V: Literary & Artistic Studies XI: Natural Sciences

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1 I. ASCRC General Education Form (revised 2/8/13) Use to propose new general education courses (except writing courses), to change or renew existing gen ed courses and to remove designations for existing gen ed courses. Note: One-time-only general education designation may be requested for experimental courses (X91-previously X95), granted only for the semester taught. A NEW request must be submitted for the course to receive subsequent general education status. Group (submit separate forms if requesting more than one general education group designation) II. Mathematics III. Language III Exception: Symbolic Systems * VII: Social Sciences VIII: Ethics & Human Values IX: American & European IV: Expressive Arts X: Indigenous & Global V: Literary & Artistic Studies XI: Natural Sciences VI: Historical & Cultural Studies w/ lab XX w/out lab *Courses proposed for this designation must be standing requirements of majors that qualify for exceptions to the modern and classical language requirement Dept/Program Geosciences Course # Geo102N Course Title Intro. to Physical Geology Lab Prerequisite Prereq. or coreq., GEO 101N Credits 1 II. Endorsement/Approvals Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office Please type / print name Signature Date Instructor Kathleen Harper 9/11/13 Phone / x4720/kathleen.harper@umontana.edu Program Chair James Staub Dean Chris Comer III. Type of request New One-time Only Renew xxxx Change Remove Reason for Gen Ed inclusion, change or deletion Description of change IV. Description and purpose of the general education course: General Education courses must be introductory and foundational within the offering department or within the General Education Group. They must emphasize breadth, context, and connectedness; and relate course content to students future lives: See Preamble:

2 Intro. to Physical Geology Lab is a series of laboratory and field experiences designed around concepts and processes that are essential to the geosciences and the methods used to study them. Emphasis is on observation and measurement, the building of a geologic toolbox, and application of these skills in interpreting geologic processes. Activities are designed to model the process of science and to guide students in understanding how observation and quantitative data are used to construct a scientific theory. The course introduces many of the key principles of geosciences, beginning with the introduction of plate tectonic theory and evidence it is based on. During the rest of the course, additional topics are introduced and placed in the context of plate tectonic theory, including igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks, volcanoes, earthquakes, and geologic structures. This is followed by a unit on concepts associated with geologic time and a third set of labs that explore the role of water on the earth s surface, including the role of glacier ice in preserving a record of Earth s climate history. V. Criteria: Briefly explain how this course meets the criteria for the group. See: This course explores geosciences disciplines in a laboratory setting. Emphasis is placed on observing properties of the natural world. Student activities include collecting, understanding, and analyzing quantitative data as well as the using physical models to understand geological processes. 1. Courses explore a discipline in the natural sciences and demonstrate how the scientific method is used within the discipline to draw scientific conclusions. 2. Courses address the concept of analytic uncertainty and the rigorous process required to take an idea to a hypothesis and then to a validated scientific theory. This course explores the broad discipline of geosciences. Many examples of how scientific methodology is applied to the understanding of basic geological processes are explored in the course. Activities are designed to model the process of science and to guide students in understanding how observation and quantitative data are used to construct a scientific theory. Geoscience draws on many forms of scientific investigation in addition to direct experimentation. A variety of methods in the geosciences toolbox are explored. 3. Lab courses engage students in inquirybased learning activities where they formulate a science and to guide students in understanding Activities are designed to model the process of how observation and quantitative data are used hypothesis, design an experiment to test the to construct a scientific theory. Lab activities hypothesis, and collect, interpret, and present involve students working together in collaborative the data to support their conclusions. groups and jigsaw activities. VI. Student Learning Goals: Briefly explain how this course will meet the applicable learning goals. See: 1. Students will be able to understand the general principles associated with the discipline(s) studied. 2. Students will be able to understand the methodology and activities scientists use to gather, validate and interpret data related to natural processes. 3. Students will be able to detect patterns, draw conclusions, develop conjectures and hypotheses, and test them by appropriate means and experiments. Specific learning objectives for each lab are detailed in the lab manual designed for the course. Lab exercises are designed to model methodologies and activities used in geosciences. Use of physical models to study processes that are not readily visible or accessible because of location or scale is emphasized. Observation, interpretation, and development and expression of scientific ideas are key components of the course.

3 4. Students will be able to understand how scientific laws and theories are verified by quantitative measurement, scientific observation, and logical/critical reasoning. 5. Students will be able to understand the means by which analytic uncertainty is quantified and expressed in the natural sciences. This course addresses the dependency of scientific theories on evidence, on data and scientific observation, and on logical/critical reasoning. The course emphasizes the importance of recognizing the limitations of data and also the importance of recognizing the limitations of applying scientific models to nature. VII. Justification: Normally, general education courses will not carry pre-requisites, will carry at least 3 credits, and will be numbered at the level. If the course has more than one pre-requisite, carries fewer than three credits, or is upper division (numbered above the 200 level), provide rationale for exception(s). VIII. Syllabus: Paste syllabus below or attach and send digital copy with form. The syllabus should clearly describe how the above criteria are satisfied. For assistance on syllabus preparation see: Please note: Approved general education changes will take effect next fall. General education instructors will be expected to provide sample assessment items and corresponding responses to the Assessment Advisory Committee.

