PHSC C105

PHSC C105 COURSE OUTLINE OF RECORD

DISCIPLINE AND COURSE NUMBER:: PHSC C105

COURSE TITLE:: General Earth Sciences

SHORT BANWEB TITLE:: Gen'l. Earth Sci.

COURSE AUTHOR:: Cameron, Scott

COURSE SEATS:: -

COURSE TERMS:: 70 = Fall; 30 = Spring; 50 = Summer

CROSS-LISTED COURSES:

PROPOSAL TYPE:: CC New Course

START TERM:: 30 = Spring, 2012

C-ID:

CATALOG COURSE DESCRIPTION:: This lecture and laboratory course covers the study of the Earth as an integrated system. Lecture topics include Earth surface processes, tectonics and mountain building, surface water and groundwater, Earth-Sun relationships and motions, weather, climatic types, soil types, natural hazards, resource management, landforms, and the ocean. An emphasis is placed on understanding geologic issues important to society. Meanwhile, laboratory provides practical experience in field methods and enhancement of lecture topics such as topographic map reading, air photo interpretation, soils, natural hazards, resource management, landforms, Earth-Sun relationships and motions, weather, climatic types and regions, ecosystems, and the ocean. Not open to students who have completed PHSC C101.

GRADING METHOD

Default:: S = Standard Letter Grade

Optional:: A = Audit;P = Pass/No Pass

TOTAL UNITS:: 4

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS / UNITS & HOURS:

Method
Min Units
Min Hours

Lecture: 3; 54

Lab: 1; 54

Activity: 0; 0

Open Entry/Open Exit: 0; 0

Volunteer Work Experience: 0; 0

Paid Work Experience: 0; 0

Non Standard: 0; 0

Non-Standard Hours Justification:

REPEATABILITY

Type:: Non-Repeatable Credit

MATERIALS FEE:: No

CREDIT BY EXAM:: No

CORE MISSION APPLICABILITY:: UC Transfer;Associate Degree Applicable (AA/AS);CSU Transfer

STAND-ALONE:: No

PROGRAM APPLICABILITY

Required:

Elective:: General Education ()
General Sciences AA (AA Degree Program)
Liberal Arts: Mathematics & Science (AA Degree Program)
Liberal Arts: Mathematics & Science AA (AA Degree Program)
THis is a test please ignore (AA Degree Program)

GENERAL EDUCATION APPLICABILITY

Local:: CC GE Area I: Natural Science = Physical Sciences;

IGETC:: IGETC Area 5: Physical and Biological Sciences = 5A: Physical Science with Lab;

CSU:: CSU GE Area B: Physical and its Life Forms(mark all that apply) = B1 - Physical Science;
CSU GE Area B: Physical and its Life Forms(mark all that apply) = B3 - Laboratory Sciences;

UC Transfer Course:

CSU Transfer Course:

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to

Explain how hydrologic, tectonic, erosional, and atmospheric processes together shape the earth’s surface and affect human lives.
Summarize the conditions that cause such natural hazards as floods, storms, earthquakes, landslides, volcanoes, and coastal erosion, and explain their impact on humans.
Analyze the impact of humans on the natural environments and research such local environ-mental issues as earthquake hazards, flash flooding, air pollution, groundwater pollution, and environmental planning.
Analyze and reach valid conclusions from analysis of graphs, geographic diagrams, statistics, and maps.
Construct diagrams that accurately explain and demonstrate such earth science processes as the hydrologic cycle, the rock cycle, and the plate tectonic cycle.
Perform standard field methods in physical geology and geomorphology, such as reading topographic maps, constructing topographic profiles and cross-sections, and geologic map and air photo interpretation.

