Current Courses - Physical Geology (GEOL 1330)
Syllabus and Tentative Class Outline
Fall 2008, Monday-Wednesday 2:30-4:00pm
Instructor: Dr. Shuhab D. Khan
Office Hours: 1 - 2:30pm Monday/Wednesday
Required Text: Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology, by Tarbuck and Lutgens (9th edition), 2008, Pearson-prentice Hall
Course Description: This course provides an overview of the man's physical world and the processes that shape it.
Objective:
After taking this class you will understand:
- Earth landscapes and various processes which shape it.
- Causes of floods, earthquakes, landslides, volcanoes, coastal erosion, and their impact on humans.
- Hydrologic, tectonic and erosional processes and their interrelationship.
- This class will serve as a basis for other science classes and satisfies the Natural Science component of the University Core Curriculum.
Optional Field Trip: You are encouraged (but not required) to go on a field trip at no additional cost. More information on the trip(s) including date(s) will be provided ASAP.
Grading: The final grade will be based on the two best scores from the first three exams (64%) plus exam 4 (32%) and class participation (4%) (including bonus points, if any). There will be an extensive review in the class before the exam. The exam will be primarily multiple-choice.
Extra Credit: There will be an extra credit of up to 5 bonus points for attending the three field trips, 3 points for attending central Texas or 2 points for the Galveston trip, one point each for attending the campus field trip and the visit to the museum.
Makeup Policy: You must contact me before class on the scheduled day of an exam if you must miss an exam. Please briefly explain the nature of your absence.
Class Notes: Copies of the class notes may be available on the class webpage.
Geoscience Learning Center: Faculty and graduate students will be available for assistance at the Geoscience Learning Center, located in Room 9 of the Old Science Building.
Students with Disabilities: Students with any type of health impairment, learning disability, or physical handicap that might affect their performance in this class should contact me as soon as possible so that special accommodations, if needed, can be made.
Schedule:
| Date | Tentative Lecture Topic(s) | Reading |
| Aug 25-27 | Introduction |
Chapter 1 |
| Sept 1 | Labor Day holiday | |
| Sept 3-8 | Plate Tectonics 1;
Plate Tectonics 2 |
Chapter 2 |
| Sept 10-15 | Plate Tectonics 3 |
Chapter 3 |
| Sept 17-22 | Minerals 1;
Minerals 2 |
|
| Sept 24 | Exam 1 | |
| Sept 29, Oct 1 | Igneous Rocks;
Additional Notes |
Chapter 4 |
| Oct 6-8 | Volcanoes and Volcanic
Hazards |
Chapter 5 |
| Oct 13 | Weathering |
Chapter 6 |
| Oct 15 | Exam 2 | |
| Oct 20 | Sedimentary rocks |
Chapter 7 |
| Oct 22 | Deformation
and Metamorphism |
|
| Oct 27 | Geologic Time |
Chapter 9 |
| Oct 29 | Earthquakes |
Chapter 11 |
| Nov 3 | Interior of the Earth |
Chapter 12 |
| Nov 5 | Exam 3 | |
| Nov 10 | Running Water |
Chapter 16 |
| Nov 12 | Groundwater |
Chapter 17 |
| Nov 17-19 | Glacier and Glaciation and Deserts and Winds |
Chapters 18-19 |
| Nov 24 | Global Climate Change |
Chapter 21 |
| Nov 26 | Thanksgiving holiday | |
| Dec 1 | Energy and Mineral Resources | Chapter 23 |
| Dec 3 | Exam 4 | |
