Centralia College

Geology for Engineers and Environmental Scientists

7422 GEOL 100A4 (3) 1-1:50pm MW NSC 101 Pringle (web enhanced)
7423 GEOL 100LA (0) 2- 3:50pm W NSC 105 Pringle

Instructor: Pat Pringle

E-Mail: ppringle ‘at’ centralia.edu

Phone: 360.736.9391 x550

Please do not call my office number unless you plan to leave a message if you don’t reach me!

Resource locations: ANGEL web page Centralia Earth Sciences web

Office hours: NSC 318F See also my class schedule PLEASE DO NOT COME TO MY OFFICE WITHIN THE 15 MINUTES PRIOR TO CLASS.

COURSE OVERVIEW

Explore earth minerals and geological processes that relate to engineering and environmental concerns. Minerals and rocks, earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, groundwater, landslides, soils, and maps.

See the ANGEL web page for the *class schedule* and reading assignments. This page will be updated throughout the course, so please check it regularly. Assignments, misc. resources, and occasionally pdfs of lectures will be available there online and other links also at the class web page.

Course Materials: The text and lab books below are required reading and are the primary sources of information for lectures, discussions, and exams. Please bring your books to class, discussions, and exams, and please do reading assignments in advance of class.

Course Logistics: This class will use ANGEL for nearly all communications and submission of assignments.

REQUIRED BOOKS AND MATERIALS

Required text: “Geology and the environment” by Pipkin, Trent, Hazlett, and Bierman ISBN: 978-0-495113-05-8. The fifth edition is best, although older versions of this book are acceptable. I will also be assigning outside reading via library and internet resources.

Also helpful: a hand lens and small field notebook (available in the bookstore)

Additionally, you will probably find a basic calculator and simple ruler useful, although we provide both in lab.

While material from other chapters and outside sources will be incorporated into the class, the following chapters from the text will roughly provide the core course content (listed in the expected order of instruction); lab and field trip write ups are not included in the schedule below:

Link to an online Physical Geography textbook by Michael Ritter

Link to the introductory Geoscience Virtual Textbook

Annenberg “Earth Revealed” series online videos: see Student Resources videos link in main Centralia Earth Science page

Grading Policy:  Your final grade for Geology for Engineering and Environmental Science is based on the total number of points you accumulate from the following sources (values approximate):

LECTURE and FINAL EXAMS (4 total) 65%

ASSIGNMENTS, QUIZZES, PARTICIPATION 15%

FIELD TRIPS and LAB WORK 20%

ABOUT TESTS: Tests will include material from lectures and labs. * This component assesses a student’s contributions to the learning environment in the classroom. Disciplinary problems that interrupt or impede the progress of the class will also be assessed as part of this component. Exams:  There will be no make-up tests except for in extreme cases.  You will need a physicians note and/or provide me with advance notice of a schedule conflict if such a situation arises. Exams will include material from the books, lectures, and videos.

Do your own work.  Suspected cheating, intellectual parasitism, plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated.  Additionally, instances of such will be reported to the Centralia College administration for disciplinary action.

Grade assessment: see Grading scale to find out the point and letter grade equivalents for percentage scores on tests.

Term assignment: There will likely be a Term Assignment required.  Information regarding the assignment will be provided in another handout.  Term Assignments must be turned in at the beginning of the class period on the due-date assigned for full credit.

Web site: Information for this course is posted on the class web page listed above in this syllabus. This web page is a work in progress and will change as we go through the class. Look there for this syllabus, copies of selected class handouts, links, reading suggestions, assignments, and additional information. Don’t forget to check out

Assignments:

• Late assignments: For you own sake, hand in assignments on time. Assignments turned in late will not get full credit.
• All multipage assignments that are unstapled and/or have untrimmed perforation “frizzies” or tears along page edges will be automatically docked one point.
• Handwritten assignments: You will be expected to provide a review of each video shown in class or of the presentations of any guest speakers. I will provide a video review form on the web page. For video reviews and essays on quizzes, please write neatly, and use pencil or blue or black ink only. Unreadable assignments will be returned for no credit. If possible, please type assignments. Please staple all assignments and write you name on each page as noted above.
• Typed assignments: ALL FIELD REPORTS WILL BE TYPED. Please follow guidelines given for each typed assignment. This generally includes 10 or 12 point font, preferably Times or Arial, margins 1 - 1.25 inches, black ink, white, unbleached or reused paper, with no report covers. USE LEFT JUSTIFIED ONLY.
• Evaluation of written assignments and essay questions: I will use rubrics (grading guidelines) such as those noted on http://www.centralia.ctc.edu/depts/English/rubric.html (short rubric) or a more detailed one at: http://trc.ucdavis.edu/TRC/ta/tatips/rubrics.pdf in order to evaluate the quality of any written assignments and essay questions. A great way to get a better grade is to look at the guidelines shown in the rubrics for assessing good writing and then make sure your written products “measure up”.
• Quizzes: I will provide computerized forms for some quizzes. Bring a #2 pencil with good eraser. Be sure to thoroughly erase all mistakes and stray pencil marks during the quiz. No corrections will be made for you, nor will any be made after quizzes are graded and returned.