4 Introduction to Physical Geology Lab GEO102N, Section X, 1 credit FALL, 2013 Instructor/Teaching Assistant: Location/meeting time: CHCB111/ TA Office: TA TA Office Hours: Course Description: This class is an introduction to lab work in geology. There will be a lab assignment or exam every week. Labs will consist of a brief introductory discussion with the remaining lab time devoted to hands-on work with rocks, earth materials, maps, and models of geosciences processes. The objective of this course is to familiarize you with basic geologic concepts and the methods used to study them. Emphasis will be on observation and description, the building of a geologic toolbox, and application of these skills in interpreting geologic processes. Required materials: GEO102 Laboratory Manual coursepack available in UM bookstore Pre-labs exercises are assigned most weeks and are to be completed before your lab.these are designed to prepare you for the lab topic so that you can complete the lab efficiently during your scheduled class period. In most cases, these will be done on Moodle. Moodle is the program for online components of courses. You can log into Moodle by going to either OneStop and then UMOnline, or directly to UMOnline from the UM homepage. You will see your geology lab course listed when you enter Moodle. On the UMOnline homepage, there are resources you can use to familiarize yourself with Moodle (UM Online Orientation and UMOnline 101). If you have technical problems with Moodle call the UMOnline Techs at (during regular working hours only). Labs are designed so that you should be able to generally complete them and turn them in at the end of class. This is much more likely to occur if you have read through the introductory material and lab activities in advance of your scheduled lab. In the case that you need additional time to complete the lab, labs can be turned in at your TAs office by 5 PM on the day following your lab period. You are encouraged to work together with a group of students in lab, but must hand in your own completed lab, on the lab manual pages, written in your own words. Copying another students lab response is considered a form of academic dishonesty, and will not be tolerated! Communication: Useful information will be posted here on Moodle, such as announcements, the syllabus, and handouts distributed in lab. You can also view your grades. Please note that your TA will use your official UM address to communicate with you. It is your responsibility to make sure you receive these messages sent to your UM address in a timely manner. Attendance: Because of high demand, you must attend at least one of the first two class meetings (the first and second weeks of the semester) to remain on the roster for this course! Official UM policy: Students who are registered for a course but do not attend the first two class meetings may be required by the instructor to drop the course. This rule allows for early identification of class vacancies to permit other students to add classes. Students not allowed to remain must complete a drop form or drop the course on the internet ( to avoid

5 receiving a failing grade. Students who know they will be absent should contact the instructor in advance. Missing lab during the term: The number one reason for failing this class is missing labs! Official UM policy: Students are expected to attend all class meetings and complete all assignments for the course. Instructors may excuse brief and occasional absences for reasons of illness, injury, family emergency, religious observance or participation in a University sponsored activity. (University sponsored activities include for example, field trips, ASUM service, music or drama performances, and intercollegiate athletics.) Instructors shall excuse absences for reasons of military service or mandatory public service. If you must miss a lab for a reason acceptable to your instructor, you must make arrangements for making it up with your TA prior to your scheduled lab time. If you are sick the day of the lab, please your TA promptly to let him/her know and to arrange a time to make up the lab or attend another lab session the same week (with advance arrangement and if classroom space allows please do not just show up at another lab session). Labs should be turned in to your assigned instructor regardless of the lab period attended. Lab make-up sessions will be offered each week on Sunday evening at 6 PM. In general, a missed lab must be made up the same week. Please keep in mind that you need to receive permission from your TA to attend and receive credit for a make-up lab. Exams: There will be a midterm and a final that will cover material presented in the lab. The final will be during finals week. Please make note of the time assigned for this final now (see course schedule on last page). Review sessions will be arranged by your TA before each exam. Make-up exams are allowed only at the discretion of the lab instructor. Assessment: Labs 65% Pre-labs 10% Midterm Exam 12.5% Final Exam 12.5% Total 100% Extra credit worth the equivalent of one lab will be offered. Final course grades will be assigned as follows: A % B 83-86% C 73-76% D 63-66% A % B % C % D % B % C % D % F 59 or below Please note: You must take the class with traditional grading to apply it towards the Gen Ed lab science requirement. A minimum grade of C- must be earned for the course to be applied for the Gen Ed requirement. Honor Code: All students must practice academic honesty. Academic misconduct is subject to an academic penalty by the course instructor and/or a disciplinary sanction by the University. All students need to be familiar with the Student Conduct Code. The Code is available for review online at: Students with Disabilities: Students with disabilities will receive reasonable modifications in this course. Your responsibilities are to request modifications with sufficient advance notice, and to be prepared to provide verification of disability and its impact from Disability Services. Please speak to your TA after class or during office hours to discuss the details. For more information, visit the Disability Services for Students website at

6 GEO102 Schedule Fall, 2013 Dates Lab Topic Aug One Intro to Lab Sept Two Plate Boundaries Sept Three Global Tectonics Sept Four Minerals and Igneous Rocks Sept Five Volcanoes Sept. 30 Oct. 4 Six Sedimentary and Metamorphic Rocks Oct Seven Field Trip and Rock Wrap-Up Oct Lab Midterm Exams Oct Eight Geologic Structures Oct. 28 Nov. 1 Nine Earthquakes Nov. 4 8 Ten Geologic Time Nov Eleven Rivers Nov Twelve Groundwater Nov Thanksgiving Week No Labs! Dec. 2 6 Thirteen Glaciers and Climate Dec Lab Final Exams 1 Labor Day Holiday on Monday, Sept. 2. If you have lab on Monday, you must plan to attend another section this week. 2 Veteran s Day Holiday on Monday, Nov 11. If you have lab on Monday, you must plan to attend another section this week