Syllabus
Kennesaw State University
SCI 1102/07
CRN:11730
Science, Society & Environment II
Spring Semester 2012
Instructor: Kyle Vermillion
Time and Place: Saturdays 11 - 145 PM Sci 109
Contact Information: email: kyle1946@yahoo.com
(Please use this email address for contacts!) Office hours by appointment. Phone: 770-423-6158 (This is the department's number. I'll check my messages on Saturdays only. To contact me, it will be better to use email).
Course URL: www.kylevermillion.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kyle.vermillion
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/kyle-vermillion/15/562/4a4
Class files:http://www.scribd.com/owls_1102
Course Description:(Prerequisite: SCI 1101 or its equivalent) “This course is the second in a two part sequence that fulfills the general education science requirement. Using the context of environmental issues, it introduces students to the basic skills and scientific understandings needed by educated citizens to make informed decisions about scientific issues” (KSU 2003-2004 Undergraduate Catalog page 350).
It is extremely important for you to: (1) join scribd.com (free); (2) learn to use the site; and (3) subscribe to my account so that you'll have access to all of the class files. For best results, do not use the Facebook login. Set up your own Scribd.com account. Please do not pay for this sevice. You may get a message that the files are archived and there is a fee. If you get this message, email me and I'll correct it.
The media constantly informs us of the latest outbreaks of Mad Cow Disease, E. coli, and Influenza... the list seems endless. Concurrently we’re flooded with information concerning overpopulation, GM crops, and the controversy of proper evolution education (just to add a few more concerns). The three units of this course will help you understand the science behind of these issues as well as others.
Class Schedule
http://www.scribd.com/doc/77118390/SCI-1102-Schedule-Spring-2012
In this class you'll not use Vista.
Weekly Assignments
Your weekly assignments will be listed on this website under the Sci 1102 unit # tab. It's important check this site routinely for your assignments.
How to Use Scribd.com
1. Go to: http://www.scribd.com
2. Create a Scribd account (don’t use Facebook for this class, it doesn’t work well for our purposes).
a. Find the signup tab (top right).
b. Enter your email address and create a username and password.
c. Now you can access the files at: http://www.scribd.com/owls_1102 (for SCI 1102)
With all scribd based files, download the files and then print them. You'll save a lot of time and paper!!!!
Text: Environment, The Science Behind the Stories by Withgott and Brennan (Any edition) or any other environmental science text. Your text is for background reading only. Background readings are also available online. For this option, refer to the Unit 1 tab above.
Learning Outcomes: After completing this course, students will have a better understanding of important topics such as community interactions, human population growth, genetics, evolution, and environmental health and toxicity.
Tests: Test and examinations will consist of various types of questions such as (but not limited to): multiple choice, matching, true false, fill-in-the-blank, and short answers. The majority of the questions will come from the lecture material. The final examination is cumulative (Unit 3 - 80% and unit 2 - 20%).
Grading Information: There are no test make-ups. If you miss a test, you have earned a zero for that test. All tests are prescheduled and missing a test is considered “a rare and unusual event”.
Your grade will be determined by the higher of your two test scores, extra credit points, and the final examination grade. If you miss a test for any reason, that test will be dropped and the remaining test will be your “higher test score”. Otherwise, the lower of the two test scores will be dropped. Each test is 100 points.
If you must miss more than one test, then you should not take this class. Missing more than one test may result in course failure.
The Final Exam is also 100 points.
Your final grade equals the average of the higher test score and the final examination. Students must take the final exam. There is a total of 200 points for the course. Extra credit points are added to your total points earned. Extra credit details will be presented in class.
Final grades are based on the following: A 90 -100% (180-200 points) B 80 - 89% (160-179 points) C 70-79% (140-159 points) D 60-69% (120-139 points) F below 60% (below 120 points)
Class Attendance: Class attendance is encouraged, but not required. Most of your test and examination questions will come from lecture material; it is to your benefit to attend all lectures. If you must miss a lecture, be sure to see me for lecture handouts. It is in your best interest to arrange for a fellow student to pick up copies of handouts when you know that you will miss a class. The instructor will not email lecture material to you. In the case of inclement weather, any cancelled class will be made up at the next Saturday meeting (including tests), and a reasonable adjustment of the scheduled material coverage will be made.
Academic Withdrawals: Please review the Withdrawal Policy Effective Fall 2011. To do so:
Refer to KSU’s Schedule of Credit Courses Fall Semester 2011.
Withdrawal from Courses
Students may withdraw from one or more courses anytime before the last three weeks of the semester. However, as of fall 2004, students will be allowed a maximum of eight total withdrawals if they enter KSU as a freshman. Transfer students will be allowed one withdrawal per fifteen credit hours attempted, for a maximum of eight. Students who choose to pursue a second degree at KSU will be allowed two additional withdrawals. Students who entered KSU before the fall of 2004 will be allowed one withdrawal per fifteen credit hours attempted for a maximum of eight after the institution of this policy. To withdraw they should complete an official withdrawal form in the Office of the Registrar. Students who officially withdraw from courses before mid-semester will receive a "W" in those courses and receive no credit. They will not however suffer any academic penalty. Students who officially withdraw after mid-semester (and before the last three weeks of the semester) will receive a "WF," which will be counted as an "F" in the calculation of their grade point average.
The only exceptions to these withdrawal regulations will be for instances involving unusual circumstances, which are fully documented. Students may appeal to the academic standing committee for consideration of unusual circumstances.
Exact withdrawal dates will be published in the official academic calendar. Students who simply stop attending classes without officially withdrawing usually are assigned failing grades.
Students will receive refunds only when they withdraw from all their classes and only by the schedule outlined in the University System refund policy.