LABORATORY

We have two lab modes: in the classroom and field trips. During the field trips and in the lab you will be given problems to solve. These lab assignments will be graded on a point basis. The point value of each lab will be indicated.

For field trips, you need to bring some footwear that does not have slick soles and rain gear or an umbrella. Your feet may get very wet from the wet grass, so you may want to have a change of shoes for after the trip. You should bring something to write on and write with on the trips.

ASSIGNMENTS

Information regarding class assignments will be provided during the term.  Assignments must be turned in at the beginning of the class period on the due-date for full credit.

STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES

The overall goals of the exercises, content, and learning objectives of this class follow Centralia Colleges general education learning themes (noted on http://www.centralia.ctc.edu/main/learnthe.shtml) and distribution outcomes (noted on http://www.centralia.ctc.edu/Depts/Assessment/DistributionOutcomes_05.shtml), particularly those for the Natural Sciences and quantitative skills.

ATTENDANCE  

I take attendance during the first week or so of class; if you don't show up you may be dropped to give your place to someone on the waiting list.  While attendance is not required, skipping classes won’t help you become a successful student. In fact, ALL class members benefit from fellow students’ consistent attendance and thoughtful questions and comments. Those who make a habit of skipping classes typically struggle to bring home the good grades.  If you do miss a lecture, you don't need to inform me.  Plan to get notes or special instructions from one of your classmates.  Do not rely on lecture outlines that may be posted on the web page because the cadence of each class differs.

This is a demanding course with a lot of material covered in a short period of time.  Regular class attendance is essential to ensure adequate mastery of the material.  If, due to credit load, work schedule, family requirements or health reasons, you will be unable to attend regularly, PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS!  From time to time, pop quizzes will be given at the beginning of class, so please be on time—if you are absent for a pop quiz, you will miss the quiz.

Be respectful of everyone in class. Many people, including me, have chemical sensitivities, so please refrain from wearing excessive perfume, cologne, or hairspray.

If you need to talk with me about your grade, please do not do this before, during, or after class. Please make an appointment with me or visit during my office hours, which are posted on the door of my office and on the “class links” web page.

I want you to do well in this class!  Forming a study group and quizzing one another on class material can be very helpful.  I will be available during my office hours if you have questions or concerns.  If, however, you should get into academic difficulty, know that it is your responsibility to keep track of drop dates and other deadlines.

Behavior

• Please be courteous to your classmates as well as your instructor and avoid activities disruptive to the learning environment. 
• No side conversations during lecture class!  Even if you whisper, even if you sit in the back, even during a video, talking bothers other people in class. 
• Be punctual.  If you must arrive late or leave early, let me know in advance and sit near the door. 
• Please turn your cell phone off! TEXT MESSAGING DURING CLASS IS RUDE. YOU WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE CLASS.
• NOTE: If a student is disruptive to the learning environment, they will be given a verbal warning. Further disruptions of the class will be followed by a written warning, and will likely be asked to leave. Students who continue to be disruptive in class will referred to Vice President of Academic Affairs

Special Needs Statement

Students with disabilities may contact the Director, Center for Disability Services to determine their eligibility for reasonable accommodation.  The director's office is located with the Counseling Center in the Student Services Building.

Copyright Notice

Materials used in connection with this course may be subject to copyright protection under Title 17 of the United States Code.

Equal Opportunity Statement

It is the policy of Centralia College to assure equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination on the basis of race or ethnicity, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, age (over 40), religion, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or status as a disabled or Vietnam-era veteran.

Centralia College does not discriminate in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its programs or activities. Designated Title II, VI, VII, IX, Section 504, ADA compliance officer: Vice President for Human Resources and Legal Affairs, Hanson Hall Room 101, Centralia College, 600 Centralia College Blvd, Centralia WA 98531-4099, 360.736.9391, extension 285.

Extended Absence

Should a contagious illness, such as the H1N1 virus, necessitate an extended absence from class, please contact your instructor as soon as possible to make arrangements to complete, if possible, the coursework you miss.

Reviewed By:

Revised 3/31/2013