Instructor: Dr. Catherine Snelson
Office Hours: T, W, R 9:00 - 10:00 am; W 10:00 - 11:00 am; or by appointment
Office: LFG 204
Office Phone: 895 - 2916
Email: csnelson@unlv.nevada.edu
Web Page: http://geoscience.unlv.edu/pub/snelson/GEY101/
Text: Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology by Tarbuck and Lutgens, 7^th edition

Purpose of the class

This class is designed as an introduction to the physical characteristics and processes of the Earth. Through class participation, we will discuss the inter-relationship of people, society and the Earth in order to understand better our dependence on the finite resources of the planet and how we may live better with an awareness of Earth processes.  This class will also convey an understanding of how Earth scientists utilize scientific principles to gain knowledge of the Earth.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will have hopefully acquired an introductory, but comprehensive understanding of the following topics:

1. The inter-relatedness of the Earth systems: Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere, and Solid Earth

            2. Earth’s dynamic plate tectonic system.

            3. Processes and products of water, groundwater, and glaciers on the Earth’s surface.

            4. Environmental conditions and processes of deserts.

            5. Processes that produce the major rock types and soils (rock cycle).

            6. The record and documentation of geologic time

            7. Processes and products of crustal deformation and earthquakes.

            8. The dynamics and components of the Earth’s interior.

            9. The inter-relatedness of humans and these Earth processes.

Assessment (grading)

Your grade in GEY 101 is based on the following criteria: Three one-hour in-class exams will be given during the semester.  Your lowest score will be dropped.  The remaining two exams will each be worth 20%.  The final exam will take place from 10:10-12:10 on Tuesday Dec. 9th and will count for 30% of your grade.  Sample test questions can be found in a book entitled “UNLV Department of Geoscience, Sample Exam Test Bank, Geology 101” which is on permanent reserve in the library.  The lab is 30% of your final grade, but if you fail the lab, then you will fail the entire course.  Also, if you miss three lab sessions or fail to turn in three lab assignments or some combination of the two you will fail the lab.  I feel that the coordination of the lab and the lecture material is essential for you to achieve a full understanding of geology.  Geology is an observational science and you cannot learn it by just listening.  One must experience the Earth.

Final grades are assigned on a percentage basis:

A = 100-90%, B = 89-80%, C = 79-70%, D = 69-60%, F = 59% or lower.  A plus/minus system will also be utilized.  Grades will not be curved.  This means that you can study together to get great grades.

Succeeding!

To do well in this class you should study and work with the material daily (much like a foreign language or a math class).  At the end of each day, read your notes and make sure that you understand what you wrote.  Better yet, re-write your notes in a second notebook using complete sentences: if something isn’t clear in your own mind it will be readily apparent to you.  You should do this no later than 24 hours after class.  Even though they are not assigned, write out answers to the questions at the end of each chapter.  Quiz yourself – use the CD in your text.  If you develop a study group, you will learn more and the experience will be more enjoyable.  You will learn the language and concepts of geology and be able to use it more easily.  Keep up with reading assignments, labs, and lecture material.  It is harder to come from behind than to stay engaged daily.  If you get confused or have questions that have not been resolved in lecture or laboratory, then do not hesitate to contact me, Dr. Andrew Hanson, Ms. Cheryl McDonnell-Canan, or Ms. Wendy Barrow; all are teaching GEY 101; or any of the lab instructors.  Meeting with people during their office hours is best because they have set aside this time for you.  Faculty and TA office hour schedules can be found in the department office (LFG104B).  If you cannot make any of the office hours, call or email for an appointment.  We are here to help you learn and succeed, but you have to be pro-active in this endeavor.  Cramming for exams is the least productive thing you can do!  In previous classes, over 90% of the students who fail the class did not attend class regularly.

