Course Syllabus

Course Earthquakes
q and Volcanos ISNS 3359.102
Professor Dr Randy Griffin
Dr.
Term
T Spring
S i 2009
Meetings M & W 1:00 - 2:15

Professor'ss Contact Information

Professor
Office Phone 972-883-2430
Other Phone
Offi L
Office Location
i FA 2.404
Email Address griffin@utdallas.edu
Office Hours Tuesday 5:30 - 6:30, or by appointment
Other Information

General Course Information

Pre-requisites,
Pre requisites, Co
Co-requisites
requisites None
Other Restrictions None

This course provides a description of relevant natural phenomena, observation methods,

Course Description quantification measures,
measures causes,
causes models,
models theories,
theories hazards,
hazards prediction,
prediction and other aspects
impacting the world’s cultures.
cultures

The main ggoals of this class are to increase awareness and develop p an appreciation
pp of the
role of earthquakes and volcanoes in our lives, provide a framework and explanation of
these natural phenomena, and basic information to assist the student in making well
well-
L
Learning
i Outcomes
O t
informed, safe, and wise life-decisions. In addition, students will gain an understanding of
the methods and processes used by the scientific community to quantify risks and attempt
to mitigate those risks.
risks

Required Texts & Materials Extensive use of web resources

Suggested Texts,
Texts Readings &
Natural Disasters by Patrick Abbott, any edition 44-66 is OK
Materials

Assignments & Academic Calendar

Month Date(s) Topic Assignment,
Topic, Assignment Due Date(s),
Date(s) Exam Date(s)
January 12 General Information and Introduction,
Introduction Ch 1
14 M
Matter, earth
h and
d sources off energy, Ch 2
19 MLK Day, y, University
y Closed
21 Journal and Paper assignment discussion, Library and Web resources
26 Plate Tectonics,
Tectonics Ch 3
28 Pl t T
Plate Tectonics,
t i Ch 3
February
y 2 Faults and Seismic Waves, Ch 4
4 Locating Eqs, Magnitude and Intensity
9 Tsunami
11 Historic Eqs,
Eqs Ch 5 & 6
16 Hi t i Eqs-Selection
Historic E S l ti off P Paper TTopic
i D
Due
18 Review for Exam 1
23 Magma, Lava and Plate Tectonics, Ch 7, 8
25 Magma Lava and Plate Tectonics,
Magma, Tectonics Ch 7, 7 8
March 2 Exam 1: First Journal Set Due-Earthquakes
Due Earthquakes
4 Researchh Methods
h d
9 Eruptions: products, types, explosivity scales
11 Calderas, MORB and Hotspots
23 Controversary in the Community: No Plumes? Ignoring the Scientific Method?

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 Course Syllabus

25 Historic Eruptions
30 Historic Eruptions
April 1 Review for Exam 2
6 E
Extraterrestrial
i l volcanism
l i and d IImpacts, Ch 16
8 Exam 2: Second Journal Set Due-Volcanos
13 Seafloor Volcanism, life and metals
15 Mass Extinctions,
Extinctions Ch 15
20 Texas Tectonics
22 Intraplate
l Volcanism
l i
27 TBA
29 Volcanos of the US National Park system
May 4 Review for Final Exam: Original Paper Due
6 R di D
Reading Day, no class
l
8 Final Exam 11:00 AM FRIDAY

Grading (credit) Criteria Exam 1: 16.7%

16 7%
E
Exam 22: 16
16.7%
7%
Final Exam: 16.7%
Journal 1: 12.5%
Journal 2: 12.5%
12 5%
O i i lP
Original Paper: 25%

Will arrange if given prior notice, or Doctors excuse documents inability to attend
Make up Exams
Make-up
class.

5 pop quizzes on random dates,

dates value of up to 10% total for the final grade.
grade No Makeup,
Makeup
Extra Credit
WILL be
b GGraded
d d

Not accepted unless prior arrangments have been made with instructor
instructor-no
no
Late Work
exceptions

Special Assignments

Class Attendance Strongly

g y encouraged
g

Field Trip Policies No Field Trips

The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at Dallas have rules and
regulations for the orderly and efficient conduct of their business.
business It is the responsibility
off each
h student
t d t and d eachh student
t d t organization
i ti tto bbe kknowledgeable
l d bl about b t th
the rules
l andd
regulations
l i which
hi h govern student
d conductd and d activities.
i ii Generall iinformation
f i on student
d
conduct and discipline
p is contained in the UTD ppublication,, A to Z Guide , which is
pprovided
ov ded to aall registered
eg ste ed stude
students
ts eac
each acade
academicc yea
year..

