Physical Geology GLG101
Spring 2010
Instructor: Thomas D. Hoisch
Classroom: 12-223
Class times: MWF 10:20-11:10
Office hours: MW2:30-3:30
Office: 12-227
Phone number: 523-1904
E-mail:
Credit hours: 3
Class website:
Required Texts:Earth, An Introduction to Physical Geology, 9th edition, by E.J. Tarbuck, F.K. Lutgens, and D. Tasa. Pearson Prentice Hall
Laboratory Manual In Physical Geology, 8th edition by R.M. Busch and D. Tasa. Pearson Prentice Hall
Encounter Earth: Interactive Geoscience Explorations, 1st edition, by Kluge, Pearson Prentice Hall.
Coerequisites
Students must be enrolled in GLG103 to be enrolled in this class.
Course Description
This course provides an introduction to geology with an emphasis on physical and chemical processes. Topics to be covered include the fundamental aspects of the earth's crust, rocks and minerals, structural geology, earthquakes, the earth’s internal structure, and tectonics. There will be three mid-term exams and a final. This class counts toward liberal studies lab science credit.
Method of Evaluation
Three mid-term exams, 100 possible points each:75% of final grade
Weekly take-home quizzes, 100 possible points each:5% of final grade
Comprehensive final, 100 possible points:20% of final grade
For all exams, grades may be curved, although scores ≥90% will always be considered “A” and ≤50% will always be considered “F.” Midterm exams will cover material presented in class and in the text and will not be cumulative. The final exam is comprehensive. Students absent from an exam must present a written excuse documenting a situation beyond their control. Students who know in advance that they cannot be present for an exam must make arrangements prior to the exam for the absence to be excused. At faculty discretion, individuals with excused absences from exams will either have all other exams count proportionally more or a makeup exam will be given. Tests will consist of some or all of the following: short answer and multiple choice. In calculating the final grade, the lowest score of the three mid-term exams will be automatically dropped, provided all three exams are taken. Unexcused absences from exams will automatically receive a score of zero, whichcannot be dropped. All students must take the final, and the final exam score will count toward the final grade without exception.
Classroom policies
See attached.
Students should also read the Classroom Management Statement, which describes University expectations regarding classroom behavior. This may be found at
Methods of Instruction
1.Students are required to attend lectures. Students will be responsible for material covered in lectures, even if not also covered in the text. Some of the material covered in lecture will not be covered in the text. Students who must miss lectures have the responsibility of obtaining lecture notes from other students.
2.Classes preceding exams will include a discussion of the material to be covered on the exam.
3.All questions are welcome at any time. Your questions help me to better explain material and to elaborate on topics that are especially interesting to you.
4. The first lab (GLG103) is scheduled for the week of 1/18 (second week of classes).
5. There will be weekly quizzes to accompany the chapter reading assignments. The quizzes are found on the CD that comes with the textbook. Students should print them out and hand them in at class time on the dates they are due. Students should print out an additional copy for their records because the copy handed in will not be returned. Quizzes may NOT be e-mailed to the instructor.
6. A website for the class will be maintained that will include the lecture powerpoint presentations and assignments given in class. The website is Students should be aware that the lecture presentations do not stand alone as study materials for exams because they contain very little text. In studying for exams, the lecture presentations must be considered along with lecture notes, taken in class, to be of any value.
7. The North Learning Assistance Center will be offering tutoring in GLG101 during the Fall 09 semester. Students may access the tutors by calling the NLAC at 523-5524 and scheduling an appointment. Appointments are 45 minutes long and are free.
8.Students are encouraged to join NAU’s Geology Club, a student run organization that arranges trips to various collection sites throughout the state. The president is Carmen Winn and her e-mail address is . ContactCarmen for further information.
9. For the field trip in glg103 held during the week of 4/5, students must plan to be gone for 5-hours beginning at the time the lab starts. If an institutional excuse is required due to conflicts with other classes that occur after the normal 3-hour lab period, they will be provided.
