COURSE SYLLABUS

GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION

GEOL 4431 – Coastal Geology

Catalog Description of Course: This course explores the sedimentary features and stratigraphy of the Gulf of Mexico coastline. The exploration of the impact of geology on humans and the impact of humans on the geologic features will be emphasized. Lec. 3, Lab 3, Cr. 4.

Prerequisite: GEOL 4411 with a C or better.

Course Rationale: This is an elective course in the Environmental Science major. It will broaden the students’ background and knowledge about the formation and interpretation of sediments and strata.

Course Objectives/Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of the course, the student will have an overall average of >60% of the combined lecture assessments and assignments of the course. This includes at least 3 major exams and quizzes given at the discretion of the professor.

1. Describe the characteristics of the geology of coastlines

2. Identify and describe different coastal environments

Course Evaluation of Course Objectives/Learning Outcomes:

POINTS DISTRIBUTION

Lecture Exams (best 2 out of 3):	200 points	495-550 points = A
Quizzes (average):	100 points	440-494 points = B
Assignments (average):	100 points	385-439 points = C
Final Exam:	150 points	330-384 points = D
Total:	550 points	below 329 points = F

Quizzes will be unannounced. The lowest quiz grade will be dropped from calculations.

The Lecture Exams and Final Exam will include multiple-choice questions. Please bring a green Scantron and a #2 pencil to these exams.

The best 2 (of 3) exam grades will be used in grade calculations.

Disabilities Statement: Students with disabilities, who wish to request academic adjustments in this class should notify the Disability Services Office early in the semester so that the appropriate accommodations can be made. In accordance with federal law, a student requesting academic adjustments must provide documentation of his/her disability to the Disability Services Counselor. For more information, call or visit the Counseling Center at Tandy 205 (956-882-8292).

Statement on Academic Dishonesty: Students are expected to be above reproach in all scholastic activities. Students who engage in scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and dismissal from UTB/TSC. "Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts." Regents' Rules and Regulations, Part One, Chapter VI, Section 3, Subsection 3.2, Subdivision 3.22. Since scholastic dishonesty harms the individual, all students, and the integrity of UTB/TSC, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced.

PROFESSOR INFORMATION

Contact Information : Dr. Elizabeth Heise, Assistant Professor

Chemistry and Environmental Sciences

M0 1.108

MW 9:30-12

956-882-6769 office

956-882-6691 dept. office

956-882-6692 fax

elizabeth.heise@utb.edu

COURSE OUTLINE, RELATED MATERIALS, AND ASSESSMENT

Course Meeting Time and Place: M0 1.130 MW 3:05-5:35 PM

Course Outline:

1. Coastline Variability and Functions in the Global Environment.

2. Earth's Mobile Crust.

3. Sediments and Rocks; Materials of Coastal Environments.

4. Sea Level Change and Coastal Environments.

5. Storms and Climatic Influences on the Coast.

6. Waves and the Coast.

7. Beaches and Nearshore Environments.

8. Sandy Barriers.

9. Coastal Dunes.

10. Coastal Lagoons.

11. Tides.

12. Tidal Inlets.

13. Intertidal Flats.

14. Coastal Wetlands.

15. Estuaries.

16. River Deltas: The Source of Most of our Coastal Sediments.

17. Glaciated Coasts.

18. Rocky Coast.

19. Reef Coast.

20. Coastal Erosion.

21. Human Interaction with Coastal Dynamics.

FINAL EXAM -- Monday, December 17, 2005, 2:00-4:30 PM.

Textbook Information:

Beaches and Coasts

by Richard Davis Jr and Duncan Fitzgerald

Blackwell Publishing

1^st Edition

ISBN: 9780632043088

Exam Policies: Exams begin promptly at the beginning of each assigned class period. No exams will be issued once the first student has left the classroom upon completion of their exam. Failure to take the exam will result in a grade of zero. Take home exams may not contain material that is cut and pasted from web pages. All work must be that of the student and if outside sources are used they must be properly cited.

Make-up exams may be permitted under mitigating circumstances, with the consent of the instructor. Arrangements for a make-up must be made prior to the official commencement of the exam in question.

Final Exam: The final exam will begin promptly per printed UTB/TSC course schedule. No final exam will be issued once the first student has left the classroom upon completion of their exam. Failure to take the final exam will result in the grade of zero. The final for this course will be on Wednesday, December 7, 2006, 8 - 10:30 PM.

DO NOT BE LATE FOR THE FINAL!!

Assignments: There will be no make ups for graded assignments. If you have an excused absence on the day of a graded assignment then this grade will not be used in the calculation of your overall grade and the total number of possible points will be adjusted. No late work will be accepted.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY

Class Participation: There will be class discussions during every lecture. Participation is encouraged. Try to ask questions and answer questions that are posed to the class.

Attendance Policy: Attendance will not be taken; however, you are responsible for all material covered in class. Students who attend class regularly do much better than those who have frequent absences.  Please try to attend every lecture.  Bring your text book to lecture it will be a handy reference for in class exercises.

Important Dates:

Last Day to drop without a grade	September 12, 2007
Last day to withdraw without a grade (but with a “W”)	October 29, 2007
Final Exam Date and Time for this Class	Monday, Dec. 17, 2007, 2 - 4:30 PM

Incomplete Grade Policy: The professor will agree to award an Incomplete grade in cases where the majority of coursework has been competed and the student is passing the course. Students who wish to discuss an Incomplete grade must contact the professor prior to the final exam. They must provide a legitimate reason why they cannot complete the coursework during the semester. The student must agree to and sign an Incomplete Grade Form. They will commit to completing the coursework by a date during the next long semester.

Use of Electronic Equipment in Class: Please set cell phones and other electronic devices on silent during class.