COURSE SYLLABUS

Subject: Topics in Earth Sciences

Lecturer: Nguyen Thuy Duong Academic field: Geology, Paleoecology

Phone: 0916445877 E-mail: ntduonga@vnu.edu.vn,

ntduong.geo@gmail.com
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Credit points 3
Level Undergraduate
Lecture 30 hrs
Exercises 9 hrs
Time Commitment
Practicals 6 hrs
Total 45 hrs

Prerequisites No

This course will investigate the relationship among the

components of the Earth System, including the atmosphere, oceans,
biosphere, solid Earth, and humans. We will examine the fundamental
Subject description:
processes that drive these systems such as movement of the earth and its
consequences. In this course we also try to understand how life was
formed and evolved through geological time, focusing on the human
appearance and their impact to the Earth.
- Knowledge:
 Understand the functions of the complex Earth System and the
environment it provides for life.
Objectives & Out-come  Understand the history of life on Earth
- Skill:
 Woking in group.
 Understand the steps of the scientific method.
Exercise(s) +
10 _%
Assessment/ Evaluation Practicals
Mid-term test 30_%
Final exam 60_%
Prescribed Textbook(s)
[1] Earth science. CK-12 Foundation, 2009 – 1002 p.

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Class COURSE CONTENTS & SCHEDULE

Hours
Contents Ref./Resources

Lect.

Exr.

Prc.
Assignment(s)

1 0.5
1 Topic 1: What is earth Science? [1]: 1-76 Exercise
1 0.5
Topic 2: Earth in the Universe [1]: 899 - 1031
2 2 1 Exercise
Topic 3: Earth’s minerals and Rocks [1]: 77-120
3 Topic 3: Earth’s minerals and Rocks 2 1 [1]: 121-150 Practical Ex.

Topic 4: Endogenous processes and their

4 2 1 [1]: 175-220 Exercise
impact to the Earth (Plate tectonic).

Topic 4: Endogenous processes and their

5 2 1 [1]: 221-280 Exercise
impact to the Earth (Earthquake).
Outside practice (visiting Vietnam National 3 Field trip
6
Museum on Geology) report
Topic 4: Endogenous processes and their
7 2 1 [1]: 281-318 Exercise
impact to the Earth (Volcano).
Topic 5: Exogenous processes and their 2 1
8 [1]: 319-342 Exercise
impact to the Earth (Weathering)
Topic 5: Exogenous processes and their 2 1
9 impact to the Earth (Erosion and [1]: 342-402 Exercise
Deposition).
Midterm Exam 1
10 Topic 5: Exogenous processes and their [1]: 471 - 502
impact to the Earth (Water on earth) 2
Topic 5: Exogenous processes and their 3
11 impact to the Earth (Atmosphere, weather [1]: 503-700 Exercise
and climate)
12 Topic 6: Earth’s history [1]: 403-470 Exercise
3
Excursion (field trip) or Visiting Vietnam 3 Field trip
13
National Museum of Nature report
14 Topic 7: Human and impact to the Earth 2 1 [1]: 743-840 Exercise
15 Review 3

Tổng 30 9 6
Notes:
- Abbreviation: Lect. (lecture), Exr. (Exercise), Prc. (Practice).
- Exercises may include assignment, reports, student’s presentation, homework, class
exercises... for each class sessions
- Practicals mostly refer to outside practice such as field trip, visiting museum.

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- Exams: We will have 2 exams: midterm exam and final exam. The exams will consist of 40 multiple-
choice questions (each worth 2 points) and several short answer/essay questions (worth 20 points total).
All exams are closed book and closed notes. Any material covered by the textbook, or inclass lectures,
videotapes, or exercises may be included on the exams (Make-up Exams are not given without a
reasonable confirmed reason. For example, oversleeping or fatigue is not a valid reason for missing the
exam. If you know that some other obligation will prevent you from attending the class on the date of the
exam, the instructor must be informed at least one week before the scheduled exam date so that
alternative arrangements can be made. If you have a disability that requires special conditions for
testing, please register with the appropriate campus office and inform the instructor so that the
appropriate arrangements can be made)
- Field Trips: We will have a one-day field trip to Ba Vi National Park on December 4 th. If you do not
wish to attend the field trip, or if you have a scheduling conflict, you can go to visit Museum of Nature at
18 Hoang Quoc Viet str. and make a report on your observation related to the course. The field trip will
be graded based on a combination of attendance and a field report. The field trip report should be
returned to the instructor on April 1.
- Cheating on the exams, or plagiarism or copying of homework assignments will result in a grade of
zero, and the incident will be reported to the Division of Student Affairs. A second incident of cheating
will result in failure of the course.

Reference Literature:

[1]. The Earth system. Lee R. Kump, James F. Kasting, Robert G. Crane. Pearson Prentice Hall,
2011 - 420 p.
[2]. An Introduction to Earth-life system. Editted by Charles Cockell. Cambridge University
Press, 2007.

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