Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Geology of Southern Utah (Face-to-Face)

GEO 2210-01

Course: GEO 2210-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Geosciences
CRN: 33854

Course Description

A General Education course for both non-science and science majors.  This geology course introduces students to foundational geologic principles through a series of field trips.  Emphasis is placed on the geologic evolution and stratigraphy of the Colorado Plateau and the Great Basin.  GEO 2210 satisfies the Physical Science breadth designation specifically because geology is a physical science.  The course teaches students to examine the physical world around them, to analyze the flow of matter and energy through landscape evolution, apply scientific reasoning to real geologic data at various physical scales, and discuss the role of geologic information in the context of local, regional, national, and global policies.  

Required Texts

Reading and resources will be provided by the instructors. 

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

Assignments

Quizzes – There will be a reading assignment posted to Canvas prior to every field trip.  The reading assignment will serve as background information for the topic of the field trip.  A quiz will accompany the reading assignment.  The quiz will be due prior to each trip.  ELOs – 1, 2, 3; Skills - critical thinking, data analysis, problem solving, information literacy

Field Trip Assignments – Each field trip will include some sort of data collection.  The type and amount of data will vary with each field trip.  Directions will be provided at the start of each trip and students will submit the data at the end of each trip.  ELOs – 1, 2, 3; Skills - critical thinking, data analysis, problem solving, communication, teamwork

Project – A project will be assigned that will require students to use all the data collected throughout the semester.  Students will submit the project at the end of the semester.  ELOs – 1, 2, 3, 4; Skills - critical thinking, data analysis, problem solving, information literacy, communication

Grading

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

  1.       Quizzes: 20%
  2.       Field Trip Assignments: 50%
  3.       Project: 20%
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 are no extra credit assignments 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 90%).  



Course Outline

This class meets once per week.  Reading assignments will be posted on Canvas that will be due prior to our first official meeting.
Meeting #1 - Course Overview and Expectations, Field Safety.
Meeting #2 - Rocks and Minerals Field Trip 
Meeting #3 - Igneous Petrology/Ore Deposits Field Trip
Meeting #4 - Sedimentology Field Trip
Meeting #5 - Rock Deformation Field Trip
Meeting #6 - Hydrology Field Trip
Meeting #7 - Geomorphology Field Trip
Meeting #8 - Paleontology Field Trip
Meeting #9 - Geologic Mapping Field Trip
Meeting #10 - Workshop Day
Meeting #11 - Workshop Day

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

Late work will not be accepted unless extenuating circumstances persist and these have been discussed with and approved by the instructor.  In-class assignments cannot be made up.  Nothing can be done if a student contacts me at the end of the semester wanting to make up all their assignments.  This is separate from excused absences due to official university travel/business.  Regardless of circumstances, no work will be accepted once instruction ends.   

Attendance Policy

As this class meets only once per week for field trips, attendance is mandatory.  

Course Fees

Content for this section will be provided by the instructor.

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.