Modified: 2/16/2009 Page 2

 Course Syllabus

The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the procedures of
recognized and established due process.
process Procedures are defined and described in the
Rules and Regulations,
Regulations Board of Regents,
Regents The University of Texas System,
System Part 1,
1
Student Conduct & Discipline Chapter VI,
VI Section 3 , and in Title V,V Rules on Student Services and Activities of the
university’s
ni ersit ’s Handbook
H db k off Operating
O ti Procedures
P d . Copies of these rules
r les and regulations
reg lations
are available
il bl tto students
t d t iin th
the Offi
Office off th
the DDean off St
Students,
d t where
h stafft ff members
b are
available
il bl to assist
i students
d iin iinterpreting
i the h rules
l and d regulations
l i ((SU 1.602, 972/883-
/
6391).)

A student at the universityy neither loses the rights

g nor escapes p the responsibilities
p of
citizenship.
p He or she is expected
p to obeyy federal,, state,, and local laws as well as the
Regents’ Rules, university regulations, and administrative rules. Students are subject to
Regents
discipline for violating the standards of conduct whether such conduct takes place on or
off campus, or whether civil or criminal penalties are also imposed for such conduct.

The faculty
y expects
p from its students a highg level of responsibility
p y and academic honesty.
y
Because the value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute integrity of the work
done by the student for that degree, it is imperative that a student demonstrate a high
standard of individual honor in his or her scholastic work.

Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts or omissions related
to applications for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission as one
one’ss
own work or material that is not one
one’ss own.
own As a general rule,
rule scholastic dishonesty
Academic Integrity
involves one of the following acts: cheating,
cheating plagiarism,
plagiarism collusion and/or falsifying
academic records.
records Students suspected of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary
proceedings.
di

Plagiarism, especially from the web,

Plagiarism web from portions of papers for other classes,
classes and from
an other source
any so rce is unacceptable
nacceptable and willill be dealt with
ith under
nder the university’s
ni ersit ’s policy
polic on
plagiarism
l i i ((see generall catalog
t l ffor ddetails).
t il ) Thi
This course will
ill use th
the resources off
turnitin.com,
ii which
hi h searches
h theh web b ffor possible
ibl plagiarism
l i i and d iis over 90% effective.
ff i

The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of communication
between faculty/staff and students through electronic mail. At the same time, email raises
some issues concerning security and the identity of each individual in an email exchange.
exchange
The university encourages all official student email correspondence be sent only to a
student’s U.T.
U T Dallas email address and that faculty and staff consider email from
E il U
Email Use students
t d t official
ffi i l only
l if it originates
i i t ffrom a UTD student
t d t account. t Thi
This allows
ll th
the
university
i i to maintain
i i a hi high
h ddegree off confidence
fid iin the
h id
identity
i off all
ll iindividual
di id l
corresponding
p g and the securityy of the transmitted information. UTD furnishes each
student with a free email account that is to be used in all communication with university y
personnel. The Department of Information Resources at U.T. Dallas provides a method
for students to have their U.T. Dallas mail forwarded to other accounts.

The administration of this institution has set deadlines for withdrawal of any college-level
college level
courses. These
Th ddates
t and d ti
times are published
bli h d iin th
thatt semester's
t ' course catalog.
t l
Ad i i
Administration
i procedures
d must bbe ffollowed.
ll d IIt iis the
h student's
d ' responsibility
ibili to hhandle
dl
Withdrawal from Class
withdrawal requirements
q from any y class. In other words,, I cannot drop p or withdraw any y
student. You must do the pproper
p ppaperwork
p to ensure that yyou will not receive a final
grade of "F"
F in a course if you choose not to attend the class once you are enrolled

Modified: 2/16/2009 Page 3

 Course Syllabus

Procedures
P d ffor student
t d t grievances
i are ffound
d iin Titl
Title V
V, R
Rules
l on St
Student
d tSServices
i and
d
A i i i off the
Activities, h university’s
i i ’ Handbook
H db k off Operating
O i P Procedures
d .

In attempting
p g to resolve any y student ggrievance regarding
g g ggrades,, evaluations,, or other
fulfillments of academic responsibility,
p y, it is the obligation
g of the student first to make a
serious effort to resolve the matter with the instructor, supervisor, administrator, or
committee with whom the grievance originates (hereafter called “the the respondent
respondent”).).
Individual faculty members retain primary responsibility for assigning grades and
evaluations If the matter cannot be resolved at that level,
evaluations. level the grievance must be
Student Grievance Procedures submitted in writing to the respondent with a copy of the respondent’s School Dean. Dean If
the matter is not resolved by the written response provided by the respondent, respondent the student
may submit
b it a written
itt appeall tto th
the S
School
h lD Dean. If ththe grievance
i iis nott resolved
l d bby th
the
S h l Dean’s
School ’ ddecision,
ii the
h student
d may make k a written
i appeall to the h Dean off G Graduate
d
or Undergraduate
g Education,, and the deal will appoint
pp and convene an Academic Appeals pp
Panel.
e . Thee dec
decision
s o oof thee Academic
c de c Appeals
ppe s Panel e iss final.. Thee results
esu s oof thee academic
c de c
appeals process will be distributed to all involved parties.

