UCC/UGC/ECCC
Proposal for New Course
Please attach proposed Syllabus in approved university format.
1. Course subject and number: GLG 475
2. Units:
See upper and lower division undergraduate course definitions.
3. College: CEFNS
4. Academic Unit:
4
Geology
5. Student Learning Outcomes of the new course. (Resources & Examples for Developing Course Learning
Outcomes)




Understand and utilize industry-standard equilibrium speciation software for quality
assurance and control calculations, saturation index calculations, and other equilibrium
speciation equations.
Understand and utilize industry-standard techniques for the sampling, collection, and
analysis of water samples in the field and laboratory.
Understand and utilized industry-standard techniques for ensuring the quality assurance
and quality control of a water sampling collection program.
Understand the physical, chemical, and hydrological principles underlying the processes
controlling the composition of natural fresh waters, and apply this understanding to
practical case studies.
6. Justification for new course, including how the course contributes to degree program outcomes,
or other university requirements / student learning outcomes. (Resources, Examples & Tools for Developing
Effective Program Student Learning Outcomes).
The goal of the Applied Geology emphasis is to prepare students as well as possible to pursue
careers in geology immediately upon graduation. A necessary skill for many geology
professions is a basic understanding of geochemistry and its applications to societal problems.
There currently is not an undergraduate environmental geochemistry-only class offered at NAU.
This class is designed to meet that need.
7. Effective BEGINNING of what term and year?
See effective dates calendar.
Fall 2016
8. Long course title:
ENVRIONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY
(max 100 characters including spaces)
9. Short course title:
ENVRIONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY
(max. 30 characters including spaces)
10. Catalog course description (max. 60 words, excluding requisites):
Effective Fall 2012
This course is an introduction to the field of aquatic geochemistry or hydrogeochemistry as
applied to Environmental problems in society. There are generally two types of senior level or
graduate level aquatic geochemistry courses, those emphasizing quantifying processes at the
microscopic and atomic scales, with an emphasis on laboratory investigations, and those
emphasizing processes at the ecosystem level with an emphasis on field investigations. This
course is of the latter type. The material covered over the course of the semester will draw
upon both chemistry and geology.
11. Will this course be part of any plan (major, minor or certificate) or sub plan (emphasis)?
Yes
No
If yes, include the appropriate plan proposal.
Geology; B.S.
12. Does this course duplicate content of existing courses?
Yes
No
If yes, list the courses with duplicate material. If the duplication is greater than 20%, explain why
NAU should establish this course.
Proposed co convene with GLG 575
13. Will this course impact any other academic unit’s enrollment or plan(s)?
Yes
No
If yes, describe the impact. If applicable, include evidence of notification to and/or response from
each impacted academic unit
14. Grading option:
Letter grade
Pass/Fail
Both
15. Co-convened with: GLG 575
14a. UGC approval date*:
(For example: ESE 450 and ESE 550) See co-convening policy.
*Must be approved by UGC before UCC submission, and both course syllabi must be presented.
16. Cross-listed with:
N/A
(For example: ES 450 and DIS 450) See cross listing policy.
Please submit a single cross-listed syllabus that will be used for all cross-listed courses.
17. May course be repeated for additional units?
17a. If yes, maximum units allowed?
17b. If yes, may course be repeated for additional units in the same term?
Yes
No
Yes
No
CHM 151, CHM 152, Senior Status
and Geology-Applied Geology
18. Prerequisites:
Emphasis Major
If prerequisites, include the rationale for the prerequisites.
Basic chemistry courses must be taken in order to teach this GLG475 class at the appropriate
senior level.
19. Co requisites:
N/A
If co requisites, include the rationale for the co requisites.
Effective Fall 2012
20. Does this course include combined lecture and lab components?
Yes
If yes, include the units specific to each component in the course description above.
21. Names of the current faculty qualified to teach this course:
No
NEED
22. Classes scheduled before the regular term begins and/or after the regular term ends may require
additional action. Review “see description” and “see impacts” for “Classes Starting/Ending
Outside Regular Term” under the heading “Forms”
http://nau.edu/Registrar/Faculty-Resources/Schedule-of-Classes-Maintenance/.
Do you anticipate this course will be scheduled outside the regular term?
