Geol
150: Methods in GeoloGY
Course INformation
General Course
Overview and Objectives:
Geology
is the study of the origin, structure, materials, and landforms of the
Earth
and the processes that have formed in over time. Topics of study in
geology
include water resources, river processes and flooding, waste disposal,
soil and
water pollution, groundwater, coastal processes and coastal erosion,
mountain
building, paleontology, plate tectonics, global climatic change,
landslides,
natural hazards such as volcanoes and earthquakes, energy and mineral
resources, and land use. We will explore
these topics as a class during our course meeting times and through
independent
studies.
The
general objectives of this course are to gain an understanding of a)
the Earth
as a system, b) how science works and, c) how the Geology and science
interact
with society. More specific objectives
of this course are
1. To understand the breadth and
significance of
the science of geology to the environment, to the Earth, to you, and to
society.
2. To become familiar with the methods used
in
solving geologic problems, including field observations, laboratory
work, data
analysis, hypothesis testing, and research.
Course
Text: Geology,
3rd edition by Chernicoff and Whitney, 2002
I
expect you to attend all classes AND LABS unless you have an excused
absence,
although I will not directly count attendance in your grade. Your
presence,
your preparedness, and your participation in all classes are critical
to your
success in the course as well as the success of the class.
Exams may be made up only if you have a valid
excuse with written documentation.
Classroom
Etiquette:
Please
be in the classroom on time. Show courtesy and respect to fellow
students by
being quiet and attentive when someone is speaking.
Being late to class and non-course related
talking during class are not just bad manners, but they diminish the
educational value of the course to the class as a whole.
Cells
phones: Turn them off and put them in your backpack—they should
neither be
seen nor heard during class.
Simply, any behavior disruptive to the education of the class will not be tolerated.
I have high
expectations for each of
you. I expect you to attend all classes
and I expect your active participation in class--by listening,
thinking,
asking questions, and relating ideas and topics we discuss to other
courses and
your past experiences. The primary
purpose of lecture is not to provide you with a "good set of
notes" ready for publication (nor is it to provide you with a set of
notes
to memorize to regurgitate for an exam).
Contribute to and engage yourself in the course--the quality of
your
experience in the course and the quality of the class depend on it.
I expect you to
dedicate at least 6-9
hours per week to our class outside of scheduled class meetings—whether
or not
there is an exam or an assignment pending.
I do not expect you to do well in this course without this work
effort.
I expect you to take
all assignments
seriously whether they are to be turned in or not.
I expect you to have lightly read appropriate
chapters in your text prior to class
time. I expect you to understand the
topics we discuss. Understanding is not
being able recite definitions of various terms (although I do expect
you to
know appropriate terminology).
Understanding means comprehension; it means you understand
relationships
between facts; it means you can explain relationships and make
predictions; it
means you see connections between observations that someone without the
understanding does not. For example, with respect to geology,
understanding is
being able to explain why the dams on the Mississippi River have
increased
rates of coastal erosion along the
To study for this
course. . . First the
obvious--do all assignments, come to all classes, read your text before
coming
to class, and study regularly rather than just prior to exams. Reread (or better--rewrite) your class notes
and add your own notes from the text.
Consider setting up study times with others to review and quiz
each
other. Importantly, I encourage you to
meet with me outside of class times to assist you with course-related
stuff or
your education in general. It is best to
try to see me during my office hours, but you are welcome to try to
catch me
anytime—I am around a lot. Also, email
is a great resource for certain types of questions.
I am anxious to get to know each of you past
our time in class and work with you to improve your understanding and
experience in the course.