This course will present a survey of the universe, starting with the earth and planets, and then moving outwards to larger and larger scales; to comets, stars nebulae, galaxies and finally the structure and evolution of the universe as a whole. The lab for this course will give students hands-on experience making astronomical observations. This experience will range from the construction and use of a sundial to making observations of the planets and stars with high quality telescopes. Celestial observations may include both on campus observations and off-campus (dark-sky) observations.

Required Texts:
Kuhn. In Quest of the Universe. (2nd edition)

Grading and Course Requirements
Midterms (best 2 of 3) 47%
Final 33%
Lab 20%

Note: For another ASTR 100Lg section, see below.

Top of Page

ASTRONOMY 100Lg
The Universe
Professor Däppen
TTh, 12:00 - 1:50
Class #11516

The marvelous ballet of the starry sky has fascinated mankind since prehistoric times. The questions, for instance, "Where are we?" and "What is the universe?" have spurred the development of astronomy. Since I am both a physicist and an astronomer, the course will be somewhat slanted towards physics. I will show how the quest for the nature of the universe has helped the development of physics tremendously. Physics, in turn, has paid back generously by delivering the very concepts that can make the seemingly weirdest things in the universe comprehensible.

This course is designed specifically for the non-science major who has very little, if any, background in the sciences and mathematics. The course is non-mathematical by prerequisite, but you will have the pleasure (sorry, I mean, you will be required) to learn to perform some calculation that are very simple and will employ formulae that are easy to remember. You will note that formulae represent ideas, reflecting the fact that mathematics is the language of science.

Textbook
Chaisson & McMillan. Astronomy Today (Third Edition)

Requirements & Grading
* 2 Midterm Exams: 20%
* Final Exam: 25%
* Lab: 20%
* Homework: 15%

Top of Page

CHEMISTRY 102Lg
The Molecular World
Professor TBA
TTh, 9:30 - 10:50
Class #23004

The following course description belongs to Professor Singer.

Goals:
Teach fundamental principles and laws of chemistry through lecture, problem solving, and quantitative procedures in the laboratory.

Structure:
Lecture given by professor
1 Laboratory per week, taught by graduate teaching assistant
This course examines the nature of scientific inquiry by teaching principles discovered by scientists through the review of key discoveries of chemical principles that occurred over the last several hundred years.

Readings and assignments:
Chapters 1-11 in "Chemistry." by S. Zumdahl, 4th Edition
4 hours of laboratory per week.

Note: The readings and assignments list may be subject to change. Please contact the department for verification.

Top of Page

Please contact the Geography department for course description.

Top of Page

GEOLOGY 105Lg
Planet Earth
Professor Paterson
MWF, 11:00 - 11:50
Class #42400

This course examines the geologic structure and evolution of the planet earth. Topics covered will include origin of earth, plate tectonics, formation of minerals and rocks, mountain building, formation of oceans, continents, earthquakes, volcanism, and the development of other surface land forms by wind, water and glaciers.

Required Texts:
Davidson, Reed and Davis. Exploring Earth, An Introduction to Physical Geology.
Lab Manual by same Author.

Grading and Course Requirements
Lecture   70%
First Midterm   15%
Second Midterm   25%
Field Trip/Term Paper   10%
Attendance   5%
Lab   30%

Top of Page

GEOLOGY 107Lg
Oceanography
Professor Lund
MWF, 10:00 - 10:50
Class #42424

This course introduces students to oceanographic and geologic processes active at the Earth's surface and their relationship to the human environment. Processes include plate tectonics, oceanic and atmospheric circulation, the hydrologic cycle, marine sedimentation, marine biology, and physical aspects of climate including Global Change issues. The course also surveys relationships between oceanographic processes and the availability of mineral/energy resources and pollution problems.

Please contact the department for reading and assignments list.

Top of Page

GEOLOGY 108Lg
Crisis of a Planet
Professor Davis
MWF, 9:00 - 9:50

This course description belongs to Professor Anderson. Please contact the Earth Sciences department for Professor Davis' course description.

This course will explore the impact of Earth's natural evolution on civilization and the impact of our growing population on the Earth's ecosystems and resources. As leaders of tomorrow, students of today face unprecedented challenges that include both ethical and technical issues regarding our planet and its environment.

The Earth is a "restless" planet. Without volcanism and earthquakes, it would not have evolved to a state supportive of biologic life. Yet, the success of our species is leading to an increasing number of natural disasters. From floods to earthquakes to landslides, such forms of planetary instability are natural. They have always occurred but can become disasters when we fail to understand what is natural.

The course will consider how the Earth came to be where it is today and how humans fit into its natural evolution. Human population trends are increasing geometrically. Although it took two million years for our population to achieve the first billion mark, today our population grows by a billion every decade. As result, our impact on Earth is becoming severe with remarkable effects on the balance of nature in areas such as global warming, acid rain and pollution, and high atmosphere ozone depletion. Other topics include the Earth's diminished ability to provide through its water, mineral, and energy resources.

Because of such issues, students of today and our leaders to tomorrow need to be educated about the Earth, including the natural aspects of its instability and the ways that humans are unnaturally affecting its continued evolution. Are we to be part of the problem or part of the solution? These are global problems that carry into every corner of the world.

Grading
The assignment of grades will be based on two midterms and a final for the lecture portion and weekly exercises, three writing projects, and a final for the laboratory portion of the course. Also included is a two-day field trip with an overnight campout. Students that are unable to attend the field trip are asked to submit a term paper.

Texts
* Geology and the Environment (Authors: Pipkin and Trent)
* Lab Manual: Laboratory Exercises in Environmental Geology (Author: Blatt)

Note: For the most recent information regarding this course, see the instructor's website.

Top of Page

PHYSICS 100Lxg
Conceptual Physics
Professor Feinberg
TTh, 2:00 - 3:20
Class #65010

The aim of this general education course is to introduce you to some of the main concepts of physics. The course is designed to be non-technical, and students won't need to work with lengthy formulas, perform tedious calculations, or pay friends to do their homework for them. However, students will need to understand stuff. To help students in their endeavors, there will be a number of group projects involving homemade rockets, motors, etc.

Texts and other resources
• W. T. Griffith, The Physics of Everyday Phenomena, Third Edition (McGraw-Hill, 2001).
• Physics 100 Laboratory Manual
• Homework assignments, solutions, scores and other information at the class website: www.physlink.com/classroom

Grading
• Homework: 20%
• Midterm Exam and occasional quizzes: 30%
• Final Exam: 30%
• Laboratory: 20%

Top of Page