Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Natural Hazards (Face-to-Face)

GEO 1030-01

Course: GEO 1030-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Geosciences
CRN: 30844

Course Description

This general education course for non-science majors focuses on the basic principles of geology in the context of ongoing natural hazards, and recent natural disasters.  We will examine the processes that create earthquakes, volcanoes, and climate/weather - related phenomena.  The science objectives of this course are to understand how Earth Science relates to our everyday lives, the understand the dynamic nature of the planet, and to understand why natural hazards occur as well as what preventative measures can be taken.  However, as a General Education course at SUU, the essential learning outcomes are more broad and encompassing. Three (3) lectures per week. A minimum grade of ā€œCā€ (2.0 or above) must be earned in this course before it can be counted in a Geosciences major or minor or as a prerequisite for any other course.

Those interested in a lab experience to supplement knowledge gained in this course are encouraged to enroll in GEO 1115 - Fundamentals of Geology Lab. (Fall, Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)]

Required Texts

Required Text

Natural Hazards and Disasters: The Interaction of Geology and People

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes


Upon successful completion of the General Education Physical Sciences requirement, students will be able to:

  1. Explain science as a process and as a way of understanding the physical world
  2. Demonstrate understanding of matter, energy, and their influence on physical systems
  3. Evaluate the credibility of various sources of information about science-related issues
  4. Describe how the Physical Sciences (Earth Sciences) utilize their foundational principles to confront and solve pressing local and global challenges, shaping historical, ethical, or social landscapes in the process.

In addition to these learning outcomes, the curriculum will also reinforce durable skills such as critical thinking, data analysis, problem solving, basic information literacy, communication skills, and teamwork. 

Course Requirements

Grading & Assignments


Evaluation:
The grade for this course will be determined by the following:

  1.       Current Event Assignments: 20%
  2.       Homework Assignments: 10%
  3.       Projects: 20%
  4.       Quizzes & Exams: 25%
  5.       Clicker Questions: 25%

NOTE: These are approximate percentages, not a weighted total.  Your final grade will be based on a total number of points accumulated vs the total possible.  No assignment or exam will be weighted as being worth more than others.  There is no extra credit and no options to improve your score other than the assigned course work. 
Grading Scale:
100-94% = A,  93-90% = A-,  89-87% = B+,  86-84% = B,  83-80% = B-,  79-77% = C+,  76-74% = C, 73-70 = C-  69-67% = D+,  66-64% = D,  63-60% = D-, <59% = F
*I round up final grades from 0.45 (meaning 89.45% is a 90%).  


Assignments:
All assignments, quizzes, and activities can be found in the Modules tab in the Menu to the left. Brief descriptions of the assignments are listed below along with their respective Essential Learning Outcomes (ELOs). 

Current Event Assignments - Follow the instructions given for each assignment.  Summarize a current event from the news that happened during the semester.  Each of the current event assignments will be opened during the first week of class.  They will be due near the end of the semester.  This large window of time may encourage procrastination, but our course schedule will be driven by your completion of these assignments.  To ensure that course content is spread evenly throughout the semester, I have created current event quizzes with due dates.  You are to complete the quiz by informing me of which current event you completed.  ELOs - 1, 3, 4. Skills - Critical Thinking, Data Analysis, Communication

Course Projects - Follow the directions given for each assignment.  The work for these projects should be spread throughout the semester. While they are due at the end of the semester, they are meant to be completed as class discussions progress throughout the term. Complete assignments must be submitted by the due date/time.  ELOs - 1, 2, 3, 4. Skills - Data Analysis, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Digital Literacy, Information Literacy.

Homework Assignments - Follow the directions given for each assignment.  Complete assignments must be submitted by the due date/time.  See late penalties above.  ELOs - 1, 3, 4. Skills - Data Analysis, Critical Thinking.

Quizzes - All quizzes will be open on Canvas for 2-3 days.  Each quiz will contain a combination of multiple choice, true/false, and fill-in-the-blank questions.  The quizzes are timed so you will need to complete them in an efficient manner.  You are allowed to use notes and the textbook during the quiz, however the time constraints will require you to organize your notes and thoughts prior to starting the quiz.  Pay attention to the due dates and times to allow yourself time to complete the quiz.  Everyone gets one (1) attempt for each quiz.  ELOs - 1, 2, 3, 4. Skills - Critical Thinking.

Clicker Questions - Most days, we will have some sort of in-class discussion/activity/assignment that will include a series of questions.  Students will respond to the clicker questions during the allotted time.  1 point will be awarded for participation and 1 point will be awarded for correct answers.  ELOs - 1, 2. Skills - Data Analysis, Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Teamwork. 

Exams - All exams will be completed in the Testing Center.  Exams will be given on paper and will be completed without notes or calculators.  All exams will be in multiple choice/true-false/fill in the blank format. ELOs - 1, 2, 3. Skills - Critical Thinking, Data Analysis, Problem Solving

Course Outline

Each ~2 week module will be dictated by the interest of the class and current events around the globe related to natural hazards and disasters.  Students will choose topics discussed by selecting from the list of modules (Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Climate/Weather, Hurricanes, Floods, Thunderstorms/Tornadoes, Drought, Tsunamis).  Not all modules will be covered in every semester. 

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Course Policies & Late Work

Late work will not be accepted unless extenuating circumstances persist and have been discussed with and approved by the instructor.
Technology Use in Class:
  • Allowed: note taking, course-related tasks, Canvas access.
  • Prohibited: substantive use of ChatGPT or any generative AI for style, content, or references. First offense: zero on the assignment. Second offense: failing grade in the course.

Please adjust your Canvas notification settings to receive announcements immediately.

Attendance Policy

Attendance Policy

There are three lectures/discussions per week (MWF). This is a face-to-face class; attendance is required and Zoom options are not available. A minimum grade of "C" must be earned before the course can count as a prerequisite or toward a Geosciences major/minor.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.