WESTERN WYOMING COMMUNITY COLLEGE

STAR VALLEY OUTREACH

Fall 2010 Syllabus

Course Name: Physical Geology

Course Number: GEOL 1100

Credits: 4

Instructor: Mark Nethercott

Required Textbook: Physical Geology Earth Revealed, McGeary and Plummer, Wm. C
Brown Publishing.

Outside Reading: To be announced

Prerequisites for Admission: 3.25 High School GPA (if taken as concurrent enrollment)

Transferability: Generally, this course will transfer to most institutions. If other than the
University of Wyoming, the student is responsible for contacting the school. You are
encouraged to keep this outline for easier transferability. Acceptance of this course for elective
or equivalent course at another institution is the decision of that institution. This course is
specifically designed for WWCC.

Course Description: Designed to acquaint the student with earth materials and processes
including formation of minerals, rocks, mountains, glaciers, and various landscapes, as well as
erosional problems, plate tectonics, and earthquakes. Laboratory includes rock and mineral
identification, map use and interpretation.

Course Objectives: After this course students will be able to identify common rock forming
and economic minerals as well as common sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks.
Students will be able to explain processes involved in rock and mineral formation, weathering,
erosion, oceans and shorelines, Earth’s interior and plate tectonics, volcanoes, mountain
building, geologic hazards, glaciation, groundwater, and deserts. Students will be able to
identify in photos, on maps, and in the field, geologic surface features created by the above
mentioned processes.

WWCC Goals for Student Success (Assessment Goals): Western Wyoming Community
College has identified five major goals for student success: 1)communicate competently,
2)retrieve information, 3)see issues from multiple perspectives, 4)solve problems, 5)develop life
skills.

Methods of Instruction: Lecture, labs, and field trip(s)--weather

permitting.
Methods of Evaluation: Your grade is made up as follows:
Lab 25% Rocks, minerals, maps, and field work.
Quizzes 25% Covers previous lecture’s notes
6 “1-hour” exams 50% Definitions, fill in the blanks, short
answers, essays, multiple choice, sketches,
diagrams.

Attendance: You are here because you want to be. If you can’t make a class, get the
notes or tape recording from someone in the class. If you miss a lab or field trip, however, I
can’t help you make it up. Try desperately not to miss a labs and field trips. I do not grade on
attendance or on verbal participation. However, if you miss class, keep in mind you miss a quiz,
notes, and/or lab.
Grading: I use the following grade break down:
A = 90.0% to 100%
B = 80.0% to 89.99999%
C = 70.0% to 79.99999%
D = 60.0% to 69.99999%
F = Below 60.0%

Major Units of Study: See next page.

Changes to the Syllabus: The above procedures and following schedule are subject to change
in the event of extenuating circumstances. Dates and chapters of study on the outline are
approximations.
Students With Special Needs: “Disabled students who have special needs for this course must
inform the instructor and provide documentation to the Outreach office before any of these needs
can be met.”