SYLLABUS FORM WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE Valhalla, NY lo595 l. Course #: 2. NAME OF ORIGINATOR /REVISOR: PHYSC 143 Laurel Senft, Rob Applebaum, Eryn Klosko NAME OF COURSE Earth Science 3. CURRENT DATE: Please indicate whether this is a NEW COURSE or a REVISION: Fall 2011 Revision DATE OF PRIOR REVISION Spring 2005 4. NUMBER OF CREDITS 5. NUMBER OF CONTACT HOURS PER WEEK: 4 5 (3 lecture, 2 lab) 6. APPROXIMATE FREQUENCY OF OFFERING THIS COURSE every semester, including summer 7. PREREQUISITES OR ENTRY LEVEL SKILLS high school math and english 8. COREQUISITES not applicable 9. PLACE OF THIS COURSE IN CURRICULUM: Required for Curriculum (name) College Core X Elective Part of Required/Recommended Sequence with (Number of Course) 10. IS THIS COURSE DESIGNED FOR TRANSFER TOWARD A SPECIFIC MAJOR? Yes X No MAJOR(S) 11. COURSE OUTCOMES: List the course s learning outcomes and describe how each outcome will be measured. Outcome - Upon successful completion, the student will be able to: Explain the origin of observable natural phenomena (for example: earthquakes, volcanoes, and the distribution of rock types and of physiographic features). Communicate the relevance of observable natural phenomena to his/her life and to human society in general. Explain the science behind current societal issues dealing with Earth Science, such as global warming. Develop scientific observational and classification skills and demonstrate an understanding of their place in the scientific method. This outcome will be measured by one or more of the following: TESTS, LECTURE TESTS, LECTURE TESTS, LECTURE
Understand and qualitatively explain the basic physical processes governing the evolution of the Earth. TESTS, LECTURE 12. COURSE GRADE Based on the above measures, how will the final course grade be calculated? Total Course Grade: Laboratory 25% Class Exams 35-45% (Four exams to assess student achievement will be given approximately every 4-5 weeks and will correlate with topics from lecture. The best three of four will be used as this grade.) Class Participation and Homework 5-15% (Attendance and participation in class activities and completion of written homework assignments.) Final Exam 25% (A comprehensive two hour final exam.) Breakdown of Laboratory Grade: Lab Exercises 60% (Nine graded two hour lab activities requiring written work. For each graded lab activity, 10% of that grade will be from a written prelab activity.) Lab Practical One 20% Lab Practical Two 20% 13. INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS: List the different instructional methods you might use, in the course of the semester. List supplementary learning options, if any Lecture, small and large group discussions, small group activities (lecture tutorials), lecture exams, video demonstrations, computer animations, internet explorations. 14. CROSS-CURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES: A. General Education Enrichment: Does this course provide opportunities to draw upon examples or concepts from outside the main objectives of this area of study? If yes, please briefly describe the content, activities or assignments. B. Information Management: Does this course provide opportunities to teach and/or require the students to apply information management skills? If yes, please briefly describe the content, activities or assignments. C. Critical Thinking: Are there components of this course which teach and/or require students to demonstrate Critical Thinking? If yes, please briefly describe the content, activities or assignments. D. Student Engagement: Does this course provide opportunities for students to participate in individual or group presentations or interactions? If yes, please briefly describe the content, activities or assignments. Opportunities General Education Students will gain a general knowledge of scientific principles and how they relate to the study of the natural world. Students will develop an understanding of the physical processes that shape our world and how these processes affect our society. Students will also explore how we as a society affect our planet and develop a sense of personal ethics and responsibility. Information Management Activities or Assignments
Students will gain the ability to understand, interpret, and integrate large amounts of information through reading, writing, and mathematics. Critical Thinking Students will gain the ability to critically analyze arguments, evaluate data, and synthesize and articulate their own arguments. Student Engagement Students will work together in groups during laboratory meetings. Participation and discussion will be encouraged in both laboratory and lecture meetings. Additionally, students will be periodically placed in groups during lecture to complete in class activities ( lecture tutorials ). LABORATORY ASSIGNMENTS, CLASS DISCUSSIONS, LECTURE 15. TOPIC OUTLINE Earth Science Lecture Syllabus TOPICS Approximate Time Allocation Week of Lecture (3 Class periods 50 minutes per period) Section One: Earth System, Rocks and Minerals Earth System 1 Introduction to course Introduction to Earth Science The Scientific Method Minerals and Rocks 2 Mineral Properties Silicates and Other Mineral Groups The Rock Cycle 3 Igneous Rocks Weathering Sedimentary Rocks 4 Metamorphic Rocks Section Two: Earth s Internal Processes Plate Tectonics Theory 5 Continental Drift Seafloor Spreading Plate Tectonics Theory 6 Plate Boundaries Proof of Plate tectonics Geologic Time
7 Relative Dating Absolute Dating The Geologic Timescale Geologic Structures 8 Stress and Deformation Faults and Folds Earthquakes 9 Seismic Waves Location, Magnitude, and Destruction Earth s Interior Volcanoes 10 Types and Controlling Factors Hazards Section Three: Earth s External Processes Rivers External Processes / Hydrological Cycle 11 Running water / Flooding Glaciers 12 Glaciers and Glacial Processes Climate Change 13 Climate Change and Global Warming Effects of Global Warming Planets Overview Solar System History of Life on Earth 14 Origin and Evolution of Life Extinctions 15 Overview of Course and Wrap-up Final Exam Review Week 1 Introduction Week 2 Lab 1: Topographic Maps Week 3 Lab 2: Minerals Week 4 Lab 3: Rocks Week 5 Lab 4: Plate Tectonics Week 6 Review for first practical Earth Science Lab Syllabus
Week 7 Lab Practical One Week 8 Lab 5: Geologic Maps and Structures Week 9 Lab 6: Geologic History and Campus Field Trip (schedule may change due to weather) Week 10 Lab 7: Earthquakes Week 11 Lab 8: Natural Hazards Week 12 Lab 9: Rivers Week 13 Review for second practical Week 14 Lab Practical Two Week 15 Make-up Week* * If a week is missed (due to inclement weather, sickness, etc.), then all remaining labs and reviews will be shifted down a week and Lab Practical Two will occur during week 15. Further missed classes will eliminate reviews. 16. UNIQUE ASPECTS OF COURSE (such as equipment, specified software, space requirements, etc.) APPENDIX I: REQUIRED TEXTS AND/OR MATERIALS REQUIRED BY THE STUDENT (Include Supplementary Readings) TEXTS: B. Murck, B. Skinner, D. Mackenzie. Visualizing Geology, second edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Hoboken, NJ (2010). K. Kortz and J. Smay. Lecture Tutorials for Introductory Geoscience. W.H. Freeman and Company. New York, NY (2010). APPENDIX II: - CATALOG DESCRIPTION: (Approximately 65 words or less) Provides non-science majors with an understanding of the planet we inhabit. Students study Earth s physical environment, rocks and minerals, natural hazards, geological history, and the fossil record. The course includes an investigation of dynamic Earth processes such as weathering, glaciation, flooding, earthquakes, volcanic activity, plate tectonics, and climate change. Class hrs. 3, Lab hrs. 2. Offered every semester.