Course Form (revised 8-2009)
I. Summary of Proposed Changes
Dept / Program
Geosciences
Course Title
Sedimentation and Stratigraphy
Prefix and Course #
GEO 309
Short Title (max. 26 characters incl. spaces)
Sedimentation/Stratigraphy
Summarize the change(s) proposed
New course
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Requestor:
James R. Staub
Phone/ email :
james.staub@umontana.edu
Program Chair/Director:
William Woessner
Other affected programs
Dean:
Date
Chris Comer
III: To Add a New Course Syllabus and assessment information is required (paste syllabus into
section V or attach). Course should have internal coherence and clear focus.
NO
Common Course Numbering Review: Does an equivalent course exist elsewhere YES
in the MUS? Do the proposed abbreviation, number, title and credits align with
existing course(s)? Please indicate equivalent course/campus 
http://msudw.msu.montana.edu:9030/wfez/owa/musxfer.p_CCN_MAIN
X
Exact entry to appear in the next catalog (Specify course abbreviation, level, number, title, credits,
repeatability (if applicable), frequency of offering, prerequisites, and a brief description.) 
U 309 Sedimentation and Stratigraphy 4 cr. Offered spring. Prereq. GEO 100N-101N or 211, 226.
Origins of sediments and sedimentary rocks; climate, weathering, and weathering products;
transport, deposition, and depositional environments of sediments; concepts and methods of
stratigraphy including correlation of sedimentary rocks and an introduction to basin analysis.
Justification: How does the course fit with the existing curriculum? Why is it needed?
This course is part of a restructuring towards a more research oriented undergraduate curriculum. The course
is an essential introduction and principles class for one of the major geologic sub-disciplines and will
function as a gateway prerequisite class for 400 level sedimentology and stratigraphy classes. The course had
previously been listed as GEOL 202. It was inadvertently dropped from the curriculum in the common
course renumbering/transfer process. The course content has been substantially strengthened to justify a 300
level listing.
Are there curricular adjustments to accommodate teaching this course?
no
Complete for UG courses. (UG courses should be assigned a 400 number).
Describe graduate increment (Reference guidelines: http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/Grad/UG.htm)
Fees may be requested only for courses meeting specific conditions determined by the
YES
NO
Board of Regents. Please indicate whether this course will be considered for a fee.
X
If YES, what is the proposed amount of the fee?
$30
Justification: In order to train geoscientists it is necessary to conduct field trips to examine rocks and conduct
field exercises outside of the classroom. The proposed fee will be used to defray the cost of vehicle rental.
IV. To Delete or Change an Existing Course – check X all that apply
Deletion
Title
Course Number Change
From:
Level U, UG, G
To:
From:
To:
Description Change
Change in Credits
From:
To:
Prerequisites
1. Current course information at it appears in catalog
(http://www.umt.edu/catalog) 
Repeatability
Cross Listing
(primary program
initiates form)
Is there a fee associated with the course?
2. Full and exact entry (as proposed) 
3. If cross-listed course: secondary program & course
number
4. Is this a course with MUS Common Course Numbering? If yes, then will this change eliminate the
course’s common course status? Please explain below.
5. Graduate increment if level of course is changed to
UG. Reference guidelines at:
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/Grad/UG.htm
(syllabus required in section V)
Have you reviewed the graduate increment
guidelines? Please check (X) space provided.
6. Other programs affected by the change
7. Justification for proposed change
V. Syllabus/Assessment Information
Required for new courses and course change from U to UG. Paste syllabus in field below or attach and send
digital copy with form.
Syllabus – GEO 309 – Sedimentology and Stratigraphy, 4 credits
Text: Principles of Sedimentology and Stratigraphy, 4th edition, Sam Boggs, Jr., 2006, Prentice
Hall, ISBN 0131547238
Course Objectives: To provide you with a working knowledge of the characteristic features of
sedimentary rocks and the physical and chemical processes responsible for their origins and
diagenesis. A working knowledge of stratigraphic principles, methods of correlation, and methods
of paleographic reconstruction will also be provided by this course. In addition, concepts of basin
analysis are introduced. These objectives are achieved through class room lectures, a series of
laboratory exercises and problem sets, library research culminating in a term paper, and a field
exercise.
Course Content:
Facies and Facies Models
Weathering and Soils
Transport and Deposition of Siliciclastic Sediment
Sedimentary Textures
Sedimentary Structures
Siliciclastic Sedimentary Rocks
Carbonate Sedimentary Rocks
Chemical/Biochemical and Carbonaceous Sedimentary Rocks
Depositional Environments
Controls on Sea Level
Continental Environments
Marginal Marine Environments
Siliciclastic Marine Environments
Carbonate and Evaporite Environments
Lithostratigraphy
Seismic, Sequence, and Magnetic Stratigraphy
Biostratigraphy
Chronostratigraphy
Basin Analysis and Tectonics
Grading: There will be two midterm exams (15% each). They will not be comprehensive. The
final exam (30%) will be comprehensive. Exam questions will be short answer/essay and
computational in format. Laboratory exercises and problem sets will be graded and count as part of
your final grade (15% in total). In addition, a term research paper is required (15%). The text of the
paper (not including the abstract and references) should be between 7 and 10 pages in length and the
format to follow is the Geological Society of America Bulletin. The paper will be graded and count
as part of your final grade. Please see the instructor for paper topics. There will also be a field
exercise as part of a weekend long (Friday-Sunday) field trip that will be graded (10%).
Student Conduct Code: Please be familiar with the UM Student Conduct Code. It outlines the
rights and responsibilities of students at The University of Montana. Being a student at UM
presupposes a commitment to the principles and policies embodied in the code. The Student
Conduct Code can be found on the Vice President for Student Affairs web site at
http://life.umt.edu/vpsa/student_conduct.php.
Course Accommodations (DSS): Students with disabilities will receive reasonable
accommodations in this course. To request course modifications, please contact me as soon as
possible. I will work with Disability Services in the accommodation process. For more
information, visit the Disability Services website at http://life.umt.edu/dss or call 406.243.2243
(Voice/Text).
VI Department Summary (Required if several forms are submitted) In a separate document list course
number, title, and proposed change for all proposals.
VII Copies and Electronic Submission. After approval, submit original, one copy, summary of
proposals and electronic file to the Faculty Senate Office, UH 221, camie.foos@mso.umt.edu.