Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

G 202 Earth Surface Processes introduces you to the landscapes of the Earth. Topics includes mass wasting (aka landslide), streams, glaciers, deserts, beaches, groundwater, and use of topographic maps This is an on campus class with class meetings Monday and Wednesday mornings from 9:00-11:50 am at Southeast Campus in SCOM 308.  You are expected to attend all scheduled class meetings. The class will be taught in an integrated lecture /lab format with frequent hands on activities and  labs which will require the use of in class materials as well as discussion and lecture. Here is a sample syllabus form a previous term, the dates will be be different this term and you should expect other minor changes as this class continues to evolve. If you sign up for this class make sure to use the syllabus for winter 2026. 

Optional Field Trip to Johnson Creek Watershed

This class includes a project on Johnson Creek which you can complete by participating in a class field trip to Johnson Creek or by writing a guided research paper about Johnson Creek. The class fieldtrip will use van transportation provided by PCC and will leave Southeast Campus on Saturday 2/21 at 8:00 am and return by 5pm. Students will need to bring their own lunch. More details about both options the first day of class.

Textbook & Digital Resources

This class will use Earth: Portrait of a Planet by Stephen Marshak (7th edition). This text is also used for G 201 and G 203 classes at PCC. The class will use the following digital resources which support the text: Smartwork  and Guided Explorations in  Physical Geology. 

Note About Purchasing Text and Digital Resource Access

You have several options for purchasing the textbook and required web site access:

Panther Access is the default this course. Panther Access provides instant access to course materials with interactive and adaptive digital content. The digital course materials are included in your class fees. An email will be sent to your MyPCC email account with instructions on accessing the digital content for the course The instructor provides you with access to digital content by the first day of classes You can choose to opt out through the integrated system in D2L. The opt out must be completed by the second Monday of term. For more information go to; https://www.pcc.edu/resources/bookstore/pantheraccess.htm : Cost $48.00 for one quarter of access.

If you opt out you have several options:

1. Purchase an Ebook version of the text from the publisher this will include access to the digital resources for 360 days: cost $75.00.
2. Purchase a new paper copy of Portrait of a Planet which include access to the digital resources: cost about $164.00 available from the PCC bookstore as well as from various on line vendors. 
3. Get hold of used paper copy of Portrait of A Planet (older editions will work OK) and purchase 360 day access to Smartwork 5 for Earth for $35.00 and purchase 360 day access to Guided Explorations in Physical Geology for $20.00 by going to https://digital.wwnorton.com/earth7  and clicking View All Options and then on Purchase Options.

Questions?

If you have any questions about his class please contact the instructor, Eriks Puris, at eriks.puris@pcc.edu. 

We will be using D2L and Google Earth and various web sites in this class. There will be a set of classroom laptop computers available for your use. If you have a laptop I recommend bringing it to class.  You should be comfortable using Google Suite and have basic computer skills including word processing, simple spreadsheets, drawing and capturing a screen shot.