Spring 2023 - GEOG 310 D100

Physical Geography Field Course (4)

Class Number: 2512

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 4 – Apr 11, 2023: Fri, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Instructor:

    Andrew Perkins
    ajp7@sfu.ca
    778.782.2560
    Office: RCB 6231
  • Prerequisites:

    GEOG 213 and one of GEOG 214 or 215. Prerequisite or Corequisite: One of GEOG 311, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317 or 319.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

A twelve-day field camp with a focus on various measuring, surveying, recording and mapping skills in branches of physical geography. A selected project will be completed either by a team or by an individual. Field camp locations will vary from year to year. The camp will be held immediately following the end of final examinations in April.

COURSE DETAILS:

The Physical Geography Field Course offers students an immersive 12-day field experience focused on providing opportunities for direct observation, measurement and rapid interpretation in several branches of physical geography (geomorphology, hydrology, climatology, biogeography). The course is broadly split into two segments. The first part of the course will focus on instructor-led activities and the second part will be student-driven as groups of students implement the techniques they have learned in order to research a local geographic topic. There will be several class meetings during the Spring Semester, including one during the first week of classes, to orient students towards the field experience. Two full days of local class meetings will occur during or immediately following the end of final examinations in April and the camp will be held after these two days.

Your mandatory course fee covers accommodation and transportation costs. Students should expect to pay $340 to the Department to cover additional food costs. Be aware that during the field trips there may be periods of walking on uneven ground, working in areas with steep topography and crossing roads with busy traffic. Appropriate clothing and footwear must be worn. Further details regarding safety, fieldwork protocols and field supplies will be discussed prior to the fieldwork. Students must at all times remain compliant with all student responsibilities, regulations, and policies as outlined in the current Academic Calendar, as well as relevant regulations and policies as outlined in the SFU Policy Gazette. This includes, but is not limited to, expected student conduct and the maintenance of appropriate medical insurance coverage. In order to participate in course activities, students must sign an Adult Acknowledgement of Risk form. Further details regarding safety will be discussed at the beginning of the semester. Walking over uneven ground for moderate periods of time will be required during the course of the field school. There will be student shared accommodation as part of the field school. Please contact the instructor if you have any concerns before enrolling.

Grading

  • Pre-field exercises 25%
  • Field exercises 50%
  • Final report 25%

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Students are responsible for ensuring they have light hiking boots, waterproof outerwear, a warm sleeping bag and sleeping pad. Other field gear requirements may be identified at the start of the course at the beginning of the semester.

Under SFU's Education Site License, SFU students, staff, and researchers may download the following software to home computers for academic use ONLY. This includes teaching and classroom use and research purposes. 

Software available to download/install on home computers

  • Microsoft 365
  • ESRI Applications such as ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, ESRI CityEngine, etc.
  • Matlab with Named User License
  • Adobe CC with Named User License*

* ONLY those who are in SFU payroll are eligible for Adobe CC with Named User License

REQUIRED READING:

GEOG 310 - Field activities manual. Free download available through CANVAS.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html