Tentative Schedule - subject to change
Week ofSubjectTarbuck and Lutgens
1/11Introduction.Chap. 1
No lab this week
1/18Plate tectonics. Chap. 2
LAB: NAGT/AGI manual:
Laboratory 4, parts 4a and 4b,Introduction to Rocks and the Rock Cycle
1/25Matter and MineralsChap. 3
LAB: Encounter Earth:
Exploration 11, Plate tectonics: Divergent and Transform Boundaries
Exploration 12, Plate tectonics: Convergent Boundaries
2/1Igneous rocksChap. 4
NAGT/AGI manual
Laboratory 3, Mineral Properties, Uses and Identification
2/8Volcanoes. Exam I on FridayChap. 5
Lab: NAGT/AGI manual
Laboratory 2, part 2c, Origin of Magma
Laboratory 5, parts 5a and 5b, Igneous rocks
2/15Sedimentary rocksChap. 7
LAB: Encounter Earth
Exploration 13: Global Distribution of Volcanoes
Exploration 14: Lava Flows
Exploration 15: Calderas
2/22Metamorphic rocks.Chap. 8
LAB: NAGT/AGI manual
Laboratory 9, parts a, b, c, d and e (e requires stereoscopes).
Topographic Maps, Aerial Photographs, and Satellite Images
LAB: Encounter Earth
Exploration 2: Topographic maps (do this as a homework assignment if necessary)
3/1Geologic time
LAB: NAGT/AGI manual
Laboratory 6, parts 6b, 6c, and 6d, Sedimentary RocksChap. 9
3/8Crustal deformation. Chap. 10
LAB: NAGT/AGI manual
Laboratory 7, part 7b, Description and Interpretation of Metamorphic Rock Samples
3/15SPRING BREAK
3/22Structural Geology/Earthquakes. Exam II on FridayChap. 10/11
LAB: Encounter Earth
Exploration 3: Stream dynamics
Exploration 17: Geologic History – Dinosaur Ridge
Exploration 18: Geologic History – Red Rocks
3/29EarthquakesChap. 11
LAB: NAGT/AGI manual
Laboratory 8, parts 8a, b, c, and d. Dating of Rocks, Fossils and Geologic Events
4/5Earth’s interior.Chap. 12
LAB: Field trip: SP Crater
4/12Earth’s Interior/Divergent boundaries. Chaps. 12/13
LAB: NAGT/AGI manual
Laboratory 10: Geologic Structures, Maps and Block diagrams
4/19Divergent margins. Exam III on WednesdayChap.13
LAB: NAGT/AGI manual
Laboratory 16, parts b, c, and d. Do “e” for extra credit.
Earthquake hazards and human risks
4/26Reading week.Chap. 13
Final Exam: Monday, May 3, 10:00-12:00
NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY
POLICY STATEMENTS
SAFE ENVIRONMENT POLICY
NAU’s Safe Working and Learning Environment Policy seeks to prohibit discrimination and promote the safety of all individuals within the university. The goal of this policy is to prevent the occurrence of discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status and to prevent sexual harassment, sexual assault or retaliation by anyone at this university.
You may obtain a copy of this policy from the college dean’s office. If you have concerns about this policy, it is important that you contact the departmental chair, dean’s office, the Office of Student Life (928-523-5181), the academic ombudsperson (928-523-9368), or NAU’s Office of Affirmative Action (928-523-3312).
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The IRB meets once each month. Proposals must be submitted for review at least fifteen working days before the monthly meeting. You should consult with your course instructor early in the course to ascertain if your project needs to be reviewed by the IRB and/or to secure information or appropriate forms and procedures for the IRB review. Your instructor and department chair or college dean must sign the application for approval by the IRB. The IRB categorizes projects into three levels depending on the nature of the project: exempt from further review, expedited review, or full board review. If the IRB certifies that a project is exempt from further review, you need not resubmit the project for continuing IRB review as long as there are no modifications in the exempted procedures.
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Individual students and faculty members are responsible for identifying instances of academic dishonesty. Faculty members then recommend penalties to the department chair or college dean in keeping with the severity of the violation. The complete policy on academic integrity is in Appendix F of NAU’s Student Handbook.
ACADEMIC CONTACT HOUR POLICY
The Arizona Board of Regents Academic Contact Hour Policy (ABOR Handbook, 2-206, Academic Credit) states: “an hour of work is the equivalent of 50 minutes of class time…at least 15 contact hours of recitation, lecture, discussion, testing or evaluation, seminar, or colloquium as well as a minimum of 30 hours of student homework is required for each unit of credit.”
The reasonable interpretation of this policy is that for every credit hour, a student should expect, on average, to do a minimum of two additional hours of work per week; e.g., preparation, homework, studying.