GEOL 1403 PHYSICAL GEOLOGY
Credit: 4 (3 lecture, 3 lab)

Course Description:
Study of the nature of the earth, including the physical processes operating on and inside the earth. Laboratory includes the study of rocks, minerals, and topographic maps. Core Curriculum Course.

Prerequisites
None

Course Goals (includes competencies, incorporation of SCANS, etc.)
The purpose of this course is to enable students to use fact and observation to make interpretations about geologic processes operating today and in the past. Key questions to be addressed: What are the major elements of plate tectonic theory? How do Earth systems modify the landscape? What impact do geologic processes have on our local environment? Global environment? Students will learn to interpret data from a variety of resources including topographic maps, rock and mineral collections, personal observation, and the World Wide Web. The fundamental assumption behind this course is that entry level students who may have little previous exposure to the sciences can learn interpret geologic data from a scientific point of view.

Instructor Information
Numerous different instructors teach this course. 

Textbook Information
Understanding Earth, 3rd Edition, Press and Siever, Freeman Laboratory:
Laboratory Manual for Physical Geology, 10th edition. Zumberge, Rutford, Carter McGraw Hill Publishers.

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.

Your assignment is to observe and describe a geologic feature or process and write a one page report on your observations. Your report should include:
1. The name of the geologic feature or process.
2. The exact location of the feature.
3. A description in which you use correct geologic terminology.
4. A sketch or photograph, if appropriate. However, verbal description is most important.
5. A comparison of your observation to descriptions of similar features in the textbook or your class notes.

Course Content
What you will discover is that Geology is an eclectic science and in this course you will be exposed to chemistry, biology, and physics. And, yes, even some mathematics. A basic understanding of principles from these fields underlies many of the concepts that you will learn in this course. We will review, for example, the basics of atomic structure and chemical bonding as an introduction to Minerals.

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.)