University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Curriculum Proposal Form #3
New Course
Effective Term:
Subject Area - Course Number:GEOGRPY 423Cross-listing:
(See Note #1 below)
Course Title:(Limited to 65 characters)Rivers and Floods
25-Character Abbreviation: Rivers and Floods
Sponsor(s): Dale K. Splinter
Department(s):Geography and Geology
College(s):
Consultation took place:NA Yes (list departments and attach consultation sheet)
Departments:
Programs Affected:Geography majors and minors
Is paperwork complete for those programs? (Use "Form 2" for Catalog & Academic Report updates)
NA Yeswill be at future meeting
Prerequisites:GEOGRPY 210 or 323 or GEOLGY 101 or GEOLGY 100
Grade Basis:Conventional LetterS/NC or Pass/Fail
Course will be offered:Part of Load Above Load
On CampusOff Campus - Location
College:Dept/Area(s):Geography and Geolgoy
Instructor:Dale K. Splinter
Note: If the course is dual-listed, instructor must be a member of Grad Faculty.
Check if the Course is to Meet Any of the Following:
Technological Literacy Requirement Writing Requirement
Diversity General Education Option:
Note: For the Gen Ed option, the proposal should address how this course relates to specific core courses, meets the goals of General Education in providing breadth, and incorporates scholarship in the appropriate field relating to women and gender.
Credit/Contact Hours: (per semester)
Total lab hours:0Total lecture hours:48
Number of credits:3Total contact hours:48
Can course be taken more than once for credit? (Repeatability)
No Yes If "Yes", answer the following questions:
No of times in major:No of credits in major:
No of times in degree:No of credits in degree:
Revised 10/021 of 6
Proposal Information:(Procedures for form #3)
Course justification:The Department of Geography and Geology requires that all majors take a 400-level course before they graduate. Currently, only one 400-level course (Applied Methods in Physical Geography) satisfies this requirement for those students interested in physical –environmental geography. Rivers and Floods (GEOGRPY 423) would increase the selection of 400-level courses taught in the department and allow students another option to satisfy the 400-level course requirement. In addition, the topic of water has been increased on the UW-Whitewater campus over the last couple years. This University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is playing an active role in the Milwaukee Water Council, which is dedicated to preserving freshwater in the Great Lakes Basin. Understanding how rivers function, and how floods impact local communities is just a small part underlying the mission of the Milwaukee Water Council. In addition, Rivers and Floods is a class that students majoring in the Water Resource Emphasis of the Integrated Science-Business Major would be interested in taking.
Relationship to program assessment objectives: I expect (1) that students completing this course will have a better understanding of the physical and natural world; (2) that students will develop intellectual and practical skills; (3) that students learn personal responsibility; (4) that students participate in integrative learning. The aforementioned four goals come from “The Essential Learning Objectives” developed by a set of initiatives via the Association of American Universities and Colleges called Liberal Education and America’s Promise. As the Geography and Geology assessment representative for the College of Letters and Sciences, I am currently working to establish assessment goals based on these learning outcomes. To satisfy outcome 1, I will place rivers and streams into a hierarchy that shows the ebb and flow of water through a cascading system. To satisfy outcome 2, students must develop a research project that strengthens their writing and thinking skills.I have set a timeline by which research dates must be completed, organized pop quizzes so that students recognize coming to class is important, and developed group research projects. To satisfy outcome 3, I will explain why it is important to have a sense of social responsibility. This will be described by showing examples of helping neighbors during flooding, the development of the Milwaukee 7, and ethical reasoning via past river pollution problems. To satisfy 4, I will supply case studies that provide a synthesis of 15 weeks of rivers and floods.
Budgetary impact: The budgetary impact is minimal. The course will be taught by a faculty member (Dr. Dale K. Splinter) as part of his course rotation. No supply budget is needed. Materials needed to complete research projects are already housed in the Geography and Geology Department. Lectures will be posted on D2L, but ICIT should be impacted, as this course is lecture based. This course is not laboratory based, thus no laboratory funds are necessary. This course could be taught in Upham Hall 160 or 063, which is a common location to teach geography courses. The current library holdings for fluvial geomorphology books are more than adequate. I will discuss the Geography and Geology library budget with our department representative. This course is not replacing a course, but rather is a needed upper division 400-level course in Physical Geography.
