GEOL 1404 HISTORICAL GEOLOGY

Credit: 4 (3 lecture, 3 lab)

Course Description:
Study of the history of the earth, its life and geologic time. Laboratory includes the study of sedimentary rocks, fossils, and maps. Core Curriculum Course.  

Prerequisites
GEOL 1403

Course Goals (includes competencies, incorporation of SCANS, etc.)
This semester will build on the material covered in Physical Geology and move forward to explore how Earth Systems have changed through time. Major theories to be addressed include the origin of the universe and evolution of life on earth. We will track plate tectonic movements though time and learn how and when groups of fossil organisms arose. In the latter part of the semester we will explore major events in life history by using resources available on the Internet to produce Power Point presentations. In past semesters we have looked at causes of mass extinction, evolution of dinosaurs, carbonate reefs through time, and human evolution. This class may be interested in different topics.

Instructor Information
Numerous different instructors teach this course. 

Textbook Information
Text Lecture:
The Earth Through Time, by Harold Levin
Text Web Site - http://www.saunderscollege.com/geology
Text Lab: Historical Geology by Poort and Carlson

Lab Requirements (if any)
Lab attendance is mandatory. Lab exercises and assignments are designed to complement the lecture and give you hands-on experience with the concepts covered in lecture. Thinking through and understanding lab assignments is a big step toward learning the material. Collaborative group work is emphasized. You can learn from your classmates and they from you.

Students with Disabilities
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Services Office at the respective college at the respective college at the beginning of each semester.  Faculty are authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office.  If you have any questions please contact Donna Price at 713-718-5165 or the Disability Counselor at each college.

Academic Honesty
Cheating on the written exams will result in failure in the course, and possibly in expulsion from the college. 

Attendance and Withdrawal Policies
Individual instructors will provide detailed information in their syllabi provided at the beginning of the course.  All applicable rules of HCCS will apply in this course. 

Course Requirements and Grading Policy
Individual instructors will provide detailed information in their syllabi provided at the beginning of the course.  All applicable rules of HCCS will apply in this course.

Testing
Individual instructors will provide detailed information in their syllabi provided at the beginning of the course.  All applicable rules of HCCS will apply in this course.

Make-up policy
Individual instructors will provide detailed information in their syllabi provided at the beginning of the course. 

Projects, Assignments, Portfolios, Service Learning, Internships, etc.
Lecture tests may be a combination of multiple choice, fill in the blank, short answer, definitions, and drawing or labeling diagrams. Lab tests will generally include "hands on" testing such as fossil identification or map interpretation. You will be expected to memorize the Geologic Time Scale for the first lab test.

Course Content
Introduction/Founders Ch.2/Text Review/Rock Forming Minerals
Stratigraphy/Relative Time Ch.1, p.1-5 Review/Igneous/Metamorphic Rx
Absolute Time Ch.2,p.13-18 Relative Time
Sedimentary Archives Ch.2, p. 32-34 Absolute Time
Sedimentary Rocks Ch.1, p. 5-7 Sedimentary Rocks/EOD
Fossil Record Ch. 3, p. 39-41 Physical Stratigraphy
Fossil Record Ch. 3 Physical Stratigraphy
Test 1 (1,3,4) Lab Catch-up Day
Earth Structure/Plate Tec. Handout Computer Lab
Group Project Organization Day
Plate Tectonics Handout Computer Lab
BigBang/Solar System Ch3 Physical Stratigraphy Ctd.
Hadean/Archean Ch 5., p 141-145 Geologic Map Interpretation
Proterozoic Ch. 5. Geologic Map Interpretation
Test 2 ( 5,6,7) Geologic Map Interpretation
Early Paleozoic Lab Review and Catch-up
Early Paleozoic Lab Test 1 including Geo. Time Scale
Late Paleozoic Ch. 4, p. 81-90 Paleontology
Life of the Paleozoic Ch.4 Paleontology
Mesozoic Ch. 4 Paleontology
Life of the Mesozoic Ch. 4 Paleontology
Test 3 (8,9,10,11,12) Begin Group Projects
Cenozoic Projects
Cenozoic Projects
Life of the Cenozoic Presentation 1
Thanksgiving Holiday
Human Origins Mammal Project
Last Day to Drop
Human Origins Mammal Project
Test 4 Mammal Project
Wrap-up Presentation 2

Course Calendar with Reading Assignments
Student should expect a reading assignment each class day to be completed before class. Individual instructors will provide detailed information in their syllabi provided at the beginning of the course.

Other Student Information (clubs, tutoring, web resources, etc.)