Fall 2025 Course Syllabus
Course: GEOL-1103 (Section: 73D, CRN: 93356)
Physical Geology Laboratory 		LSCPA Logo Image
Instructor Information
Instructor Karen Stelly
Email stellyks@lamarpa.edu
Phone (409) 984-6341
Office Educational I - Room: 133
Office Hours Office hours by phone only 10 am to 10 pm Monday to Sunday
Additional Contact Information
Course Information
Description This laboratory-based course accompanies GEOL 1303, Physical Geology. Laboratory activities will cover methods used to collect and analyze earth science data.
Required 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.

Lab Manual - Powerpoints in the Content area (They're free!)

Maps in Content area (They're free!)

Need to purchase:

Mineral and rock samples https://www.homesciencetools.com/product/rocks-minerals-sample-set/ (~$38)
Additional Materials/Resources None
Corequisites/Prerequisites None
Learning Outcomes Classify rocks and minerals based on chemical composition, physical properties, and origin.
Apply knowledge of topographic maps to quantify geometrical aspects of topography.
Identify landforms on maps, diagrams, and/or photographs and explain the processes that created them.
Differentiate the types of plate boundaries and their associated features on maps and profiles and explain the processes that occur at each type of boundary.
Identify basic structural features on maps, block diagrams and cross sections and infer how they were created.
Demonstrate the collection, analysis, and reporting of data. 
Core Objectives
* Communication skills: Students will demonstrate effective written, oral and/or 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.

Lecture Topics Outline Scientific process, plate tectonics, and earthquakes.
Minerals Igneous, rocks, sedimentary rocks, and metamorphic rocks.
Geologic structures and geologic time.
Topographic map reading 
Streams and Coastlines with maps
Karst topography and deserts with maps
Major Assignments Schedule Weeks 2-3 Lab 1
Weeks 4-5 Lab 2; quiz 1
Weeks 6-7 Lab 3; quiz 2
Weeks 8-9 Lab 4; quiz 3
Weeks 10-11 Lab 5; Quiz 4
Weeks 12-13 Lab 6; group project; quiz 5
Week 14 Quiz 6
Final Exam Date December 4, 2025 - 12:0 AM   Through  December 4, 2025 - 11:59 PM
Grading Scale  90 - 100=A 80 - 89=B  70 - 79=C   60 - 69=D  Below 59 = F
Determination of
Final Grade		 Labs 46%
Quizzes 46%
Group Project 8%
Course Policies
Instructor Policies Any quiz completed before the associated lab will lose 10% on said quiz.
Any deliberate mis-post of labs or quizzes to make something look like it is not late will lose 10%
There are specific cutoff dates in the Course Schedule for late work.
Graded work may not be resubmitted for a better grade. Re-do's are not a thing.




Rules for lab work

  1. Download attachment with each lab assignment. After you are finished, save as a .doc or .docx, file type for posting. Handwritten scans and pdf's will NOT be graded. (Pdf's for images you need to attach are totally cool, or you can paste your hand drawn work inside the Word document, either way is cool!) In Word, I can verify origin.
  2. Do not change font style, color, or add extra lines.
  3. Do not add extra blank lines; extra lines for explanations are ok.
  4. Where the instructions say answers must be unique, they must be in your own way of explaining things. To help guide you, here is a link to assist you with how to paraphrase. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1t0G7ZnRG8
  5. If you do not understand it well enough to put in your own words, please ask me! A wise man said, if you cannot explain something in simple terms, you do not understand it. That’s where I come in. (I’m really a very nice person!)
  6. Cut to the chase and answer the questions as directly and succinctly as possible. Overly lengthy answers with extras not asked for are subject to possible point loss.
  7. Lab and quiz re-do's are not a thing! Do it right the first time.
  8. Lab is not a group effort; this is distance learning and not everyone can meet with other class members for ‘assistance.’ I understand working in groups, but when one answer is wrong, it gets repeated across the group. This has led to a number of ugly zeros showing up!
  9. If you are confused, ask me, not your equally confused classmates. There is an area in the discussion board for lab questions, from which all can benefit, or you can email me, or call me during posted phone hours.
  10. Identical papers will get zeros; I do not want to hear “but we worked together…” Unique means just that. Unique. Humans have different ways of expressing themselves, so even if you work together, you should still explain things in your own words. If you cannot, see rule 5.
  11. To post your lab work, click on the assignment name. This will take you to a screen where you can attach your work.
  12. Any work that must be drawn MUST have your name, in ink, on the actual drawing, not in the margins. Duplicates of drawings will earn zero points! Please see assignment for where to place your name on the image in question.
Attendance Policy Attendance will be noted by submitting Lab and Quizzes.
Additional Information
Institutional Policies
MyLSCPA Be sure to check your campus email and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal. You can also access your grades, transcripts, academic advisors, degree progress, and other services through MyLSCPA.
Academic Honesty Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSCPA policies (Academic Dishonesty section in the Student Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.
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 Disability Services Coordinator, Room 117, in the Student Sucess Center. The phone number is (409) 984-6241.
COVID 19 Information The Lamar State College Port Arthur (LSCPA) Student Code of Conduct COVID 19 Policy requires students who have been diagnosed with COVID 19 to report their condition directly to their local health department. Students should also contact their course faculty to report their quarantine status. In addition, this policy requires all students to wear face coverings when directly exposed to COVID 19 in compliance with the criteria included in the policy. For more information please refer to the COVID 19 link on the LSCPA website.
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.
HB 2504 This syllabus is part of LSCPA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.
Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect As per Texas law and LSCPA policy, all LSCPA employees, including faculty, are required to report allegations or disclosures of child abuse or neglect to the designated authorities, which may include a local or state law enforcement agency or the Texas Department of Family Protective Services. For more information about mandatory reporting requirements, see LSCPA's Policy and Procedure Manual.
Title IX and Sexual Misconduct LSCPA is committed to establishing and maintaining an environment that is free from all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, and other forms of sexual misconduct. All LSCPA employees, including faculty, have the responsibility to report disclosures of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault (including rape and acquaintance rape), domestic violence, dating violence, relationship violence, or stalking, to LSCPA's Title IX Coordinator, whose role is to coordinate the college's response to sexual misconduct. For more information about Title IX protections, faculty reporting responsibilities, options for confidential reporting, and the resources available for support visit LSCPA's Title IX website.
Clery Act Crime Reporting For more information about the Clery Act and crime reporting, see the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report and the Campus Security website.
Grievance / Complaint / Concern 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.
Department Information
General Education and Developmental Studies
Chair:Dr. Steven Zani
Email:zanisj@lamarpa.edu
Phone:(409) 984-6431