Course description:(50 word limit)Streams and rivers are nested into a hierarchy that is organized by landscape characteristics. This course addresses how watersheds and stream processes influence channel form, the linkages among geomorphology and ecology, and flood magnitude and river management. Inferences are made using spatial and temporal scales
If dual listed, list graduate level requirements for the following:
1. Content (e.g., What are additional presentation/project requirements?)
2. Intensity (e.g., How are the processes and standards of evaluation different for graduates and undergraduates? )
3. Self-Directed (e.g., How are research expectations differ for graduates and undergraduates?)
Course objectives and tentative course syllabus: See Syllabus below
Bibliography: (Key or essential references only. Normally the bibliography should be no more than one or two pages in length.)
Dunne, T., Leopold, L.B., 1978. Water in Environmental Planning. W. H. Freemand and Company, New York.
Gordon, N.D., McMahon, T.A., Finlyson, B.L., 1992. Stream Hydrology: An Introduction for Ecologists, Wiley and Sons, New York.
Knighton, D.,1998. Fluvial Forms and Processes. Oxford University Press, New York.
STrahler, A.N., 1952. Hypsometric (area-altitude) analysis of erosional topography. Geological Society of America Bulleting 63, 1117-1142.
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is dedicated to a safe, supportive and non-discriminatory learning environment. It is the responsibility of all undergraduate and graduate students to familiarize themselves with University policies regarding Special Accommodations, Academic Misconduct, Religious Beliefs Accommodation, Discrimination and Absence for University Sponsored Events (for details please refer to the Schedule of Classes; the “Rights and Responsibilities” section of the Undergraduate Catalog; the Academic Requirements and Policies and the Facilities and Services sections of the Graduate Catalog; and the “Student Academic Disciplinary Procedures (UWS Chapter 14); and the “Student Nonacademic Disciplinary Procedures" (UWS Chapter 17).
Course Objectives and tentative course syllabus with mandatory information(paste syllabus below):
Rivers and Floods
Geography 423
INSTRUCTOR:Dr. Dale Splinter (Upham Hall 111, 472-5156, )
Course Time and Location:
Office Hours:
PRE-REQUISITE: Either Physical Geography-GEOG 210; Elements of Geology-GEOL 101; Principles of Geology-GEOL 100; or Water Resources-GEOG 323.
TEXT:Leopold, L.B. 1994. A View of the River. HarvardUniversity Press, Cambridge, MA.
Additional readings will be required throughout the semester.
DESCRIPTION:This course provides an in depth investigation of how small streams and large rivers function across the landscape. Topics incorporated throughout the course include: (1) how watersheds and stream processes influence channel form and adjustment; (2) the linkages between geomorphology and ecology; and (3) flood magnitude and river management.
GOALS:By the end of the course students will have learned: (1) the major rivers of the world; (2) that streams are complex systems that change spatially and temporally; (3) the role of ancient and modern floods on the landscape; and (4) the methods used to manage and assess stream health.
ATTENDANCE: Attendance will be taken at the beginning of class. No attendance points exist in the class. Pop quizzes will be given periodically throughout the semester. Pop quizzes cannot be made up.
