Geology 155 - Oceanography Laboratory

Fall Quarter 2008 (13415, SEC 5)	Instructor: Sonjia Leyva

Hours: T. 1:05 – 2:45 PM	Office: PS 221, 323-343-2149

Room: PS 211	Office Hours: T. 2:45 – 3:00 pm

Webpage: www.geophile.net/College	Email: sleyva@calstatela.edu

Course Description: This laboratory class is the second portion of the Geology 155 Oceanography class. The laboratory requirement is met through 100 minutes of in-class instruction and a one-day cruise on the Yellowfin oceanographic vessel. Fulfills 4 units in the B2 Block of the GE Requirements
Course Objectives: This course is structured around an oceanographic cruise on our Research Vessel Yellowfin. In class we will learn about the bathymetry and features of the seafloor, the physical and chemical properties of water, the various types of marine sediments, and development of beaches and their response to human activity. On the cruise you will work with the instruments that oceanographers use to gather their data and you will take and record data readings. After the cruise is over and we are back in the classroom, we will work together with the collected data to interpret it and to help you gain a better understanding of how the oceanographers use the data to evaluate the nature, condition, and workings of the ocean.
Text & Materials:

1.	SYLLABUS And STUDY GUIDE FOR OCEANOGRAPHY FIELD LABORATORY – THE OCEANOGRAPHIC CRUISE ABOARD THE R.V. YELLOWFIN, Ivan P. Colburn.

2.	Color pencils (not crayons or markers)

3.	Ruler (combination metric/standard scale)

4.	Calculator (not the one on your cell phone)

WEEK	DATE	TOPIC	ASSIGNMENT	WEEK DUE
1	9/23	Introduction & Bathymetry	Ex. 1 & 2 (pg 4 - 10)	3
2	9/30	Bathymetry	Ex. 3, 4, & 5 (pg 11 - 25)	3
3	10/7	Sea Water Chemistry	Ex. 7 (Pg 26 - 29)	4
4	10/14	Sea Water Chemistry	Ex. 9 Properties of Seawater (pg 30 - 48)	5
10/21
6	10/28	Boat Trip Review	Cruise Data Sheets: (P. 74)	7
7	11/4	Sediments - extra credit EQ kits due	Ex. 9 Marine Sediments (pg 49 - 63)	8
8	11/11	Veteran's Day - Campus Closed!
9	11/18	Shoreline Processes	Video & Handout	9
9	11/22	Beach Trip (10 am - 2 pm)	Handout	10
10	11/25	FINAL EXAM!

REQUIREMENTS

Exams - 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.
Field Trips - Attending the field trips is an absolute requirement. What we learn in class is geared to what we will observe during the field trips. Missing either of the field trips will result in you failing the course. There is a $10 fee (payable at the cashier's office) In addition, students are required to complete and sign a waiver before attending the field trip. The waiver and a copy of your paid fee are required prior to the trip.
Lab Reports – Students will participate in a variety of laboratory experiments/exercises designed to introduce you to various aspects of Geology. The assignments will be due the following week at the beginning of class. Students are encouraged to work together in completing the laboratory work. However, each student should be sure to understand the techniques and concepts involved because midterm and final exam test problems will be very similar to laboratory problems. Labs are due the following week. Late submissions will not be accepted. Failure to take the make-up lab/assignment within one week of the original lab/assignment date OR before the last week of class will result in the missed exam/lab/assignment counting in as a zero.
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 the activity. Students who miss a class due to an unexcused absence will NOT be allow to make up the work. Make-up labs/assignments will be given only to those who can verify a valid excuse for missing the assignment. The make-up lab/assignment will given at a time that is mutually agreeable to both the student and myself. Failure to take the make-up lab/assignment within one week of the original lab/assignment date OR before the last week of class will result in the missed exam/lab/assignment counting in as a zero.

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.

Exams	2 tests @ 100 points each	200	33.3%
Labs	ave 20 points each	180	30.0%
Field Trips	2 trips @ 100 points each	200	33.3%
Attendance	2 points per lab session	20	3.3%
600	100.0%

You may do up to 15 points of extra credit work to raise your total points earned. All extra credit is due the last day of class – not the day of the final! Your grade is based on your percentage score out of 600 points:

Points applied to lecture grade
A = >90%	>540.0 points	22.5 - 25.0 points
B = 80-89%	480.0 – 539.9 points	20.0 - 22.5 points
C = 70-79%

420.0 – 479.9 points	17.5 - 20.0 points
D = 60-69%	360.0 – 419.9 points	15.0 - 17.5 points
F =< 60%

%	<360.0 points	< 15 points
Your grades will be available on the class website, .

