12/3/2024 9:18:29 AM	PHSC 21 Course Outline as of Summer 2025	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  PHSC 21	Title:  EARTH SCIENCE
Full Title:  Introduction to Earth Science
Last Reviewed:3/9/2020

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	4.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	4.00	Lab Scheduled	3.00		6 min.	Lab Scheduled	52.50
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	6.00			Contact Total	105.00
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 210.00

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  PHYSC 21

Catalog Description:

A survey course providing an introduction to the Earth sciences, including geology, oceanography, meteorology, and astronomy. This course focuses on the interactions between various Earth systems such as plate tectonics, the hydrologic cycle, the rock cycle, weather and climate, and Earth's place in the universe. This course is primarily designed for those intending to pursue an elementary teacher education program.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

A survey course providing an introduction to the Earth sciences, including geology, oceanography, meteorology, and astronomy. This course focuses on the interactions between various Earth systems such as plate tectonics, the hydrologic cycle, the rock cycle, weather and climate, and Earth's place in the universe. This course is primarily designed for those intending to pursue an elementary teacher education program.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:	Fall 2014	Inactive:
Area:	C	Natural Sciences
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	B1	Physical Science		Fall 2014
	B3	Laboratory Activity
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	5A	Physical Sciences		Fall 2014
	5C	Fulfills Lab Requirement
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 2014	Inactive:
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 2014	Inactive:
C-ID:
CID Descriptor: GEOL 121	Earth Science with Lab	SRJC Equivalent Course(s): PHSC21

Certificate/Major Applicable: Major Applicable Course

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Apply scientific techniques to solve Earth science-related questions.

2. Examine how the interaction among Earth systems are observed and reflected in the world around them.

3. Differentiate among and classify common minerals and rocks.

4. Identify and characterize surface processes.

5. Interpret how the universe, particularly the Earth, changes over time.  

 

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1.   Define the nature of science and solve problems using the scientific method.

2.   Summarize the relationships among the rock cycle, plate tectonics, geologic structures,

      volcanism and earthquake activity.

3.   Differentiate rocks and minerals; identify and describe specific rocks and minerals.

4.   Quantify geologic time and analyze relative and radiometric data to interpret Earth's history.   

5.   Describe surface processes and identify associated landforms.

6.   Explain processes and identify features associated with oceans and shorelines.

7.   Explain and diagram Earth-Sun and Earth-Moon relationships.  

8.   Measure and interpret global weather and climate.  

9.   Compare and contrast physical properties of astronomical bodies.

10. Construct a Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram and summarize the processes that occur as stars

      evolve.

11. Summarize the fundamental concepts of cosmology.

12. Evaluate interactions between humans and Earth systems.

Topics and Scope

I. Introduction to Earth Science

    A. Earth science principles

     B. The scientific method

II. Earth Materials

    A. Minerals

    B.  Rocks and the rock cycle

    C. Soils

III. Earth's External Processes

    A. Weathering and erosion

    B. The hydrologic cycle

          1. Surface water

         2. Groundwater

    C. Glaciers

    D. Deserts

IV. Earth's Internal Forces

     A. Earth's internal structure

    B. The theory of plate tectonics

     C. Crustal deformation

     D. Earthquakes

     E.  Volcanic activity

V. Earth History

    A. Key principles of relative dating

    B. Fossils and fossilization

     C. Radiometric dating

    D. The geologic time scale

VI. Oceans

    A. Features of the ocean floor

    B. Ocean and shoreline processes

         1. Currents

         2. Shorelines

          3. Tides

VII. Weather and Climate

    A. Atmosphere

         1. Composition

          2. Vertical structure

         3. Ozone

     B. Earth-Sun Relationships

         1. Earth's motions

         2. Seasons

    C. Solar and Terrestrial Radiation       

          1. Electromagnetic radiation and our atmosphere

         2. Heat-transfer mechanisms

          3. Greenhouse effect

    D. Temperature

         1. Controlling factors

          2. Global patterns

     E.  Atmospheric pressure and wind

    F. Water and atmospheric moisture

     G. Weather systems

     H. Climate

          1. Climate change

         2. Climate zones

VIII. Earth's Place in the Universe

    A. Origins of modern astronomy

    B. The solar system

         1. The Earth and moon

         2. Other major planets

         3. The sun

         4. Small solar system bodies

    C. Stars and the Interstellar Medium

         1. Interstellar matter

         2. Classifying stars

         3. Stellar evolution

         4. Stellar remnants

         5. Galaxies and galactic clusters

         6. Cosmology

IX. Laboratory

     A. Scientific method

    B. Plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanoes

     C. Mineral and rock identification

     D. Geologic structures

    E. Groundwater and Subsidence

     F. Surface processes

     G. Geologic time and dating Earth materials

    H. Oceans

     I. Weather systems and atmospheric moisture

     J. Astronomy

Assignments:

Lecture-Related Assignments

1. Assigned readings (30-50 pages per week)

2. Homework (5-15)

3. Research papers (1-3)

 

Lecture- and Lab-Related Assignments

1. Exams (3-8); quiz(zes) (0-8)

 

Lab-Related Assignments

1. Laboratory activities (10-15)

2. Class participation

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 10 - 30%
Research papers, lab activities, written homework
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 20 - 50%
Homework problems, lab activities
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 25 - 50%
Quiz(zes) and exams
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 20%
Class participation

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Earth Science. 15th ed. Tarbuck, Edward and Lutgens, Federick and Tasa, Dennis. Pearson. 2018

Foundations of Earth Science. 8th ed. Lutgens, Federick and Tarbuck, Edward and Tasa, Dennis. Pearson. 2017

The Good Earth: Introduction to Earth Science. 4th ed. McConnell, David and Steer, David. McGraw Hill. 2018

Applications and Investigations in Earth Science. 9th ed. Tarbuck, Edward and Lutgens, Federick and Tasa, Dennis. Pearson. 2018

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