Montgomery/ENV 115 1
ENV 115
ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY
SYLLABUS
Quarter: Winter 2000
Time: MWF: 12:00-1:00
Lecture Room: SAC 270
Laboratory Room: McGowan 101
Instructor: Dr. James A. Montgomery
Office: McGowan 124
Telephone: 773-325-2771
Email: jmontgom@wppost.depaul.edu
Course Website: http://www.depaul.edu/~envirsci
PURPOSE
When viewed from space, Earth appears as a tiny blue sphere wrapped in a swirl of white clouds,
suspended in the black of empty space. This image might seem to convey Earth as a static entity, much
like the other planets in the solar system. This image, however, is misleading, for Earth is a dynamic
system of geologic forces. The popular media has made us increasingly aware of these geological forces
in our physical environment. Devastating earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, flooding, mudflows, and
other natural catastrophes severely affect people and property. Hence, we must be better able to
understand and deal with them. There is, however, a more fundamental reason for studying the materials
of which Earth is composed and the forces that shape it. Earth is our home. It provides mineral
resources that are important in sustaining life and the economies of modern society. Unfortunately, our
insatiable quest for resources has resulted in environmental degradation and pollution of our home. If we
are to maintain a sustainable existence on Earth, then we need to understand how it works so that we can
appreciate and preserve it. The purpose of this course, therefore, is to discuss the physical materials of
which Earth is composed and the physical processes that have formed the earth and its surface features.
OBJECTIVES
This course will examine how geologic processes and hazards influence human activities (and sometimes
the reverse). The objectives of this course are to: (1) present the foundations of the geological sciences,
including an overview of rocks and minerals; (2) discuss important internal geologic processes such as
plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanoes; (3) discuss important surficial processes such as streams and
flooding, coastal zones and processes, mass movements, and geology and climate, and (4) discuss
important geologic resources including water and soil.
TEXTS
Environmental Geology: An Earth System Science Approach – Merritts, de Wet, Menking; W.H.
Freeman
The Lab Book:Problem Solving in Geology – Judson, Bonini, Rhodes, Rossbacher; Prentice-Hall
SUPPLIES
Lead pencils
Colored pencils
Erasers
Calculator
Please bring all texts and supplies to every lecture and lab!!
Montgomery/ENV 115 2
COURSE EXPECTATIONS
Lectures: Lectures are MWF from 12:00-1:00 p.m. Read the assigned material before the
lecture. You are responsible for all material covered in lecture.
Examinations: Examinations will consist of true-false, multiple choice, short answer,
quantitative, and essay questions. Exam questions will come from the lecture notes,
textbook, lab manual, and any assigned readings. Lecture objectives and definitions will
be posted as Learning Goals on the website. The Learning Goals effectively serve as
exam study guides. Exams 2 and 3 are cumulative in nature.
Homework Assignments: Homework assignments will consist of questions and
exercises from your textbook, lab manual, and outside sources. You have one week to
complete the assignments. Assignments are due in my office by 5:00 p.m. on the due
date. The due date for each assignment is given at the top of each assignment. NO LATE
ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED!
Laboratories: Labs will begin on time (Monday-1:10 p.m.; Wednesday, 1:10 p.m.). Read
the assigned material before the lab. You are responsible for all material covered in lab.
In most cases lab assignments and activities will be due at the end of the lab period. NO
LATE LABS WILL BE ACCEPTED. NO MAKE-UP LABS WILL BE GIVEN, except
for situations that involve a medical emergency or death in the family. Verification will
be requested. Please contact me about absences as soon as possible. You can expect to
spend the full three hours in lab. To ensure that you have read the material, a 10-point
pre-lab quiz will be given at the beginning of each lab period. If you come to lab late, you
will not be given the pre-lab quiz.
Attendance Policy: Class begins promptly at 12:00 p.m. I do not appreciate students
coming in late to class, as it is disruptive. I will begin taking attendance the week of
January 15. Students missing more than three lectures will have up to five points
deducted from their final course average.
Academic Integrity: According to the DePaul University Student Handbook,
“Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to, the following
categories: cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, falsification or sabotage of research data,
destruction or misuse of the university’s academic resources, alteration or falsification of
academic records, and academic misconduct.” The Handbook also states that “[f]aculty
members … have the authority and the responsibility to make the initial judgement
regarding violations of academic integrity in the context of the course that they teach.
They may impose sanctions up to and including failure of a course at their own discretion
in cases involving a violation of academic integrity policies.” For more information, see
the Student Handbook online at http://www.depaul.edu/~handbook.
Montgomery/ENV 115 3
LABORATORY SCHEDULE
Week of
January 8
January 15
January 22
January 29
February 5
February 12
February 19
February 26
March 5
March 12
Exercise in The Lab Book:
No lab
Rock-Forming Minerals (Part V – pp. 195-210)
Igneous Rocks (Part V – pp. 211-218)
Sedimentary Rocks (Part V – 219-224); Metamorphic Rocks
(Part V – pp. 225-228)
Topographic Maps (Part II – pp. 7-21); Air Photos (Part II- pp. 25-28)
Geologic Maps, Structures, and Earth History (Part II - pp. 37-53)
Streams (Part III – pp. 85-95); Glaciation (Part III – pp.116-124)
Ground Water (Part III – pp.99-110); Landslides (Part III – pp. 69-82)
Earthquakes and Seismic Risks (Part IV – pp. 143-151); Plate
Movements (Part IV – pp. 175-190)
Volcanoes and Volcanic Hazards (Part IV – pp. 153-166); Earthquakes,
Volcanoes, and Plate Tectonics (Part IV – pp. 169-174)
GRADING
Your grade will be based on the following distributions of work and percentages:
3 examinations @ 20% each
Laboratory assignments
Homework assignments
(60%)
(25%)
(15%)
Course grades will be assigned according to the following scale:
 92
90-91
87-89
82-86
A
AB+
B
79-81
76-78
71-75
68-70
BC+
C
C-
65-67 D+
60-64 D
<60 F
EXTRA CREDIT ACTIVITY – HOMESITE EVALUATION
You can earn up to 50 points by conducting a Homesite Evaluation. Details of this evaluation are found
on the website. Extra credit points will be added to the total number of points you have accrued on your
laboratory assignments.
Montgomery/ENV 115 4
COURSE TOPICS (in approximate order of coverage)
Environmental Geology and Environmental Problems
Earth System Science
Rocks and Minerals
Maps
Plate Tectonics
Landslides
Water Resources
Streams and Floods
Water Quality
Coastal Erosion
Energy
OFFICE HOURS
MWF: 11:00-12:00; Friday: 1:00-5:00 p.m.