Our Dynamic Planet

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

GES108 Course Outcomes

• Examine the physical processes governing the ways in which atmospheric, geological, and biophysical systems impact human societies.
• Analyze the causes and consequences of human impacts on Earth systems at local, regional, and global scales.
• Demonstrate how physical processes vary spatially and temporally.

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) for Critical Thinking and Inquiry in the Natural Sciences

• Critically analyze claims, arguments, artifacts, or information.
• Construct coherent, evidence-based arguments.

Assessment of MAC SLOs

• Student learning related to MAC Critical Thinking and Inquiry in the Natural Sciences SLO 1 will be assessed through critiquing a scientific article and critically analyzing its claims, arguments, and supporting evidence.
• Student learning related to MAC Critical Thinking and Inquiry in the Natural Sciences SLO 2 will be assessed through organizing, analyzing, and interpreting the data from a scientific article using appropriate methods like creating graphs or tables.

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure	Percentage/Points
3 Exams	20%
In class discussions/presentations	15%
Homework	15%
Quizzes/Handouts	10%

Grading Scale:

Percentage	Letter Grade
100-93%	A
<93-90%	A-
<90-88%	B+
<88-83%	B
<83-80%	B-
<80-78%	C+
<78-73%	C
<73-70%	C-
<70-68%	D+
<68-63%	D
<63-59%	D-
<59%	F

Attendance/Participation:

Included in the in-class discussion grade.

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

You are required to use the ebook version of the Gervais Living Physical Geography with Achieve (ISBN: 9781319374631). The reason you need this version is because there are mandatory quizzes and homework you will complete with Achieve. You do not need a hard-copy version of the textbook but can purchase one if desired.