COURSE SYLLABUS
1. TITLE OF COURSE: Environmental Geology
PREFIX/NUMBER: GEY 135 CREDIT HOURS: 3
2. PREREQUISITES: REA 090, MAT 090, ENG 090, or equivalent
assessment test scores
3. RESOURCES NEEDED:
TEXT: Introduction to Environmental Geology, 3rd edition by Edward Keller
4. COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Introduces geology and its relationship to man`s environment. Covers geologic hazards such as floods, landslides, avalanches, earthquakes and volcanoes. Focuses on surface and groundwater resources in terms of exploitation and man`s responsibility to protect these resources from contamination. The geologic aspects of land use practices, as well as mineral and energy resource exploitation are reviewed and related to legislation regarding environmental law.
COURSE GOALS:
To learn enough geology to have an appreciation and understanding of the world. and To become an educated, thinking citizen on environmental issues. Also, to learn the cause, prediction and prevention of natural disasters.
5. COURSE COMPETENCIES:
Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:
a) Discuss the role of experimental work in geology as it pertains to human interaction with the geologic environment.
b) Relate plate tectonics to the location of earthquakes, volcanoes and the origin of mineral deposits.
c) Summarize information that might be useful in predicting earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
d) Relate principles of land-use planning to natural hazards such as expansive soils, floods, avalanche and landslides.
e) Describe the methods and effects of pollution on soil, surface water and ground water systems.
f) Describe the environmental impacts of mineral resource development.
g) Discuss the pros and cons of energy development produced by fossil fuels, nuclear fusion, hydro and wind power, solar energy.
h) Discuss the management strategies for hazardous chemical, biological and radioactive waste.
6. EVALUATION PROCEDURES:
There will be two (2) examinations consisting of material from lecture and the textbook. Examinations are of equal weight and are graded in percentages. They will consist of true false, multiple choice, definitions, fill in the blank and/or short essay and geologic interpretations. The exams will be retained by the department.
There will be end of chapter review questions for every chapter due the day of the exam that covers that chapter (refer to the class schedule). They must be typed, labeled and in the correct order. Other homework assignments will include gathering, reading and taking notes on recent newspaper articles. Also, there will be various in-class assignments and quizzes.
In addition, there will be an individual project that is to be on a geologic topic of your choice. Your research will be presented as a poster in class. Refer to the last page of the syllabus for further instructions.
Grade Break Down (pts.) Final Grades (pts.)
Exams 400 pts 92% to 100% A
Homework 300 pts 82% to 91% B
In-class Assignments 100 pts 72% to 81% C
Individual Project 200 pts 65% to 71% D
Total 1000 pts 0% to 64% F
7. STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES:
a) In the event that the school or building is closed during the semester, it is the student’s responsibility to contact their instructor concerning missed exams, labs or lectures.
b) It is the students’ responsibility to comply with all of the course prerequisites.
c) Teaching and learning require a team effort. The Science Department expects students to show up for class on time and be prepared for lecture (i.e. you’ve read the assigned chapters and be prepared with questions over the material). We strongly encourage cooperation among students to help in each other understanding of the material. The Science Faculty greatly appreciates specific feedback on any aspects of the course, both positive and negative.
d) Respect and common courtesy to your peers, staff and instructors is expected.
e) There will be no extra credit (point) projects for individuals.
f) Submitted assignments must be your own work even though you may have worked on it as a group (in your own words & handwriting). Plagiarizing other students’ work is cheating and will result in a zero for that assignment. Repeat offenders will not only lose points for the assignment, they will lose points for participating in the lab/project and are subject to disciplinary actions.
8. LECTURES:
a) Attendance is required. The lecture material is supplemental to the text. Your exams will cover both lecture and text materials. To reap your investment of time and money, please attend class. In the event that you cannot possible attend, make arrangements with a classmate to obtained missed lecture notes or watch the appropriate videos.
9. EXAM RULES:
a) With instructor’s approval and appropriate documentation, a make up exam may be given for a missed exam. Failure to take a scheduled examination at the appointed time will result in a 10% reduction in the score of any make-up examination. A second missed exam will result in an automatic 20% reduction. Being unprepared is not a legitimate reason!!
If an emergency arises the day of the exam, appropriate documentation such as an ER admit form, police report of the accident/ticket or a doctor's excuse is required and there will be a 10% reduction of exam score. Documentation is only necessary to make up a missed exam. All make-up exams must be taken within 5 days of the original exam date and may be an essay exam.
If you have a prior obligation the day of the exam you must arrange with your instructor to take the exam prior to the scheduled date.