GRADING:The final grade will be determined from the cumulative points achieved on class exams and exercises. Letter grades will be assigned on the following basis:
A 93.0 - 100% / B-78.0 - 81.9% / D+ 62.0 - 64.9%A- 89.0 - 92.9% / C+ 74.0 - 77.9% / D 59.0 - 61.9%
B+ 86.0 - 88.9 / C 69.0 - 73.9% / D - 56.0 - 58.9%
B 82.0 - 85.9% / C- 65.0 - 68.9% / F < 56%
:Exercises:
Mapping major rivers systems of the world5%
Drainage basin hydrology 5%
Hydraulic equations 5%
Flood recurrence intervals 5%
Exams:
Exam I (15%) and Exam II (15%)30%
Final Exam (Comprehensive)20%
Research Project:
Field/Laboratory Research Project 20%
Proposal
List of Sources
Rough Draft
Final Draft
Pop Quizzes:
Pop quizzes cannot be made up10%
Week / Lecture Topics1 / Course Introduction; Research Paper Guidelines
2 / Drainage Basins and Drainage Networks
3 / Hillslope Processes and Network Changes
4 / Watershed Hydrology
5 / Sediment Yield and Sediment Budgets
6 / Exam I; Research Paper Discussion/Work Day with Approval
7 / Sediment Transport and Deposition
8 / Stream Channel Form and Associated Processes
9 / Stream Channel Form and Associated Processes
10 / Linking Fluvial Geomorphology and Ecology
11 / Exam II; Research Paper Discussion/Work Day with Approval
12 / Discharge, Flood Prediction, and Magnitude
13 / Floods of the MississippiRiver Basin
14 / Southeast Wisconsin Flood of 2008
15 / Scheduled Meeting Time to Discuss Research Paper
16 / Final Exam
In class announcements take precedent over the syllabus!
STATEMENT
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is dedicated to a safe, supportive, and non-discriminatorylearning environment. It is the responsibility of all undergraduate and graduate students to familiarize themselves with University policies regarding Special Accommodations, Misconduct, Religious Beliefs Accommodation,
Discrimination, and Absence for University Sponsored Events. (For details please refer to the Undergraduate and Graduate Timetables; the "Rights and Responsibilities" section of the Undergraduate Bulletin; the Academic
Requirements and Policies and the Facilities and Services sections of the Graduate Bulletin; and the "Student
Academic Disciplinary procedures" [UWS Chapter 14]; and the "Student Nonacademic Disciplinary Procedures"
[UWS Chapter 17]).
Research Paper
Part of the course requirement for Rivers and Floods is to undertake and complete a research project involving some aspect of rivers and or floods. This project can be either: (1) a field-based project research project; (2) GIS-based research project; or (3) a project that involves a substantial review of a historical flood event. The purpose of this project is to help you develop library, writing, organizational, and integrated group skill sets. The field-based research project must be completed as a group of 2-3 individuals. The GIS-based project must be completed as a group if the project involves a field component. The historical flood event project is not a group project and must be completed by one individual.
Possible Field-Based Research Project:
Techniques that can be use to develop a research project include surveying stream cross-sections, collecting suspended sediment, measuring stream discharge, sampling macroinvertebrates, sampling stream bank particle-size, mapping floodplains and terraces, etc.
- Skills associated with these project may include statistical analyses, excel, hydrologic equations, soil description, surveying, identifying bankfull, etc.
GIS Based Research Project:
Potential projects may include techniques developed by delineating watersheds, using aerial photographs to understand changes in watersheds/stream characteristics, performing soil loss equations by watershed, using a GPS receiver to map stream habitat, etc.
- Skills associated with these projects include data analyses, processing, data base management,
familiarity with GPS base stations, Trimble GPS Receiver, aerial photographs and interpretation, cartographic design, etc.
Historical Flood Event Project:
This project will involve researching a historical flood event and describing that event in detail. You will need to investigate what caused the flood (i.e., weather phenomena, dam failure, levee break, etc.), how big was the flood, what was the outcome of the event, have there been floods since, etc.
- Skills you will develop include using library and electronic sources. A series of sources for you to
include are books, newspapers, reports, diaries, etc.
Project Timeline
Week(s) / Progress1 / Discuss the possible projects in class
2-3 / Decide what type of project you want to complete (field, GIS, flood paper)
4 / Proposal due (five sources must be turned in)
5 / Return proposal and start project
6-11 / Data collection, analyses, and writing
12 / References cited due (minimum 15 due)
13 / First draft of paper due
14 / Return first draft of paper
15-16 / Final draft of paper due the day of the final exam
Revised 10/021 of 6