Course Syllabus

SIO 12_syllabus_2022 9_26_23.docx

Earth History and Evolution SIO 12

Fall-2023

MWF 12:00-12:50

Center Hall 105                                           

 

Instructors:

Cheryl L. Peach (she/her)

Tel: (858) 822-5323

cpeach@ucsd.edu

Office Hours: Tuesday 1:00-2:00PM or by appointment

 

 

Teaching Assistants:

Catherine Mullenmeister

cmullenm@ucsd.edu

Natalia Erazo

nerazo@ucsd.edu

 

Texts:

Required text:  None.  Exams will be based on lecture material and weekly assigned readings, videos, websites and homework assignments. Required reading, etc. will be assigned throughout the quarter and either posted on Canvas or made accessible from publicly available online resources.

Website: https://canvas.ucsd.edu/

 

Who should take this course? The course is designed as an introductory course for non-majors. The course will describe how and why we have come to our current understanding of the Earth and organisms that inhabit it. We’ll expect you to be able to understand and communicate the logical underpinnings of the major paradigms in Earth Sciences today including: plate tectonics, geologic time, evolution of life, and global environmental change.

There are 2 basic components to this course:

• Physical and evolutionary processes – the origin and composition of Earth and the principle processes that have shaped the Earth, and life on Earth, from 4.6 billion years ago to the present day.
• Earth History– the origin and evolutionary history of life on Earth, including evolutionary processes and mass extinctions, within the context of major geologic and climatic developments.

Course requirements, exams and grading:  You are required to attend all class meetings. If you need to miss a class you must view the recorded podcasts of class lectures. Exams will cover material presented in lecture and assigned readings/web resources.  You will not be able to succeed in this class if you don't attend/watch class meetings.

 

Grading Scale:

Your grade in the class will be determined by the following:
             Exam #1:                                            20%

             Exam #2:                                            20%
             Exam #3 (Final):                                20%
             Homework Assignments (4):           40%

Exams and Assignments:

All exams and assignments will be administered on Canvas. Exams are not timed and can be taken anytime during the period that starts at class time (12 PM) and the due date (2 class periods after the exam is posted). Exam III will work the same way, but will be posted shortly after the last day of class and due the last day of exams (Dec. 11).  You are required to work independently but can use class materials during the exam.  Homework assignments are due by midnight on the due date.  Late assignments will be accepted but reduced by 1 letter grade per class period overdue. 

______________________________________________________________________________________________

COURSE OUTLINE

Week 0
09/29	F	1 – Class orientation: Earth systems
Week 1
10/2	M	2 – Earth’s place in the universe
10/04-	W	3 – Formation of Earth
10/06	F	4 – Earth’s layers and magnetic field
Week 2
10/9	M	5 – How continents move and mountains grow Homework #1 Posted
10/11	W	6 – Plate tectonics, super continents and the rock cycle
10/13	F	7 –  The rock record of geologic time: Grand Canyon!
Week 3
10/16	M	8 – Making the fossil record
10/18	W	9 – Clocks in rocks: Telling geologic time Homework #1 Due 11:59 PM
10/20	F	Exam I (Lectures 1-9) Due 10/25 11:59 PM
Week 4
10/23	M	10 – Evolution on a geologic time scale (millions to billions of years)
10/25	W	11 – Evolution and family trees Exam I Due 11:59 PM
10/27 Add/Drop  Deadline	F	12 – The first 4 billion years: Overview Homework #2 Posted
Week 5
10/30	M	13 – The first 4 billion years: The story of oxygen
11/01	W	14 – The first 4 billion years: Complex life
11/03	F	15 – History of biodiversity
Week 6
11/06	M	16 – Paleozoic: The explosion of life!
11/08	W	17 – Paleozoic: From backbones to four limbs
11/10	F	Holiday – Veteran’s Day No Class
Week 7
11/13	M	18 – Paleozoic:  The giants before the dinosaurs
11/15	W	19 – Paleozoic: The biggest mass extinction of all
11/17	F	Exam II (Lectures 10-18) Due 11/22 11:59 PM Homework #2 Due 11:59 PM
Week 8
11/20	M	20 –Mesozoic: Recovery and evolutionary reset
11/22	W	21 – Mesozoic: Age of “Reptiles” (Recorded Online Lecture; No in person class) Exam II Due 11:59 PM Homework #3 Posted
11/24	F	Thanksgiving Holiday – No Class
Week 9
11/27	M	22 – Mesozoic: Mammals in the shadows
11/29	W	23 – Mesozoic: Mass extinction
12/01	F	24 – Cenozoic: Mammals emerge Homework #3 Due 11:59 PM
Week 10
12/04	M	25 – Cenozoic: The story of mammals Homework #4 Posted
12/06	W	26 – Cenozoic: From primates to humans
12/08	F	27 – Humans as agents of change Homework #4 Due 11:59 PM
Finals Week	M	Mon. 12/11 Final Exam posted (Lectures 19-27)
12/11-12/15	S	Sat. 12/16 Exam III (Final Due Date) 11:59 PM