Want to get a good grade? Here's how:

1.	Attend every class.

2.	Take notes and review them after class and before exams.

3.	Read your textbook / do the assignments

4.	Turn in all work on time

5.	Ask questions.

6.	You are responsible for studying.

UNIVERSITY & DEPARTMENT POLICIES (a.k.a. the "fine print")

Statement of Reasonable Accommodation:

The Department of Geological Sciences faculty members fully support the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The members of the faculty will provide reasonable accommodation to any student with a disability who is registered with the Office of Students with Disabilities (OSD) who needs and requests accommodation. The faculty may wish to contact the OSD to verify the presence of a disability and confirm that accommodation is necessary. The OSD will arrange and provide for the accommodation.

Reasonable accommodation may involve allowing a student to use an interpreter, note taker, or reader; accommodation may be needed during class sessions and for administration of examinations. The intent of the ADA in requiring consideration of reasonable accommodation is not to give a particular student an unfair advantage over other students, but simply to allow a student with disability to have an equal opportunity to be successful.

•	Student Conduct:

◦	Student conduct is viewed as a serious matter by the faculty members of the Department of Geological Sciences. The Department faculty members assume that all students will conduct themselves as mature citizens of the campus community and will conduct themselves in a manner congruent with university policies and regulations. Inappropriate conduct is subject to discipline as provided for in Title 5, California Code of Regulations (see student conduct: rights and responsibilities, and student discipline, CSULA General Catalog). Academic honesty is expected of all students in the Department, in accordance with University policy. There are established university reporting procedures if a student is suspected of committing an academically dishonest act.

◦	The University has a clearly defined policy on Academic Honesty. This policy will be enforced in this class. Cheating and plagiarizing will not be tolerated. Students caught plagiarizing and/or cheating will be subject to the consequences and set forth in the University Catalog, Appendix D - Academic Honesty. You can access it online at: http://catalog.calstatela.edu

•	Make-up exams/assignments:

◦	Make-up exams and/or assignments will be given only to those who can verify a valid excuse for missing the exam/assignment. The make-up will given at a time that is mutually agreeable to both the student and myself. Failure to take the make-up exam and/or assignment within two weeks of the original exam date will result in the missed exam counting in as a zero.

•	Grading:

◦	University policy allows a grade of incomplete to be given only to those who have been sick, injured, or have a similar valid excuse. A grade of "incomplete" will not be given after poor performance in the course.

◦	If you are repeating any Cal State L.A. course in order to remove a D or an F from your transcript, you must file an academic renewal petition in Administration 101 no later than the last day to add a class. Instructions for doing this may be found under "Academic Renewal" in your Schedule of Classes.

◦	University policy requires that all students shall be graded in exactly the same fashion. What does this mean? You may not ask for extra assignments or to repeat an exam to improve your grade, or additional assignments after the course is completed.

:

◦	: If you are enrolled in my class, you are expected to attend each and every class session. That said, there are times in life when you cannot make it to class (illness, emergencies, etc.). Please contact me at sleyva@calstatela.edu if you will not be in class and why. Make up work is only allowed if you have an excused absence (see above).

◦	: If, for some reason, you need to drop my class, please be courteous and let me know. I will assume that you no longer wish to be enrolled in my class if you miss more than three consecutive classes without contacting me. You will be dropped from the class after the third consecutive absence.

◦	: Students will be added to the class if and only if there is room to do so. Students allowed to add will be given and add code which they can use to add the class. Adding the class MUST be done prior to attending the next class session. Failure to do so will result in the student not being allowed to attend the class until they have officially enrolled. If after the second class session the student has still not enrolled in the class the student will not be allowed to attend the class at all.

◦	: The college has a clearly defined policy on receiving a grade of "incomplete". If a student demonstrates that he or she meets the requirements for receiving a grade of "incomplete" I will then consider their request. Upon receiving a grade of "incomplete" the student must complete the missing work with a year. Once the missing work is completed, paperwork will be submitted to change the student's grade accordingly.

•	Avoid the hassles. Take the Writing Proficiency Examination (WPE) after you have completed your English Composition and prior to the completion of 135 units in order to avoid a registration hold. The dates for the WPE are published in the Schedule of Classes. Enroll by registering in UNIV 400 and paying the $15 exam fee. Do it now!!!