NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Course title:  EARTH SCIENCE FOR NON-MAJORS I

Course prefix, number, and section number:  1401-0340 & 0342

Semester/Year of course: FALL 2025

Semester start and end dates:  8/25/25 – 12/13/25

Modality (Face to face/Synchronous or Asynchronous online/Hybrid):  Online-Asynchronous

Class meeting location, days, and times: Online – Office Hours on demand.

Lab meeting location, days, and times: Online

Semester credit hours:  4

Course description: Survey of geology, meteorology, oceanography, and astronomy. This laboratory-based course accompanies GEOL 1301, Earth Sciences I. Activities will cover methods used to collect and analyze data in geology, meteorology, oceanography, and astronomy. Online Labs provided free of charge.

Course prerequisites: None

Required course materials:  Required Textbook/ISBN: You must purchase the textbook after registration in this course. I recommend the eBook. There is a paperback version available as well. The textbook is Exploring Earth Science 3rd Edition by Stephen Reynolds, et.al., with McGraw-Hill Connect. 

The bookstore has had some issues; you can order directly from Mcgraw-Hill.

Helpful McGraw-Hill Resources:

• Technical Support site or call 800-331-5094
• Sharpen: Quizzes, short videos, chapter summaries, flash cards, and practice problems specific to your title!
• Read Anywhere App – free for students to access their eBooks and SmartBook on their mobile devices.
• SupportAtEveryStep.com to access tips, tools and resources that can help you and your students

You can register for Connect and access your eBook after purchase there. It is accessible via Canvas by clicking on a McGraw-Hill Connect.  You may also purchase an optional discounted loose-leaf copy of the textbook from McGraw-Hill or the bookstore if you would like to have a physical copy of the text.  

• You will need a compass (to draw arcs on a map) and a 6 to 12 inch ruler. Order these from Amazon or office depot etc. Cheap is good enough.

Name of instructor: Dr. Alexander Zekulin

Office location: Online

Telephone number:

E-mail address: azekulin@nctc.edu

Office hours for students: On request

SYLLABUS CHANGE DISCLAIMER

The faculty member reserves the right to make changes to this published syllabus if it is in the best interest of the educational development of this class. Any such changes will be announced as soon as possible in person and/or writing.

SUMMARY OF COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

List of graded assignments and Percentage of Course Grade

# of Graded Course Elements           

Graded Course Elements                                                                                      Percentage or Point Values

5*15                       Tests                                                                                      75%

1X*2.5                    Labs / Assignments / Sketches                                              25%

Total                                                                                                                      100%

SMARTBOOK ASSIGNMENTS ARE NOT GRADED. THEY ARE TO HELP YOU WITH READING COMPREHENSION. I SEE A FULL LETTER GRADE IMPROVEMENT BETWEEN STUDENTS WHO COMPLETE THE SMARTBOOK ASSIGNMENTS AND THOSE WHO DO NOT. THEY ARE OPTIONAL.

Final grade scale:  A=100-90, B= 80-89, C=70-79, D=60-69, F Less than 60

Late work policy: Assignments and tests are submitted via canvas by the due date. After that a zero is earned, unless discussed and approved by the instructor BEFORE the due date.

SEE CANVAS FOR THE CURRENT and COMPLETE COURSE CALENDAR, OUTLINES, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF GRADED WORK, AND OTHER RELATED MATERIAL.

COURSE POLICIES

Academic Integrity Policy: See student handbook.

Artificial Intelligence Policy: (The use of Generative AI is NOT allowed while taking tests in this class. The college general statement is found below. Please read it.)

Attendance Policy: This course is an online course and runs a during the full Fall or Spring semesters. Each week begins on Sunday and ends on Saturday at 11:59 pm Central time. Success in this course requires in-depth study of each unit as assigned, timely completion of assignments, and interaction with the professor if required. This is a fully online course. You are not required to login at specific times each week, however, you are required to login and progress regularly. The professor will make himself available for afternoon & evening live sessions to answer questions, by request. Assignments are due by Saturday and must be completed by Sunday night at the end of the week, and you must login throughout the week to complete the assignments.

