AGLY 103: Environmental Earth Science
Tentative Syllabus
Spring 2012
4 credit hours.
Instructor: Karin L. Willoughby, Office #207, Sciences. Phone: 641-3379.
karinw@usca.edu.
Office Hours: Monday 12 – 12:45 pm; Wednesday 11:45 – 12:15 pm; Tuesday
and Thursday 11 – 12 pm and by appointment.
Time: Lecture 1-2:15 pm, Monday and Wednesday;
Laboratory 2:30-5:10 pm, Monday.
Text: Introduction to Environmental Geology (5th edition), Edward A. Keller (K)
Lab Manual: AGLY 103 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 effect of these
hazards and the effect of human actions on the earth are all explored. Geologic
information will be used to study complex environmental problems and examples
of solutions, known as environmental restoration. Emphasis is on acquiring
knowledge about how the earth works, building individual ability to understand
environmental issues, practicing decision-making skills for choosing among
alternative environmental solutions and communicating that knowledge and
understanding to others.
Grading: Lecture -- 75% of class grade; points assigned as follows:
300 points (150 pts each) on two exams
150 pts; total on best 5 out of 6 quizzes
100 pts; student presentation (the 3 R’s)
50 pts; class participation (and attendance)
150 pts; comprehensive final exam
750 pts Subtotal
Laboratory -- 25% of class grade*
100 points (50 pts. each) on two lab papers
140 pts; total grade on 14 lab and field
trip reports
10 pts; class attendance and participation
250 pts. Subtotal
*NOTE: Laboratory must be passed in order to pass the course.
Grades are based on the following scale. 900 or more points is an A; 800
or more is a B; 700 or more is a C; 600 or more is a D.
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, soon as possible. The Disability Services
Office will determine appropriate accommodations based on medical
documentation.
There will be no instructor assisted make-up labs, field trips or classes. The
student is responsible for obtaining notes to missed material. Make-up exams
will be given only for excused absences considered acceptable to the University
and approved by the instructor. No make-ups will be given for the 1st lecture quiz
missed, since the lowest grade will be dropped. Only documented excuses will
be considered for approval. 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.
Tentative Lecture Schedule
January 9 Introduction to course and
Fundamental Concepts
11 The Earth’s Interior
Chapter 1 (Keller)
1
2
16 HOLIDAY
18 Plate tectonics; QUIZ #1
23 Plate tectonics cont’d
25 Rocks and Minerals
30 Ecology and Geology
February 1 Ecology cont’d; Intro. to Natural Hazards
6 Earthquakes; QUIZ #2
8 Tsunamis; Volcanoes
13 Rivers and Flooding
15 Rivers cont’d; QUIZ #3
20 Slope Stability
22 Coastal Processes
3
4
5
6
7, 8
9
10
11
27 Coastal Processes cont’d
29 EXAM #1 (Chapters 1 – 8)
March 5 - 9 SPRING BREAK
12 Extraterrestrial objects
14 Water Resources; Quiz #4
12
13
19 Water Pollution
14
21 11:45 am – 2:15 pm: Environmental Poster Presentations
April
26 Mineral Resources
28 Energy Resources
15
16
2 Energy cont’d; QUIZ #5
4 Soils
17
9 EXAM #2 (Chapters 9 - 15)
11 Global Climate change
16 Geology, Society and the Future; Quiz #6
18 Chapter 19 cont’d; Air pollution
23
18
19
Waste management cont’d
30 FINAL EXAM (2 -5 pm)
with emphasis on chapters 16, 17, 18, and 19
Topic Schedule for Quizzes – 30 points each (with 2 to 5 questions)
Quiz #1 – Chapter 1: Fundamental Concepts; 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 and 7: Earthquakes &
Tsunamis; Chapter 8: Volcanoes
#4 – Chapter 9: Rivers and Flooding; Chapters 10 and 11 Slope Stability
and Coastal Processes
#5 – Chapters12: ETs; Chapters 13 and 14: Water Resources and
Pollution; Chapter 15: Mineral Resources
#6 – Chapter 16: Energy Resources; Chapter 17: Soils
TOPIC CHOICES FOR LAB PAPERS: minimum of 5 full pages long (doublespaced, 12 point copy) with additional page for at least 3 references. You need
to do TWO (2) of these choices for up to 50 points each -A) Define, list and discuss the pros and cons of different types of beach
management. B) Water Pollution – discuss in detail some examples of water
pollution which 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 a detailed example; if the
example is one NOT used in the text, up to 10 pts. extra credit can be earned.
D) How can we achieve a sustainable quality of life? That is, what choices do
we really have to match population growth to available resources; what should
we do? E) Indoor Air Pollution – what is it, how is it caused and what can be
done to improve air quality in buildings? F) What is Global Climate Change?
Should we be worried or do anything about it? Include evidence for both sides of
the debate; in your opinion, is it human caused?
Wikipedia is not a dependable resource and may not be accurate. If you
use it, you still must use at least 3 other resources.
1st paper is due February 22 and 2nd is due March 21.
Tentative Laboratory Schedule
January
9
16
23
30
February 6
13
20
27
March 5 - 9
12
19
26
April
2
9
16
23
What Should/Would You Do?
(A&C)
HOLIDAY
Population Issues
FIELD TRIP
Geologic Hazards - Plotting and Locating Earthquakes
FIELD TRIP
Volcanic Hazards
Coastal Land Use
SPRING BREAK
Locating Mineral Resources
FIELD TRIP
FIELD TRIP
FIELD TRIP
Campus Soil Survey
Cost of Energy
Energy Use - Present and Future