Course: Concepts of Science: SCMH-1010, Spring 2008 Tu, Th 12:30 – 1:45 WE WILL START PROMPTLY AT 12:30. Please turn off cell phones! If the content of this policy statement is amended you will receive written and e-mail versions. Instructor: Prof. Ulrich Albrecht Office—Parker Hall 330 Text: “The Sciences. An Integrated Approach” Trefil and Hazen Material: You need to purchase an I-clicker for attendance and class participation. Grading: A = 90-100 D = 60-69 B = 80-89 F = below 60 C = 70-79 Points: 3 hour Exams (including the final) 21% EACH Recitations 25% Class participation 12% Recitations: The recitations are mandatory and you must pass the recitation to pass the course. If you have an excused absence you must see the graduate teaching assistant as soon as possible after the missed event. Class Participation cannot be “made up.” Exams: Exams are mandatory. There will be three one-hour exams. It is essential that you be present for all exams, missing an exam is extremely serious and only university-sanctioned excused absences will be considered. If you have an excused absence, the weighted average of the other exams and final may be substituted for the missed exam or a makeup may be given. It's your responsibility to notify me immediately of a missed exam. Excuses for a missed exam will not be accepted in the classroom, you must see my in my office. Un-excused absences will result in a grade of 0. There will be no exceptions to this policy. No makeup exams will be given after an exam has been returned to the class. Exam Grading: You will have TWO CLASS DAYS from the date that an exam is returned to check the exam and look for errors in grading. If errors in the grading are found, highlight them in yellow and hand the entire exam back in to be checked. Attendance: According to Auburn University policy, students are expected to attend all scheduled classes. Attendance and class participation will be recorded through the use of “clickers”- three missed classes will be allowed. If you have more than three absences, you will receive the grade “FA”. You will be responsible for all class announcements and functions such as exam date changes and pop quizzes. Tentative exam schedule Exam I 02/12 Exam II 03/25 Exam III (FINAL) 05/05 e-mail: frivolous e-mails about topics that were covered in class will not be answered. Course Description: Concepts of Science is a comprehensive interdisciplinary course that covers major scientific concepts. The course includes class room instruction (75% of the grade) and recitations or labs (25% of the grade). Course Objectives: The course exposes students to both the wonders of, and the benefits derived from science. Specialization is not appropriate for non-science majors; hence, this course presents a picture of all science disciplines and aims towards a scientific understanding among the students. The value to the students will come from an appreciation of the scientific method, from a certain degree of science literacy, from learning new concepts and from appreciating some of the seminal as well as important current findings of science. Recitation materials: The recitations are interactive, discussion is required. Recitation assignments must be type written. Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated- evidence of cheating will be handled through University channels. Course Outline (classroom instruction): Chapter 1 Science: A Way of Knowing Chapter 2 The Ordered Universe Chapter 3 & 4 Energy and Heat Chapter 5 Electricity and Magnetism Chapter 6 Waves and Electromagnetic Radiation Chapter 7 Einstein and the Theory of Relativity Chapter 8 The Atom Chapter 10 The Chemical Bond Chapter 12 The Nucleus of the Atom Chapter 14 & 15 The Stars and Cosmology Chapter 16 & 17 The Earth and other Planets, Plate Tectonics Chapter 21 & 22 Molecules of life, The living Cell Chapter 23 Classical and Modern Genetics Chapter 24 The new Science of life Chapter 25 Evolution First Recitation Assignment January 14, 16 or 17. Introduction There will be a will be a discussion on science- you are expected to participate in the discussion. Assignment: Find a current event article on a science topic from the popular media (Time, Newsweek, NY Times, Discover magazine, Science Daily, etc.) or the Web. Write a 100 word typed opinion of the science described in the article (do not plagiarize). Pick two science words or terms from the article and define them. Be prepared to discuss the article and define the words or terms during the recitation. Think about questions such as: How does the issue impact society? Is this really important? What is the point of the research, work or idea. You will need to hand in a copy of the article, your typed opinion and the definitions.