GEOL 103: Environmental Earth Science - Tentative Syllabus
Spring 2016 -- 4 credit hours.
Instructor: Karin L. Willoughby, Office #207, Science Building.
Email: karinw@usca.edu; phone: # 641-3379
Office Hours: M: 12:15 – 12:45 pm; TR: 11 am -12 pm; W: 11:45 am – 12:15 pm;
also by appointment.
Time: Lecture: 1 -- 2:15 pm MW. Lab: 2:30 – 5:10 pm M.
Text: Environmental Geology, Edward A. Keller (K)
Lab Manual: Environmental Issues, Astwood and Carpenter (A&C)
This course is designed to acquaint you with major aspects of human interaction
with the earth. Natural hazards caused by earth processes, the effects of these
hazards and the effects of human actions on the earth are all explored. Geologic
information will be used to study complex environmental problems. To be
successful, you will need to acquire knowledge about how the earth works, build
your ability to understand environmental issues, practice decision-making skills
for choosing among alternative environmental solutions and communicating that
knowledge and understanding to others in oral and written form.
Grading: Lecture -- 75% of class grade
Maximum possible points: 300 points (150 pts. each) on two exams
150 pts. Total on best 5 out of 6 quizzes
100 pts. team presentation
150 pts. comprehensive final exam
50 pts. class participation, including attending class
regularly and on time
750 pts. Subtotal
Laboratory -- 25% of class grade*
Maximum possible points: 100 pts. On two 5+ page, typed, double- spaced
papers
140 pts. (10 pts. each) on 14 lab and field
trip reports as graded in lab manual or as
written up, based on notes taken during
field trips
__10 pts. Class attendance and participation
250 pts. Subtotal
* NOTE: Laboratory must be passed in order to pass the course. Grades are
based on: 900 points or better = A; 800 pts. or better = B; 700 pts.
or better = C; 600 pts. or better = D; less than 600 pts. = F.
Classroom Behavior: It is the instructor’s right to remove from the classroom
any student who disrupts or disturbs the proceeding of the class. Disruption of
the class includes but is not limited to the use of any portable electronic devices,
including cell phones, MP3 players; iPods, etc. unless prior approval has been
given to a student or unless required for the course. In extreme cases the faculty
member can request assistance from University Police. If the student who has
been ejected causes similar disturbances in subsequent meetings of the class,
he/she may be denied admittance to the class for the remainder of the semester
and assigned a grade of F.
Punctual and regular attendance is vital to completing all the assigned work of
this course. There will be no make-up teacher-led labs, field trips or class
lectures. The student is responsible for obtaining notes to missed material.
Make-up exams will be given only for emergencies considered acceptable to the
University and approved by the instructor. If you have a physical, psychological
and/or learning disability which might affect your performance in this class,
please contact the Office of Disability Services, 126A B&E, (803) 641-3609), as
soon as possible. The Disability Services Office will determine appropriate
accommodations based on medical documentation.
TEAM PRESENTATION TOPIC: Each student must participate in an oral/visual
group presentation on the Three “R’s” or related topic. Grade will be based on
quality and quantity of individual research (turn in notes and references) and on
cooperative participation in the team effort to present research and useful tips
through a cohesive and interesting project.
TOPIC CHOICES FOR LAB PAPERS (Minimum of 5 full pages long, typed,
double-spaced, 12 point copy, at least 3 references on a separate page): a)
pros and cons of different types of beach management, including Beach
Nourishment. b) Water Pollution – discuss in detail some examples of water
pollution that have occurred; how big a problem is it and what can an individual
do to make a difference. c) Define and discuss the benefits and pitfalls in doing
environmental/ecological restoration, giving at least one detailed example that
is not in the text.. d) What choices do we really have to match population growth
to available resources? That is, how do we achieve the proposed goal of
sustainability? e) Katrina – what happened? Make sure you investigate the
failures/bad decision-making that occurred at all levels of government (city,
parish, state national. f) Indoor air pollution – what is it, how is it caused and
what can be done to improve air quality in buildings? g) What is Global Climate
Change? Is it happening now (pros and cons)? Has it ever happened in the
past? Should we do anything about it? Include evidence for both sides of the
debate; in your opinion, if climate change is happening, is human caused?
Your first paper is due February 24 and the second is due March 24.
Wikipedia is not a dependable resource. If you use it, you need to verify the
information from another source as well.
Tentative Lecture and Lab Schedule
Jan. 11
13
Introduction & Fundamental Concepts
LAB: What Should/Would you do? (A&C);
Concepts cont’d; Internal Earth Structure
18
20
HOLIDAY
Plate Tectonics; Quiz #1
25
Plate Tectonics cont’d
LAB: Population Issues
Rocks and Minerals; assign teams for presentations
27
Feb. 1
3
8
10
15
17
22
24
29
Mar. 2
Chapters in Keller
1, 2, 3
Ecology and Geology
Lab: Rock and Mineral Identification & Field Trip
Ecology cont’d; Intro. To Natural Hazards
Earthquakes; Quiz #2
Lab: Plotting and Locating Earthquakes
Tsunamis and Volcanoes
Rivers and Flooding
Lab: Volcanoes
Rivers cont’d; Quiz #3
Slope Processes; Lab paper #1 is due
Lab: Field Trip to Shaws Creek Water Treatment Facility
Coastal processes
4, 5
6, 7, 8
9
10, 11
Coastal processes cont’d;
LAB: Coastal Land Use
EXAM #1 (chapters 1-8)
7 – 11 SPRING BREAK
14
16
21
23
28
30
Extraterrestrial objects
Lab: Field Trip to Horsecreek Wastewater Treatment Facility
Water Resources; Quiz #4
12, 13
Water Pollution; second lab paper is due
Lab: Locating Mineral Resources
Mineral Resources
14, 15
Energy Resources
LAB: Cost of Energy
Energy cont’d; Quiz #5
16
Apr. 4
6
11
Soils
Lab: Campus Soil Survey
EXAM #2 (chapters 9 -15)
13
Global Climate Change
Lab: Energy Use – Present and Future
Geology and Society; Quiz #6
18
20
Lab: Field Trip to Low Level Waste Facility
Geology and Society cont’d
25
Review and Discussion
Lab: Urban Land Use
May 2
COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM, (including Ch. 18&19)
17
18, 19
(2-5 pm)
Topic Schedule for quizzes – 30 points each with 2 to 5 questions
Quiz #1 -- Chapter 1: Fundamental Concepts, etc.; Chapter 2 to 2.3 on p. 46:
Layers of the Earth
#2 -- Chapter 2, p. 46 -71: Plate Tectonics; Chapter 3: Rocks and Minerals;
Chapter 4: Ecology
#3 -- Chapter 5: Natural Hazards; Chapters 6 & 7: Earthquakes and
Tsunamis; Chapter 8: Volcanoes
#4 – Chapter 9: Rivers and Flooding: Chapters 10 and 11: Slope Stability
and Coastal Processes
#5 – Chapter 12: ETs; Chapters 13 and 14: Water Resources and Pollution;
Chapter 15: Mineral Resources
#6 – Chapter 16: Energy Resources; Chapter 17: Soils