Geology 155 - Oceanography Lecture

Spring Quarter 2008 (11269, SEC 2)	Instructor: Sonjia Leyva

Hours: M – W 11:40 AM – 12:55 PM	Office: PS 221, 323-343-2149

Room: SH E184	Office Hours: T & Th 11:00 -11:30 AM

Webpage: www.calstatela.edu/faculty/sleyva	Email: sleyva@calstatela.edu

Course Description: This laboratory class is the first portion of the Geology 155 Oceanography class. Origin of oceans; sea floor features; ocean sediments, life, and circulation; seawater properties; and coastal processes. Lecture 3 hours, Laboratory 3 Hours. Fulfills 4 units in the B2 Block of the GE Requirements
Course Objectives: Geology 155 is an introductory oceanography course designed to provide students with the knowledge of some of the basic fundamentals and concepts of oceanography. Some of the subjects covered in this course include evolution of the ocean basins, properties of ocean waters, ocean circulation, and the origin and types of waves. PowerPoint lectures were created to help illustrate the subjects covered in each chapter.
Text & Materials: Essentials of Oceanography, 9th Edition by Trujillo & Thurman, in addition to handouts & videos. There is also a web site for the textbook <http://wps.prenhall.com/esm_thurman_essofocean_8 >. It has a good summary of each chapter with illustrations, definitions, sample quizzes and other things of interest that I think it will be useful for you.

WEEK	DATE	TOPIC	ASSIGNMENT
1	3/25	Introduction, Origins	Chapter 1
3/27	Exploring The Oceans	Chapter 1
2	4/1	Plate Tectonics	Chapter 2
4/3
3	4/8	Continental Margins And Ocean Basins & The Sea Floor Video	Chapter 3
4/10
4	4/15	Sediments	Chapter 4
4/17	Seawater Chemistry	Chapter 5
5	4/22
4/24	Midterm Exam	Chapters 1 - 5
6	4/29	Atmospheric Circulation	Chapter 6
5/1
7	5/6	Ocean Circulation

(5/6 is the last day to turn in earthquake kits)	Chapter 7
5/8
8	5/13	Waves & Waves, Beaches & Coasts Video	Chapter 8
5/15
9	5/20	Tides & Tsunami Video	Chapter 9
5/22
10	5/27	Coastal Processes	Chapter 10
5/29	Coastal Processes - Last day to turn in extra credit
11	6/3	FINAL EXAM! 10:45 a.m. - 1: 15 p.m	Chapters 6 - 10

REQUIREMENTS

Exams (100 points each) - There will be two exams - one midterm and one final; each exam is worth 100 points. Make-up exams will be given only to those who can verify a valid excuse for missing an exam. The make-up will be given at a time that is mutually agreeable to both the student and myself, but must be arranged prior to the initial exam. Failure to take the make-up exam within two weeks of the original exam date will result in the missed exam counting in as a zero. In addition, the exam question sheet must be returned to me after the exam and after the exam review. Failure to do so will result in a ten (10)-point reduction in the student's grade for that exam.
Video Reviews (25 points) - As students, our views, comfort zones, and preferred subjects affect the way and manner in which we learn. Please reflect on your experiences with science – both as a child and as an adult – and provide your present perspective on how science currently affects your life. To what extent do you utilize science in your daily life? How comfortable are you with science? How does science relate to your chosen field of study? How does science – and, in particular, this class, relate to your chosen field of study? Paper is due on the day of the first exam. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Class Attendance: Students are expected to attend each class session and to arrive on time. It will be difficult to make up missed class sessions. However, if you miss a class session of valid reasons (illness), it will up to you to make arrangements to complete any missed work.
Internet Access - Internet access is suggested for this class because much of the course content will be posted on the class web site, www.calstatela.edu/faculty/sleyva. Access at home or work is fine as long as you can view the web pages regularly and have a reasonably fast connection. If you don't have access at home or work, you can get free access through an account here at Cal State LA. To get a computer account at Cal State LA, go to the Academic Technology Support (ATS) Office in (basement) King Hall D140. You will need identification and proof of registration.

METHODS OF EVALUATION

Total possible class points will come from the following assignments. YOUR LAB GRADE IS WORTH ONE QUARTER (25%) AND YOUR LECTURE GRADE IS WORTH THREE QUARTERS (75%) OF YOUR OVERALL GEOLOGY 155 GRADE.

Points possible	Total Points Possible	% of grade
Exams	2 tests @ 100 points each	200	50.0%
Video Reviews