University Curriculum Committee
Course Proposal Form
for Courses Numbered 0001 – 4999
(Faculty Senate Resolution #04–18, April 2004)
(editorially revised 02-21-07)
Note: Before completing this form, please carefully read the accompanying instructions.
GEOG 1300
1.
Course Prefix and Number:
2.
Date:
3.
Requested Action (check only one box):
1/16/2008
New Course
X
Revision of Active Course
Revision & Unbanking of a Banked Course
X
4.
Renumbering of Existing Course
from:
# 2200
to
# 1300
Justification for new course or course revision or renumbering:
1. The enhancement of instructional programs in atmospheric science is one of the Operational Objectives identified in the
Geography’s 2006 Strategic Plan. The department is also in the program approval process for a BS degree in atmospheric
science and this course would introduce, in part, the discipline of meteorology.
2. Results from assessment of student outcomes across numerous sections over the past five years suggest the need for
increased topical variety and enhanced experiential learning. The added credit hour will provide additional lecture coverage,
and greater opportunity for students to explore the physical processes at work in the atmosphere through cooperative
exercises and virtual field trips to East Carolina University’s weather stations physically located at the Belk Building and at the
West Research campus.
3. The content also needs to be updated in response to contemporary meteorological issues such as atmospheric warming,
air quality, acid rain, urban influences, and extreme or severe weather events like drought and hurricanes.
5.
Course description exactly as it should appear in the next catalog:
1300. Weather and Climate (4) (F,S,SS) Introductory survey of meteorology
including weather and climate principles, processes, and patterns, at a variety of
scales from local to global.
6.
If this is a course revision, briefly describe the requested change:
Renumber, expand content, and provide increased hands-on experiences.
7.
Page Number from current undergraduate catalog:
8.
The Writing Across the Curriculum Committee must approve Writing
Intensive (WI) Credit for all courses prior to their consideration by the UCC.
If WI credit is requested, has this course been approved for Writing
Intensive (WI) credit (yes/no)?
If Yes, will all sections be Writing Intensive (yes/no)?
137, 139, 393-94
9. The Academic Standards Committee must approve Foundations Curriculum
Credit for all courses prior to their consideration by the UCC. If FC credit has
been approved by the ASC, then check the appropriate box (check at most
one):
English (EN)
Science (SC)
Humanities (HU)
Social Science (SO)
Fine Arts (FA)
Mathematics (MA)
Health
(HL)
Exercise (EX)
10.
Course Credit:
Lecture Hours
4 Weekly
Lab
Weekly
Studio
Weekly
Practicum
Weekly
Internship
Weekly
Other (e.g., independent study):
or
or
or
or
or
Per Term
Per Term
Per Term
Per Term
Per Term
Credit Hours
Credit Hours
Credit Hours
Credit Hours
Credit Hours
4
Total Credit Hours
11.
Anticipated yearly student enrollment:
12.
Affected Degrees or Academic Programs:
13.
Overlapping or Duplication with Affected Units or Programs:
s.h.
s.h.
s.h.
s.h.
s.h.
s.h.
80
Not Applicable
X
14.
Applicable (Notification and/or Response from Units Attached)
Approval by the Council for Teacher Education (required for courses
affecting teacher education programs):
X
Not Applicable
Applicable (CTE has given their approval)
15.
Statements of Support:
X
Current staff is adequate
Additional Staff is needed (describe needs in the box below):
X
Current facilities are adequate
Additional Facilities are needed (describe needs in the box below):
X
Initial library resources are adequate
Initial resources are needed (in the box below, give a brief explanation
and estimate for cost of acquisition of required resources):
16.
X
Unit computer resources are adequate
Additional unit computer resources are needed (in the box below,
give a brief explanation and an estimate for the cost of acquisition):
X
ITCS Resources are not needed
Following ITCS resources are needed (put a check beside each need):
Mainframe computer system
Statistical services
Network connections
Computer lab for students
Describe any computer or networking requirements of this program
that are not currently fully supported for existing programs (Includes
use of classroom, laboratory, or other facilities that are not currently used
in the capacity being requested).
