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GY 112: Earth History
(4 hours lecture; 0 hours lab)
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My how the world changes!These images are paleogeographic constructions of the Earth at several important times in its past.
All images from the Paleomap Project and C. Scotese. |
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Information Station:
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WHAT IS GEOLOGY?
Put simply, geology is the study of the Earth and geologists study the Earth. Lots of disciplines claim to do this (including, biologists and geographers), but only geologists study everything, about our planet - inside and out. Geologists study rocks and minerals and the chemical processes that form them. Geologists hunt for valuable resources like precious metals (gold, platinum, silver etc.), gems (diamonds, rubies etc.), base metals (copper, tin, lead), rare earth elements, oil, natural gas and even water. Geologists study volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, and strive to develop means to protect people from them. Geologists study the sand on the beach, the ice comprising glaciers, the water flowing in rivers as well as the water below our feet. Geologists even study extraterrestrial objects like planets, planetoids and asteroids.
Right now, one of the most topical subjects that geologists are studying is "global warming" and climatic change. Because geologists understand the past, they are the most qualified discipline to assess any future ramifications of our changing climate.
So all in all, geologists are one of the most employable groups of individuals on the planet today, and at the present time, there is a severe shortage of geologists. If you are interested in a rewarding, profitable and mentally-stimulating career, consider geology. If you want more information about Geology at USA, contact one of the Geology Faculty.
GY 112 COURSE OVERVIEW
In the humble opinion of at least one of the geology instructors at USA, GY 112 is the most important course that you will ever take at university, regardless of your major. Oh, we can hear the moans now, "I'm a business major. What good is a geology course to me?" The answer, dear student, is simple. GY 112 is about the history of the Earth. From it's beginnings 4,600,000,000 years ago, to its end 4,000,000,000 into the future. In order to predict the future, you need to know what's happened in the past. Right now, with our concerns rightly focused on natural disasters (earthquakes, volcanos, asteroid impacts etc.), potential climate change, and a host of other concerns, policies are being made that will affect us all, frequently in the pocketbook (e.g., CO2 emision standards will increase the price of a lot of products). Unfortunately, many of these policies are based upon incomplete or inconclusive data and usually without any consideration of what happened in the past. GY 112 considers the past and will allow you, the educated consumer, the opportunity to make informed decisions about future events (e.g., global warming, environmental risk even the survial of the human species). By the way, no matter how hot things get in the future due to global warming, it's unlikely to rival the steamy conditions of the Mesozoic when palm trees grew in Antarctic and sea level was 300 feet higher than it is today. A lot of "scientists" seem to forget this when they are predicting "unprecidented" climate change. They should ALL take GY 112.
So what are the topics that we cover in GY 112? They include:
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the origin of the solar system
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the origin of the Earth/Moon
- the origin of the Earth's crust
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the evolution of the Earth's atmosphere and hydrosphere
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the evolution and diversification of life
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geological time
- how geologists date rocks and fossils
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Proterozoic fossils (e.g., stromatolites)
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climate change
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the snowball earth
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the Cambrian explosion
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origin of major animal groups
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dinosaurs
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major extinctions
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the geological history of North America
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the geological history of Alabama
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the geological history of Mobile and Mobile Bay
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Ice ages and Greenhouse Earths (there have been many cycles of each)
WHY TAKE GY 112?
Most USA students require a two or three class sequence of science courses with labs. Your choices include BLY 101/102, BLY 121/122, CH 131/132, GEO 101/102, PH 114/115 and a few others. If you need a specific lab sequence (e.g., many students require CH 131 and 132 for their major), take it. If, however, your degree allows any lab science sequence, consider the benefits of GY 112 and the companion course GY 111 (Physical Geology). Both are quality science classes that might better suit your personal interests and academic schedule. Consider these advantages with our GY 111/GY 112 classes:
- no placement exams (we teach you what you need to know from the ground up)
- small classes (typical class size are 30 or fewer students; teachers get to know you by name)
- excellent teacher-student ratios in labs (1 teacher + 1 qualified TA in each lab of 30)
- patient and enthusiastic Geology faculty
- award winning faculty (GY 112 instructors were awarded Arts and Sciences Teaching Awards in 2005 and 2007)
- diversified and varied assessment means in most classes
- varied class offerings in each semester including Baldwin County
- field trip opportunities (national and international)
and in case we haven't stressed it enough;
- interesting, relevant material (including dinosaurs, mass extinctions and climate change.)
THE TEACHERS
For the 2007-2008 academic year, GY 112 is offered by the following faculty during the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters (Sat - Saturday class; BC - Baldwin County class):
Interested in what students think of the GY 112 instructors? Then visit these internet evaluation sites:
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FAQ
Q. Why is the GY 112 lab worth 0 credit hours? Do I have to take it with GY 112?
A. Yes. You need to enroll in a GY 112 lecture and a GY 112L lab in the same semester. In GY 112, the lab and the lectures are tied together. Collectively, GY 112 is a 4 hour course, but instead of making the lab worth 1 credit hour (like in GY 111/111L), we opted to combine them into a single 4 hour course.
