If you are new to this course, please read the Welcome page in addition to this Syllabus page. Both contain essential information you must act on right away. You should also read through the Elements of the course to get a better idea of the different parts of the course. This Syllabus summarizes how I run the course. You can find more information on many specific topics by using the buttons at the left of this page.
Instructor Information
E-mail: dkary@citruscollege.edu
Phone: (626) 852-8031
Office: ES 608
Lecture Times: MW 9:55-11:20
Office Hours: MW 8:30-9:30 am, TTh 10:30-11:30 am
Virtual Office Hours: TTh 8:30-9:30 p.m. (On Blackboard)
Textbook Information
The Solar System: The Cosmic Perspective, 6th Ed. Bennett et al.
There are several versions of the book. Make sure you buy the 6th edition, covering the solar system, not stars and galaxies. Several chapters and problems sets have changed from earlier editions, so buying an older one may not work.
You can buy your textbook at the Owl Bookshop at Citrus College, or at the Owl Bookshop Online . Also, make sure you register with the textbook web site, Mastering Astronomy, so that you can access the course tutorials. You will need the textbook for this.
Strongly Recommended: Scientific Calculator. This doesn't have to be a really expensive model: anything that can do square roots and exponents should be able to handle anything you do in this class.
Learning Outcomes
Below are the formal “learning outcomes” of the course. In addition to giving you the list, I want to describe some more specific examples of what you will be learning about in this course.
First, I am really fascinated by the worlds of our solar system, and I want to communicate my excitement to you. I'd like these worlds to become real places for you, so that you know:
- What would it be like to stand on the surface of the Moon? To float in the cloud tops of Jupiter?
- Where else in the solar system might there be Life? What kind?
- What would happen if an asteroid hit the Earth?
As you will see, facts and details are valuable, but I don't want you to know the worlds just through a sterile set of memorized facts like: "The average surface temperature on Mars is 220 Kelvin degrees...." Instead, I want you to see how the whole system works, how its parts are related to each other, how it changes with the passage of time, and even how we think it formed in the first place, and whether there are likely to be solar systems like ours orbiting other stars. These are big ideas, and they will give us a framework that will make all those individual facts and details meaningful. This course doesn't emphasize memorization; it emphasizes understanding.
Another thing I want you to learn is: How do we know the things we know? After all, most of the things we talk about in this course are way too far away for us to visit them. This is an even bigger question, for it is really a question about theory and evidence, and about what it means for knowledge to be scientific. These are the most challenging of ideas, but if you come to understand them, they could change how you view the world!
Here is the full list of the class learning goals:
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Describe astronomical events and processes to peers.
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Estimate and/or calculate the characteristics of solar system objects, and understand the meaning of these calculations.
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Formulate scientific hypotheses in order to distinguish between scientific and non-scientific questions and methods.
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Apply an understanding of the orbital and rotational motion of the Earth, Moon and planets to predict and observe the changes in the sky that result from these motions.
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Develop an understanding of relevant astronomical process (e.g. solar system formation, planetary orbital motion) and as well as processes from related sciences (e.g. physics, geology, chemistry) and apply these processes to predict the properties of solar system bodies.
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Estimate the size and scale of objects in the universe in order to describe the Earth’s relationship to them.
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Describe the processes that drive atmospheric change in planets to better understand the effects of human activity on the Earth’s climate.
Grading
Course Grades will be determined on an absolute scale. The following scale will be used for letter grades:
| A |
Greater than 80% |
| B |
Greater than 70% |
| C |
Greater than 60% |
| D |
Greater than 50% |
| F |
Less than 50% |
Letter grades are assigned according to your overall score. Note that an incomplete ("I") grade will only be given out in cases of unforeseeable emergency at the end of term prevents you from completing the course work.
| Midterm exams (2 at 12.5% each) |
25% |
| MasteringAstronomy Assignments (7 at 1% each) |
7% |
| Homeworks (5 at 3% each) |
15% |
| Group Discussion Questions (1 set each week) |
12% |
| Quizzes (12 at 0.5% each) |
6% |
| APOD Presentation (1) |
5% |
| Know Your World/Mystery Solar System Tour (1) |
5% |
| Final Exam (1) |
25% |
| Total |
100% |
If you do better on the final exam than on one of the midterms, then the final exam grade will replace the lowest midterm grade.
