COURSE SYLLABUS
Spring Semester 2003

OFFICE HOURS and CONTACT INFO:
8:30-9:30am every Monday and 8:30-9:30 or 2:40-3:40 Wednesdays by appointment only,
building BSCI room 107
Web Site: www.fatherree.com/enviroscience
E-mail: jfatherree@yahoo.com
Phone: 253-7809 if you need to leave a message for me

COURSE TEXT:
Sustaining the Earth: An Integrated Approach. 5th ed., by G. Tyler Miller

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course will give you an overview of the field of environmental science. The course will consist of four major themes as follows: 1) A thorough study of the scientific method and critical thinking, with an emphasis on how they apply to environmental issues. 2) A survey of the study of ecology and the components of and interrelationships within various ecosystems. 3) A survey of humankind’s various interactions with the environment. 4) A survey of the ecology of the State of Florida and various local environmental issues.

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS:
Instruction will be primarily through lectures, but will be supplemented by the use of slides, overheads, class discussions and exercises, and reading and writing assignments (see Gordon Rule requirement). There will also be several field trips/excursions when possible.

COURSE EXAMS/WRITING REQUIREMENTS:
There will be a total of four 1-hour exams given throughout the semester which will count 100 points each. There will also be a comprehensive final exam which will cover all material presented throughout the semester which will count an additional 200 points. Each exam will be a combination of fill in the blank and short answer questions.

The Gordon Rule (State Board of Education Rule 6A-10.030) also requires that you must satisfactorily complete a number of writing assignments with a total of no less than 1715 words as part of this course. To meet this requirement there will be two short assignments which will count 50 points each for a total of 100 points. Each will be assigned at an appropriate time during the semester.

GRADING SCALE:
You can earn a maximum of 700 points from exams and writing assignments (which may be adjusted per the attendance policy outlined below). To calculate your final grade, add the total number of points earned throughout the course and divide that number by 7, then subtract any penalties. There will be no "curved" grades and no dropped scores. Letter grades are based on a ten-point scale:
A = 90-100
B = 80-89
C = 70-79
D = 60-69
F = 00-59

ATTENDANCE:
You are expected to attend classes and arrive ON TIME. Entering the classroom late disrupts class and is disrespectful to the instructor and the other students, therefore I'll allow you 2 tardies per semester, after which 1/2 of one point will be subtracted from your final course grade for each time you are tardy again. Being tardy means not being in your seat when your name is called at the beginning of each class.

Exams should not be missed and can only be made up if I decide the absence is/was unavoidable and excusable (such as a death in the immediate family, an illness that can be supported with an official doctor’s note, etc.). It will also be necessary to contact me, or another school official BEFORE the scheduled exam will be missed, NOT AFTER. If you are allowed to make up an exam it will be during the first class period that you return, or at a time convenient to me. No student will be allowed to make up an exam if it is missed due to an unexcused absence (such as your alarm not going off, a dog eating your notes, etc.). For other missed classes on non-exam days, you are responsible for finding out what you missed and getting any notes or assignments yourself.

You are not required to attend filed trips. However, there will be extra credit questions on each 1-hour exam that relate to field trip activities, which can range from 3 to 10 points.

OTHER CLASSROOM POLICIES:
Don’t do anything rude or disruptive in class. No smacking on gum, no food, no cell phones, no pagers, no talking while I’m talking, no sleeping, etc.

Do not cheat. Do not plagiarize others’ work (which is considered to be cheating) when doing writing assignments and do not cheat on exams. Cheating in any way, shape, or form can result in an “F” for the entire course – not just the exam or writing assignment. NO EXCEPTIONS.

For any matters not explicitly covered in this syllabus, please consult me or the HCC student handbook. This syllabus is not intended to be an all-inclusive provision of the school’s policies and procedures.