                                                    Lab 3, p. 47
September 3

3                                  Igneous Rocks                                                                Lab 2, 4, & 5
September 10

4                                  Sedimentary Rocks                                                          Lab 6
September 17

5                                  Landslide & Streams Field Trip                                          Handout
September 24                 

6                                  GPS Lab                                                                        Handout
October 1                      

7                                  Topographic Maps                                                           Lab 9
October 8

8                                  Streams                                                                         Lab 11
October 15                    

9                                  Glaciers                                                                         Lab 13
October 22                    

10                                 Plate Tectonics                                                                Lab 2
October 29                    

11                                 Volcanoes                                                                      Lab 5
November 5

12                                 Earthquakes                                                                    Lab 16
November 12

13                                 Structures & Geologic Maps                                              Lab 10
November 19

14                                 Geologic Maps II                                                             Lab 10

December 3       

 

NOTE:  Graded Lab Exercises = 20% of the total grade, Field Trip Reports = 5%

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