GEOL A101: Age of the Dinosaurs
Item | Value |
---|---|
Curriculum Committee Approval Date | 12/08/2021 |
Top Code | 191400 - Geology |
Units | 4 Total Units |
Hours | 108 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54; Lab Hours 54) |
Total Outside of Class Hours | 0 |
Course Credit Status | Credit: Degree Applicable (D) |
Material Fee | No |
Basic Skills | Not Basic Skills (N) |
Repeatable | No |
Grading Policy | Standard Letter (S),
|
Associate Arts Local General Education (GE) |
|
Associate Science Local General Education (GE) |
|
Course Description
The course focuses on the origin, evolution and extinction of dinosaurs with emphasis on paleobiology and paleoecology. Covers fundamentals of dinosaur anatomy and behavior, hot/cold-blooded debate, relationships to birds, diversity and exploits of dinosaur hunters. Extended field trip required. Intended for science and non-science majors. Transfer Credit: CSU; UC.
Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)
- Develop a well rounded understanding of the earth during the Mesozoic.
- Develop an appreciation of the development of life as shown in the fossil record.
- Define and describe the interrelationship of the physical and biological processes of the earth.
- Demonstrate how the present features of the earth and present life are related to past processes.
Course Objectives
- 1. understand what science is, how science works, and how science progresses.
- 2. understand the basis of physical sciences in general and communicate scientific ideas via written and/or oral assignments.
- 3. demonstrate knowledge of, and have an appreciation for: o the internal and external processes on Earth today; o basic anatomy, evolution, systematics, and other biological processes; o ecology and ecosystems through time; o the Mesozoic world and its inhabitants.
- 4. apply basic principles to understand the ancient world and how it relates to the modern world.
- 5. integrate and apply information learned in lecture and exercises in the field.
Lecture Content
• Introduction to Dinosaurs, Why study dinosaurs.• Geologic Time • Setting the stage for dinosaur evolution • A plate tectonics primer and the Mesozoic world• Evolution, Phylogeny and Classification - What makes a Dino a Dino• Dinosaur Anatomy - Parts is parts . • Origin and evolution of the dinosaurs• Fossils and the fossil record• Predatory Dinosaurs – Therapods T. rex Exposed• Dinosaur Hunters - History of dinosaur studies• Sauropod Dinosaurs - The giants• Plants and their dinosaurs• Ornithopods - eg. Iguanadonts and Hadrosaurs• Thyreophora - eg. Stegosaurs and ankylosaurs• Marginocephla - eg. Ceratopians and Pachycephlasaurs• Dinosaur contemporaries of the land, air and sea• Tracks Trails - the story of trace fossils• Dinosaur Behavior - mommy, where do baby dinosaurs come from... • Hot Blooded Dinosaurs - Dinosaur Controversy • The Dino - Bird connection; A Thanksgiving Dinosaur...• Extinctions and the End of the Cretaceous • Dinosaurs in the Public Eye
Lab Content
See Course Content.
Method(s) of Instruction
- Lecture (02)
- Lab (04)
Instructional Techniques
- Lecture and application of ideas - Individual, paired and small group exercises - Field trips to various areas of geologic interest
Reading Assignments
.
Writing Assignments
Examinations will include questions requiring written answers
Out-of-class Assignments
.
Demonstration of Critical Thinking
Examinations will be utilized with both objective and subjective questioning/written format for mid-term and final examinations.
Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration
Examinations will include questions requiring written answers
Textbooks Resources
1. Required Lucas, S.. Dinosaurs, ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007 Rationale: .