I. ASCRC General Education Form (revised 2/8/13)
Use to propose new general education courses (except writing courses), to change or
renew existing gen ed courses and to remove designations for existing gen ed courses.
Note: One-time-only general education designation may be requested for experimental courses
(X91-previously X95), granted only for the semester taught. A NEW request must be
submitted for the course to receive subsequent general education status.
Group
II. Mathematics
VII: Social Sciences
(submit
III. Language
VIII: Ethics & Human Values
separate forms
III Exception: Symbolic Systems * IX: American & European
if requesting
IV: Expressive Arts
X: Indigenous & Global
more than one
V: Literary & Artistic Studies
XI: Natural Sciences
general
w/ lab XX w/out lab 
education
VI: Historical & Cultural Studies
group
*Courses proposed for this designation must be standing requirements of
designation)
majors that qualify for exceptions to the modern and classical language
requirement
Dept/Program Geosciences
Course #
Geo102N
Course Title
Prerequisite
Intro.toPhysicalGeologyLab
Prereq. or coreq., GEO 101N
Credits
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
1
Date
9/11/13
Instructor
Kathleen Harper
Phone / Email x4720/kathleen.harper@umontana.edu
Program Chair James Staub
Dean
ChrisComer
III. Type of request
New
One-time Only
Renew xxxx Change
Remove
Reason for Gen Ed inclusion, change or deletion
Description of change
IV. Description and purpose of the general education course: General Education courses
must be introductory and foundational within the offering department or within the General
Education Group. They must emphasize breadth, context, and connectedness; and relate course
content to students’ future lives: See Preamble:
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/archives/minutes/gened/GE_preamble.aspx
Intro. to Physical Geology Lab is a series of laboratory and field experiences designed around concepts
and processes that are essential to the geosciences and the methods used to study them. Emphasis is
on observation and measurement, the building of a “geologic toolbox”, and application of these skills in
interpreting geologic processes. Activities are designed to model the process of science and to guide
students in understanding how observation and quantitative data are used to construct a scientific
theory.
The course introduces many of the key principles of geosciences, beginning with the introduction of
plate tectonic theory and evidence it is based on. During the rest of the course, additional topics are
introduced and placed in the context of plate tectonic theory, including igneous, sedimentary, and
metamorphic rocks, volcanoes, earthquakes, and geologic structures. This is followed by a unit on
concepts associated with geologic time and a third set of labs that explore the role of water on the
earth’s surface, including the role of glacier ice in preserving a record of Earth’s climate history.
V. Criteria: Briefly explain how this course meets the criteria for the group. See:
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/documents/forms/GE_Criteria5-1-08.aspx
This course explores geosciences disciplines in a laboratory setting. Emphasis is placed on observing
properties of the natural world. Student activities include collecting, understanding, and analyzing
quantitative data as well as the using physical models to understand geological processes.
This course explores the broad discipline of
1. Courses explore a discipline in the natural
geosciences. Many examples of how scientific
sciences and demonstrate how the scientific
methodology is applied to the understanding of
method is used within the discipline to draw
basic geological processes are explored in the
scientific conclusions.
course.
Activities are designed to model the process of
2. Courses address the concept of analytic
uncertainty and the rigorous process required to science and to guide students in understanding
how observation and quantitative data are used
take an idea to a hypothesis and then to a
to construct a scientific theory. Geoscience
validated scientific theory.
draws on many forms of scientific investigation in
addition to direct experimentation. A variety of
methods in the geosciences “toolbox” are
explored.
Activities are designed to model the process of
3. Lab courses engage students in inquirybased learning activities where they formulate a science and to guide students in understanding
how observation and quantitative data are used
hypothesis, design an experiment to test the
to construct a scientific theory. Lab activities
hypothesis, and collect, interpret, and present
involve students working together in collaborative
the data to support their conclusions.
groups and jigsaw activities.
VI. Student Learning Goals: Briefly explain how this course will meet the applicable learning
goals. See: http://umt.edu/facultysenate/documents/forms/GE_Criteria5-1-08.aspx
Specific learning objectives for each lab are
1. Students will be able to understand the
detailed in the lab manual designed for the course.
general principles associated with the
discipline(s) studied.
