Astronomy I (AST 111) Syllabus

1. Prerequisites/Co-requisite
   A. Introductory Algebra (MAT 092) or higher math course. This is similar to a one-year high school algebra course.
   B. It is recommended that you take AST113 in order to fulfill the lab requirements for general education.
   
2. Class Schedule
   
   

   Week No.	Tues.	Thurs.
   1	Intro./Movie	Mod. 1 - Measurement
   2	Mod.2- Scale	Mod. 3-Asteroids
   3	Mod.4-Comets	Mod. 5-Meteors
   4	Finish/Review	Exam 1
   5	Star Charts/Const.	Early History of Astro.
   6	Reason for Seasons	Solar Motion Demo.
   7	Mod.16-Plan.Prop.	Mod.17-Merc.&Venus
   8	Finish/Review	Exam 2
   9	Holiday Break
   10	Earth & Mars	Mod.19-Jovian Planets
   11	Moons of Outer Planets	Video-Planetary Atmos.
   12	Newtonís Laws	Finish/Review
   13	Exam 3	Time Travel Video
   14	Scopes&Light	Properties of the Atom
   15	Mod.26-The Sun	Video -The Sun
   16	Finish/Review	Exam 4
   17	Finals week	- Final Exam
   Note: This schedule could be modified due to unexpected circumstances or to better the educational needs of this particular group. Students will be notified in class of changes.

   
   
3. Student Goals for the Course
   1. Apply the scientific method and other critical thinking models to astronomical phenomena for hypotheses development and testing of hypothesis.
   2. Explain the application of fundamental physical principles to various astronomical phenomena.
   3. Outline the history of astronomical thought from ancient times through the middle ages and on to modern times.
   4. Compare and contrast the physical properties of the major planets.
   5. Describe the physical properties of the sun.
   6. Read and comprehend popular articles in newspapers or magazines related to Astronomy.
4. Class Materials
   1. Required: Activities from LSW publishers.
   2. Optional: Schaumís outline: Astronomy by Stacey Palen.
5. Disciplinary Action
   1. Disciplinary actions may be imposed on students for misconduct or violation of law and/or college rules and policies. Students may be subject to the following: temporary exclusion, disciplinary probation, suspension or expulsion from class. The policies followed in disciplinary actions are outlined in the official ìStudent Handbookî published by Maricopa Community College.
   2. Cell phones are evil. They should be turned off before entering class.
6. Attendance Policy
   1. If a student misses one exam or has two consecutive weeks of unofficial absences, the student will be withdrawn from the course . You can leave me a message by e-mail or phone if an emergency causes you to miss a week stating the nature of the emergency and when you expect to be back. If the absence is not an ìofficial absenceî as defined in the student handbook, it is at the instructors discretion to accept or reject the excuse. You can earn points for active attendance as discussed later.
   2. Students who will miss an exam due to an ìofficial absenceî must tell the instructor in advance to arrange a make-up date which could be before or after the other students take the exam. If missing an exam is not due to an official absence it is at the instructors discretion to accept or reject the absence. The student may be allowed to take the exam if they notify the instructor within 24 hours of missing an exam and if they take a make-up exam before exams are returned to the other students. Only make-ups for exams are allowed as described above. There are no make-ups or attendance, quizzes, activities, etc. There are more than enough extras of these so that you can miss several and still get full credit.
   3. Only students enrolled in the class are allowed to attend class. On campus child care is available. Call 602-787-7150 for more information.
   4. Active attendance is defined as follows. The student is present from the begining to the end of class. The student participates in whatever we are doing that day. If it is an activity the student works diligently of the activity. If it is a lecture the student is paying attention to the lecture. If we watch a movie the student pays attention to the movie. Attendance points will be lost for coming late, leaving early, walking in and out of class, sleeping in class, talking at inappropriate times, and anything else that the instructor deems as not conducive to learnin
7. Withdrawal Policy: These policies are set by the college. See the schedule of classes or other college source which gives the last day to withdraw.
8. Disability Statement: If students have a disability which may require accommodations, please contact the Special Services Office, located in the B-119 (602-787-7171). They will tell me what accommodations are required.
9. Electronic Recording of class: This is not allowed and probably not useful. Class notes will be made available to you in the library or elsewhere.
10. Grading
    • Option 1: Your grade is based on 4 Exams at 150 points each + 50 points for the final.
    • Option 2: Each exam is worth 100 points. Each completed activity is worth up to 10 points with a total of 100 points possible for activities. Active attendance is worth 5 points for each class (excluding test days) up to a maximum of 100 points. The final is worth 50 points.
      
      
    The student need not choose between these options. Your grade will be based on whichever option gives you the highest score. Grading Scale based on 650 points maximum
    1. 90% and above
    2. 80 -89%
    3. 70 - 79%
    4. 60 -69%
    5. below 60%
    
    
    Exams may be a mix of multiple choice, true/false, essay and numerical problems. I will give more guidance later.