Spring 2024 Course Syllabus
Course: GEOL-1304 (Section: 4C, CRN: 10565)
Historical Geology 		LSCPA Logo Image
Instructor Information
Instructor Karen Stelly
Email stellyks@lamarpa.edu
Phone (409) 984-6341
Office Educational I - Room: 133
Office Hours None 
Additional Contact Information
Course Information
Description A comprehensive survey of the history of life and major events in the physical development of Earth as interpreted from rocks and fossils.
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.

Earth Through Time 11th ed; Levin and King, ISBN 978-1-119-22834-9
Additional Materials/Resources None
Corequisites/Prerequisites
  • GEOL-1303 Physical Geology (lecture)
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course you will learn to:
1.   Describe how the application of the scientific method has led to our current understanding of Earth history.
 
2.   Explain the historical development of Geology as a science and how it was influenced by early interpretations of fossils and the theory of evolution.
3.   Communicate how principles of relative and numerical age dating have been used to develop the Geologic Time Scale.
 
4.   Describe the processes involved in the formation and differentiation of the Earth and identify major milestones in the physical evolution of the planet.
 
5.   Identify the major milestones in the evolution of life from its initial inorganic stages, through development of the major animal and plant groups, to mass extinctions.
 
6.   Explain how rocks and fossils are used to interpret ancient environments.
7.   Identify the major tectonic events in the geologic evolution of North America.
 
Lab:
1.   Classify and interpret depositional environments using sedimentary rocks and fossils.
2.   Taxonomically classify samples of geologically important fossil groups and use them to interpret the age of rocks on the Geologic Time Scale.
3.   Apply relative and numerical age-dating techniques to construct geologic histories including the correlation of stratigraphic sections.
4.   Reconstruct past continental configurations.
5.   Integrate multiple types of data to interpret Earth history.
 

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.

Lecture Topics Outline  Lecture Schedule:

Week and date Reading Lecture textbook Lecture Topic Lecture Due Dates

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Science of Historical Geology Early Geologists Tackle History’s Mysteries

Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Time and Geology Rocks and Minerals: Documents that Record

Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Earth’s History Sedimentary Archives Life on Earth: What Do Fossils Reveal? Assignment 1 Due Feb 5

Chapter 7 Plate Tectonics Underlies All Earth History Lec TEST 1 due Feb 12 (Chapters 1-7)

Chapter 8 Earth’s Formative Stages and the Archean Eon

Chapter 9 Proterozoic: Dawn of a More Modern World

Chapter 10 Early Paleozoic Events Assignment 2 Due March 5

Chapter 11 Late Paleozoic Events Lec TEST 2 due March 12 (Chapters 8-11)

Chapter 12 Paleozoic Life

Chapter 13 Mesozoic Events Assignment 3 Due April 2

Chapter 14 Mesozoic Life Lec TEST 3 due April 9 (Chapters 12-14)

Chapter 15 Cenozoic Events Assignment 4 Due April 16

Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Cenozoic Life Human Origins Test 4 due April 23
Major Assignments Schedule Assignment 1 due Feb 4
Test 1 due Feb 11
Assignment 2 due March 3
Test 2 due March 10
Assignment 3 due March 31
Test 3 due ASpril 7
Assignment 4 due April 14
Test 4 due April 21
Final Exam due April 28
Final Exam Date April 28, 2024 - 12:0 AM   Through  April 28, 2024 - 11:59 PM
Grading Scale

4 Assignments (50 points each) 200 points

4 tests (50 questions, 100 points each) 400 points

Final comprehensive (100 questions, 200 points). 200 points

Grading Scale as follows:

800-720 points - A 

719-640 points - B

639-560 points - C

559-480 points - D

479-0 points - F
Determination of
Final Grade		 Assignment work is 25%

Test work is 50%

Final exam 25%

Grading Scale as follows:

800-720 points - A 

719-640 points - B

639-560 points - C

559-480 points - D

479-0 points - F
Course Policies
Instructor Policies I will not discuss your grades over the phone or by email. If you want to discuss your grades, you must contact the Corrections Education dept.
Attendance Policy Attendance will be noted by completion of assignments and tests.
Additional Information None
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 the Office for Disability Services Coordinator, Room 231, in the Madison Monroe Building. 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