2. Students will be able to understand the
methodology and activities scientists use to
gather, validate and interpret data related to
natural processes.
Lab exercises are designed to model
methodologies and activities used in geosciences.
Use of physical models to study processes that
are not readily visible or accessible because of
location or scale is emphasized.
3. Students will be able to detect patterns,
draw conclusions, develop conjectures and
hypotheses, and test them by appropriate
means and experiments.
Observation, interpretation, and development and
expression of scientific ideas are key components
of the course.
4. Students will be able to understand how
scientific laws and theories are verified by
quantitative measurement, scientific
observation, and logical/critical reasoning.
This course addresses the dependency of
scientific theories on evidence, on data and
scientific observation, and on logical/critical
reasoning.
5. Students will be able to understand the
means by which analytic uncertainty is
quantified and expressed in the natural
sciences.
The course emphasizes the importance of
recognizing the limitations of data and also the
importance of recognizing the limitations of
applying scientific models to nature.
VII. Justification: Normally, general education courses will not carry pre-requisites, will carry
at least 3 credits, and will be numbered at the 100-200 level. If the course has more than one
pre-requisite, carries fewer than three credits, or is upper division (numbered above the 200
level), provide rationale for exception(s).
VIII. Syllabus: Paste syllabus below or attach and send digital copy with form.  The syllabus
should clearly describe how the above criteria are satisfied. For assistance on syllabus
preparation see: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/syllabus.html
Please note: Approved general education changes will take effect next fall.
General education instructors will be expected to provide sample assessment items and
corresponding responses to the Assessment Advisory Committee.
Introduction to Physical Geology Lab
GEO102N, Section X, 1 credit
FALL, 2013
Instructor/Teaching Assistant:
Location/meeting time: CHCB111/
TA Office:
TA email:
TA Office Hours:
Course Description: This class is an introduction to lab work in geology. There will be a lab
assignment or exam every week. Labs will consist of a brief introductory discussion with the
remaining lab time devoted to hands-on work with rocks, earth materials, maps, and models of
geosciences processes. The objective of this course is to familiarize you with basic geologic
concepts and the methods used to study them. Emphasis will be on observation and description,
the building of a “geologic toolbox”, and application of these skills in interpreting geologic
processes.
Required materials: GEO102 Laboratory Manual – coursepack available in UM bookstore
Pre-labs exercises are assigned most weeks and are to be completed before your lab.These
are designed to prepare you for the lab topic so that you can complete the lab efficiently during
your scheduled class period. In most cases, these will be done on Moodle.
Moodle is the program for online components of courses. You can log into Moodle by going to
either OneStop and then UMOnline, or directly to UMOnline from the UM homepage. You will see
your geology lab course listed when you enter Moodle. On the UMOnline homepage, there are
resources you can use to familiarize yourself with Moodle (UM Online Orientation and UMOnline
101). If you have technical problems with Moodle call the UMOnline Techs at 243-4999 (during
regular working hours only).
Labs are designed so that you should be able to generally complete them and turn them in at the
end of class. This is much more likely to occur if you have read through the introductory
material and lab activities in advance of your scheduled lab. In the case that you need
additional time to complete the lab, labs can be turned in at your TAs office by 5 PM on the day
following your lab period.
You are encouraged to work together with a group of students in lab, but must hand in your own
completed lab, on the lab manual pages, written in your own words. Copying another students
lab response is considered a form of academic dishonesty, and will not be tolerated!
Communication: Useful information will be posted here on Moodle, such as announcements,
the syllabus, and handouts distributed in lab. You can also view your grades. Please note that
your TA will use your official UM email address to communicate with you. It is your
responsibility to make sure you receive these messages sent to your UM email address in
a timely manner.
Attendance: Because of high demand, you must attend at least one of the first two class
meetings (the first and second weeks of the semester) to remain on the roster for this
course!
