Syllabus for PSC 201/GEO 201 Principles of Earth Science Lecture 3 Credit Hours Fall 2012

Transcription

1 I. COURSE DESCRIPTION Syllabus for PSC 201/GEO 201 Principles of Earth Science Lecture 3 Credit Hours Fall 2012 An introduction to earth sciences: geology, oceanography, geomorphology, and meteorology. Discusses the processes at work within the earth, on the surface, and in the air and oceans. Emphasizes plate tectonic theory. Corequisite: PSC 201 Lab. II. COURSE GOALS The purpose of this course is to enable the student to be aware of the great ideas of the various disciplines concerned with the earth as a unit and earth-space relationships. III. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR THIS COURSE A. Terminal Objectives As a result of successfully completing this course, the student will be able to do the following: 1. Identify and differentiate between the basic components of the earth s interior and exterior, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere. 2. Describe the major events of geologic history, including the fossil record. 3. Explain the key components, supporting evidence, and historical application of plate tectonic theory. 4 Describe the major creative processes relating to the subject matter of earth science and their controls and identify the forms created by those processes. 5. Discuss the key components of atmospheric processes, including storms. 6. Discuss the great questions involved in the interaction of scientific and scriptural thought and the important philosophic questions of meaning and purpose as they relate to the earth as the home of human beings. B. Unit Objectives 1. Unit I: Lithosphere Materials and Crustal Processes b. Elaborate on the principles used to interpret relative ages of geologic events. c. Depict the bases for understanding chemical structure of common minerals. d. Describe the fundamental properties of minerals. e. Distinguish the differences in the major rock categories. f. Apply the concepts of the plate tectonic theory to the causes and occurrences of volcanoes, earthquakes, and mountain building. 2. Unit II: Processes that Dominate the Earth s Surface b. Delineate the processes of weathering, erosion, transportation, and deposition caused by exposure to winds, running water, glaciers, and mass movement. c. Describe the chemical and physical processes that operate in marine environments. d. Identify the physiographic forms that cover the ocean floor. PSC 201/GEO 201 Latest Revision: 4/17/ (Fall 2012-SH)

2 e. Trace the pathways of major ocean currents as they interact with land masses and the atmosphere. 3. Unit III: The Atmosphere b. Represent the composition of the atmosphere based on chemistry, temperature, and pressure. c. Investigate the causes and results of various weather systems. d. Discuss the alternative theories regarding long- and short-term climate change. IV. TETBOOKS AND OTHER LEARNING RESOURCES A. Required Materials 1. Textbooks Tarbuck, Edward J., and Frederick K. Lutgens. Earth Science. 13th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, ISBN-13: Other B. Optional Materials 1. Textbooks 2. Other V. POLICIES AND PROCEDURES A. University Policies and Procedures 1. Attendance at each class or laboratory is mandatory at Oral Roberts University. Excessive absences can reduce a student s grade or deny credit for course. 2. Students taking a late exam because of an unauthorized absence will be charged a late exam fee. 3. Students and faculty at Oral Roberts University must adhere to all laws addressing the ethical use of others materials, whether it is in the form of print, electronic, video, multimedia, or computer software. Plagiarism and other forms of cheating involve both lying and stealing and are violations of ORU s Honor Code: I will not cheat or plagiarize; I will do my own academic work and will not inappropriately collaborate with other students on assignments. Plagiarism is usually defined as copying someone else s ideas, words, or sentence structure and submitting them as one s own. Other forms of academic dishonesty include (but are not limited to) the following: a. Submitting another s work as one s own or colluding with someone else and submitting that work as though it were his or hers; b. Failing to meet group assignment or project requirements while claiming to have done so; c. Failing to cite sources used in a paper; d. Creating results for experiments, observations, interviews, or projects that were not done; e. Receiving or giving unauthorized help on assignments. By submitting an assignment in any form, the student gives permission for the assignment to be checked for plagiarism, either by submitting the work for PSC 201/GEO 201 Latest Revision: 4/17/2012 2

