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COURSE SYLLABUS

 

1.             COURSE TITLE:            Astronomy 1

            Prefix/Number         AST 101                        Credit Hours: 4

 

2.            PREREQUISITE:           REA 090, MAT 060, ENG 060, or equivalent assessment test scores

 

3.         RESOUCES NEEDED:

                        Text:    The Solar System, 5th edition,  Michael A. Seeds, Thompson, Brooks/Cole

                          

4.         COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Focuses in the history of astronomy, the tools of the astronomer and the contents of the solar system including the planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and meteoroids.  This course incorporates laboratory experience.

 

5.         COURSE GOALS:        

                        a)         To learn enough astronomy to have an appreciation of the “sky” and understand what you see

                        b)         To become familiar with the major topics of astronomy, its history and the tools and methods used.

 

 

6.         COURSE OBJECTIVES:

a)         Define each of the related vocabulary words

b)         Recognize the appropriate symbols used

c)         State the concepts introduced

d)         Distinguish between different concepts within a topic

e)         Interpret tables or graphs

f)          Collect and organize data in a systemic manner

g)         Present data by construction of charts and graphs

h)         Evaluate the relevancy of data

i)          Write a formal report

j)          Set up and solve problems using basic geometry, algebra and trigonometry as required

k)         Apply concepts and new situations

l)          Demonstrate the ability to select and apply contemporary forms of technology to solve problems or compile information.

 

7.         EVALUATION PROCEDURES:

There will be four (4) examinations consisting of material from lecture and the textbook.  Examinations are of equal weight and are not comprehensive.  They will consist of multiple choice, definitions, fill in the blank and/or short essay and interpretations.  The exams will be retained by the department.  Removing an exam from the classroom will result in a zero for that exam.

·         Three-fourths (3/4) of class meetings will be devoted to lecture and discussion. The remaining one -fourth (1/4) will be involve laboratory experiences.

·         All materials covered in the syllabus will be covered in this course.

            There will also be vocabulary and review questions for each chapter.

The review questions and vocabulary words per chapter are due the class period following the completion of lecture on that material

Lab write-ups are due at the next week’s lab time and will not be accepted more than two weeks late.  Late lab write-ups will be deducted 1 point per working day that it is late.

 

Lecture Grade                                                             Final Grades               

            4 Exams                                   400 pts                         92 – 100%             A

            Chapter Review Questions      100 pts                         82 – 91%               B

                                    Total                500 pts                         72 – 81%               C

                                                                                                65 – 71%               D

            Lab Grade                                                                   64% or less           F

Lab Work (10 lab @ 10 pts. ea)            100 pts            

Lab Test                                                50 pts

                                                 Total                150 pts

 

 

8.         STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES:

a)         In the event that the school or building is closed during the semester, it is the student’s responsibility to contact their instructor concerning missed exams, labs or lectures.

b)         It is the students’ responsibility to comply with all of the course prerequisites.

c)         Teaching and learning require a team effort. The Science Department expects students to show up for class on time and be prepared for lecture (i.e. you’ve read the assigned chapters and be prepared with questions over the material). We strongly encourage cooperation among students to help in each other understanding of the material. The Science Faculty greatly appreciates specific feedback on any aspects of the course, both positive and negative.

d)         Respect and common courtesy to your peers, staff and instructors is expected.

e)         There will be no extra credit (point) projects for individuals.

f)          Submitted assignments must be your own work even though you may have worked on it as a group (in your own words & handwriting).  Plagiarizing other students’ work is cheating and will result in a zero for that assignment.  Repeat offenders will not only lose points for the assignment, they will lose points for participating in the lab/project and are subject to disciplinary actions.

 

9.         EXAM RULES:

a)         With instructor’s approval and appropriate documentation, a make up exam may be given for a missed exam. Failure to take a scheduled examination at the appointed time will result in a 10% reduction in the score of any make-up examination.  A second missed exam will result in an automatic 20% reduction.  Being unprepared is not a legitimate reason!!

If an emergency arises the day of the exam, appropriate documentation such as an ER admit form, police report of the accident/ticket or a doctor's excuse is required and there will be a 10% reduction of exam score. Documentation is only necessary to make up a missed exam. All make-up exams must be taken within 5 days of the original exam date and may be an essay exam.

If you have a prior obligation the day of the exam you must arrange with your instructor to take the exam prior to the scheduled date.

There are no retakes of exams if a student should fail an exam.

b)         Case Studies and study guides to be handed in with the exam.  Students need to abide by the school's policy on plagiarism.  Remember that plagiarism includes other student's work.  Case studies are to be typed and not to exceed 1 page; include a bibliography on a separate page.  Case studies and study guides will be accepted up to one day after the exam for 1/2 credit and will not be accepted after that.

c)         Cell phones, pagers, and electronic devices with sound are to be turned off, and put away during class times, unless otherwise documented. If you must use your electronic devices, please leave the classroom. This includes text messages (“txting” and “pix”) during any class time.

d)         Cheating on an exam will result in a zero for that exam. No make up exam will be given.

            e)         On exam days, students arriving 20 minutes or more late, will not be allowed to take the exam.

 

 

10.        SPECIAL REMARKS:

a)         There are no extra credit (point) projects for individuals.

b)         If after 20% of classes are missed, the student can be dropped from the class.

c)         If a student has not met the course prerequisites, the student should not be in the class.

d)         Students are expected and encouraged to spend two to three hours outside of class for every contact hour in class and in lab. This is essential in lab.

e)         In the event a student receives a failing grade in this course, the student will be required to repeat BOTH the lecture and lab components

f)          College policy prohibits the use of tobacco products, including smokeless tobacco, snuff, and chewing tobacco, in all College buildings and facilities.

g)         Students giving presentations who arrive 10 minutes or more late for class, points will be deducted from their presentation score.  Also students must save PowerPoint presentations as a ppt.. on a floppy disk, CD, or DVD-R. Do not use re-writable CD or DVD or save as “read-only” or PowerPoint Show as these media and formats are not compatible with our systems.

h)         Lecture and lab cover the same biological concepts but often from different perspectives.

i)          In the event that a problem occurs between students or students and faculty, the appropriate process for addressing student concerns is as follows

·         First, address concern with course instructor.

·         If your concerns are not rectified, then schedule an appointment with Department Chair.

·         If your concerns are still unresolved then schedule an appointment with the appropriate divisional dean.

 

11.        ADA NOTICE:

 

Students who have a documented disability may be eligible to receive accommodations for this class. Please contact the Disability Resources Center at 549-3446 for further information.  Additionally, you may speak with me after class or make an appointment to discuss any concerns that you may have.

 

12.        ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:

 

The very nature of higher education requires that students adhere to accepted standards of academic integrity.  Therefore, Pueblo Community College has adopted a policy of academic conduct as described in the Student Handbook. Violation of academic integrity may be defined to include the following: cheating, plagiarism, falsification and fabrication, abuse of academic materials, complicity in academic dishonesty and personal misrepresentation.  It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the behaviors that constitute academic dishonesty. Sanctions for violating the standards of academic integrity may include warning, probation, suspension, and/or failure of the course or assignment at the discretion of the instructor.