1/15/2025 12:37:25 AM	GEOL 11 Course Outline as of Fall 2008	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  GEOL 11	Title:  GEOLOGY OF CALIFORNIA
Full Title:  Geology of California
Last Reviewed:4/10/2023

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

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

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: 

Catalog Description:

Introduction to the geologic principles and processes that formed and continue to influence California's geologic and tectonic environment. Overview of the origin and interpretation of rocks, minerals and fossils, volcanoes, earthquakes, plate tectonics, and the geologic history of California.  

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

Introduction to the geologic principles and processes that formed and continue to influence California's geologic and tectonic environment.  

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100
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 1981	Inactive:
Area:	C	Natural Sciences
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	B1	Physical Science		Fall 2007
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	5A	Physical Sciences		Fall 2007
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
C-ID:
CID Descriptor: GEOL 200	Geology of California	SRJC Equivalent Course(s): GEOL11

Certificate/Major Applicable: Major Applicable Course

COURSE CONTENT

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

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Define the nature of geology as a science.

2. Utilize Plate Tectonic Theory to summarize the relationships among the rock cycle, tectonic setting, volcanism and earthquake activity, and provide examples illustrating these relationships.  

3. Describe the lithologies and formation of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.

4. Use classification charts to identify major rock types and sub-types.

5. Classify and illustrate several types of volcanic features and locate volcanic features within California.

6. Explain the causes, effects, and measurement scales of earthquakes.

7. Summarize the history of the San Andreas Fault system.

8. Evaluate geologic hazards and their effect on humans.

9. Reconstruct the geologic evolution of California in relation to the geologic time scale.

10. Describe surface processes and identify the features associated with each process; give specific examples of locations in California exhibiting these landforms.

11. Give examples of geological resources currently tapped in California, identify their location, geological formation, and interpret future resource exploration opportunities in California. (optional)  

Topics and Scope

1. Introduction

  A. Scientific Method

  B. Plate Tectonic Theory

  C. Structure of the Earth

  D. Geomorphic provinces of California

2. Earth Materials

  A. Minerals and rocks

  B. The rock cycle and formation of rocks

  C. Igneous Rocks

     i. Processes, textures, and mineralogy

     ii. Classification

     iii. The Sierra Nevada and plutonic rocks in California

     iv. Volcanoes, volcanic processes and hazards in California

  D. Sedimentary Rocks

     i. Weathering and erosion

     ii. Processes, textures, and compositions

     iii. Classification

     iv. The Great Valley Sequence and sedimentary rocks in California

  E. Metamorphic Rocks

     i. Processes, textures, and mineralogy

     ii. Classification

     iii. The Coast Range and metamorphic rocks in California

3. Faults

  A. Fault types

  B. Plate movements and Plate Tectonic Theory

  C. San Andreas Fault system

4. Earthquakes

  A. Elastic Rebound Theory

  B. Seismic waves

  C. Intensity and magnitude measurement scales

  D. Seismic data interpretation for earthquake forecasting and

     hazards/risk assessment

  E. Epicentral location

  F. Historically significant earthquakes in California

5. Geologic Time

  A. Relative vs. absolute dating methods

  B. Development of the geologic time scale

  C. Paleontology and dating using fossils

  D. Introduction to common fossils of California

6. Geologic evolution and formation of California

  A. Precambrian history

     i. Precambrian rock units and fossils in California

     ii. Changing continental margin

  B. Paleozoic history

     i. Paleozoic rock units and fossils in California

     ii. Changing continental margin

  C. Mesozoic history

     i. Mesozoic rock units and fossils in California

     ii. Orogenic events

     iii. California's major growth spurt

  D. Cenozoic history

     i. Cenozoic rock units and fossils in California

     ii. Tectonic evolution of the western margin of the North American

         plate

     iii. Formation of the San Andreas Fault system

7. Optional topics include:

  A. Surface Processes and landforms

     i. Coastal processes and California's coastline

     ii. Glacial processes and the glacial history and features of

         California

     iii. Desert processes and desert landforms in California

  B. Geologic Resources located in California

     i. Water

        a. Water rights

        b. Groundwater

        c. Surface water

     ii. Rocks and minerals

     iii. Petroleum

     iv. Geothermal  

Assignments:

1. In-class activities, in which participation is mandatory. Examples of

activities include discussions/debates on topics covered in lecture,

identification of minerals and/or rocks, assessing earthquake hazards for

a given area based on seismic data, and locating an earthquake epicenter.

2. Reading of text and/or instructor generated material as related to

topics covered.  Amount will vary depending upon topic, but will average

20-30 pages per week.

3. Quizzes based on reading and lecture material.  Quizzes will include a

combination of objective and written responses.

4. Two to five examinations based on reading and lecture material.  Exams

may be cumulative or unit exams, and will include a combination of

objective and written responses.

5. An original research paper (5-10 pages) and/or oral presentation

covering a topic relevant to California's geology or geologic history.

6. Homework assignments based on the topics covered.  Homework may include

written or problem solving exercises, and may cover map reading and

location of major geologic or geomorphic features of California,

identification of seismic hazards and features, and assessing earthquake

hazards for a given area based on seismic data.  

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%
Written homework, Term papers
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 5 - 10%
Homework problems, In-class 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 50 - 80%
Multiple choice, True/false, Matching items, Essay or short answer written responses
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 15%
Participation, oral presentation

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGY. Harden, Deborah R. Pearson Prentice Hall: 2004.

ROADSIDE GEOLOGY OF NORTHERN AND CENTRAL CALIFORNIA. Alt, David and

Hyndman, Donald. Mountain Press Publishing Company: 2000.

ESSENTIALS OF GEOLOGY. Lutgens, Frederick and Tarbuck, Edward. Pearson

Prentice Hall: 2006.

ESSENTIALS OF GEOLOGY. Wicander, Reed and Monroe, James. Thomson/Brooks

Cole: 2006.

ASSEMBLING CALIFORNIA. McPhee, John. The Noonday Press: 1995.

CADILLAC DESERT: THE AMERICAN WEST AND ITS DISAPPEARING WATER. Reisner,

Marc. Penguin Books Ltd.: 1993.

A DANGEROUS PLACE: CALIFORNIA'S UNSETTLING FATE. Reisner, Marc. Pantheon

Books: 2003.

Instructor Prepared Materials.  

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