Q. Does GY 112 get into the evolution of life? I'm not sure if I believe in evolution.
A. GY 112 deals with the origin of the Earth and everything on it, so yes, evolution is an important consideration in the class. GY 112 is also a science course which means that the instructors examine the origins of life according to scientific principles. All of the Geology instructors are sensitive to individual's personal beliefs and do not challenge any of them. They don't have too. Most students understand that in a science class, scientific concepts are discussed and that when the need arises (e.g., when answering questions on exams and in assignments), that they are to provide the answer(s) that science suggests. As a general rule, questions are phrased in a manner that is non-debatable; e.g., "What is the currently accepted scientific explanation for the extinction of the dinosaurs?" You don't have to personally agree with the "currently accepted scientific explanation", just understand what it is and why scientists accept it.
Q. Do we have to look at fossils in in the lab?
A. Yes. Lots of them. But don't panic... they are pretty cool looking things and you don't really have to memorize a lot of scientific names. Truth be told, most paleontologists (geologists that study fossils) don't know all the names to the fossils either. By the way, some of the fossils that you will see in the lab went extinct hundreds of millions of years ago. They now provide clues about past environments and climates.
Q. Do we have to look at rocks in in the lab?
A. Yes, but we tend to stress the sedimentary rocks over igneous and metamorphic rocks. That's because sedimentary rocks contain a lot more information about paleoenvironments and paleoclimates.
Q. How old is the Earth? How do we know?
A. The best estimate of the age of the Earth is 4.6 billion years. This date has been well established through a number of radiometric dating techniques. It's one of the subjects that we will discuss in GY 112.
Q. Do GY 112 classes have attendance policies?
A. Just about all sections do and the reason why is simple: students who attend classes do better than those who don't. You can't get all of the important information required for GY 112 just from reading a textbook. All of the instructors are practicing geologists which means that they have personal insight about geological topics that books can never equal. Ultimately, we want you to do as well as possible here at USA (particularly in GY 112), so we stress attendance in our classes. By the way, most instructors in other disciplines feel the same way.
Q. What are the lectures like?
A. Most faculty that teach GY 112 use a combination of PowerPoint lectures and standard "chalkboard" lectures with a splattering of other media presentations (e.g., videos), but it does vary from instructor to instructor. Contact the instructor you are interested in to discuss their particular style or read the student comments at one of the many web evaluation sites.
Q. Are the tests hard?
A. Some students would say YES!, but a surprising number (those that actually study?), say no. Overall most students agree that our tests are fair.
Q. Is there a curve?
A. Do you mean are the grades "adjusted" to fit a normal curve? Most instructors do not do this because they do not have to. See Dr. Haywick's GY 112 website for his grade distribution over the past several years. His data are pretty typical for GY 112 classes.
Q. Will GY 112 count toward my major/minor?
A. Several majors require GY 111 and/or GY 112, but even if yours doesn't, both GY classes count as lab science classes for the State General Education requirements. GY 111 and 112 are both required for a minor in geology. The minor requires 12 hours of GY classes after GY 111 and GY 112 (3 or 4 additional classes)
Q. What is the workload like?
A. It's reasonable. You are strongly advised to keep up with any reading assigned and to do assignments as soon as possible (typical advice from any instructor in any class). The most common workload issue is falling behind in lab material. In order to identify rocks and fossils, you need to use your lab time effectively and to do additional lab study when necessary. Problems arise when students leave the lab early, or "goof" off in the lab and fail to get through all the rocks and minerals before lab tests. Cramming for a test the night before is not the best study mechanism
Q. Is there a required text book for GY 112. Is there a required lab manual for GY 112L?
A.Contact your instructor to see if they require a text for GY 112. There is a lab manual for GY 112L that you can download free of charge chapter by chapter.
Q. Where can I get student evaluations for this class?
A. Ask around. Your fellow students usually provide honest opinions about the classes they have taken. Otherwise, visit the popular web evaluation sites.
Q. Are there SI or review sessions for exams in GY 112?
A. Yes. Qualified student TAs and instructors regularly schedule review sessions prior to lab exams. Some instructors also dedicate lecture slots for review sessions prior to midterm and final exams.
Q. Are tutors available to help with GY 112?
A. Yes. Qualified geology majors can help you for a reasonable fee.
Q. If I do well in the lectures but not in the lab, can I repeat just the lab class in a subsequent semester?
A. Not at this time. The lab is a component of GY 112 and cannot be done separately.
Q. Where can I get answers to other questions?
A. E-mail a geologist!
Answer my questions please!
This page is
maintained by Dr. D. Haywick. Please feel free to email
him if you have any questions concerning it.
url: http://www.usouthal.edu/geology/GY112.htm |
What is geology? 
Dr. Doug Haywick 
University of South Alabama