GEOL 1302 - Earth Science II Lecture - Fall 2004

Instructor:	Dr. Michael A. Jordan, Associate Professor of Geology
Office:	Manning Hall, Room 136
Phone:	(361) 593-3310 or (361) 593-3586
e-mail:	kfmaj00@tamuk.edu
Office Hours:	MWF 8:30-9:00 AM, 10:00-11:00 AM, 2:00-3:00 PM; TR 8:30-9:30 AM and 11:00-12:00 AM; 2:00-3:00 PM MWF (other times by appointment.)

Course Description 1302. Earth Science II
Survey of astronomy, the effects of physical processes operating on the earth's surface (geomorphology), and of earth history as interpreted from fossils and rocks (historical geology). The significance to society of the earth sciences including environmental problems and natural resource exploration and utilization. Occasional field trips may be arranged. Designed for students not majoring in science or engineering. Prerequisite: GEOL 1301.

Applicability to General Education (Core Curriculum) Requirement GEOL 1302 and its associated laboratory course, GEOL 1102, may be taken to satisfy the Laboratory Science portion of the University General Education Requirements for baccalaureate degrees.

Required Textbook Earth Science, 10^th Edition, by E. J. Tarbuck and F. K. Lutgens: Prentice Hall, Inc., 2002.

Optional (Recommended) Textbook Study Guide for Tarbuck and Lutgens' Earth Science, 10^th Ed., by Kenneth Pinzke: Prentice Hall, Inc., 2002.

Geosciences Website Resources This syllabus and other items relevant to Geology 1302 can be accessed from M. A. Jordan's homepage at:  http://www.tamuk.edu/geo/jordan

Course Objectives The general, elementary objectives of GEOL 1302 are embodied in the course description (see above).  A detailed chapter-by-chapter list of items is included with other course-support materials available from the GEOL 1302 portion of M. A. Jordan's website.

Schedule of Topics, Readings and Exams Hard-copy pages of the tentative course schedule are distributed along with this syllabus. The schedule can also be downloaded from the GEOL 1302 portion of M. A. Jordan's website. If unforeseen circumstances make it necessary to change this schedule, every attempt will be made to announce the changes in class and amend the web document.

Student Learner Outcomes Students who complete GEOL 1302 will:
·  understand a variety of earth science concepts and topics related to the erath's osrigin and place in space, mountain building, geological time, historical geology and life through time, "external" earth processes (weathering, erosion, running water and groundwater, arid-land and glacial processes)
·  be able to relate the operation of earth processes discussed in the course to their environment;
·  develop an appreciation of science in general through study of one particular scientific discipline;
Degree of mastery of these items will be measured by examinations consisting of objective and open-ended questions, and by pre- and post-course assessmentn tests (more details on this are given below).

Determination of Grade There will be three equal-weighted examinations over each logical group of chapters to be covered during the course, as indicated in the schedule. The lowest of the exam grades will be discarded, and the average of the remaining scores will determine the course grade. Exams will be based on the text readings, lecture notes and any handouts supplied, and will consist of both objective and open-ended items.
Grading standards are:  90-100% = A;  80-89% = B;  70-79% = C;  60-69% = D;  0-59% = F.

Mastering the Subject Earth Science II is an introductory course. Its main aim is give an overview of an extremely broad and varied subject, and there is little time to pursue any topic very deeply. It introduces many terms and concepts likely to be unfamiliar to anyone with no previous experience in the field, and it requires significant study time to absorb all these bits of information. To help you keep track of them, the textbook includes lists of Key Terms and review questions at the end of each chapter, and we recommend that you go over these carefully. The detailed list of Learning Objectives represents another attempt to promote efficient studying, by helping you assess what you have learned. Not all items will be covered, but be sure to note the ones that we do address.

Reading Assignments, Routine, and Other Policies General Items

• Assigned readings for the lecture and lab are listed in the tentative schedules. We recommend that you invest some study time in reading over the lecture readings before they are covered in class. Staying abreast of the subject is important, and this is a very good way to do so.
  