Copies
C i off these
th rules
l andd regulations
l ti are available
il bl tto students
t d t iin th the Offi
Office off th
the D
Dean off
S d
Students, where
h staffff members
b are available
il bl to assist
i students
d iin iinterpreting
i theh rules
l andd
regulations
g

As per
p university y ppolicy,
y, incomplete
p ggrades will be ggranted only
y for work unavoidably
y
missed at the semester
semester’ss end and only if 70% of the course work has been completed. An
incomplete grade must be resolved within eight (8) weeks from the first day of the
I
Incomplete
l t GGrades
d
subsequent long semester. If the required work to complete the course and to remove the
incomplete grade is not submitted by the specified deadline,
deadline the incomplete grade is
changed automatically to a grade of F.
F

The goal of Disability Services is to provide students with disabilities educational

opportunities
t iti equall tto th
those off th
their
i non-disabled
di bl d peers. Di Disability
bilit S
Services
i iis llocated
t d iin
room 1.610 iin the
h Student
d Union. i Office
ffi hhours are Monday d and d Thursday,
h d 8:30 a.m. to
6:30 pp.m.;; Tuesdayy and Wednesday, y, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 pp.m.;; and Friday,
y, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30
p. .
p.m.
The contact information for the Office of Disability Services is:
The University of Texas at Dallas,
Dallas SU 22
PO Box
B 830688
Richardson,, Texas 75083-0688
(972) 883
883-2098
2098 (voice or TTY)

Essentially, the law requires that colleges and universities make those reasonable
Disability Services adjustments necessary to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability. For example,
it may be necessary to remove classroom prohibitions against tape recorders or animals
(in the case of dog guides) for students who are blind.
blind Occasionally an assignment
requirement may be substituted (for example,
example a research paper versus an oral presentation
for a student who is hearing impaired).
impaired) Classes enrolled students with mobility
i
impairments
i t may hhave tto bbe rescheduled
h d l d iin accessible
ibl ffacilities.
iliti Th
The college
ll or university
i it
may need d to provide
id special
i l services
i such
h as registration,
i i note-taking,
ki or mobility
bili
assistance.

Modified: 2/16/2009 Page 4

 Course Syllabus

It is the student
student’ss responsibility to notify his or her professors of the need for such an
accommodation. Disability Services provides students with letters to present to faculty
members to verify that the student has a disability and needs accommodations.
accommodations
Individuals requiring special accommodation should contact the professor after class or
during office hours.
hours

The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class or other required
activities for the travel to and observance of a religious holy day for a religion whose
places of worship are exempt from property tax under Section 11.20, Tax Code, Texas
Code Annotated.
Annotated

The student is encouraged

g to notify y the instructor or activity
y sponsor
p as soon as ppossible
regarding the absence, preferably in advance of the assignment. The student, so excused,
will be allowed to take the exam or complete the assignment within a reasonable time
after the absence: a period equal to the length of the absence, up to a maximum of one
week A student who notifies the instructor and completes any missed exam or
week.
Religious Holy Days assignment may not be penalized for the absence.
absence A student who fails to complete the
exam or assignment within the prescribed period may receive a failing grade for that
exam or assignment.
i t

If a student or an instructor disagrees about the nature of the absence [i.e., for the purpose
of observing a religious holy day] or if there is similar disagreement about whether the
student has been given a reasonable time to complete any missed assignments or
examinations either the student or the instructor may request a ruling from the chief
examinations,
e ec ti e officer of the institution,
executive instit tion or his or her designee.
designee The chief executive
e ec ti e officer or
d i
designee mustt take
t k into
i t accountt the
th legislative
l i l ti intent
i t t off TEC 51.911(b),
51 911(b) andd the
th student
t d t
andd iinstructor will
ill abide
bid bby the
h ddecision
i i off the
h chief
hi f executive
i officer
ffi or ddesignee.
i

Off-campus,
p , out-of-state,, and foreign
g instruction and activities are subject
j to state law and
University
y ppolicies and pprocedures regarding
g g travel and risk-related activities.
Off Campus Instruction and Course
Off-Campus
Information regarding these rules and regulations may be found at the website
Activities
http://www.utdallas.edu/BusinessAffairs/Travel Risk Activities.htm. Additional
http://www.utdallas.edu/BusinessAffairs/Travel_Risk_Activities.htm.
information is available from the office of the school dean.
dean

These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the Professor

Modified: 2/16/2009 Page 5