University of South Alabama Course Syllabus
Course Information
Term: Fall 2015
GY301, section 101, Geomorphology (3 semester credits)
Course Format: Web-enhanced
Class days and time: Lecture: T-Th 9:30-10:20; Lab: M 12:20-14:10
Building/Room number: LSCB 316 Lecture/ LSCB 337 Lab
Instructor Information
 David T. Allison, Ph.D.
 460-6381 (Earth Sciences main office)
 dallison@southalabama.edu
 Office hours: http://www.usouthal.edu/geography/allison/CurrentSchedule.pdf (updated
each term)
 Life Sciences Bld. #344
Course Description
Principles of landform development as it relates to specific processes (fluvial erosion, glacial erosion,
etc.), construction of topographic base maps with the Total Station, GPS navigation and surveying, and
rock/mineral resource evaluation. Prerequisite: GY 111, or permission of instructor. Fee.
Course Topical Outline
GY301 Geomorphology Course Topics
The following topics will be covered during the semester:
Topographic Base Maps & Closed Traverses
WEEK 1: Lect 1: Introduction, course structure; Map scales; Map Projections; Map coordinates; Magnetic
(Aug 17- declination
Lect 2: Topographic maps; Digital maps; Pace and Compass with the Pocket Transit
21)
Lab 1: Brunton Compass techniques; Pace and Compass Closed Traverse exercise (Campus)
WEEK
2: (Aug
24-Aug
28)
Topographic Maps
Lect 1: Topographic and related maps
Lect 2: Topographic profiles
Lab 2: Height of objects and hand-leveling calculation
Labor Day Holiday Sept 1
WEEK 3: Computer Contouring Methods
(Sept 1- Lect 1: Total Station fundamentals
Lect 2: Total Station setup
4)
Lab 3: Total Station height calculation
WEEK 4: Total Station Surveying
(Sept 7- Lect 1: Total Station backsighting
Lect 2: Total Station resection
11)
Lab 4: Setting up and resection of the Total Station
WEEK 5: Total Station Data Download and Processing
(Sept 14- Lect. 1: Data downloading from TS to PC
Lect. 2: Processing TS data in ArcGIS
18)
1
Lab 5: Total Station Campus Map
WEEK 6: Total Station Survey Techniques for Topographic Mapping
(Sept 21- Lect 1: Total Station mapping strategies
Lect 2: Survey data quality control
25)
Lab 6: Total Station Campus Map cont...
GPS Surveying
WEEK 7: Lect 1: GPS operational theory and constraints
(Sept 28- Lect 2: Using the Garmin Rhino GPS receivers and PC interface application
Lab 7: GPS project
Oct 2)
Fall Break: Oct 8-9
Fluvial Landforms
WEEK 8: Lect 1: Stages of Stream Development
(Oct 5-7) Lect 2: Specific landform features (Oxbows, levees, cutoffs, floodplains, meanders, etc.)
Lab 8: Recognition of Fluvial Landform features & stages on topographic maps
WEEK
9: (Oct
12-16)
Arid Landforms
WEEK
10: (Oct
19-23)
Karst Landforms
Lect 1: Stages of Arid Landform Development; Landform features;
Lect 2: Block faulting; Fault offset recognition; Stream gradients indicated by contours
Lab 9: Midterm Exam Project (during lab period)
Lect 1: Stages of Karstic Landform Development
Lect 2: Hydrogeologic gradients; Artesian aquifer systems
Lab 10: Recognition of Karstic Landform Features & Stages
Alpine Glacial Landforms
WEEK Lect 1: Glacial Budgets; Glacial mechanics; Glacial transport systems
11: (Oct Lect 2: Alpine Glacial landform features; Alpine glaciation and denudation of orogenic belts- the
26- 30) connection to plate tectonics
Lab 11: Recognition of Alpine Glaciation Features and Stages
Continental Glacial Landforms
WEEK Lect 1: Continental glacial cycles; Causes of continental glaciation
12: (Nov Lect 2: Continental glacial landform features
Lab12: Recognition of Continental Glaciation Features and Stages
2-6)
Eolian (Wind) Landforms
WEEK Lect 1: Desert climate zones; Dune formation; Rain-shadow zones
13: (Nov Lect 2: Dune landforms and migration; Loess deposits
Lab 13: Recognition of Eolian Landforms
9-13)
Optional Field Trip: High Falls Branch Nov 15-16
WEEK North American Physiographic Provinces
14: (Nov Lect 1: Appalachian Landforms and Provinces; Cratonic Landforms
Lect 2: Cordilleran Landforms & Provinces
16-18)
2
Lab 14: Eolian landforms cont.
WEEK Tectonic Interactions with Landscapes and Climate
15: (Nov Lect 1: Earth's Climate Zones; Rain-shadow effects; Orographic lifting
Lab 15: Recognition of Shoreline landforms
23-24)
Thanksgiving: Nov 25-27
WEEK
16: (Nov Lect 1: Carbon Cycle continued.
30-Dec Lect 2: Reiview for Final Exam
4)
Lab 16: Shorelines cont.
Last day of class: Fri. Dec. 4
FINAL EXAM- Th. Dec. 10 10:30-12:30
Course Goals and Objectives
The objectives of the course will be to develop skills in landform recognition and interpretation,
topographic contouring, map navigation, topographic profiles, fundamental surveying skills with the
alidade and total station, and mineral and rock resource calculation. All of these skills will be developed
in the field environment as part of the laboratory component. The lecture will provide the theoretical
underpinnings of the field methods used in the lab.
Course Pre-requisites / Co-requisites
 Pre-requisite: GY111 Physical Geology and GY111L Physical Geology Lab
Course Materials:
Text (Recommended)
LECTURE: Grotzinger, J., Jordan, T., Press, F. and Siever, R., 2007, Understanding Earth (5th ed.),
W.H. Freeman and Co., New York, ISBN 0-7167-6682-5
LAB: N/A
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.). Some projects will
require ArcGIS that is available to GY301 students in the LSCB GIS lab. See the instructor for the
door access code.
 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 20
3


Last day to drop a course: Oct 23
Holidays: See above weekly schedule
Assessments
 Make-up exams will be given only in the case of a valid, documented emergency
 There is a weekly lab assignment
 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: 50%
Midterm Test: 20%
Final Exam: 20% (Th Dec 13 10:30-12:30 LSCB 337)
Grading: A=90+, B=89-80, C=79-70, D=69-60, F= <60
NOTE: Group project grades (Labs 1 – 7) will contain a 40% component of “group-grading”. The group grade will
be the average of the score that your fellow group members assign to you for your contribution to the project.
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.
4

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
 GY301 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 csaint-paul@usouthal.edu.
 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: 08/6/2015
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