There are no retakes of exams if a student should fail an exam.
b) Cell phones, pagers, and electronic devices with sound are to be turned off, and put away during class times, unless otherwise documented. If you must use your electronic devices, please leave the classroom. This includes text messages (“txting” and “pix”) during any class time.
c) Cheating on an exam will result in a zero for that exam. No make up exam will be given.
d) On exam days, students arriving 20 minutes or more late, will not be allowed to take the exam.
12. SPECIAL REMARKS:
a) There are no extra credit (point) projects for individuals.
b) If after 20% of classes are missed, the student can be dropped from the class.
c) If a student has not met the course prerequisites, the student should not be in the class.
d) Students are expected and encouraged to spend two to three hours outside of class for every contact hour in class and in lab. This is essential in lab.
e) In the event a student receives a failing grade in this course, the student will be required to repeat BOTH the lecture and lab components
f) College policy prohibits the use of tobacco products, including smokeless tobacco, snuff, and chewing tobacco, in all College buildings and facilities.
g) Students giving presentations who arrive 10 minutes or more late for class, points will be deducted from their presentation score. Also students must save PowerPoint presentations as a ppt.. on a floppy disk, CD, or DVD-R. Do not use re-writable CD or DVD or save as “read-only” or PowerPoint Show as these media and formats are not compatible with our systems.
h) Lecture and lab cover the same biological concepts but often from different perspectives.
12. SPECIAL REMARKS: (CONTINUED)
i) In the event that a problem occurs between students or students and faculty, the appropriate process for addressing student concerns is as follows
· First, address concern with course instructor.
· If your concerns are not rectified, then schedule an appointment with Department Chair.
· If your concerns are still unresolved then schedule an appointment with the appropriate divisional dean.
13. ADA NOTICE:
Students who have a documented disability may be eligible to receive accommodations for this class. Please contact the Disability Resources Center at 549-3446 for further information.
14. ACADEMIC INTEGREITY:
The very nature of higher education requires that students adhere to accepted standards of academic integrity. Therefore, Pueblo Community College has adopted a policy of academic conduct as described in the Student Handbook. Violation of academic integrity may be defined to include the following: cheating, plagiarism, falsification and fabrication, abuse of academic materials, complicity in academic dishonesty and personal misrepresentation. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the behaviors that constitute academic dishonesty. Sanctions for violating the standards of academic integrity may include warning, probation, suspension, and/or failure of the course or assignment at the discretion of the instructor
15. INDIVIDUAL PROJECT:
"It is crucially important that the general public has the opportunity to inform itself knowledgeably and intelligibly on the endeavors and results of scientific research. Restricting scientific findings to a small group of people weakens the philosophical spirit of a nation and leads to its intellectual impoverishment." (Albert Einstein, Princeton, 1948)
Objectives:
1) to learn more about geologic research
2) to learn more about the environment
3) to share that knowledge with the class
Grade:
The project is worth a total of 200 points. The poster is worth 150 points, the presentation is worth 40 points and the topic page is worth 10 points.
Topics:
Topics must be discussed with the instructor well in advance of the poster due date. The title, topic and key points your paper will cover is due by the assigned date on the schedule. This must be typed and is worth 10 points. It should be based on an issue that relates to a topic covered in class, such as volcanic hazards, pollution, mining, climate change, landslide hazards, earthquake hazards, geothermal energy or ground water usage (these are just a few ideas, you are welcome to come up with your own idea).
Poster Structure:
Must be between 4 and 5 pages (title page, between 2 and 3 pages of text and a page for bibliographies), typed and double spaced, 12 point font, right and left margins no larger than 1 inch, top and bottom margins no larger than 1 inch, must have an introduction, body and conclusion and a minimum of three sources. At least one source must be a book. Internet sources must be reputable.
Citing and Bibliographies:
refer to http://www.pcc.cccoes.edu/library/tips/online.htm and
http://www.pcc.cccoes.edu/library/tips/biblio.htm
Paper Due:
Must be turned in by the assigned date on the schedule.. No exceptions.
Presentation Structure:
Must be a power point presentation with the main points from the paper, must be able to present information for 3 to 5 minutes and be able to answer general questions from the audience.
Presentation Due:
All presentations will take place during class time by the assigned date on the schedule.. No exceptions.
Score Guide:
These are some of the items that will be looked for when determining your project score:
Paper – title page, correct citations, minimum of 3 sources, topic, organization of paper, details, grammar, vocabulary, length and creativity.
Presentation – speaking ability (speed, volume and time), topic, organization, details, slides, creativity, eye contact, appropriate dress, body language, attitude, and attentive listening during other presentations.