Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Environmental Geology Lab (Face-to-Face)

GEO 3015-01

Course: GEO 3015-01
Credits: 1
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Geosciences
CRN: 33388

Course Description

A lab to accompany environmental geology lecture and compliment and reinforce the ideas and concepts presented there. A minimum grade of "C" (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. (Fall - Even Years) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Co-requisite(s): GEO 3010

Required Texts

REQUIRED MATERIALS: You will need access to a computer to complete the labs, including Google Earth Pro and some spreadsheet application like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. We will meet each week in the computer lab. Otherwise no other materials are required.

Learning Outcomes

Inquiry and Analysis: Inquiry: Students systematically explore issues, objects or works through the collection and analysis of evidence that results in informed conclusions or judgments. Analysis: Students break complex topics or issues into parts to gain a better understanding of them.
Problem Solving: Students design, evaluate, and implement strategies to answer open-ended questions or achieve a desired goal.
Teamwork: Students will develop an increased and in-depth understanding of the physical landscape and the role of geology in the environment and society.

Course Requirements

- Labs: The primary assignments in this class are labs, which are graded on content.  Labs are due at the beginning of the next lab session.
- Field Trips: There will be 2 field trips during the semester. Attendance is required, with exceptions made with prior notification.

Course Outline

TENTATIVE LAB SCHEDULE (be prepared for modifications):

Week | Dates | Lab Exercise
2 | Sept 8 | No Lab
3 | Sept 15 | Volcanoes and Earthquakes
4 | Sept 22 | Maps, Measurements, and Minerals
5 | Sept 29 | Field Trip: TBD; date may change
6 | Oct 6 | Soils and Slopes
7 | Oct 13 | Colorado River Virtual Field Trip (GSA Meeting)
8 | Oct 20 | FALL BREAK – No Lab
9 | Oct 27 | Field Trip: TBD, date may change
10 | Nov 3 | Cedar Valley Groundwater and Floods
11 | Nov 10 | Water Quality, Water Budgets, and Dams
12 | Nov 17 | Oceans and Climate
13 | Nov 19 | Thanksgiving Break – No Lab
14 | Nov 26 | TBD...
15 | Dec 8 | Project Preparation

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

Late work may not be accepted without prior instructor approval. We can accommodate some problems or situations, but you must let us know about them as soon as possible. If you know in advance that you will be missing a lab and would like to make it up, let me know ahead of time so that we can make arrangements. Late work will be docked 10% per day, and must be made up within TEN DAYS.

Attendance Policy

  • All labs (except field trips) will be administered via Canvas. The lab session will primarily be used to introduce the lab and provide time to answer questions.
  • Weekly completion of each lab will lead to success in this course!
  • If you miss a lab due to a medical emergency, illness, etc. please talk to me as soon as possible so that arrangement may be made for you.
  • Field trips: Please dress for the weather!

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.