REQUISITES

Advisory:: Reading - 1 Level Prior to Transfer
Writing - 1 Level Prior to Transfer

DETAILED TOPICAL OUTLINE:

Lecture:

A. Introduction to Earth Science

1. What Is Earth Science?

2. Earth Science, People, and the Environment

3. The Nature of Scientific Inquiry

4. Scales of Space and Time in Earth Science

5. Early Evolution of Earth’s Spheres

6. A Closer Look at the Geosphere

7. Earth as a System

B. Minerals: Building Blocks of Rocks

1. Minerals: The Building Blocks of Rocks

2. Elements: The Building Blocks of Minerals

3. Why Atoms Bond

4. Properties of Minerals

5. Mineral Groups

6. Mineral Resources

C. Rocks: Materials of the Solid Earth

1. Earth as a System: The Rock Cycle

2. Igneous Rocks: “Formed by Fire”

3. Sedimentary Rocks: Compacted and Cemented Sediment

4. Metamorphic Rocks: New Rock from Old

5. Resources from Rocks and Minerals

D. Weathering, Soil, and Mass Wasting

1. Mechanical Weathering

2. Chemical Weathering

3. Rates of Weathering

4. Soil

5. Controls of Soil Formation

6. The Soil Profile

7. Classifying Soils

8. Soil Erosion

9. Weathering Creates Ore Deposits

10. Mass Wasting: The Work of Gravity

11. Mass Wasting and Landform Development

12. Controls and Triggers of Mass Wasting

13. Classifying Mass-Wasting Processes

14. Slump

15. Rockslide

16. Debris Flow

17. Earth flow

18. Slow Movements

E. Running Water and Groundwater

1. Earth as a System: The Hydrologic Cycle

2. Running Water

3. Stream flow

4. The Work of Running Water

5. Stream Channels

6. Base Level and Stream Erosion

7. Shaping Stream Valleys

8. Depositional Landforms

9. Drainage Patterns

10. Floods and Flood Control

11. Groundwater: Water Beneath the Surface

12. Distribution and Movement of Groundwater

13. Groundwater

14. Springs

15. Wells

16. Artesian Wells

17. Environmental Problems Associated with Groundwater

18. The Geologic Work of Groundwater

F. Glaciers, Deserts, and Wind

1. How Glaciers Move

2. Glacial Erosion

3. Glacial Deposits

4. Glaciers of the Ice Age

5. Some Indirect Effects of Ice Age Glaciers

6. Causes of Glaciations

7. Deserts

8. Geologic Processes in Arid Climates

9. Basin and Range: The Evolution of a Desert Landscape

10. Wind Erosion

11. Wind Deposits

G. Earthquakes and Earth’s Interior

1. What Is an Earthquake?

2. San Andreas Fault: An Active Earthquake Zone

3. Seismology: The Study of Earthquake Waves

4. Locating an Earthquake

5. Measuring the Size of Earthquakes

6. Destruction from Earthquakes

7. Can Earthquakes Be Predicted?

8. Earth’s Layered Structure

H. Plate Tectonics: A Scientific Theory Unfolds

1. Continental Drift: An Idea Before Its Time

2. The Great Debate

3. Plate Tectonics: The New Paradigm

4. Divergent Boundaries

5. Convergent Boundaries

6. Transform Fault Boundaries

7. Testing the Plate Tectonics Model

8. Measuring Plate Motion

9. What Drives Plate Motion?

10. Plate Tectonics into the Future

I. Volcanoes and Other Igneous Activity

1. The Nature of Volcanic Eruptions

2. What Is Extruded During Eruptions?

3. Volcanic Structures and Eruptive Styles

4. Living in the Shadow of a Composite Cone

5. Other Volcanic Landforms

6. Intrusive Igneous Activity

7. Origin of Magma

8. Plate Tectonics and Igneous Activity

J. Mountain Building

1. Rock Deformation

2. Folds

3. Faults

4. Joints

5. Mountain Building

6. Mountain Building at Subduction Zones

7. Collisional Mountain Ranges

8. Fault-Block Mountains

9. Vertical Movements of the Crust

K. Geologic Time

1. Geology Needs a Time Scale

2. A Brief History of Geology

3. Relative Dating–Key Principles

4. Correlation of Rock Layers

5. Fossils: Evidence of Past Life

6. Dating with Radioactivity

7. The Geologic Time Scale

8. Difficulties in Dating the Geologic Time Scale

L. Earth’s History: A Brief Summary

1. Precambrian Time: Vast and Enigmatic

2. Paleozoic Era: Life Explodes