Yes
No
23. Is this course being proposed for Liberal Studies designation?
If yes, include a Liberal Studies proposal and syllabus with this proposal.
Yes
No
24. Is this course being proposed for Diversity designation?
If yes, include a Diversity proposal and syllabus with this proposal.
Yes
Answer 22-23 for UCC/ECCC only:
FLAGSTAFF MOUNTAIN CAMPUS
Scott Galland
Reviewed by Curriculum Process Associate
3/12/2015
Date
Approvals:
Department Chair/Unit Head (if appropriate)
Date
Chair of college curriculum committee
Date
Dean of college
Date
For Committee use only:
UCC/UGC Approval
Approved as submitted:
Approved as modified:
Effective Fall 2012
Date
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
EXTENDED CAMPUSES
Reviewed by Curriculum Process Associate
Date
Approvals:
Academic Unit Head
Date
Division Curriculum Committee (Yuma, Yavapai, or Personalized Learning)
Date
Division Administrator in Extended Campuses (Yuma, Yavapai, or Personalized
Learning)
Date
Faculty Chair of Extended Campuses Curriculum Committee (Yuma, Yavapai, or
Personalized Learning)
Date
Chief Academic Officer; Extended Campuses (or Designee)
Date
Approved as submitted:
Approved as modified:
Effective Fall 2012
Yes
Yes
No
No
Environmental Geochemistry GLG 475/575
Instructor: Rod Parnell,
Frier Hall 207 or ARD 124
523-3329
Rod.Parnell@nau.edu
office hours Tu Th 11-12, W 2-3 or by appointment
Course Prerequisites:
Senior standing in Applied Geology major sub-plan or Graduate student. You should have had at
least one semester of geology (and hopefully mineralogy) as well as a year of chemistry (and ideally
quantitative chemistry).
Course Description:
This course is an introduction to the field of aquatic geochemistry or hydrogeochemistry as applied to
Environmental problems in society. There are generally two types of senior level or graduate level
aquatic geochemistry courses, those emphasizing quantifying processes at the microscopic and
atomic scales, with an emphasis on laboratory investigations, and those emphasizing processes at
the ecosystem level with an emphasis on field investigations. This course is of the latter type. The
material covered over the course of the semester will draw upon both chemistry and geology.
Course Student Learning Objectives:
 Understand and utilize industry-standard equilibrium speciation software for quality
assurance and control calculations, saturation index calculations, and other equilibrium
speciation equations.
 Understand and utilize industry-standard techniques for the sampling, collection, and
analysis of water samples in the field and laboratory.
 Understand and utilized industry-standard techniques for ensuring the quality assurance
and quality control of a water sampling collection program.
 Understand the physical, chemical, and hydrological principles underlying the processes
controlling the composition of natural fresh waters, and apply this understanding to
practical case studies.
Text Books: Drever, 4th edition is the only required textbook for this course and is newly available in
print. A more detailed and higher level text, Stumm and Morgan is on reserve in the lab (room 208
Frier Hall) and we can quickly order more copies. Do not remove my copy from that room. The
Treatise on Geochemistry, Volume 5 is a nice overview of the current state of hydrogeochemistry.
The Water Supply Paper by Hem, although getting old, is a nice overview of water types and the
practical side of hydrogeochemistry.
Drever, J. I. 2014.Geochemistry of Natural Waters, 4th edition.
(Stumm, W. and J. Morgan. 1996. Aquatic Chemistry. 3rd edit.supplemental)
Drever, J. I. (editor). 2005. Surface and Ground Water, Weathering, and Soils.
Treatise on Geochemistry. Volume 5. Elsevier. 626 pp.
Hem, J.D. 1989. Study and Interpretation of the Chemical Characteristics of
Effective Fall 2012
Natural Water. U.S. Geol. Survey Water Supply Paper 2254. (cheap
and practical intro to hydrogeochemistry) Available at
http://water.usgs.gov/pubs/wsp/wsp2254/pdf/wsp2254a.pdf
The required lab manual is the National Field Manual for the Collection of Water-Quality Data,
Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations Book 9, Handbooks for Water-Resources
Investigations. Chapter A6
You can download it at http://water.usgs.gov/owq/FieldManual/
Finally, we will read some journal articles by Fritz, Malusa et al., Marks et al., Crossey et al., and
Selmants and Hart. These will be added to BBLearn as pdfs.
