GEOL111-10S1 (C) Semester One 2010

Planet Earth: An Introduction to Geology

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 22 February 2010
End Date: Sunday, 27 June 2010
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 7 March 2010
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 23 May 2010

Description

A general introduction to the study of the dynamic Earth and its geology, including Earth structure and plate tectonics, volcanic activity, crystal processes and the nature of minerals and rocks.

Course Content:This course deals with the composition and structure of Planet Earth and the geological processes which have shaped its surface.  

The lecture course includes an overview of plate tectonics, showing how many features of the Earth's surface are directly, or indirectly, a result of plate tectonics. The course covers minerals and rocks, volcanoes and other igneous processes, sedimentary processes, and resources such as coal, oil, water found in sedimentary sequences, and metamorphism.  

Practical work includes the study and recognition of common minerals and rocks in hand specimens and a one-day field trip to examine the volcanic geology of the Port Hills.

What the course entails:
Taught only in first semester, three lectures and one practical class per week plus one one-day field trip. A fee ($25) will be charged at enrolment for field trip transport. The Port Hills trip is an integral part of the course and is provisionally set  for either Saturday 21 or Sunday 22 March 2010.

What you need for this course:
Just enthusiasm and interest! This introductory course is suitable for students with no previous experience in geology or other science subjects.

What this course gets you into:
GEOL111, along with GEOL112, is prerequisite preparation for all second year geology courses.

Restrictions

Timetable Note

There is no practical class in the first week of teaching but lectures start on Tuesday 23 February 2010.
There is a one-day field trip to examine the volcanic geology of the Port Hills. This trip is an integral part of the course and students must attend. Dates are tentatively 20/21 March 2010.

Course Coordinator

For further information see Geological Sciences Head of Department

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
On-line quiz 30 Mar 2010 5% On-line quiz
On-line quiz 25 May 2010 10% On-line quiz
Laboratory test 35% Practical test in laboratory classes (week 12) 31/05/2010 - 04/06/2010
Final examination 50% Final examination

Course links

Additional Course Outline Information

Academic integrity

Policy on Dishonest Practice
Plagiarism, collusion, copying and ghost writing are unacceptable and dishonest practices.

• Plagiarism is the presentation of any material (text, data, figures or drawings, on any medium including computer files) from any other source without clear and adequate acknowledgement of the source.

• Collusion is the presentation of work performed in conjunction with another person or persons, but submitted as if it has been completed only by the named author(s).

• Copying is the use of material (in any medium, including computer files) produced by another person(s) with or without their knowledge and approval.

• Ghost writing is the use of another person(s) (with or without payment) to prepare all or part of an item submitted for assessment.

In cases where dishonest practice is involved in tests or other work submitted for credit, the student will be referred to the University Proctor. The instructor may choose to not mark the work.

Assessment and grading system

The Department of Geological Sciences uses the following scale to convert marks into grades: 100–85 A+, 80-84 A, 75-79 A-, 70–74 B+, 65-69 B, 60-64 B-, 55–59 C+, 52–54 C, 48-51 C-, Below 48 D/E.
The Department of Geological Sciences reserves the right to adjust this mark/grade conversion, when deemed necessary.

Attendance

Aegrotat Applications - If you feel that illness, injury, bereavement or other critical circumstances has prevented you from completing an item of assessment or affected your performance, you should complete an aegrotat application form, available from the Registry or the Student Health and Counselling Service. This should be within seven days of the due date for the required work or the date of the examination. In the case of illness or injury, medical consultation should normally have taken place shortly before or within 24 hours after the due date for the required work, or the date of the test or examination. For further details on aegrotat applications, please refer to the Enrolment Handbook. You have the right to appeal any decision made, including aegrotat decisions.

Missing of Tests - In rare cases a student will not be able to sit a test. In such cases, the student should consult with the course co-ordinator to the Head of the Department of Geological Sciences to arrange alternative procedures. This must be done well in advance of the set date for the test.

Grade moderation

Reconsideration of Grades
Students should, in the first instance, speak to the course co-ordinator about their marks. If they cannot reach an agreeable solution, students should then speak to the Head of the Geological Sciences Department. Students can appeal any decision made on their final grade. You can apply at the Registry to appeal the final grade within 4 weeks of the end of the semester. Be aware that there are time limits for each step of the appeals process.

Aegrotat Applications
If you feel that illness, injury, bereavement or other critical circumstances has prevented you from completing an item of assessment or affected your performance, you should complete an aegrotat application form, available from the Registry or the Student Health and Counselling Service. This should be within seven days of the due date for the required work or the date of the examination. In the case of illness or injury, medical consultation should normally have taken place shortly before or within 24 hours after the due date for the required work, or the date of the test or examination. For further details on aegrotat applications, please refer to the Enrolment Handbook. You have the right to appeal any decision made, including aegrotat decisions.

Missing of Tests
In rare cases a student will not be able to sit a test. In such cases, the student should consult with the course co-ordinator to the Head of the Department of Geological Sciences to arrange alternative procedures. This must be done well in advance of the set date for the test.

Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities should speak with someone at Disability Resource Service. Their office is on Level 1 at the east end of the James Hight Library. Phone: 364 2350 (or ext. 6350), email: disabilities@canterbury.ac.nz.

Late submission of work

It is the policy for this course that late work is not accepted. Or, late work should be accompanied with a detailed explanation of why the work is late. The work will be marked and marks will be subtracted for each day the work is late. Days late include week-end and holidays.

Notes

Academic Liaison - Catherine Reid (Room 326, Email: catherine.reid@canterbury.ac.nz phone (03) 364 2987 ext 7764) is in charge of liaison with students in geology courses. Each year level will appoint a student representative(s) to the liaison committee at the start of the semester. Please feel free to talk to the Academic Liaison or the student rep about any problems or concerns that you might have.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $650.00

International fee $3,000.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Geological Sciences .

All GEOL111 Occurrences

  • GEOL111-10S1 (C) Semester One 2010