Southern Connecticut State University

Earth Science 101

Geology and Oceanography

 

Course Syllabus, Fall Semester 2002-2003

 

Instructor:  Dr. Thomas Fleming                                      Office:  Morrill Hall, Room 214-A

e-mail: fleming@southernct.edu                                        Office Hours: MWF 11:00am-12:00pm; W 3:00-5:00pm, or by appointment

Office Phone: 203-392-5837 (this number has voice mail to leave messages)

Department Office Phone:  203-392-5835 (hours 10:00am-12:30pm; 2:30-4:30pm)

 

Lecture:  Morrill Hall, Room 213; MW, 2:00-3:00 pm

Laboratory:  Morrill Hall, Room 213;  Monday 3:00 pm-04:40 pm

 

This class is being taught on an accelerated basis and will be completed before the normal academic term ends.  The final exam will be held on Monday November 25, 2002

 

Course Description:  This course provides an introductory survey of geology and oceanography for non-science majors.

 

Required Text: 

 

Dutch, S. I., Monroe, J. S., and Moran, J. M. (1998)  Earth Science.  Wadsworth Publishing Company,  Belmont, CA, 596 p.

 

Laboratory:   There will be no lab during the first week of class (Labor Day).  Bring your textbook, calculator, small plastic ruler, pencil, and an eraser to each laboratory session.  Attendance in the laboratory portion of this class is required and all lab work must be completed and handed in by the end of class unless otherwise instructed.  Late labs will not be accepted.  You will receive periodic announced quizzes at the start of the lab period

 

Examinations:  There will be two one-hour , mid-term exams and one two-hour comprehensive final exam.  All exams will be multiple choice format and will cover lecture materials, lab materials and reading from the text.  Bring several number two pencils and a calculator to each exam.

 

Make-up Labs, Exams and Quizzes  If a legitimate and unavoidable conflict arises such that you need to miss a lab, exam or quiz, you must contact me (e-mail, voice mail, phone, message to Dept. Secretary, or written note) at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled date to be eligible for a make-up.  All excuses must be appropriately documented.  The make-up exams will consist of a single comprehensive exam that will be administered on the last day of class. 

 

Grading:  Final grades will be based on the two mid-term exams, the final exam, lab exercises, and lab quizzes.  They will be weighted as follows:

 

Lab Exercises                        10%

Lab Quizes                            15%

Two Mid-term Exams           20% each (40%  total)

Final Exam                             35%

 

Class Policies:

 

- Attendance at all lectures and labs is mandatory.  Attendance will be taken periodically and will be used in determining final grades for boarder-line class performance.

- All exams, lab work, and homework are to be completed individually unless specifically noted by the instructor.

- Coursework must be turned in on-time.  Late work will not be accepted.

- No “Extra Credit” will be given.

- Students are expected to behave in a manner that is consistent with the Student Code of Conduct as outlined within the Universities Student Handbook.

- This course involves use of expensive laboratory equipment and samples.  Damage of equipment resulting from misuse or abuse will constitute grounds for immediate administrative withdrawal from the course.

 

 

 

 

                                       Course Outline

 

Week	Dates	Topics	Laboratory	Reading
1	Sept 2–6	Monday  Sept 2, Labor Day, No Class Introduction to Earth Science	No Lab	Ch 1
2	Sept 9-13	Minerals and Mineral Resources	Minerals I	Ch 2
3	Sept 16-20	Rocks	Minerals II	Ch 3
4	Sept 23-27	Weathering, Soil, and Mass Wasting	Igneous Rocks	Ch 4
5	Sept 30 Oct 4	Monday, Sept 30, Mid-Term Exam 1 Surface Water and Ground Water	Sedimentary  Rocks	Ch 5
6	Oct 7- Oct 11	Earth Quakes and Earth’s Interior Plate Tectonics	Metamorphic Rocks	Ch 7,Ch 8
7	Oct 14- 18	Volcanoes and Igneous Activity Friday, Oct 18, Midterm Grades	Review Rocks Peabody Museum Field trip	Ch 9
8	Oct 21-25	Mountains and Mountain Building Geologic Time and the History of Life	Topographic Maps	Ch 10 Ch 11
9	Oct 28– 31	Monday, Oct 28, Midterm Exam 2 Seawater – origin and characteristics	Marine Geography	Ch 12
10	Nov 4- 8	Sea floor	Plate Boundaries	Ch 12
11	Nov 11-15	Ocean Circulation, Waves and Tides	Hydrographic Charts	Ch 13
12	Nov 18-22	Shorelines and Shoreline processes	Marine Coasts	Ch 13 Ch 18 (434-443)
13	Nov 25-29	Monday, November 25,  2:00-5:00pm Comprehensive Final Exam

 

Note : This syllabus is meant to be a guide to the topics that will be covered in this course.  Coverage of individual topics and exam dates may be adjusted during the semester, any changes will be announced in class.