Approval from the Director of ITCS attached
Syllabus – please insert course syllabus below. Do not submit course
syllabus as a separate file. You must include (a) the name of the textbook
chosen for the course, (b) the course objectives, (c) the course content
outline, and (d) the course assignments and grading plan
Syllabus
GEOG 1300
Weather and Climate
Required Textbook: Ahrens, C.D. Meteorology Today: An Introduction to Weather, Climate, and the
Environment. Pacific Grove, CA: Thomson Learning, Brooks Cole. 2007. ISBN: 0-495-01167-3
Introduction:
Weather and Climate provides a college-level introduction to the theory and practice of meteorology, the
science that studies the atmospheric processes that control weather and climate. This course presents a
qualitative and graphical analysis of the processes operating within the atmosphere. Weather and Climate
assumes no previous background in the material, and there is no prerequisite to the course.
Scientific advances have profoundly affected our civilization, and educated citizens must develop an
appreciation for the limitations of scientific inquiries. Weather and Climate presents recent advances in
the atmospheric sciences from the perspective of success as well as setback in order to characterize the
excitement of discovery and the reality of failure. This course introduces atmospheric patterns and
processes at a variety of scales and the impact of these upon environmental issues.
Course Objectives:
Students will master the subject matter of meteorology and will be able to:
 Recognize and illustrate basic patterns of weather and climate
 Articulate the processes that affect atmospheric systems
 Examine atmospheric patterns and processes working at micro, meso, synoptic, and global scales
 Describe the technologic and scientific approaches used in meteorology to study the atmosphere
 Apply the scientific method with real world data acquisition, analysis, and interpretation
 Appreciate the effects of human activities and government policy on the composition of the
atmosphere
 Illustrate the effects of extreme weather events and climate change on people, property, and society
Format:
Weather and Climate consists of weekly interactive classes that are supplemented by textbook readings,
exercises, and field experiences.
Research demonstrates that learning best takes place when the student is actively engaged in their
education. As basic mathematical relationships in natural systems are often understood through
application and evaluation, the student will engage in several cooperative and inquiry-based exercises
that are dedicated to hands-on learning and designed to illustrate atmospheric patterns and processes.
Grading:
Written exercise reports (25%)
Two mid-term examinations (each 25%)
Final examination (25%)
Grading scale: A (>90%), B (80-89%), C (70-79%), D (60-69%), F (<60%)
Content Outline:
1 Introduction to the Earth and its atmosphere (Chapter 1, pp. 1-25)
2 The Earth, and atmospheric temperature (Chapter 2, pp. 27-53)
3 Spatial and temporal patterns of temperature, temperature extremes, heat waves and
wind chill (Chapter 3, pp. 55-83)
4 The Earth, and atmospheric moisture (Chapter 4, pp. 85-105)
5 Forms of atmospheric condensation, atmospheric stability and cloud formation (Chapters
5 and 6, pp. 107-161)
6 Precipitation patterns and process, precipitation variability, extremes and drought
(Chapter 7, pp. 163-189)
7 The Earth, and atmospheric pressure and winds (Chapter 8, pp.191-219)
8 Winds, from local to global scales (Chapters 9 and 10, pp. 221-270)
9 Air mass types and frontal activity (Chapter 11, pp. 285-307)
10 Mid-latitude weather systems (Chapter 12, pp. 309-333)
11 Weather forecasting and the scientific and technologic approaches used in meteorology
(Chapter 13, pp. 335-365)
12 Severe weather, thunderstorms, hurricanes, and tornadoes (Chapters 14 and 15, pp.
367-429)
13 Global climate patterns and variability (Chapter 10 and 17, pp. 271-283; 459-487)
14 Global climate change and its affects on humans and society (Chapter 16, pp. 431-457)
15 Meteorology and public policy, ozone, and air pollution (Chapter 18, pp. 489-515)