For more information on the different parts of this course, have a look at the Elements of the course.
What activities will you do in this course?
Though this is a distance education ("DE") course, it is just as real an astronomy course as the courses you find on campus at Citrus, or at a Cal State or University of California campus. This means most students will find it pretty demanding. Expect to spend 9-12 hours a week on:
- reading, studying, and critical thinking
- writing technical explanations of scientific questions
- math calculations -- We do use math in this course; it essential to convey the concepts of astronomy. However, I do work hard to choose only the mathematical techniques you really need for understanding, and to give you plenty of coaching and practice so you can master them. This is one of the parts of the course many students find difficult. If you do, I urge you to come to me for help as soon as you have trouble. I can help, and you can master this stuff -- if you start early in the term.
- computer activities
- communicating with me and your classmates (by email, the message board, etc.)
- observing the sky
Assignments and the Schedule Page
There are several different types of assignments in this class. They include quizzes, homework assignments, online tutorials, discussion board activities, and an observing project. All of these are discussed in more detail on the page describing the Elements of the Course.
The Schedule page on Blackboard contains links to each week's readings, reading notes, quizzes and homework assignments; as well as exam guides, and special events. Checking into the schedule page and the discussion board is the equivalent of attendence in this class. If you don't do it, you could easily miss out on important information.
Late Assignments
Most assignments must be sent to me by 12:00 midnight, Pacific time on the due date. I do not grade late homework assignments. However, if you turn in a homework assignment a few days late I will assign it a nominal grade of 40% of the total, assuming you appear to have done all parts of the assignment. If the assignment is incomplete, it will receive a lower grade. I reserve the right to disallow late assignments by an individual or by the class if I feel this is being overused. I do not accept late quizzes at all. I do accept late “masteringastronomy” assignments at for 50% credit.
Please keep a copy of everything you send in. In spite or your (and my) best efforts, homework will get lost and your copy is your backup. I will be posting homework solutions promptly.
Cheating
The whole system of higher education is based on the idea that you earn credit for the work that you do. If you try to present somebody else’s work as your own, that is cheating. While I encourage you to share ideas with other students, the final work you hand in must be your own. If I have reason to suspect that you have been cheating on an exam or assignment then you will receive a "0" grade, and you may be expelled from the course (Yes, I have done this). Click on How to Avoid Cheating to get some more ideas on what I expect.
Exams
There are 2 exams during the term and 1 cumulative final exam. Exams test your understanding of the material and critical thinking skills. Every exam includes a few math problems, though math is not the major focus of the exams. All exams are taken on campus in the Testing Center . Most exams are divided between on-paper short-answer questions, and multiple-choice questions that you do on a testing computer. Exams are closed-book, but you may use a calculator. For further details, see the links for each exam on the Schedule page on Blackboard.
I will only give makeup exams under the following circumstances:
1. You contact me before the exam explaining why you won’t be able to attend.
or
2. You contact me no later than 24 hours after the end of the exam period to explain why you weren’t able to attend and arrange for a makeup exam.
You may contact me either in person, by telephone, or by email. All makeup exams should be done within 1 week of the original exam.
There are no makeup quizzes and I will not accept late quizzes.
Getting Help
If you need help, ask me. In addition to the help I can give you, there is lots of other help available to you on campus and online. Tutors in math, science, and study skills are available online or in person from the Learning Center. They also have tutors specializing in astronomy. Technical (computer) help is available from Web office. For all these, see the Help link at the left of this page. If you feel you might want help from me or from any of these sources, do ask for it right away. Tutoring can make a big difference to you if you start early in the term, but it only helps a little if you start the week before the exam.
Special Needs or Disabilities
I will make every reasonable accommodation for students with disabilities. It can take time to make these arrangements, so please contact me early in the term if you require accommodation. Students with disabilities should be aware that Citrus offers many special services; please contact Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSP&S) . All students should be aware that Citrus offers an impressive list of services that are available to everyone. Check out the web page for Student Services .