The course closely follows the materials in Drever’s text and it is designed for geology, biology, and
forestry graduate students. Stumm and Morgan is more detailed, more comprehensive, more
rigorous, and more oriented toward chemistry and environmental engineering.
Evaluation Methods and Deadlines:
There will be two hour exams and one final exam. You will also be responsible for turning in 5-6
homework sets and laboratory exercises. The homeworks will not be graded if you are enrolled in
GLG 475, but will be important to complete before we go over them in lab. Graduate students
enrolled in GLG 575 will have their homeworks graded. I expect a cooperative effort on the
homework assignments (i.e feel free to work together on problem-solving) However, each person
must turn in their own work. The lab exercises will be graded and must be your own work.
Required Field Trips:
There will be two weekend, day long field trips to Fossil Creek near Strawberry, AZ, and along Beaver
Creek in the Verde Valley. These trips are required (unless arrangements are made with me in the
first week of class) and will be scheduled for some time in March or early April during the first class
period.
Course Policies
Class Attendance and Exams
Students are expected to assume full responsibility for class attendance and are responsible for all
work missed due to absences. The instructors are under no obligation to make special arrangements
for a student who has been absent unless such absences have been excused by a formal institutional
excuse. Therefore, if you must be absent on an exam or group activity day, you must notify
one of us, and we must reach an agreement that the absence is excusable and that there is
some way you can make up the work (that means talking or emailing with us, not just leaving
us a message) at least a day before the exam. If you do not do this prior to the exam, and you
miss the exam, you will receive a “0” for the test.
Institutional Excuses permit students to be absent from classes in order to represent the university at
athletic, extracurricular, or academic activities. These excuses must be approved and signed by the
Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Dean of Students, and the dean of the college in
which the course is being offered. Institutional excuses must be presented to the instructors before
the absence takes place.
Effective Fall 2012
Office hours
This course will be an introduction to an entirely new field for many of you. So, please do come see
me whether you are doing well or poorly. If you cannot make my office hours, make an appointment
with me. If you come by my office not during office hours but I have the door open, ask if it is an okay
time to meet. Don’t feel offended if I say it is not, but the odds are that I can meet with you right then.
Please don’t try to see me immediately before lecture or lab, I get cranky as I prepare lecture.
Late Papers:
Will not be accepted.
Plagiarism and Cheating
Any form of misconduct including cheating, fabrication, fraud, dishonesty and plagiarism will not be
tolerated. Violators will be subject to a failing grade in the course. Students are encouraged to work
and study together outside of class, but all work turned in for a grade must be completed only by
the student (or students, on the group assignments) submitting the work. Please see the
Student Code of Conduct and the section on Academic Dishonesty in the Northern Arizona University
Student Handbook.
Challenges to Assigned Grades
Challenges to assigned grades are welcomed because they demonstrate that you are seriously
thinking about the material in the course. However, we will only consider challenges in writing. Our
hope is that written challenges will accomplish two goals: (1) a written format provides you with the
opportunity to present an articulate and well considered argument (and therefore increase the
likelihood that we will favor your challenge with an improved grade); and (2) a written request
provides a record of the grade transaction in case there are questions at a later time. Challenges
must be submitted within one week of the return of a graded assignment.
Incompletes
University policy prohibits the assignment of an “incomplete” grade except in extreme circumstances
that are beyond the student’s control. To receive an incomplete requires the processing of a formal
contract between the student and the faculty member documenting how and when the missing course
materials will be completed.
Withdrawals
The last day to drop/delete without a W and without a fee is January 26 (with a fee you can drop
without a w through February 9). The last day for Drop/Delete is and for drop with a W is March 16.
Audits
To receive an official audit for this course, attendance in lecture and laboratory is required.
Class attendance
Students must assume full responsibility for class attendance, which is mandatory. Individuals are
responsible for all work missed by class absence. Institutional excuses permit students to be absent
from classes to represent the University at athletic, extracurricular, or academic activities. These
Effective Fall 2012
must be approved and signed by the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Dean of
Students, and the Dean of the pertinent College, and presented to me before the absence.
