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| GEOL 5 - EARTH HISTORY | Last Updated • May 29, 2011 | |||||||
This class is a 4-units, general education class that includes both lecture and lab; an introduction to the basic principles of geology and plate tectonics is followed by a more detailed study of sedimentary rocks and the principles of stratigraphy, sedimentology, and paleontology. Knowledge of these principles will help the students understand how Earth history can be deciphered from the rock and fossil record. The main physical, chemical and biological changes that occurred in the 4.6 billion years of existence of our planet will be outlined. If you already have a basic knowledge of geology (for instance, you already took Geology 1 or Geology 4) you might find yourself at a slight advantage. Nonetheless, you will see throughout the class that all materials will be explained thoroughly and the class is fully accessible to anyone with a genuine curiosity and desire to learn. You also need to be aware that this class will require continuous and constant attention and that, in order to succeed, you will need to dedicate a considerable amount of time to study and work on its materials.
This class is transferable to UC and CSU, but you should verify if it satisfies GE requirements at the college of your choice.
For what concerns the lab manual, DO NOT buy a used copy for any reason; questions and exercises on the lab manual require that pages are teared off and turned in to the instructor for grading after a lab. Many students who bought used copies in the past, either from the bookstore or from other students, found out after a week or two that they had incomplete manuals in their hands, with several missing pages.
I will only accept lab work from the current edition of the lab manual (9th edition). I will not accept lab work neither from older editions (even if brand new: questions are different, and/or not in the same order or page), nor from used copies of the new edition.
Exam dates are as follows: Please, refer to the class syllabus for further information and/or details
| GEOL 35 D - NATIONAL FIELD STUDIES: DEATH VALLEY | Last Updated • May 29, 2011
| This class is a one-unit, general education, hands-on class that will allow you to see and experience in person some prominent geologic features of California and/or surrounding states. There are no prerequisites and there is no homework, BUT you will have to take notes while in the field. You will use your notes in order to prepare a simple, 2-3 pages-long, typed final report AND to give a short, final presentation of your work to the class on its last meeting day. Please, be aware that this class does not fulfill any lab or science requirement. If this is the only reason why you want to take this class, please look for a 4-unit lab class such as Geology 4 or Geology 5 in our department. If you want to have an idea of what we do in the field, check out the images from
4250 - GEOL 35 D, GEOLOGY FIELD STUDIES: DEATH VALLEY Class Hours: Friday, 4:30 - 7:30, Drescher Hall 128 Meetings Attendance and one 3-days Field-Trip are mandatory Please note that only registered students can participate in field trips. Persons who are not enrolled, or who do not wish to enroll in the class can not come along, no exceptions. Smoking and drinking are never allowed, under any circumstance, while on official class activity. Pets are also not allowed on the field trip, no exceptions. IMPORTANT !
Class Meetings There are five meetings, all mandatory:
Field Trip There will only be one field trip:
We will camp in the desert, at unorganized sites, for free or at low cost. We might be staying at a primitive location, with no facilities or services of any sort available; bring everything you need for two nights and three days in the wild. Except for one activity, we will never be more than two miles off paved roads. In any case, there will be the possibility to quickly go back to civilization in case of emergency.
Tents, sleeping bags, and more can be rented at Adventure 16 (one location is in West Los Angeles, not far from the College). Prices are available online.
Remember that absolutely no alcohol is permitted during the field trip and that, as for Santa Monica College policies, smoking is also not permitted (unless you are in your car).
We will leave Santa Monica College early in the morning on Friday, April 29, 2011
Field Activity and Campsite Area Map 
Costs: ALL other costs (transportation, food, field trip fees at state and/or national parks, etc.) will have to be paid for by the students. In particular, transportation will be by private vehicles, so you may want to consider car pooling. Some roads are not paved but, except for one activity (52 miles RT), four-wheel drive vehicles are not necessary. You might use a city vehicle at your own risk on that day if you have high clearance. You can drive your non-4-WD vehicle to a parking area atthe beginning of the road and share a ride with another student from that point on. If it is necessary for you to stay in a hotel, it will be at your own expenses.
Again, absolutely no alcohol is permitted during the field trip, and any kind of disruptive behavior will have academic consequences, as indicated above. | |||||