University of South Alabama Course Syllabus

Course Information

Term: Fall 2017

GY111L, section 107, Physical Geology Lab (1 semester credit)

Course Format: Web-enhanced

Class days and time: T 11:15AM – 1:05 PM

Building/Room number: LSCB 335

Instructor Information

·  David T. Allison, Ph.D.

·  460-6381 (Earth Sciences main office)

· 

·  Office hours: http://www.usouthal.edu/geography/allison/CurrentSchedule.pdf (updated each term)

·  Life Sciences Bld. #49

Course Description

Materials that make up the Earth as well as the properties and geological processes that operate in the Earth. Special topics include Plate Tectonics, mineral chemistry, the rock cycle, sedimentary processes, metamorphism and geological map interpretation.

Course Topical Outline

GY111L Physical Geology Lab Topics
The following topics will be covered during the semester:
WEEK 1:
(8/22/17) / Lab. 1: Intro to Minerals; Mineral Assignment problems.
WEEK 2:
(8/29/17) / Lab. 2: Mineral I.D. and classification; Mineral Quiz.
Labor Day: Sept 4
WEEK 3:
(9/5/17) / Lab. 3: Minerals Test ; Igneous Rock Classification
WEEK 4:
(9/12/17) / Lab. 4: Igneous Rock Classification; Igneous Quiz
WEEK 5:
(9/19/17) / Lab. 5: Igneous Rock Test; Sedimentary Rock Classification
WEEK 6:
(9/26/17) / Lab. 6: Sedimentary Rock classification; Sedimentary Quiz
WEEK 7:
(10/3/17) / Lab. 7: Sedimentary Rock Test; Metamorphic Rock Classification
WEEK 8:
(10/10/17) / Lab. 8: Metamorphic Rock Classification; Metamorphic Quiz
Fall Break (Oct 12-13)
WEEK 9:
(10/17/17) / Lab. 9: Metamorphic Test; Intro Geological attitudes
WEEK 10:
(10/24/17) / Lab. 10: Geological Attitudes; Geological Attitude Assignment
WEEK 11:
(10/31/17) / Lab. 11: Geological Fold Structures; Folding Assignment
WEEK 12:
(11/7/17) / Lab. 12: Geological Fault Structures; Faulting Assignment
WEEK 13:
(11/14/17) / Lab. 13: Seismicity; Seismic Wave Assignment
WEEK 14:
(11/21/17) / Review for Lab Final
Thanksgiving: Nov 22-24
WEEK 15:
(11/28/17) / Lab Final
Last Day of Class / Friday Dec 1

Course Goals and Objectives

The GY111 Lab course goal is to train students to identify minerals, igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks, and metamorphic rocks using mineral physical properties, and rock classification systems. In addition the student will learn how to interpret fundamental structures from geological maps and cross-sections.

Course Pre-requisites / Co-requisites

Corequisite: GY111

Course Materials:

Online lab manual is provided by instructor

Class Attendance Policy

·  Students who complete less than 50% of assignments/exams will be assigned an F* grade.

·  Students are expected to have access to an internet-connected computer and be familiar with office productivity applications (spreadsheets, web browser, PDF browser, etc.).

·  Late arrivals (> 10 minutes after class begins) will be counted as absent. Attendance is 10% of final grade.

·  You may wish to review the ‘Attendance and Absences Policy’, in the Undergraduate Academic Policies and Procedures section of the Undergraduate and Graduate Bulletin for attendance and absences policy

Important Dates

·  Last day to add/change to audit: Aug 18

·  Last day to drop : Oct 20.

·  Holidays: See above weekly schedule

Assessments

·  Make-up exams will be given only in the case of a valid, documented emergency

·  There are 3 weekly lab assignments

·  Late work is not accepted and will be assigned 0 credit

·  No extra credit will be offered

Procedures for Assessing Student Performance
Grade Calculation Percentages:
Attendance: 10%
Weekly lab assignments & tests(Mineral Assignment, Mineral Test, Igneous Test, Sedimentary Test, Metamorphic Test, Attitude Assignment, Folding Assignment, Faulting Assignment, Seismic Assignment) : 10% each = 90%
Grading: A=90+, B=89-80, C=79-70, D=69-60, F= <60

Changes in Course Requirements

·  Not all classes progress at the same rate thus course requirements might have to be modified as circumstances dictate. You will be given written notice if the course requirements need to be changed.

Academic Disruption Policy

·  The University of South Alabama’s policy regarding Academic Disruption is found in The Lowdown, the student handbook.

http://www.southalabama.edu/lowdown/academicdisruption.shtml: Disruptive academic behavior is defined as individual or group conduct that interrupts or interferes with any educational activity or environment, infringes upon the rights and privileges of others, results in or threatens the destruction of property and/or is otherwise prejudicial to the maintenance of order in an academic environment.

·  At all times students to be cordial, courteous and respectful of faculty members and fellow students.

·  Cell phones, laptops, videotaping and other electronic devices are not allowed in lecture or lab

Student Academic Conduct Policy

·  The University of South Alabama’s policy regarding Student Academic Conduct Policy is found in The Lowdown http://www.southalabama.edu/lowdown/academicconductpolicy.shtml: The University of South Alabama is a community of scholars in which the ideals of freedom of inquiry, freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and freedom of the individual are sustained. The University is committed to supporting the exercise of any right guaranteed to individuals by the Constitution and the Code of Alabama and to educating students relative to their responsibilities.

·  Violation of academic conduct policy may result in receiving 0 credit for the affected exam/assignment.

·  Students enrolled in online courses are expected to adhere to the Academic Conduct Policy. In particular, students are expected to complete their own coursework and not provide unauthorized information or materials to another student.

·  Policy on plagiarism software.

Students may learn about the meaning of plagiarism and how to avoid it at the following

link: http://www.southalabama.edu/univlib/instruction/plagiarismforstudents.html.

Students with Disabilities

·  In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, students with bona fide disabilities will be afforded reasonable accommodations. The Office of Special Student Services (OSSS) will certify a disability and advise faculty members of reasonable accommodations. If you have a specific disability that qualifies you for academic accommodations, please notify the instructor/professor and provide certification from the Office of Special Student Services. OSSS is located at 5828 Old Shell Road at Jaguar Drive, (251-460-7212).

Course and Teacher Evaluation

·  Student input for course improvement and instructor evaluations are taken seriously and do effect change.

Course Supplements

·  GY111 normally has one or more undergraduate teaching assistants. Students are encouraged to request extra lab time, help sessions, one-on-one training with equipment, etc. with the TA if the instructor is not available.

Additional Requirements and Recommendations

Online Writing Support

·  The University of South Alabama provides online writing tutoring services through

SMARTHINKING, an online tutoring service. SMARTHINKING is available at

http://services.smarthinking.com. Students may enter the site by logging on with their Jag

number and using the last four digits of the social security number as the password. For

log-on problems, technical questions and/or on-campus writing assistance, contact

the USA Writing Center at 251-460-6480 or e-mail .

·  Information about the University Writing Center and Online Writing Lab can be found

online at

http://www.southalabama.edu/univlib/instruction/antiplagiarism/writinghelp.html.

Last Update: 08/15/2017

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