• As stated in the Student Handbook, a student can be dropped from a class for excessive absences. If you accumulate too many unexcused absences, you can be dropped from the course. Good class attendance has been shown time and again to correlate with good grades. As important as attendance is, there still may be situations that warrant an excused absence (see the student handbook). It is essential to give notification and arrange in advance regarding how to deal with makeup exams or other work. Arrangements for makeups will be allowed no later than one week after the due date for the assignement or test that has been missed.
  

For Students with Disabilities

• Students with disabilities, including learning disabilities, who wish to request accommodations in this class should notify the office of Services for Students with Disabilities early in the semester so that appropriate arrangements can be made (see pages 2 and 11 of the Student Handbook).

Policies Regarding Academic Misconduct

• You are expected to practice academic honesty in every aspect of this course and all other courses. You should be familiar with the material on page 23, section 100 of the Student Handbook which deals with academic dishonesty.  Academic dishonesty includes such things as: 
  • Cheating, plagiarism, collusion or other forms of academic dishonesty.
  • Fabricating information to falsify results obtained from a research or laboratory experiment.
  • Unauthorized possession of examinations, reserved library materials, laboratory materials or other course related materials.
  • Failure to follow the instructor or proctor's test-taking instructions, including but not limited to not setting aside notes, books or study guides while the test is in progress, failing to sit in designated locations and/or leaving the classroom/ test site without permission during a test.
  • Utilizing cell phones, pagers or other devices for the purpose of photographing test questions, text messaging test information or other forms of academic misconduct.
  • Unauthorized changing of grades on an examination, in an instructor's grade book or on a grade report
  • Falsification of student transcript or other academic records; or unauthorized access to academic computer records.
  • Nondisclosure or misrepresentation in filling out applications or other university records.

Nonacademic Misconduct / Disruption of Activities, Events, Classrooms
The university respects the rights of instructors to teach and students to learn. Maintenance of these rights requires campus conditions that do not impede their exercise. Examples of such misconduct include:

• Prevention of the convening, continuation, or orderly conduct of any class, lab or class activity.
• Engaging in conduct that interferes with or disrupts university teaching, research or class activities such as:
  • making loud and distracting noises,
  • repeatedly answering cell phones or allowing pagers to beep,
  • exhibiting erratic or irrational behavior,
  • persisting in speaking without being recognized,
  • repeatedly leaving and entering the classroom or test site without authorization, and
  • making physical threats or verbal insults to the fellow students, faculty members, or staff.
• Any individual engaging in such disruptive behavior may be subject to disciplinary action (see page 23, section 100 of the Student Handbook). Such incidents will be adjudicated by the Dean of Students under nonacademic procedures.

Sexual Harassment

• Sexual harassment of students and employees at Texas A&M University-Kingsville is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Any member of the university community violating this policy will be subject to disciplinary action. Please refer to the website at www.tamuk.edu/sass for the most current university policy on Sexual Harassment. This policy does not address the issues of sexual assault and/or physical violence. Incidents of this nature should be referred to the University Police Department or other appropriate law enforcement agency.

Important Dates for Fall Semester 2004 Written permission required from adviser, professor, chair, and dean to register or change classes:  August 30 - September 8
Midsemester grades due in the Office of the Registrar:  October 20 (9:00 AM)
Last day to drop a course with an automatic grade of Q:  November 1 (5:00 PM)
Thanksgiving vacation:  November 25-26
Last day to drop a course or withdraw from the University:  November 29 (5:00 PM)
Last class day:  December 1
Study Day (no classes):  December 2
Senior Grades due at Registrar's Office:  Tuesday, December 7, 9:00 AM
Final examinations (= Exam #3) for GEOL 1302:  Wednesday, December 8, 8:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Last revised August 25, 2004 by M.A. Jordan