Geology 212: Planetary Geology
University of Maryland, Fall 2009

Course Description
An examination of the geologic and geochemical processes at work in the solar system from the perspectives supplied by space age exploration of the planets and other solar system bodies.

Lectures
Mon, Wed, Fri 2:00-2:50
PLS 1115

Instructor
Andrew J. Campbell
Geology Bldg., Rm. 3113
(301) 405-4086
ajc@umd.edu
Office hours by appointment

Class Website
The syllabus and other class materials will be posted on Blackboard.

Textbook
An Introduction to the Solar System, Eds. N. McBride and I. Gilmour.
ISBN 0-521-54620-6

Course Outline
The course will approximately follow the structure of the textbook:

Week 1, 8/31-9/4:
Introduction; Background

Week 2, 9/9-9/11:
Ch. 1: Tour of the Solar System — Terrestrial Planets

Week 3, 9/14-9/18:
Ch. 1: Tour of the Solar System — Gas Giants, Formation of SS; Ch. 2: Internal Structure of the Terrestrial Planets — Understanding Internal Structure

Week 4, 9/21-9/25:
Ch. 2: Internal Structure — Earth’s Core; Heat sources and transport; Plate Tectonics; Terrestrial Interiors

Week 5, 9/28-10/2:
Ch. 2: Outer satellite interiors; Ch. 3: Planetary Volcanism
Midterm 1 on 9/30

Week 6, 10/5-10/9:
Ch. 3: Planetary Volcanism

Week 7, 10/12-10/16:
Ch. 4: Planetary Surface Processes

Week 8, 10/19-10/23:
Ch. 4: Planetary Surface Processes; Radiometric dating
Midterm 2 on 10/23

Week 9, 10/26-10/30:
Ch. 5: Atmospheres of Terrestrial Planets

Week 10, 11/2-11/6:
Orbits; Ch. 6: Giant Planets

Week 11, 11/9-11/13:
Ch. 6: Giant Planets; Ch. 7: Minor Bodies of the Solar System

Week 12, 11/16-11/20:
Ch. 7: Minor Bodies of the Solar System
Midterm 3 on 11/18

Week 13, 11/23-11/25:
Ch. 7: Minor Bodies of the Solar System; Ch. 8: Origin of the Solar System

Week 14, 11/30-12/4:
Ch. 8: Origin of the Solar System; Ch. 9: Meteorites

Week 15, 12/7-12/11:
Ch. 9: Meteorites

Final exam: Thursday, Dec. 17, 1:30-3:30

The lectures will significantly enhance the reading, and in some cases depart entirely from the subject matter covered by the textbook. In this course, as in most others, there is historically a strong correlation between attendance and grades.

Grades and Course Requirements
Assignments     10%
Presentation      15%
Paper                10%
Midterms (3)    15% each
Final                 20%
Each student will make one short presentation at some point in the semester, and provide a write-up on this topic. Details will be given in class. In addition, there will be a small number of class assignments, and a few exams.

Policy on Attendance
University policy allows for excusable absences under some circumstances, including illness or religious observance. The student is expected to contact the instructor in advance to arrange for making up missed work.

Copyright Statement
Copyright 2009 Andrew J. Campbell as to this syllabus and all lectures. Students are prohibited from copying and selling course materials, from selling lecture notes, and from being paid to take lecture notes without the express written permission of the professor teaching this course.

Honor Code
The University of Maryland, College Park has a nationally recognized Code of Academic Integrity, administered by the Student Honor Council. This Code sets standards for academic integrity at Maryland for all undergraduate and graduate students. As a student you are responsible for upholding these standards for this course. It is very important for you to be aware of the consequences of cheating, fabrication, facilitation, and plagiarism. For more information on the Code of Academic Integrity or the Student Honor Council, please visit www.shc.umd.edu.
To further exhibit your commitment to academic integrity, remember to sign the Honor Pledge on all examinations and assignments: "I pledge on my honor that I have not given or received any unauthorized assistance on this examination (assignment)."

Course Evaluation
CourseEvalUM will be open for students to complete their evaluations for Fall 2009 courses between Tuesday, December 1, and Sunday, December 13. Students can go directly to the website (http://www.courseevalum.umd.edu/) to complete their evaluations. You will be alerted about these dates and provided more information closer to that time, via your official University e-mail account. Students who complete evaluations for all of their courses in the previous semester (excluding summer) can access the posted results via Testudo's CourseEvalUM Reporting link for any course on campus that has at least a 70% response rate.

Statement on Disabilities
If you have a documented disability and wish to discuss accomodations, please contact the instructor no later than the first week of the semester. Also, you should contact Disability Support Services, 0126 Shoemaker Hall. Each semester students with documented disabilities should apply to DSS for accommodation request forms which you can provide to your professors as proof of your eligibility for accommodations. The rules for eligibility and the types of accommodations a student may request can be reviewed on the DSS web site at www.counseling.umd.edu/DSS/.

Policy on Religious Observances
The University System of Maryland policy provides that students should not be penalized because of observances of their religious beliefs. Students shall be given an opportunity, whenever feasible, to make up within a reasonable time any academic assignment that is missed due to individual participation in religious observances. It is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor of any intended absences for religious observances in advance. Notice should be provided as soon as possible but no later than the end of the schedule adjustment period. Prior notification is especially important in connection with final exams, since failure to reschedule a final exam before the conclusion of the final examination period may result in loss of credits during the semester.