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 70% and units 1-2 30%). 

 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.  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 Fal  Semester 2009. To do so:

 Refer to KSU’s Schedule of Credit Courses SpringSemester 2010.

 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.