INTRODUCTION TO GEOLOGY
GEOL 1200 Fall 2009

Meeting Time:           Tuesday and Thursday 4:30- 7:15 pm (Recitation, Lecture and Lab)

Meeting Place:           Room T-211 (Townsend Hall)

Text:                           "Earth, Geologic Principles and History"
                                   1st Edition, by Chernicoff, Fox and Tanner

Lab Manual:             "Geologic Laboratory Manual: Geology from New Jersey" by
Metz, Rockman and Meyerson

Instructor:                Prof. Charles L. Smart                                    
 Department of Geology and Meteorology
 E-mail address: csmart@kean.edu
 Website: http://www.kean.edu/~csmart

Office Hours:           Tues. 3:00-4:00    Laboratory C-325 Science Building

Course Materials: http://www.kean.edu/~csmart/Lectures/

General Comments       In this introductory course on geology we will learn to interpret the physical aspects of the Earth from the point of view of the Plate Tectonics paradigm. The biological history of the earth will be seen to be, in part, a function of both slow continental movements with climate and topography changes, and sudden natural catastrophes.  In the laboratory, we will learn the basic skills of the field geologist. An optional Field Trip to mineral and fossil collecting localities is available on a Saturday in November.

Grading
There will be four equally weighted tests.  The tests may include multiple choice, true-false, fill-ins, short answer and essay questions. The questions will come from the lecture, reading, and laboratories. The average of these four tests will count toward 90% of your grade. There will also be graded lecture and lab quizzes and homework assignments.

The average of quizzes and homework will count toward 10% of your grade.

All tests in regular classroom. Tests will be returned on the Tuesday following the test.

Summary of Tests:
Test 1                    October 1st, Thursday              Chapters 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
Test 2                    October 27th, Tuesday              Chapters 8, 9, 10, 11, 13-14
Test 3                    November 17th, Tuesday    Chapters 15, 16, 17, 19
Test 4                    December 17th, Thursday Chapters 20, 21-22, 23-24, 25-26

Attendance Reading the text and PowerPoints as a substitute for attending lecture and labs is a bad idea. Some of the material discussed in class will not be in the text.  Only by coming to class will you be able to get an accurate impression of what will be stressed on exams.  

Disabilities       If you have a disability and need any sort of special accommodations, please see me prior to the first test.

Lecture and Exam Schedule

Tuesday/Thursday READING (Chapters)       TOPICS FOR THE LECTURE

Sep. 3        1           Introduction, Plate Tectonics

Sep. 8/10                         2,3 Minerals; Igneous Rocks

Sep. 15/17                   4,5 Volcanoes; Weathering & Soils;

Sep. 22/24                       6, 7, Sedimentary, Metamorphic Rx

Sep 29, Oct. 1               Rev., Test 1 Review; Thurs. Test1, Chapters 1-7

Oct. 6/8 8,9 Geologic Time; Faults, Folds & Mtns.

Oct. 13/15            10,11 Earthquakes; Oceans & Continents

Oct. 20, 22                 13-14, Rev. Streams & Groundwater; Review

Oct. 27/ 29 Test 2, 15 Tues. Test 2 Ch. 8-11, 13, 14; Glaciers

Oct. 30 Last day to withdraw.

Nov. 3/5                 16,17 Deserts, Coasts

Nov. 10/12                   19/Rev.                   Fossils/Review

Nov 17/ 19                  Test 3/ 20 Tue. Test 3: Ch. 15-17, 19; PreCambrian
Nov. 24/26                 21/ no class               Paleozoic Era; Thanksgiving Recess

Dec. 1/3                   22, 23                    Paleozoic Life; Mesozoic Era 

Dec 8/10                24, 25-26 Mesozoic Life; Cenozoic Era and Life

Dec 15/17 Rev./Test 4 Review; Thurs . Test 4 Ch. 20-26