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ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Physical Geology is a large division of geology concerned with Earth’s
materials,
changes of the surface and interior of Earth, and the
forces that cause these changes.
Earth’s materials and these changes are studied and
interpreted within the context of
plate tectonics,
the unifying scientific principle of all of the physical Earth sciences.
Plate tectonics explains that Earth’s surface is
composed of approximately 24 brittle, rocky plates that are in constant motion,
colliding, moving apart and sliding past each other.
The plate tectonic principle is a scientific model,
an intellectual construct that helps humans explain Earth as a huge, dynamic
machine powered by an internal heat engine.
Earth’s internal heat provides energy for the
plates’ movements.
As a result, the processes of land formation,
mountain building, even the formation of new ocean floor material and deep
oceanic trenches are explained by this elegant, fascinating principle.
INSTRUCTOR:
W. Patrick Seward, Ph.D.
OFFICE HOURS:
Monday through Friday: 8:00 to 9:15 am; also
by appointment – or just drop by.
OFFICE: Taylor Library 107
PHONE:
My office: 354-7835; Department of Math and Science: 343-7695
EMAIL:
wpseward@rsu.edu
CLASSROOMS: Lecture:
TL 113, Taylor Library; Laboratory:
LH 107, Loshbaugh
CLASS HOURS:
Lecture: MWF 11:00-11:50; Lab: T 12:30-2:30, W 2 – 4:00
TEXTS:
Physical Geology,
11th ed., by Plummer, Carlson, McGeary
Laboratory Manual in Physical Geology, 7th ed., Richard
M. Busch, Ed.
GRADES:
For the lecture portion of this class, there will be four one-hour examinations,
each worth 20
percent (a total of 80%) of your final grade.
This class has a required laboratory that is worth 20 percent of your
overall grade.
Late laboratory assignments and missed lab quizzes
are not
accepted and
may not
be made up.
EXAMS:
In
the lecture portion of this course, examinations will be composed of short essay
questions.
Each exam will be worth 100 points.
Exams will be announced one week in advance.
Make a real effort to take exams at the originally-scheduled time.
MAKEUP EXAMS ARE RIGOROUS AND
MUST BE TAKEN WITHIN ONE WEEK OF THE MISSED EXAM.
YOU MAY MAKE UP ONLY ONE EXAM.
ANY SUCCEEDING EXAM MISSED WILL BE ASSIGNED A SCORE OF ZERO.
Examinations will cover material presented in the lecture and
text. You will also be responsible
for any outside reading assignments.
Be prepared.
COURSE OBJECTIVES AND ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES:
1.
The student will be able to accurately identify and discuss the genesis
of approximately
30 major rock-forming minerals and approximately 50 common representative
samples of the igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rock groups.
Assessment of this objective will be by weekly hands-on laboratory
quizzes and a comprehensive laboratory final exam (essentially a post-semester
test).
2.
The student will be able to discuss the factors involved in the
crystallization and
composition of igneous magmas, the influence of plate tectonics on igneous
activity, and the formation of igneous rocks and rock bodies.
This objective will be assessed both by semester exams in the lecture
class and within the weekly, hands-on quizzes in the laboratory.
3.
The student will able to explain and apply in a laboratory setting the
knowledge of how
the processes of chemical and physical
weathering alter rocks to form sediment, how these sediments are eroded,
transported and deposited. This
objective will be assessed by semester exams in the lecture class and in the
laboratory environment where more “hands on” assessment tools like a stream
table and lithified sedimentary features are utilized.
4.
The student will be expected to apply in a series process-oriented
problems, the concepts
of relative and absolute geologic time, how this almost infinite span of time is
used by geologists as a tool to illustrate the uniformitarianistic processes of
the formation of Earth’s major geomorphic features.
The study of geologic time will be assessed by a combination of lecture
testing and graded lab projects which will physically place into perspective the
massive length of time under study.
5.
The student will directly observe in the field environment mass wasting
and the processes
of streams and flooding. Emphasis
will be placed on prevention and remediation of environmental damage caused by
these processes. Mass wasting will
be classified, controlling factors will be discussed, and common types observed.
6.
The student will be able to solve problems associated with the critical
subject of
groundwater. Laboratory projects will
emphasize porosity and permeability of the aquifer, the water table, the
movement of groundwater, wells, effects of groundwater action, and pollution of
groundwater.
7.
In the laboratory, the student will construct models which illustrate the
concepts of
stress, strain, and the resulting geologic structure such as faults and folds.
Geologic maps and interpretation of the geologic past utilizing geologic
structure will be examined.
8.
The student will learn about the causes of earthquakes, the concept of
seismic waves and
measuring the size
of an earthquake as well as earthquake prediction.
In the laboratory the student will work on a project to locate and
measure an earthquake and have a chance to predict and earthquake along the San
Andreas Fault zone in California.
READING ASSIGNMENTS:
In order for our class to have active participation and discussion, it is
important
that all reading assignments be completed before the next day’s lecture.
Each week’s reading assignment will be posted in the classroom before the
first lecture of the week.
Bring your lecture text to every lecture
and laboratory meeting. I expect
you to have read and studied your text and outside reading assignments prior to
all lectures.
PLANNING:
A general rule in planning study time for college courses is two hours of
outside preparation for
each one hour of class per week.
Consequently, you must plan to study 6 to 8 hours per week outside the
lecture and laboratory periods for this course.
Furthermore, you should realize the consistent application
produces results that are superior to last-minute cramming.
Recognize that 6 or 8 hours of study the night before an exam cannot
substitute for the cumulative effect of 24 to 32 hours of study which should
have been spent in the weeks prior to examination.
ATTENDANCE:
Attendance is mandatory. Roll will
be taken at every lecture and lab meeting.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:
Rogers State University is committed to providing students with
disabilities equal access to educational programs and services. Any
student who has a disability that he or she believes will require some form of
academic accommodation must inform the professor of such need during or
immediately following the first class attended. Before any
educational accommodation can be provided, it is the responsibility of each
student to prove eligibility for assistance by registering for services through
Student Affairs.
Students needing more information about Student Disability Services
should contact the Office of Student Development at
343-7707.
ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT:
Students are expected to follow university policies as put forth in the
Institution's Student Code of Conduct.
In accordance with Title 2 of the Student Code (page 11),
instances of alleged academic misconduct will follow the policies and procedures
as described in Title 12. As a
general rule, faculty at Rogers State University has the responsibility of
enforcing the academic code.
Therefore, if academic misconduct is suspected, I will submit a letter of
alleged academic misconduct to the Office of Student Affairs.
NON-ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT:
In order to maintain a safe and effective learning environment, students
are expected to fully comply with The Student Code.
Disruptive behavior will not be
tolerated. It is the
responsibility of each student to read and become familiar with the policies of
the Student Code.