Term G- I
G30 Fall AY2022

Fundamentals of Earth Science I
Undergraduate / Graduate

Undergraduate

Registration Code0061411

Course Category

Basic Courses in Natural Sciences

Credits

2.0

Term (Semester) / Day / Period

G-I (1st year, Fall Semester) / Mon / 4（14:45～16:15）

Instructor

HUMBLET Marc Andre●Goals of the Course【Standardized across all programs】
The goal of this course is to understand the characteristics of our planet Earth and to provide an overview of Earth andplanetary science. To this end, the origin of the Earth and of the Solar System, the minerals and rocks that make up theEarth, the processes shaping the landscape, and major events in the history of life will be explained to deepen theunderstanding of the Earth. Research methods used in Earth and planetary science will also be introduced.
●Objectives of the Course
The study of planet Earth embraces a wide range of topics, from the formation of rocks to the evolution of life, fromcontinental drift to the study of earthquakes and volcanoes. In this course, fundamental concepts of earth science will becovered. Students will be introduced to plate tectonics, the fundamental theory underlying the geological processes whichhave shaped the environment in which we live and continue to modify the landscape, from the slow, progressive uplift ofmountains to violent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Students will learn how the Earth recycles matter and how
minerals and rocks form and are transformed; how the age of rocks and geological events can be determined, which iscentral to earth science; how the Earth’s geography has changed and how life has evolved during Earth’s 4.5-billion-year
history. Besides providing a basic and up-to-date knowledge of essential concepts of earth science, the aim of this course isto stimulate the interest and curiosity of students for the study of planet Earth and provoke questions, comments, anddiscussions about issues related to earth science.
●Course Content or Plan
1. Earth Sciences: an introduction
2. The solar system
3. Plate tectonics
4. Minerals: rock’s elementary building blocks
5. Rocks and rock cycle I: igneous rocks
6. Rocks and rock cycle II: sedimentary rocks
7. Rocks and rock cycle III: metamorphic rocks
8. The age of rocks
9. Earth history I: paleogeography
10. Earth history II: origin and evolution of life
●Course Prerequisites and Related Courses
There is no prerequisite for this course.
Related course: Fundamentals of Earth Science II●Course Evaluation Method and Criteria
Online quizzes: 60%
Written essay: 30%
Oral presentation: 10%
Students who enrolled in 2020 will be graded using the six-step A+, A, B, C, C-, and F grade evaluation system (A+:
100-95%, A: 94-80%, B: 79-70%, C: 69-65%, C-: 64-60%, F: 59 % or less).
Students who enrolled in 2019 or before will be graded following the five-step S-A-B-C-F grade evaluation system (S:90-100%, A: 80-89%, B: 70-79%, C:60-69%, F: 59-0%).
A student will be given an “Absent” grade if he or she submits a Course Withdrawal Request by the 15th of November.
This deadline does not apply to students who drop the class part-way through for an exceptional reason (e.g., illness,accident). Also, NUPACE students should check the deadline set by the NUPACE program for course withdrawal.
●Study Load (Self-directed Learning Outside Course Hours)
Students should acquire a good understanding of the course content to be able to answer the questions of the quizzes.

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Term G- I
G30 Fall AY2022
Students are also required to write a review paper on a subject of their choice related to the course content, and therefore
need to search for information related to this subject and to summarize that information in a clear, organized, and concise
manner. Preparation time is also needed for the final short presentation that each student gives at the end of the semester
about the subject of their review paper.
●How to Respond to Questions
Live lectures will be organized (in class or online or both), and students are strongly encouraged to ask questions during
the lectures. Students can also contact me by e-mail or meet me in person in my office. NUCT will be used as another wayof communication, to share files and send messages.
Textbook

Reference Book

There is no required textbook for this course. Please refer to the recommended reading below foran additional source of information.
Title: Understanding EarthAuthors: John Grotzinger & Thomas H. JordanPublisher: W. H. Freeman
Issue year: 2014 (7th edition)
ISBN: 978-1464138744

Reference website forthis Course

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