Special needs
Students with physical handicaps or learning disabilities who need to make special arrangements for
class assignments should consult me within the first two weeks of the semester. At any time, I
encourage students to come to me for help in understanding the readings, lecture-discussions, writing
assignments, or for other course-related assistance. All that I ask is that you respect office hours. If
you can not make my scheduled office hours, I can make an appointment to see you at another time
(for example, you could make an appointment by calling or speaking to me after or before class).
Remember, that my telephone has voice mail, so you can always leave a message. My e-mail is
Rod.Parnell@nau.edu.
Grades
The course grade will be based entirely on your exam scores and laboratory exercise reports. You
will be expected to turn in a report for each laboratory exercise assigned. While cooperation in
understanding the lab material is fine, each report must be entirely your own work. Evidence of
plagiarism will result in a failing grade for that report. Class attendance is mandatory. Final grades
will be assigned on your standing relative to the highest point total by a student in the class. For
example, student A receives more points over the course of the semester than anyone else: 790
points. Student B receives 689 points. Student A gets 100% and an A; student B gets 689/790 =
87% , and gets a B. Grades will be assigned as follows:
90 - 100%
=
A
80 - 89.9%
=
B
70 - 79.9%
=
C
60 - 69.9%
=
D
Below 60%
= F
Your final grade will be based upon the following point schedule:
GLG 475, for undergraduate students
2 hourly exams (100 points each)
1 final exam
laboratory (10-15 points each)
final project
TOTAL
200 points
100 points
60 points
40 points
400 points
GLG 575, for graduate students
2 hourly exams (100 points each)
1 final exam
laboratory (10-15 points each)
homeworks (5 points each)
equilibrium speciation modeling exercises
final project
TOTAL
200 points
100 points
60 points
30 points
10 points
120 points
520 points
Homework will be assigned during lecture for Graduate Students only. Solutions will be provided
during homework review sessions. Please do these problems. You will find they closely resemble
exam questions.
Effective Fall 2012
The exams will be closed book and closed notes and must reflect your own understanding of course
principles. Any cheating on an exam will result in a 0 for that exam and possible additional
disciplinary action. The final exam will focus on the last third of the semester.
Laboratory
Your laboratory is essential to your developing an understanding concerning the procedures which
environmental professionals utilize. It is where you will gain important practical experiences without
having to listen to me drone on and on. Late laboratory assignments are strongly discouraged. For
each week that an assignment is late, 10% of the grade will be deducted. Labs will consist of in-class
laboratory, computer exercises, and field trips.
There are two required field trips for this course. Attendance is required because it is the best
way to learn the practical applications of material presented and because it is a great opportunity to
learn in more detail from me and your peers than you could ever get in a class or lab setting. The
dates below are tentative but are our best estimates. If any dates should change I will inform you
immediately. Please let me know if you have any conflicts with these dates at the first class meeting.
TRAVERTINE DEPOSITION AND CARBONATE SYSTEM DISEQUILIBRIA IN FOSSIL CREEK all
day Saturday or Sunday in March
BEAVER CREEK all day Saturday or Sunday in March or early April.
Final project
Both undergraduate and graduate students will complete final projects based upon the field trips and
subsequent laboratory analyses of the samples taken. The graduate student projects will be more
work in the following ways: (i) they will work with equilibrium speciation computer models for
additional depth in the interpretation and analysis of these samples, (ii) they will complete a more indepth project with more analyses run, (iii) the final report for their project will be longer reflecting the
greater amount of work on the project. Their project reports will have this additional modeling
component to them.
Lecture topics and reading assignments are given in a separate spreadsheet.
NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY
POLICY STATEMENTS FOR COURSE SYLLABI
SAFE ENVIRONMENT POLICY
NAU’s Safe Working and Learning Environment Policy prohibits sexual harassment and assault, and
discrimination and harassment on the basis of sex, race, color, age, national origin, religion, sexual
orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status by anyone at this university. Retaliation of any
kind as a result of making a complaint under the policy or participating in an investigation is also
prohibited. The Director of the Office of Affirmative Action & Equal Opportunity (AA/EO) serves as the
university’s compliance officer for affirmative action, civil rights, and Title IX, and is the ADA/504
Coordinator. AA/EO also assists with religious accommodations. You may obtain a copy of this policy
from the college dean’s office or from the NAU’s Affirmative Action website nau.edu/diversity/. If you
have questions or concerns about this policy, it is important that you contact the departmental chair,
dean’s office, the Office of Student Life (928-523-5181), or NAU’s Office of Affirmative Action (928)
523-3312 (voice), (928) 523-9977 (fax), (928) 523-1006 (TTD) or aaeo@nau.edu.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
If you have a documented disability, you can arrange for accommodations by contacting Disability
Resources (DR) at 523-8773 (voice) or 523-6906 (TTY), dr@nau.edu (e-mail) or 928-523-8747 (fax).
