Fall 2020 Course Syllabus Course: GEOL-1303- Section: 71 Physical Geology (lecture)

Instructor Information
Instructor	Karen Stelly
E-mail	stellyks@lamarpa.edu
Phone	(409) 984-6341
Office	Location: Educational I - Room: 133 Hours: Virtual office hours by phone Mon-Sun 10am-5pm call or text - 409-554-3493
Department	General Education and Developmental Studies Chair: Dr. Michelle Davis E-mail: davisml1@lamarpa.edu Phone: (409) 984-6341 If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that has not been resolved through discussion with the Instructor, please consult the Department Chair.
COVID 19 Information	The Lamar State College Port Arthur (LSCPA) Student Code of Conduct COVID 19 Policy requires students who have been exposed to COVID 19 or diagnosed with COVID 19 to report their condition on the COVID 19 Notification Form (available via a link on the Student Code of Conduct COVID19 webpage). This information will be provided to the Dean of Student Services. In addition, this policy requires all students to wear face coverings in compliance with the criteria included in the policy. For more information please refer to the COVID 19 link on the LSCPA website.
Course Information
Description	Introduction to the study of the materials and processes that have modified and shaped the surface and interior of Earth over time. These processes are described by theories based on experimental data and geologic data gathered from field observations.
Prerequisites	None
Learning Outcomes	By the end of this course you will learn to: Describe how the scientific method has led to our current understanding of Earth’s structure and processes. Interpret the origin and distribution of minerals, rocks and geologic resources. Describe the theory of plate tectonics and its relationship to the formation and distribution of Earth’s crustal features. Quantify the rates of physical and chemical processes acting on Earth and how these processes fit into the context of geologic time. Communicate how surface processes are driven by interactions among Earth’s systems (e.g., the geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere). Identify and describe the internal structure and dynamics of Earth. Describe the interaction of humans with Earth (e.g., resource development or hazard assessment).
Core Objectives	* Communication skills: Students will demonstrate effective written, oral and visual communication. * Critical Thinking Skills: Students will engage in creative and/or innovative thinking, and/or inquiry, analysis, evaluation, synthesis of information, organizing concepts and constructing solutions. * Empirical and Quantitative Skills: Students will demonstrate applications of scientific and mathematical concepts. * Teamwork: Students will demonstrate the ability to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal and consider different points of view.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
Textbooks	Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer. Johnson, C., Affolter, M., Inkenbrandt, P., & Mosher, C. (2017). An introduction to geology. Salt Lake Community College. Open Educational Resource. Retrieved from http://opengeology.org/textbook/
Lecture Topics Outline	Class Schedule: (With due dates) Lecture Schedule Fall 2020 Physical Geology Lamar-Port Arthur Week and date Reading Lecture Textbook Discussion Lecture Topic Discussion Topic Lecture Due Dates Discussion Due Dates Week 1 Aug 24 Bad Laura Week 2 Aug 31 Bad Laura Week 3 Sept 7/8 Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Understanding Science Plate Tectonics Discussion Board Introductions Due during Week 1 Week 4 Sept 14 Chapter 3 Minerals DQ 1 Discussion Tectonics and Volcanoes Due Thursday Sept 17 Week 5 Sept 21 Chapter 4 Igneous Processes and Volcanoes Assignment 1 due Sept 27 Week 6 Sept 28 Chapter 5 Weathering, Erosion, and Sedimentary Rocks TEST 1 Chapters 1-5 due Oct 4 Week 7 Oct 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Metamorphic Rocks Geologic Time DQ 2 Discussion Rocks Due Thursday Oct 8 Week 8 Oct 12 Chapter 8 Earth History Assignment 2 due Oct 18 Week 9 Oct 19 Chapter 9 Crustal Deformation and earthquakes TEST 2 Chapters 6-9 due Oct 25 Week 10 Oct 26 Chapter 10 Mass Wasting DQ 3 Discussion Mass Wasting Due Thursday Oct 29 Week 11 Nov 2 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Water Coastlines Assignment 3 due Nov 8 TEST 3 Chapters 10-12 due, Nov 8 DQ 4 Discussion Problems with the Oceans Due Thursday Nov 5 Week 12 Nov 9 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Deserts Glaciers Week 13 Nov 16 Chapter 15 Global Climate Change DQ 5 Discussion Climate Change Due Thursday Nov 19 Week 14 Nov 23 Chapter 16 Energy and Mineral Resources Assignment 4 due Nov 29 Week 15 Nov 30 Last week 3 days only! TEST 4 Chapters 13-16 due Wednesday Dec 2 Final exam Comprehensive FINAL EXAM Due by Sunday Dec 6
Major Assignments Schedule	GEOL_1303_71_202090_P00344370.pdf
Final Exam Date	December 6, 2020 - 8:00 AM
Grading Scale	90 - 100=A    80 - 89=B    70 - 79=C     60 - 69=D    Below 59 = F
Determination of Final Grade	Sum of Discussion Questions, Assignments, and Tests divided by total points available.
Course Policies
Instructor Policies	All work must be your own work.
Attendance Policy	Class attendance will be met by submitting timely Discussion Questions, assignments, and tests.
Academic Honesty	Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSC-PA policies (Section IX, subsection A, in the Faculty Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.
Facility Policies	No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. Use of electronic devices is prohibited.
Important Information
ADA Considerations	The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the the Office for Disability Services Coordinator, Room 231, in the Madison Monroe Building. The phone number is (409) 984-6241.
MyLSCPA	Be sure to check your campus E-mail and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal (My.LamarPA.edu). When you've logged in, click the email icon in the upper right-hand corner to check email, or click on the "My Courses" tab to get to your Course Homepage. Click the link to your course and review the information presented. It is important that you check your email and Course Homepage regularly. You can also access your grades, transcripts, and determine who your academic advisor is by using MyLSCPA.
Other	Technology Requirements: You should have a computer with Windows 8 or more recent. You should have MS Office, specifically Word, PowerPoint, and Excel If you do not have Office already, you can down load a free version called OpenOffice available at https://www.openoffice.org/download/ (If you use this, you should save your documents as .docx files) You should have a printer with scanner OR phone with camera for the purpose of making a digital image of some lab work
HB 2504	This syllabus is part of LSC-PA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.