Class Syllabus
Winter 2010

Lecture: Attendance will not be taken; however, graded exercises, field trips, and discussions will be completed during class time and the exams will be based on lecture material as well as readings from the text, so it is highly recommended that you do attend! The syllabus lists the assigned reading from the textbook; however, additional readings will also be assigned during the quarter. It is in your best interest to complete the assigned readings before lecture.  (I will also place a couple of introductory geology books on reserve at the library.) Interaction, questions, discussions are encouraged and expected. Cell phones, talking in class, recurring late arrivals, and other disruptions are distracting to other students and the instructor and will not be tolerated during class time. Recurring problems will be reported to the Dean of Student Services and can result in suspension and/or loss of credit.

Labs and Field Trips: There will be at least one lab assignment each week for a total of 250 points. Lab activities are found in the class lab manual - be sure to read any lab background material before coming to lab.  Labs will be completed during the class period by groups of 3 or 4 people.  Each lab assignment is due in class at the end of class time unless I specifically say otherwise.  Late labs will receive a zero.  There are NO LAB MAKE-UPS and starting lab late will not be allowed – so arrive on time.

Field Trips: You are required to attend in-class lab field trips during the quarter. Your field trip grade will be based on attending the trip, participating, asking questions, and any written assignments/exercises associated with the trip. Some field trips may last until 3:30 – arrangements will be made ahead of time for these trips. You may also be required to attend one full day field trip during the quarter (offered on the weekend).  We will discuss this trip in class and it will be dependant on the weather conditions this quarter. If it is possible, it will replace one of the 3 class projects.

Exams: There will be 4 “exams” during the quarter.  During the 2nd week there will be a 25 pt quiz on the geologic time scale. The remaining exams will include three midterms (75 pts each).  There are no makeup-exams, so please carefully note the dates. The final midterm will contain some material from the entire quarter, however, it will mainly be on the last 3rd of the class material.

Exercises and Projects: During the quarter there will be several short take-home and in-class exercises and three short projects (some of which you will work on in teams). These assignments will be occur about once every week or so, and will be worth a total of 200 points. Projects will be a little more in depth and may include a detailed look at the different types of rocks or life on Earth, an exploration of the mysteries of dinosaurs, review of a geologic book or paper, and/or an in-depth exploration of some other aspect of geologic history. (Details will be distributed separately.)

General Safety: The only material we will work with that may irritate the skin is very dilute hydrochloric acid. It is no more dangerous than strong household chemicals, but you should be careful and wash your hands after using it.

Special Needs Students: Students with disabilities who have accommodation needs are required to contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) office, room B233-G at BCC's main campus (telephone 425-564-2498 or TTY 425-564-4110), to establish your eligibility for accommodation. The DRC office will provide each eligible student with an accommodation letter, which you must review with each instructor during the first week of the quarter. If you're not sure whether you might qualify for course accommodations, contact DRC (or me) immediately. Students with mobility challenges who may need assistance in case of an emergency situation or evacuation should register with DRC, or review those needs with the instructor as well. The BCC DRC website is at: http://bellevuecollege.edu/drc/

Supplies: Field notebook (avaiable at bookstore), colored pencils (recommended), calculator (optional), hand lense (optional)

Extra Credit, Make-ups, Incompletes: Opportunities for one or two extra-credit assignments (including additional field trips or talks) will be offered during the quarter. I do not allow any other type of extra credit, make-ups, or incompletes.

IMPORTANT NOTE: All assignments are due on the dates assigned, and will receive reduced credit if turned in late. Assignments will not receive any credit if turned in more than two days late. All assignments should be typed. Handwritten assignments will be returned for resubmittal.

Science Division Policy on Cheating: You, the student, are expected to conduct yourself with integrity. If you cheat*, or aid someone else in cheating, you violate a trust. If you cheat, the following actions will be taken:

If you feel you have been unfairly accused of cheating, you may appeal. (For a description of due process, see WAC 132H-120.)*Cheating includes, but is not limited to, copying answers on tests or assignments, glancing at nearby test papers, swapping papers, stealing, plagiarizing, and illicitly giving or receiving help on exams or assignments.

 See the Calandar page for the most up to date lecture syllavus and the Class Readings page for details on reading assignments.

Geology 103 Homepage / Science Division / Bellevue College Home Page

Last Updated Saturday, January 2, 2010