Discipline: Earth Science (Geology) Degree Credit  [ ]
Non Credit  [ ]
Nondegree Credit  [ ]
Comm Service  [ ]
 

Riverside Community College District
Integrated Course Outline of Record

Geology 31


COURSE DESCRIPTION
31 Regional Field Studies Units: 1.00
 
Prerequisite(s): None.

Advisory: GEO 1 and/or GEO 1B and/or GEO 2 and/or GEO 3
A field course with trips to regional points of geologic interest. This class can be taught as a series of field excursions or as one, week-long geology trip to a site of interest. Sites include, but are not limited to, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Owens Valley, the Mother Lode country, Mount Lassen, San Luis Obispo, and Baja California. Designed to supplement other courses in geology and to increase the interest and understanding of those enrolled in these courses. The first class meeting is during the third week of the semester. Total of 54 hours Laboratory (field studies) to be arranged per semester. This course may be repeated three times for credit as the topics change.
 
SHORT DESCRIPTION FOR CLASS SCHEDULE
One week trip to * for field study of geologic features and history of the area. *Possible sites include Yosemite and the Mother Lode, Grand Canyon, Death Valley, San Luis Obispo, Baja California, Mount Lassen, Lava Beds National Monument, Chiricahua National Monument, Great Basin, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capital Reef, Capulin Volcano, and Carlsbad Caverns
 
ADVISORY ENTRY SKILLS
None.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
 Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:
  1. Explain basic geological concepts as they apply to the features examined in the field.
  2. Describe the geologic forces that created the features examined in the field.
  3. Recognize large scale changes in surface features of the land and hypothesize what forces may have worked to shape the landscape.
  4. Identify basic rock types.
  5. Identify features such as faults, folds, joints, valleys, etc. as they are encountered in the field
 
COURSE CONTENT
  TOPICS
 
  1. Orientation meeting at the beginning of course
  2.  Lecture on geology of field site
  3.  Field trip (8 hours per day)
  4.  Field trip projects and report
  5.  Library/literature research of significant sites along the field trip. 
  6.  Study of a notebook of varied information of the fiend trip route, stops, and point of geologic interest
  7.  Research of Internet sites for obtaining information (maps, government reports, etc.) that pertain to the field trip sites.

Students are also assigned reading, writing, and other outside assignments equivalent to two hours per one hour lecture.
 
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
 Methods of instruction used to achieve student learning outcomes may include, but are not limited to:

  • Direct observation and discussion of geologic features in the field
  • Present class lectures to describe the processes and features of the geologic points that will be visited during the field portion of the course.
  • Utilize PowerPoint presentations (or slides/overheads) to enhance points made during classroom meetings and to illustrate the attributes of the features that students will experience in the field. 
 
METHODS OF EVALUATION
 Students will be evaluated for progress in and/or mastery of learning outcomes by methods of evaluation which may include, but are not limited to:

  • Examinations will be given which are designed to determine the students comprehension of materials encountered on the field trip.  Question types may include but are not limited to: essay and short answer, fill-in-the-blank, multiple choice, true and false, matching, and draw-and-label the diagram questions.
  • Written and/or oral reports may be assigned which are designed to allow the students to explore specific geology topics in greater depth.  Completion of the reports will expose students to a greater breadth of information and will demonstrate to the instructor whether or not the students are able to utilize the materials discussed on the fieldtrips to gain a broader understanding of a topic explored on their own.
  • Students will be required to keep a field notebook with notes on the geological features encountered during the field trips.  The notebooks will be collected and evaluated for completeness and level of detail.  This will aid the instructor in determining the level of understanding a student may have gained from the experience.
ASSIGNMENTS

Required Reading Assignments


Required Writing Assignments


Other Outside-of-Class Assignments
 
COURSE MATERIALS
 All materials used in this course will be periodically reviewed to ensure that they are appropriate for college level instruction. Possible texts include:

  • 1. U.S.G.S. Geologic maps
    2. C.D.M.G. State Geologic maps
    3. Field Guide Books published by the Geologic Society of America, National
    a. Association of Geoscience Teachers, American Association of Petroleum
    b. Geologist, and other professional societies
    4. Guidebooks published by National Park Service
    5. Reports published by Geologic Society of America, etc.

    No single book or report is used
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