Logistics and Policies

1.  Participation:

There are no university prerequisites for this class.  I expect that students will come to this class with very different backgrounds and levels of educational training.  As a result, you may find some material difficult, feel that you are already familiar with some of the concepts, or have personal experiences that can inform us all.  Whatever your situation, please share your position with us through class participation.  Most importantly, however, if you are confused about a concept, please ask questions in class for clarification and further explanation.  You will not be alone in your confusion.  There are many ways to present this material, and I will attempt to find one that works for you.  If you do not feel comfortable asking questions in class, please write the questions down and drop them on the front desk as you enter the room and I will address them during class.

2.      Attendance

It is important that you attend class daily because we cover a lot of material, and I will provide guidance for reading assignments and exam questions regularly.  You are responsible for all material covered in lectures whether or not your absence is excused.  If you miss a lecture, get the notes from a classmate.  Neither make-up lectures nor make-up exams will be given except as specified below.  Topics covered may vary from the schedule somewhat, but the exam dates remain fixed.  If you are absent from either a scheduled lecture or a lab exam without a written medical or university excuse, you will receive a zero for the exam.  Excused absences are evaluated on the average of the exams actually taken.  The final exam is required of all students.  All exams are comprehensive, but will focus primarily on the most recently covered materials presented in lecture, the laboratory, and reading assignments.  Concurrent enrollment in a lab section is required.  You must enroll for a section of GEY 101D, for zero credit hours.  Required field trips will be held during your lab meeting.  If you are enrolled in a night lab the field trips will be held on Saturdays or Sundays.  Talk to your lab instructors about these and plan accordingly.  If your regularly scheduled lab session falls on a holiday, you must attend a different lab section that week.  You will be working in small groups in the lab, and it is a great place to make friends and find people to form a study group. 

3.      Cheating, Plagiarism, and Academic Dishonesty

You are required to be familiar with university policies and procedures in the current UNLV Undergraduate Catalog.  Importantly, we follow the policies on Cheating, Plagiarism, and Academic Dishonesty that are stated in the most recent UNLV Undergraduate Catalog.  In the hopes of deterring incidents of cheating and/or plagiarism this class employs a "zero tolerance" policy meaning that if a student commits cheating or plagiarism they receive a grade of F for the class.

4.      Copyright Issues

The university requires all members of the University Community to familiarize themselves and to follow copyright and fair use requirements. You are individually and solely responsible for violations of copyright and fair use laws.  The University will neither protect you nor defend you nor assume responsibility for employee or student violations and fair use laws.  Violations of copyright laws could subject you to federal and state civil penalties and criminal liability as well as disciplinary action under University policies.  To help familiarize yourself with copyright and fair use policies, the University encourages you to visit its copyright web page at http://www.unlv.edu/committees/copyright.

5.      Disability Services (DS)

If you have a documented disability that may require assistance, you will need to contact the Disability Services (DS) for coordination in your academic accommodations.  Disability Services is located within Learning Enhancement Services (LES), in the Reynolds Student Services Complex, room 137.  The DS phone number is 895-0866 or TTD 895-0652. You may visit their website at www.unlv.edu/studentlife/les.  If you have a special need/disability, please let me know outside of class sometime during the first week of the course.  This helps me to adjust or alter plans so that problems can be minimized and your learning experience can be maximized.

6.      Writing Center

Students are welcome to use the UNLV Writing Center free of charge.  Consultants can assist students at all stages of the writing process.  Students may make appointments by calling the center (895-3908) or in person at FDH-240.  The center can be particularly helpful when you are writing or rewriting your lab field reports.

7.      Religious Holidays

A student missing a class or laboratory assignment because of observance of a religious holiday shall have the opportunity to make up missed work.  You must notify me by the last day of late registration, August 29, to be assured of this opportunity.   If this pertains to you, a clear deadline will be set for completion of work.

8.      Nondiscrimination

The University of Nevada Las Vegas does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.

9.   Official Extracurricular Activity

All students who represent UNLV at an official extracurricular activity shall have the opportunity to make up assignments, but you must provide official written notification to me prior to the missed class(es).

10.  Learning Environment

The classroom is intended to be a place of learning.  As such and as specified in the UNLV Undergraduate Catalog, no pagers, cell phones, or other potentially disruptive devices are allowed in either lecture or the laboratory.

CLASS SCHEDULE