Dr. Alessandro Grippo, Ph.D. - Summer 2014 classes

SUMMER session 2014

Professor: Dr. Alessandro Grippo, Ph.D.

1397 - Geol 1, Introduction to PHYSICAL GEOLOGY

1399 - Geol 31, Introduction to PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY

GENERAL INFORMATION

Both of these classes are accessible to anyone with a basic knowledge of physics, chemistry, and biology. This accessibility does not imply that these classes are "easy". Both of these classes will require constant, continuous attention and dedication. If you want to be successful you will need to be present in class, read materials ahead and study steadily. You will need to pay constant attention to the topics discussed during our meetings and dedicate a considerable amount of time to the class materials.

The pace of these classes is intensive and you can not afford to be absent or miss work for no reason. Absences will not only affect your grade but also your overall grasp and understanding of the subject.

As a student, you also need to recognize that your college education is above all a matter of opening yourself up to new dimensions of knowledge and understanding. Even if these classes do not cover topics relevant to you major, or you feel that you "have" to take one or both, you need to realize that these classes are interesting per se, and will enrich your intellectual background. As a professor of geology, I am here to illustrate and explain these materials to you, and it will be up to you to find your interest in them.

If you have chosen to enroll in one or both of these classes it means that you should be able to move beyond your individual interests and take advantage of the opportunity of having scientific materials illustrated to you. These classes are intrinsically rich in interesting concepts, and should be seen as one tool for you to open up to new ideas, concepts, and possibilities. These classes will give you more interests and ideas, and consequently they will make you more knowledgeable and interesting as a person.

GEOL 1 - Introduction to PHYSICAL GEOLOGY

Last Updated • July 13, 2014

This class is a 3-units general education class that introduces students to the basic elements of geology. After an analysis of the foundations of the Theory of Plate Tectonics, we will quickly move on to a physical/chemical approach to minerals and rocks, and then to the analysis of the physical environments where these rocks form. The course will include a discussion on geological time and on the interpretation of sedimentary depositional environments.

The class is fully accessible to anyone with a basic knowledge of physics, chemistry, and biology. Still, during such an intense, fast-paced session as this 6-weeks Winter course, you will need to pay constant attention to the materials discussed in class and dedicate a considerable amount of time to the class materials.

The class pace is intensive (more than two hours a day, for four days a week, for six weeks), and you can not afford to be absent or miss work. Absences will not only affect your grade but also your overall grasp and understanding of the subject.

As a student, you need to recognize that your college education is above all a matter of opening yourself up to new dimensions of knowledge and understanding. You need to realize that this subject, geology, is intrinsically interesting, I am here to illustrate and explain it to you, but geology does not need to be made more “interesting” by me.

If you enrolled in this class you should be able to move beyond your individual interests and take advantage of the opportunity of having scientific materials illustrated to you.

This class is fully transferable to UC and CSU, but it might not satisfy GE requirements at some universities.
Please verify with the college of your choice if that is the case.

1397 - Introduction to PHYSICAL GEOLOGY

Syllabus:
Click here for a .pdf copy of the Syllabus

Class Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 8:00 am - 10:05 am, HSS 254

Required Textbooks:
Lecture: C. C. Plummer and D. H. Carlson, Physical Geology, 12^th edition (2008), McGraw Hill.
More recent editions of this book have been published. The difference between them is minimal, and the 12^th edition will be fine.

Exams:
All exams include lecture, lab and home assignments materials.
The final exam will be partially cumulative: it will include a few questions on older materials covered in previous tests.

Exam dates are as follows:
exam 1 - Thursday, July 3, 2014: study guide (available since June 29, 2014)

exam 2 - Thursday, July 17, 2014: study guide (available since July 13, 2014)

exam 3 - Thursday, July 31, 2014: study guide (available since July 24, 2014)

Please, refer to the class syllabus for further information and/or details.

The principle of cross-cutting relationships, illustrated
from Death Valley National Park, California

GEOL 31 - OCEANOGRAPHY

Last Updated • June 18, 2014

This class is a three-units, general education class. An introduction to the basic principles of geology and plate tectonics is followed by a discussion on the chemical and physical properties of water, a description of marine environments and a discussion on the biological aspects of the world's oceans.

1399 - GEOL 31, OCEANOGRAPHY

This class has been canceled by SMC administration due to low enrollment. The college requires 18 students to be enrolled in a class for it to remain active. Geology 31 only had 13 students on June 17, 2014, and administration decided to cancel it.

Shallow water waves in Santa Monica, California