GO 340 Gemstones & Gemology
Emporia State University
Emporia, Kansas USA

Susan Ward Aber


http://www.emporia.edu/earthsci/amber/go340/syllabus.htm

Spring Semester 2008 Syllabus Information

Gemstones and Gemology is an undergraduate course from Emporia State University (ESU) and will be offered again January through May 2008 for college credit to anyone in the world interested this topic. There is no degree program or certificate specific to gemology, yet ESU does offer an Earth Science graduate degree program and other undergraduate Earth Science courses online. Links to information on programs, enrollment, and fees at ESU are listed below, followed by information on course communications, requirements and schedule specific to Gemstones and Gemology.

Earth Science at ESU
www.emporia.edu/earthsci/
ESU for Distance Learning
www.emporia.edu/lifelong/
Online Courses for Earth Science
www.emporia.edu/earthsci/
earthsci.htm#web
Earth Science Graduate Program
www.emporia.edu/earthsci/
graduat.htm
General Information for Online Courses
www.emporia.edu/lifelong/
geninfo/index.htm
Frequently Asked Questions
www.emporia.edu/lifelong/
geninfo/faq.htm
Fees for Online Courses
www.emporia.edu/lifelong/
geninfo/tuition.htm
Registration for Online Courses
www.emporia.edu/lifelong/
courses/registration.htm

In a nutshell... Gemstones and Gemology is an introduction to minerals and rocks sufficiently beautiful to be labeled as gemstones and to methods practiced by gemologists and jewelers to identify these works of nature and humankind. Students enroll for the course in one of two ways: on campus attendance for three credit hours or online participation for two credit hours. If you have enrolled for the course, email me now to introduce yourself and check the weekly announcements often throughout the semester. I look forward to hearing from you!

Dr. Susan Aber
www.emporia.edu/
earthsci/abersusa.htm
620-341-5977
saber@emporia.edu
Check May 1
Announcements

www.emporia.edu/earthsci/
amber/go340/wkspeak.htm

Spring Semester 2008 Syllabus Information

ESU has a schedule of semester events at www.emporia.edu/regist/enroll/syll.htm and basic class information at http://www.emporia.edu/esuclass/index.htm. Academic dishonesty such as cheating and plagiarism is not tolerated in this class and penalties will result. See ESU policy at www.emporia.edu/esuclass/dishones.htm. Also...
Emporia State University will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. Students need to contact the Director of Disability Services, http://www.emporia.edu/disability/, and the professor as early in the semester as possible to ensure that classroom and academic accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. All communication between students, the Office of Disability Services, and the professor will be strictly confidential.

GO 340 Gemstones and Gemology
Course Requirements Lecture Schedule 2008

Course Requirements

Required text: Schumann, W. (1997). Gemstones of the world. NY: Sterling Publishing Co, Inc.
Obtain the newest edition where possible.
The textbook may be purchased or ordered online at the ESU campus Virtual Bookstore. Supplementary resources may be found in your local library or on reserve at William Allen White Library.

Grading

Letter grades from A-F with +/- subdivisions are used to evaluate your performance in this course. An incomplete grade will be considered in extremely rare cases and must be completed within the next semester or it will be converted automatically to an F.
Tests Three, written, open-book tests will be given for the online section, with each test worth 20% of the total grade.
Homework Approximately ten assignments will be given, with total assignments counting 20% of the final grade.
Presentations One webpage presentation will be expected and is worth 20% of the final grade. The presentation topic and design will be your choice and specific guidelines, examples, and topic ideas will be forthcoming.
E-mail All students must have an e-mail account and correspond with me via e-mail on a weekly basis.
Honesty Cheating and plagiarism are not tolerated in this class. Also, assignments for this class should be exclusive to this class and not projects completed for other courses and recycled for this course. For ESU policy see www.emporia.edu/acadaff/dishonesty.htm

Date Topic Assignment Readings and Sites of Interest
January 16
Introductions
+ Definitions
Introductory Fun Quiz;
Read ahead on topics for the next week!
Schumann pg. 8-13, 68-69
January 23
Gem Lore +
Origins and Occurrence
Homework 1
Due 1/29/08
Schumann pg. 14-15, 52-57, 247-248
Gem Briefs, A
January 30
Chemical Properties
+ Crystal Structure
Homework 2
Due 2/5/08
Schumann pg. 14-18, 68-9
February 6
Physical properties
+ Visual Properties
Homework 3
Due 2/12/08
Schumann pg. 19-26, 44-51;
Gem Briefs, B-C
February 13
Optical Properties
Homework 4
Due 2/19/08
Schumann pg. 27-43
Gem Briefs, D-J and visit
Tucson 2008!
February 20
Test 1
Due 2/26/08
Lectures and readings to date
February 27
Gem Testing Instruments
+ Precious Metals
Homework 5
Due 3/4/08
Begin webpage preparation
Schumann, p. 31-37, 208 (11, 12)
Gem Briefs, K-N
March 5
Working With Silver
+ Wire Wrap
Homework 6
Due 3/11/08
Schumann, p. 208
Gem Briefs, O-R
March 12
Gem Fashioning
+ Gem Creation +
Gem Enhancement
Homework 7
Due 3/25/08
Schumann, pg. 49-51, 58-67, 80-81, 242-246
Gem Briefs, S-Z
March 15-23
Spring Break
Enjoy!
Is it time to look ahead to the webpage?

Yikes my webpage project is coming up?!?

Yes, the webpage project is just around the corner. You may want to review the assignment page, www.emporia.edu/earthsci/amber/go340/webpage.htm and work through the html tutorial, www.emporia.edu/earthsci/amber/go340/htm.htm. The htm lesson creates a template that can be adapted for your final product. Also, visit these webpages for topic ideas from...

Date Topic Assignment Readings and Sites of Interest
March 26
Test 2
Due 4/1/08
Webpage topic due today
Lectures and readings, from first test - to date

April 2
Diamond + Colored
Gemstone Evaluation
Homework 8
Due 4/15/08;
Schumann, p. 64-67, 70-81
April 9
Ruby and Sapphire,
Emerald, Topaz
Homework 9
Due 4/22/08
Webpage draft
due today
Schumann, pg. 82-97, 102-103
April 16
Amber, Garnet, Tourmaline,
Peridot, Amethyst,
Alexandrite, Tanzanite
Homework 10
Due no later than 4/29/08;
Webpage Update
due today
Schumann, pg. 228-229, 104-113, 158-161, 98-99, 118-119
April 23
Chalcedony, Jade, Malachite,
Pearl, Opal, Turquoise

Finish the Webpage!
Due 5/2/08

Schumann, pg. 126-127, 150-157, 176-177, 230-239, 170-171
April 30
Test 3
Webpage Final
Due no later than 5/9/08
Lectures and readings to date
May 6
Web Presentations
Online 2008
Have a great summer!

This page originates from the Earth Science department for the use and benefit of students enrolled at Emporia State University. For more information contact the course instructor, S. W. Aber, e-mail: saber@emporia.edu Thanks for visiting! Webpage created: August, 1999; last update: May 1, 2008.

Copyright 1999-2008 Susan Ward Aber. All rights reserved.