University of Puerto Rico
Mayagüez Campus
College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Geology
Bachelor of Science with specialization in Geology
Course Syllabus and Instructor Information
1.
General Information:
Alpha-numeric codification: GEOL 4017
Course Title: Elementary Geomorphology
Section: 076
Meeting days and time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:55-1:45 PM
Course Location: F-201
Contact Period: 2 hours of lecture and 1 two-hour laboratory per week
2.
Professor information:
Name: Lizzette Rodríguez Iglesias
Office Hours: Mondays: 3:00-5:00 PM
Office: F-401 (Geology Dept, Physics Bldg)
Wednesdays: 3:00-5:00 PM
Phone: (787) 832-4040 x3004
Thursdays: 7:30-8:30 PM
e-mails: larodriguez@uprm.edu; larodrig@mtu.edu
Friday: 3:00-4:00 PM
Other hours available by
appointment only
3.
Course Description:
Study of the development of landforms; interpretation of topography and topographic maps.
4.
Pre/Co-requisites and other requirements:
Pre-requisite: GEOL 4015 or INCI 4001. Co-requisite: GEOL 3025.
5.
Course Objectives:
- Compare the landforms produced by different processes and their topographic expressions.
- Distinguish geomorphologic features in the field and from topographic maps.
6.
Instructional Strategies:
Conference
Discussion
7.
Field Trip
Requirements:
All students are expected to:
(1) Attend class all the time and on time.
(2) Do all assigned readings and homework.
(3) Be prepared to participate in class by answering questions and quizzes.
(4) Participate in the field trips and turn in the corresponding reports.
(5) Check your e-mail (@uprm.edu) all the time, for messages about the class.
(6) Pass all tests and lab work to receive credit for the course.
8.
Course time frame and thematic outline
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Date
Th: 10 Aug
T: 15 Aug
Th: 17 Aug
T: 22 Aug
Th: 24 Aug
T: 29 Aug
Th: 31 Aug
T: 5 Sep
Th: 7 Sep
T: 12 Sep
Th: 14 Sep
T: 19 Sep
Th: 21 Sep
T: 26 Sep
Th: 28 Sep
T: 3 Oct
Th: 5 Oct
T: 10 Oct
W: 11 Oct
Th: 12 Oct
T: 17 Oct
Th: 19 Oct
T: 24 Oct
Th: 26 Oct
T: 31 Oct
Th: 2 Nov
T: 7 Nov
Th: 9 Nov
T: 14 Nov
Th: 16 Nov
T: 21 Nov
Th: 23 Nov
T: 28 Nov
1 – 11 Dec
Topic
Discusión Prontuario + Introduction
Basic Concepts + Weathering
Weathering
Weathering + Mass Wasting
Mass Wasting
Fluvial Processes
Fluvial Processes + Fluvial Landforms
Fluvial Landforms
Groundwater
Groundwater
Exam #1 (Ch. 1 - 6)
Karst
Karst and Puerto Rico
Topographic Expression of Folded Strata
Topographic Expression of Folded Strata
Topographic Expression of Joints and Faults
Topographic Expression of Joints and Faults
Landforms on Igneous Rocks
Landforms-Igneous Rocks (Clases de jueves)
Feriado - No clases
Shorelines
Shorelines
Exam #2 (Ch. 7, 9-11, and Karst material)
Eolian Processes and Landforms
Eolian Processes and Landforms
Glacial Processes
Glacial Processes + Glacial Landforms
Glacial Landforms +
Periglacial Processes and Landforms
*Group projects due*
Group presentations
Group presentations
No clases – Clases de lunes
No clases – Thanksgiving
Dating Geomorphic Features
Exámenes finales
Exam #3 (Ch. 16, 17, 12-15, 18)
* Dates for field trips will be announced later in the semester.
9.
Grading System
Quantifiable (letters)
Curve: Non-standard
Reading/Reference
Chapter 1
Chapters 2 & 3
Chapter 3
Chapters 3 & 4
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapters 5 & 6
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Assigned
Assigned
Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 17
Chapter 12
Chapters 13 & 14
Chapters 14 & 15
Chapter 18
10. Evaluation Strategies
75%
First, second, and final exams (each worth 25%)
10%
Field trip report
10%
Group project and presentations
5%
Quizzes and assignments
*Exams will be given during class hours, except for final exam.
**The grade for the class is divided between the lab and the lecture: 50% each.
11. Tentative Examination schedule:
Exam #1
Thursday, September 14
Exam #2
Tuesday, October 24
Exam #3 (Final)
To be announced
12. Bibliography
Required text: Easterbrook, D.J. (1998) Surface Processes and Landforms (2nd Edition).
Ciencias de la Tierra. Prentice Hall.
Class notes: To be announced
13. Regulations and Policies:
- Class attendance is compulsory. The University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, reserves
the right to deal at any time with individual cases of non-attendance. Professors are expected to record
the absences of their students. Frequent absences affect the final grade, and may even result in total
loss of credits. Arranging to make up work missed because of legitimate class absence is the
responsibility of the student (Bulletin of Information Undergraduate Studies).
- Absence from examinations: Students are required to attend all examinations. If a student is
absent from an examination for a justifiable reason acceptable to the professor, he or she will be given
a special examination. Otherwise, he or she will receive a grade of zero of "F" in the examination
missed (Bulletin of Information Undergraduate Studies).
- Excuses from class or examinations: ONLY WRITTEN EXCUSES WILL BE ACCEPTED.
If a student is absent from an examination, he/she will have the opportunity to take a make-up test NO
LATER than 5 days after the group took the exam. Make-up tests will be given only by appointment.
- Policies on electronic devices: Radios, tape recorders, and other audio or video equipment are
not permitted in the classroom at any time. No cell phones are allowed to be in the ring mode during
classes, neither students talking or sending messages with cell phones or other electronic device. The
use of laptop computers during class is not allowed.
- Cheating: Cooperative work is not permitted on the quizzes or examinations. Cheating will be
dealt with harshly. All instances of cheating on examinations will be immediately reported to the
Dean of Arts and Sciences for review. There will be no exceptions to this policy.
14. According to Law 51
Students will identify themselves with the Institution and the instructor of the course for purposes
of assessment (exams) accommodations. For more information please call the Student
with
Disabilities Office which is part of the Dean of Students office (Chemistry Building, room 019) at
(787)265-3862 or (787)832-4040 extensions 3250 or 3258.
*Any information in this syllabus is subject to change.*