Official UM policy: “Students who are registered for a course but do not attend the first two class
meetings may be required by the instructor to drop the course. This rule allows for early identification of
class vacancies to permit other students to add classes. Students not allowed to remain must
complete a drop form or drop the course on the internet (http://cyberbear.umt.edu) to avoid
receiving a failing grade. Students who know they will be absent should contact the instructor in
advance.”
Missing lab during the term:
The number one reason for failing this class is missing labs!
Official UM policy: “Students are expected to attend all class meetings and complete all assignments
for the course. Instructors may excuse brief and occasional absences for reasons of illness, injury,
family emergency, religious observance or participation in a University sponsored activity. (University
sponsored activities include for example, field trips, ASUM service, music or drama performances, and
intercollegiate athletics.) Instructors shall excuse absences for reasons of military service or mandatory
public service.”
If you must miss a lab for a reason acceptable to your instructor, you must make arrangements
for making it up with your TA prior to your scheduled lab time. If you are sick the day of the
lab, please e-mail your TA promptly to let him/her know and to arrange a time to make up the lab
or attend another lab session the same week (with advance arrangement and if classroom space
allows —please do not just show up at another lab session). Labs should be turned in to your
assigned instructor regardless of the lab period attended.
Lab make-up sessions will be offered each week on Sunday evening at 6 PM. In general, a
missed lab must be made up the same week. Please keep in mind that you need to receive
permission from your TA to attend and receive credit for a make-up lab.
Exams: There will be a midterm and a final that will cover material presented in the lab. The
final will be during finals week. Please make note of the time assigned for this final now (see
course schedule on last page). Review sessions will be arranged by your TA before each exam.
Make-up exams are allowed only at the discretion of the lab instructor.
Assessment:
Labs
65%
Pre-labs
10%
Midterm Exam
12.5%
Final Exam
12.5%
Total
100%
Extra credit worth the equivalent of one lab will be offered.
Final course grades will be assigned as follows:
A 93-100%
B 83-86%
C 73-76%
A- 90-92%
B- 80-82%
C- 70-72%
B+ 87-89%
C+ 77-79%
D+ 67-69%
D 63-66%
D- 60-62%
F 59 or below
Please note: You must take the class with traditional grading to apply it towards the Gen
Ed lab science requirement. A minimum grade of C- must be earned for the course to be
applied for the Gen Ed requirement.
Honor Code: All students must practice academic honesty. Academic misconduct is subject to
an academic penalty by the course instructor and/or a disciplinary sanction by the University. All
students need to be familiar with the Student Conduct Code. The Code is available for review
online at: http://life.umt.edu/vpsa/student_conduct.php.
Students with Disabilities: Students with disabilities will receive reasonable modifications in
this course. Your responsibilities are to request modifications with sufficient advance notice, and
to be prepared to provide verification of disability and its impact from Disability Services. Please
speak to your TA after class or during office hours to discuss the details. For more information,
visit the Disability Services for Students website at http://life.umt.edu/dss.
GEO102 Schedule Fall, 2013 Dates
Lab
Topic
Aug. 26 – 30
One
Intro to Lab
1
Sept. 2 – 6
Two
Plate Boundaries
Sept. 9 – 13
Three Global Tectonics
Sept. 16 – 20
Four
Minerals and Igneous Rocks
Sept. 23 – 27
Five
Volcanoes
Sept. 30 – Oct. 4 Six
Sedimentary and Metamorphic Rocks
Oct. 7 – 11
Seven Field Trip and Rock Wrap-Up
Oct. 14 – 18
Lab Midterm Exams
Oct. 21 – 25
Eight
Geologic Structures
Oct. 28 – Nov. 1 Nine
Earthquakes
Nov. 4 – 8
Ten
Geologic Time
2
Nov. 11 – 15
Eleven Rivers
Nov. 18 – 22
Twelve Groundwater
Nov. 25 – 29
Thanksgiving Week – No Labs!
Dec. 2 – 6
Thirteen Glaciers and Climate
Dec. 9 – 13
Lab Final Exams
1
Labor Day Holiday on Monday, Sept. 2. If you have lab on Monday, you must plan to attend another
section this week.
2
Veteran’s Day Holiday on Monday, Nov 11. If you have lab on Monday, you must plan to attend another
section this week