3 electronic verification or by other means. Penalties for any of the above infractions may result in disciplinary action including failing the assignment or failing the course or expulsion from the University, as determined by department and University guidelines. 4. Final exams cannot be given before their scheduled times. Students need to check the final exam schedule before planning return flights or other events at the end of the semester. 5. Students are to be in compliance with University, school, and departmental policies regarding Whole Person Assessment (WPA) requirements. Students should consult the WPA handbooks for requirements regarding general education and the students majors. a. The penalty for not submitting electronically or for incorrectly submitting an artifact is a zero for that assignment. b. By submitting an assignment, the student gives permission for the assignment to be assessed electronically. B. Course Policies and Procedures 1. Evaluation Procedures a. Testing and grading scores are calculated as follows: Three Exams at 20% each 60% Final Exam 30% Current Event/Personal Interest Paper 5% Whole Person Assessment 5% TOTAL 100% b. The standard grading scale will be used: A=90% B=80% C=70% D=60% F=59% and below 2. Whole Person Assessment Requirements Instructions will be given in class and summarized on the class Desire 2 Learn Web site. 3. Other Policies and/or Procedures a. The current events summary must involve an event that happened since the first day of the semester. Alternatively a one-page description may be made of your favorite mineral with a minimum length of 250 words, submitted through the Web site Turnitin and due after the first exam. b. Students need to read appropriate chapters before each lecture and answer practice questions to prepare for examinations. c. Whether the student is present or absent, the student is responsible for all material and all assignments and for all exams announced by this syllabus. PSC 201/GEO 201 Latest Revision: 4/17/2012 3

4 VI. COURSE CALENDAR Lecture Topic 1 Course introduction and syllabus Ch.1 2 Geologic Time Ch Mineral Chemistry Ch. 2 4 Mineral Families Ch. 2 5 Rock Cycle Ch. 3 6 Plate Tectonics Ch. 7 7 Earthquakes Ch. 8 8 Volcanoes Ch. 9 9 Mountain Building Ch EAM 1 11 Weathering and Soil Formation Ch Mass Wasting Ch Running Water Ch 5 14 Groundwater Ch Glaciers Ch Deserts and Wind Ch Ocean Floor Ch Ocean Water Ch EAM 2 20 Dynamic Ocean Ch Atmosphere Ch Clouds & Precipitation Ch Air Pressure Ch Weather Ch Climate Ch Climate Change Ch Movie 28 EAM 3 29 Review for Final Exam Final Examination is comprehensive. Check University final exam schedule for time and date. PSC 201/GEO 201 Latest Revision: 4/17/2012 4

5 Course Inventory for ORU s Student Learning Outcomes PSC/GEO 201 Principles of Earth Science Lecture Fall 2012 This course contributes to the ORU student learning outcomes as indicated below: Significant Contribution Addresses the outcome directly and includes targeted assessment. Moderate Contribution Addresses the outcome directly or indirectly and includes some assessment. Minimal Contribution Addresses the outcome indirectly and includes little or no assessment. No Contribution Does not address the outcome. The Student Learning Glossary at defines each outcome and each of the proficiencies/capacities. OUTCOMES & Significant Moderate Minimal No Contribution Contribution Contribution Contribution 1 Outcome #1 Spiritually Alive 1A Biblical knowledge 1B Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit 1C Evangelistic capability 1D Ethical behavior 2 Outcome #2 Intellectually Alert 2A Critical thinking 2B Information literacy 2C Global & historical perspectives 2D Aesthetic appreciation 2E Intellectual creativity 3 Outcome #3 Physically Disciplined 3A Healthy lifestyle 3B Physically disciplined lifestyle 4 Outcome #4 Socially Adept 4A Communication skills 4B Interpersonal skills 4C Appreciation of cultural & linguistic differences 4D Responsible citizenship 4E Leadership capacity PSC 201/GEO 201 Latest Revision: 4/17/2012 5