3. Mesozoic Era: Age of the Dinosaurs

4. Cenozoic Era: Age of Mammals

5. Quaternary Epoch: Ice Ages and the Time of Now

M. The Atmosphere: Composition, Structure, and Temperature

1. Composition of the Atmosphere

2. Height and Structure of the Atmosphere

3. Earth—Sun Relationships

4. Energy, Heat and Temperature

5. Mechanisms of Heat Transfer

6. The Fate of Incoming Solar Radiation

7. Heating the Atmosphere: The Greenhouse Effect

8. For the Record: Air Temperature Data

9. Why Temperatures Vary: The Controls of Temperature

10. World Distribution of Temperature

N. Moisture, Clouds, and Precipitation

1. Water’s Changes of State

2. Humidity: Water Vapor in the Atmosphere

3. The Basis of Cloud Formation: Adiabatic Cooling

4. Processes that Lift Air

5. The Weather maker: Atmospheric Stability

6. Condensation and Cloud Formation

7. Fog

8. How Precipitation Forms

9. Coalescence Process

10. Forms of Precipitation

11. Measuring Precipitation

O. Air Pressure and Wind

1. Understanding Air Pressure

2. Measuring Air Pressure

3. Factors Affecting Wind

4. Highs and Lows

5. General Circulation of the Atmosphere

6. The Westerlies

7. Local Winds

8. How Wind Is Measured

9. El Nino and La Nina

10. Global Distribution of Precipitation

P. Weather Patterns and Severe Storms

1. Air Masses

2. Fronts

3. The Middle-Latitude Cyclone

4. Thunderstorms

5. Tornadoes

6. Hurricanes

Q. Climate

1. The Climate System

2. World Climates

3. Climate Classification

4. Humid Tropical Climates

5. Dry Climates

6. Humid Middle-Latitude Climates with Mild Winters

7. Humid Middle-Latitude Climates with Severe Winters

8. Polar Climates

9. Highland Climates

10. Human Impact on Global Climate

11. Carbon Dioxide, Trace Gases, and Global Warming

12. Climate-Feedback Mechanisms

13. How Aerosols Influence Climate

14. Some Possible Consequences of Global Warming

Lab:

              R. Laboratory Experiments
              1.        Performance of Field Technique Experiments
                        2.        Performance of Experiments that reinforce and enhance Lecture topics

Examples:

In one activity, students identify rock and mineral samples based on their measurable characteristics.
In another activity, students determine location and distances on Earth using a topographic map, protractor, ruler, compass, and calculator.
In another activity, students determine the epicenters and magnitudes of earthquakes using seismograph data.
In another activity, students construct weather maps in order to forecast the weather for various cities.

METHODS OF INSTRUCTION--Course instructional methods may include but are not limited to

Computational Work;
Demonstration;
Discussion;
Group Work;
In-class writing;
Laboratory;
Lecture;
Outside reading;
Presentations (by students);
Problem Solving;
Written work;

OUT OF CLASS ASSIGNMENTS: Out of class assignments may include but are not limited to

A. Homework assignments from the relevant textbook chapters. Example: The student is expected to answer instructor assigned questions from the relevant textbook chapters. B. Readings from the assigned textbook, laboratory manual, and/or other sources. Example: The student is expected to read the textbook chapter and lab manual chapter that will be covered in each week's lecture and lab. C. Research paper and presentation Example: The student is required to select a local geophysical landform, research its origin using the concepts learned in class, write a paper summarizing that research, and present a research summary to the class. D. Written laboratory reports. Example: The student is required to write a lab report that summarizes the experimental methods performed, data collected, and data analysis for each week's lab activity. E. Data analysis. Example: The student is required to analyze the data collected in a lab activity in order to reach conclusions regarding the lab's physical concepts.