NOTE: THE PROFESSOR TRACKS YOUR LOGON INTERACTION WITH THE SYSTEM AS A WAY OF MONITORING YOUR ATTENDANCE.

• You should expect to spend more than required class time on this course to complete all reading assignments. REALLY IMPORTANT
• Participation in the course is critical. Your success in this course will be the direct result of your correct completion of each lab and test. Attendance through participation will be taken but it is not part of your grade. You will be considered in attendance if you complete the labs and tests by their due date.
• Late work should be the exception and not the rule and may be downgraded at the discretion of the instructor, if accepted at all. Unless all work is submitted, the student could receive a failing grade for the course. Extensions may be granted for extenuating circumstances at the discretion of the instructor, and only for the length of time, the instructor deems appropriate. The most important element of success in an online course is to communicate with your instructor throughout the term. Ask questions and provide relevant updates. Given the amount of material covered and the duration of the class, you CANNOT fall behind, It is not possible to catch up.
• Labs will be completed in Canvas. Some labs require printing and/or use of MS word/PowerPoint or a PDF annotator. Canvas will have additional information to help you with the lab.
• This is science. There are no stupid questions. If you do not understand something, you should email me for help. I can initiate a Webex video call. The labs compliment the lectures.
• Conventions of “online etiquette,” which include courtesy to all users, will be observed.

It is highly recommended that students keep electronic copies of all materials submitted as assignments, posts, and emails, until after the end of the term and a final grade is received.

Withdrawal Policy

A student may withdraw from a course on or after the official date of record. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate and complete a Withdrawal Request Form.

Last day to withdraw from the course with a “W” is: November 3rd, 2025.

Student Learning Outcomes: At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:

• Develop an understanding of the nature of scientific inquiry and the scientific method.
• Be able to identify and describe a range of Earth materials, including rocks, minerals, and fossils.
• Develop an understanding of the principles of geologic time, plate tectonics, as well as Earth’s evolution through geologic time.
• Be able to interpret geologic features regarding Earth processes and cycles, including tectonic, water, and rock cycles. Specifically, be able to articulate the role erosion has played in shaping geologic features of this region of North America.
• Identify and evaluate the origin and nature of natural resources, as well as, how human
• activity regarding natural resources impacts our lives, climate, and future generations.

Core Objectives:

Critical Thinking

Communication

Teamwork

Empirical and Quantitative Analysis

COLLEGE POLICIES

AI STATEMENT

Absent a clear statement from a course instructor, use of or consultation with generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or other similar technologies shall be treated analogously to assistance from another person, agency, or entity. In particular, using generative AI tools to substantially complete an assignment or exam is not permitted. Students should acknowledge the use of generative AI (other than incidental use) and default to disclosing such assistance when in doubt.

When students use generative AI to replace the rigorous demands of personal engagement with their coursework, it runs counter to the educational mission of the college and undermines the heart of education itself. Artificial Intelligence, large language models, and technologies hold promise for deploying knowledge in service to others and accelerating the discovery of new knowledge. However, such technology poses new challenges to pedagogy and to integrity. Within the context of the teaching mission of the college and consistent with the Student Code of Conduct, the authority to define the appropriate use, study, and deployment of these technologies rests with the faculty.

Individual course instructors, in coordination with their divisions, set policies regulating the use of generative AI tools in their courses, including allowing or disallowing some or all uses of such tools. Course instructors will set such policies in their course syllabi and clearly communicate such policies to students. Students who are unsure of policies regarding generative AI tools are encouraged to ask their instructors for clarification.

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the Student Handbook.

ADA STATEMENT

NCTC will adhere to all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Office for Students with Disabilities to arrange appropriate accommodations.  See the OSD Syllabus Addendum.

STUDENT SERVICES

NCTC provides a multitude of services and resources to support students.  See the Student Services Syllabus Addendum for a listing of those departments and links to their sites.

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS