Course information:

 

Term and date: Fall 2011, 09/07/2011 - 12/23/2011

Course number and section: FCSC-101- M01      Credits: 3.00

Meeting times: day, time

Building and room number: main building, room

Prerequisites and co-requisites:  WRIT 100

 

Required text:

 

Tillery, B. W., Enger, E., and Ross, F. C. (2011). Integrated Science. McGraw-Hill.                                    ISBN: 0077354826

 

Course description:

 

This course is designed to foster an interest in science by introducing you to the “Big Ideas” of different scientific disciplines. It is grounded in:

a)      Obtaining basic content-knowledge associated with five scientific disciplines:

1) Astronomy, 2) Physics, 3) Earth Science, 4) Chemistry, 5) Genetics & Evolutionary Biology.

 

b)      Developing an understanding of a scientific process and fostering a scientific approach to the world (quantitative reasoning skills, problem solving skills and critical thinking skills).

 

Unlike a typical science course, this course is only partially driven by facts. Instead it aims to open your eyes to new ways of thinking and prepare you for life as an engaged citizen of the modern world. The course is interdisciplinary and interactive.

 

Note: text highlighted in grey is to be modified by each instructor; upon modification, delete this note.

List of learning outcomes for the course:

 

Upon successful completion of this course, students (you) will be able to:

1.      Use theories and models as unifying principles that help us understand natural phenomena and make predictions.

2.      Use graphical and numerical methods to analyze, organize, and interpret natural phenomena.

3.      Formulate hypotheses, identify relevant variables, and design hypothetical experiments to test hypotheses.

4.      Recognize the difference between a cause-and-effect relationship and a correlation, and apply that knowledge to data analysis.

5.      Formulate and ask relevant questions about course material.

6.      Illustrate the interdependencies among science, including basic and applied research, technology, ethics, and society.

7.      Evaluate the credibility of sources and information.

8.      Communicate clearly in writing, speaking, and through the visual display of data.

9.      Collaborate effectively as a member of a team.

 

 

Assessment & Grading formula:

 

·        Weekly Homework Assignments                                                                          20 %

o       short answer questions,

o       multiple choice questions,

o       data analysis assignments, and/or

o       posing questions.

 

·        Science in the News (3 short writing assignments: 5% each)                                     15 %

·        Class Participation                                                                                                   5 %

·        Group Research Project (group effort due at the end of the semester)                      20 %

·        Mid Term Exam                                                                                                     15 %

·        Final Exam                                                                                                             25 %

 

 

The NYIT grading scale (in %) is as follows:

 

100-94  A                    79-77   C+                   59-below   F

93-90    A−                  76-74   C

89-87    B+                  73-70   C−

86-84    B                    69-67   D+

83 -80   B−                  66-60   D

                                   

Notes relevant to the Assessment:

 

All assignments (weekly readings, homework assignments, Science in the News, etc.) will be posted on weekly basis on a Bboard site, under folder “Assignments”. Therefore, you are responsible to check this folder every week.

During weeks when “Science in the News” is due (week 4, week 9 and week 12), there will be no weekly homework assignments. 

 

Penalties for late work: All of the assignments should be turned in during the class session on the day they are due (not e-mailed). E-mailed assignments are acceptable only and only if you cannot make it to class (for excusable reasons). Work that is up to 1 week late will get 1/2 of the maximum points allocated (for example: if total number of points is 10, then the best you can obtain for late work is 5 points out of 10). Work that is more than 1 week late will get 1/3 of the allocated points. Work that doesn’t get turned in by the time of the Final Exam will get 0 points.  

 

Attendance policy: Attendance at all class sessions is required. This class is highly participatory and interactive. If you are absent on a given day, you will receive a zero for any activities completed in class that day; large numbers of absences will undoubtedly hurt your grade.

 

Academic integrity and plagiarism policies:

 

Each student enrolled in a course at NYIT agrees that, by taking such course, he or she consents to the submission of all required papers for textual similarity review to any commercial service engaged by NYIT to detect plagiarism.  Each student also agrees that all papers submitted to any such service may be included as source documents in the service’s database, solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers.

 

Plagiarism is the appropriation of all or part of someone else’s works (such as but not limited to writing, coding, programs, images, etc.) and offering it as one’s own. Cheating is using false pretenses, tricks, devices, artifices or deception to obtain credit on an examination or in a college course. If a faculty member determines that a student has committed academic dishonesty by plagiarism, cheating or in any other manner, the faculty has the academic right to 1) fail the student for the paper, assignment, project and/or exam, and/or 2) fail the student for the course and/or 3) bring the student up on disciplinary charges, pursuant to Article VI, Academic Conduct Proceedings, of the Student Code of Conduct. The complete Academic Integrity Policy may be found on various NYIT Webpages, including: http://www.nyit.edu/about/administration/academic_affairs/academics/resources_faculty.html

Library Resources:

 

All students can access the NYIT virtual library from both on and off campus at www.nyit.edu/library.  The same login you use to access NYIT e-mail and NYITConnect will also give you access to the library’s resources from off campus. 

 

On the upper left side of the library’s home page, select links for “Find Resources”, “Research Assistance”, “Services”, “Help”, and “About”.  Using “Quick Links” on the right hand side of the home page will also assist you in navigating the library’s web pages. Should you have any questions, please look under “Research Assistance” to submit a web-based “Ask-A-Librarian” form. 

 

Support for students with disabilities:

 

NYIT adheres to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504. The Office of Disability Services actively supports students in the pursuit of their academic and career goals. Identification of oneself as an individual with disability is voluntary and confidential. Students wishing to receive accommodations, referrals and other services are encouraged to contact the Office of Disability Services as early in the semester as possible although requests can be made throughout the academic year.

 

Withdrawal policy:

 

A student may withdraw from a course without penalty through the end of the 8th week of class during a 14- or 15-week semester and through the 8th meeting during an 8week course cycle. After this, the student must be doing passing work in order to receive a W grade. Students who are not passing after the 8th week or equivalent will be assigned the grade of WF.

 

It is the student’s responsibility to inform the instructor of his/her intention to withdraw from a course. If a student has stopped attending class without completing all assignments and/or examinations, failing grades for the missing work may be factored into the final grade calculation and the instructor for the course may assign the grade of WF. The grade of F is used for students who have completed the course but whose quality of work is below the standard for passing.

 

Withdrawal forms are available in departmental offices and once completed must be filed with the registrar. Students should be reminded that a W notation could negatively impact their eligibility for financial aid and/or V.A. benefits, as it may change the student’s enrollment status (full-time, part-time, less than part-time). International students may also jeopardize their visa status if they fail to maintain full-time status.

 

 

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WEEKLY SCHEDULE:  the motto is “Something for Everyone”

 

Fall 2011 Semester: 13 weeks + 1 makeup week

 

Week 1: SCIENTIFIC PROCESS

 

Class-1: Intro to the Course.

Class-2:  Science & the Scientific Method.

 

 

Week 2: SCIENTIFIC PROCESS

 

Class-1: Science vs. Pseudoscience.

Class-2: Mathematical & Quantitative Reasoning Skills.

 

Work Due: Mandatory reading & Weekly Homework Assignment #1

 

 

Week 3: ASTRONOMY

 

Class-1: Electromagnetic radiation (light) & its nature.

Class-2: Visible Objects in the Universe.

 

Work Due: Mandatory reading & Weekly Homework Assignment #2

 

 

Week 4:  ASTRONOMY

 

Class-1: The Dynamics of Visible Objects in the Universe.

Class-2: The Birth of the Universe.

 

Work Due: Mandatory reading & Science in the News #1

 

 

Week 5:  PHYSICS

 

Class-1: Energy: a prerequisite for Life.

Class-2: Key sources of energy used today. Future energy sources.

 

Work Due: Mandatory reading & Weekly Homework Assignment #3

 

 

 

 

Week 6: PHYSICS

 

Class-1: The Law of Conservation of Energy.

Class-2:  Information Literacy (Library Resources) & Preparing for the Research Project.

 

Work Due: Mandatory reading & Weekly Homework Assignment #4

 

 

Week 7:  EARTH SCIENCE

 

Class-1: Factors that govern Global & Local Climate.

Class-2: Current Environmental Problems.

 

Work Due: Mandatory reading & Weekly Homework Assignment #5

 

 

Week 8:  MIDTERM EXAM

 

Class-1:  Review of the Material  

Class-2:  The Mid-term Exam

 

 

Week 9:   CHEMISTRY

 

Class-1: The Microscale Universe. Atoms and Molecules. 

Class-2: The Asymmetry on a Molecular Scale (Chirality). 

 

Work Due: Mandatory reading & Science in the News #2

 

 

Week 10:  GENETICS

 

Class-1: Chromosomes, genome, genes, DNA, RNA, proteins.

Class-2: Classical Genetics (Mendel’s laws of heredity).

 

Work Due: Mandatory reading & Weekly Homework Assignment #6

 

 

Week 11: GENETICS

 

Class-1: Molecular genetics & gene function.

Class-2: The Codon Code.

 

Work Due: Mandatory reading & Weekly Homework Assignment #7

Week 12: EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY

 

Class-1: Species, evolution, natural selection, environment;

Class-2: Graphical representation of evolution; Success of humanity as species.

 

Work Due: Mandatory reading & Science in the News #3

 

 

Week 13: RESEARCH PROJECTS

 

Class-1 & Class-2: Power-point presentations of Research Projects. 

 

Work Due: Oral Presentations.

 

 

Week 14 (Makeup Week): REVIEW FOR THE FINAL EXAM

 

 

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