METHODS OF EVALUATION: Assessment of student performance may include but is not limited to

A. Exams and quizzes evaluate the students' ability to apply concepts and material taught in class.
Example: The midterm exam requires the student to diagram the rock cycle and describe the physical characteristics of the rocks formed at each step of the cycle.

B. Regular homework assignments reinforce concepts and material taught in class.
Example: The student is expected to answer instructor assigned questions from the relevant textbook chapters.

C. Reports and presentations evaluate the students' ability to apply concepts taught in class and combine them with new concepts they research on their own.
Example: The student is required to select a local geophysical landform, research its origin using the concepts learned in class, write a paper summarizing that research, and present a research summary to the class.

D. Laboratory exercises reinforce concepts and material taught in class.
Example: The student determines the infiltration rate of water through various regolith and soil compositions and then analyzes their impact on flooding.

E. Laboratory reports and presentations measure the student's ability to perform techniques and assess accuracy and precision where appropriate.
Example: The student discusses the identification of rock and mineral samples based on their measurable characteristics.

TEXTS, READINGS, AND MATERIALS: Instructional materials may include but are not limited to

Textbooks: Tarbuck, E. J., Lutgens, F. K., and Tasa, D.. (2009) Earth Science, 12th ed., Prentice Hall

Manuals: Tarbuck, E. J., Lutgens, F. K., and Pinzke, K. G.. (2009-01-01 00:00:00.0) Applications and Investigations in Earth Science, Prentice Hall

Periodicals

Software

Other

METHOD OF DELIVERY:
: Face to face;

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:: Chemistry (Masters Required);Earth Science (Masters Required);Physical Sciences (Masters Required);Physics/Astronomy (Masters Required);

APPROVALS:

Origination Date: 09/23/2011

Last Outline Revision
: 10/14/2011

Curriculum Committee Approval
: 10/14/2011

Board of Trustees
: 11/10/2011

State Approval

UC Approval: 70 = Fall 2011
UC Approval Status: Approved

CSU Approval: 70 = Fall 2011
CSU Approval Status: Approved

IGETC Approval: 30 = Spring 2012
IGETC Approval Status: Proposed

CSU GE Approval: 30 = Spring 2012
CSU GE Approval Status: Proposed

Data Element Changes

Data Justification: The Science Department is standardizing its courses so that they can be offered as either a: (1.) "Lecture" only version (2.) "Laboratory" only version (3.) "Lecture + Laboratory" version. To reflect these three distinctions, PHSC C105 General Earth Sciences will combine the lecture course PHSC C101 and the laboratory course PHSC C102.

Course Element Changes

Course Change Justification

Course ID (CB00): XXXXXXXXXX

TOP Code (CB03): 1930.00 - Earth Science;

Course Credit Status (CB04): D - Credit - Degree Applicable;

Course Transfer Status (CB05): A = Transferable to both UC and CSU

Course Units of Credit Maximum High (CB06):: 4

Course Units of Credit Minimum Low (CB07):: 4

Course Basic Skills (BS) Status (CB08):: N = Course is not a basic skills course.

SAM Code (CB09):: E = Non-Occupational;

Cooperative Education Course Status (CB10):: Not part of Coop Work Exp;

Course Classification Code (CB11):: Liberal Arts and Sciences;

Course Special Status (CB13):: N - Not Special;

CAN Code (CB14):

CAN-Code Seq (CB15):

Course Prior to College Level (CB21):: Not Applicable;

Course Non-Credit Category (CB22):: Not Applicable, Credit Course;

Funding Agency Category (CB23):: Not Applicable

Course Program Status (CB24):: 1 - Program Applicable;

KERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT – CERRO COSO COLLEGE