Students needing academic accommodations are required to register with DR and provide required
Effective Fall 2012
disability related documentation. Although you may request an accommodation at any time, in order
for DR to best meet your individual needs, you are urged to register and submit necessary
documentation (www.nau.edu/dr) 8 weeks prior to the time you wish to receive accommodations. DR
is strongly committed to the needs of student with disabilities and the promotion of Universal Design.
Concerns or questions related to the accessibility of programs and facilities at NAU may be brought to
the attention of DR or the Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity (523-3312).
ACADEMIC CONTACT HOUR POLICY
Based on the Arizona Board of Regents Academic Contact Hour Policy (ABOR Handbook, 2-224), for
every unit of credit, a student should expect, on average, to do a minimum of three hours of work per
week, including but not limited to class time, preparation, homework, studying.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Integrity is expected of every member of the NAU community in all academic undertakings. Integrity
entails a firm adherence to a set of values, and the values most essential to an academic community
are grounded in honesty with respect to all intellectual efforts of oneself and others. Academic
integrity is expected not only in formal coursework situations, but in all University relationships and
interactions connected to the educational process, including the use of University resources. An NAU
student’s submission of work is an implicit declaration that the work is the student’s own. All outside
assistance should be acknowledged, and the student’s academic contribution truthfully reported at all
times. In addition, NAU students have a right to expect academic integrity from each of their peers.
Individual students and faculty members are responsible for identifying potential violations of the
university’s academic integrity policy. Instances of potential violations are adjudicated using the
process found in the university Academic Integrity Policy.
RESEARCH INTEGRITY
The Responsible Conduct of Research policy is intended to ensure that NAU personnel including
NAU students engaged in research are adequately trained in the basic principles of ethics in
research. Additionally, this policy assists NAU in meeting the RCR training and compliance
requirements of the National Science Foundation (NSF)-The America COMPETES Act (Creating
Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education and Science); 42 U.S.C
18620-1, Section 7009, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) policy on the instruction of the
RCR (NOT-OD-10-019; “Update on the Requirement for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of
Research”). For more information on the policy and the training activities required for personnel and
students conducting research, at NAU, visit: http://nau.edu/Research/Compliance/Research-Integrity/
SENSITIVE COURSE MATERIALS
University education aims to expand student understanding and awareness. Thus, it necessarily
involves engagement with a wide range of information, ideas, and creative representations. In the
course of college studies, students can expect to encounter—and critically appraise—materials that
may differ from and perhaps challenge familiar understandings, ideas, and beliefs. Students are
encouraged to discuss these matters with faculty.
CLASSROOM DISRUPTION POLICY
Membership in the academic community places a special obligation on all participants to preserve an
atmosphere conducive to a safe and positive learning environment. Part of that obligation implies the
responsibility of each member of the NAU community to maintain an environment in which the
behavior of any individual is not disruptive. Instructors have the authority and the responsibility to
manage their classes in accordance with University regulations. Instructors have the right and
obligation to confront disruptive behavior thereby promoting and enforcing standards of behavior
necessary for maintaining an atmosphere conducive to teaching and learning. Instructors are
Effective Fall 2012
responsible for establishing, communicating, and enforcing reasonable expectations and rules of
classroom behavior. These expectations are to be communicated to students in the syllabus and in
class discussions and activities at the outset of the course. Each student is responsible for behaving
in a manner that supports a positive learning environment and that does not interrupt nor disrupt the
delivery of education by instructors or receipt of education by students, within or outside a class. The
complete classroom disruption policy is in Appendices of NAU’s Student Handbook.
Effective Summer 2014
Approved UCC – 1/28/14
Approved UGC – 2/12/14
Effective Fall 2012