Course Description: This class is the science portion of the Veterans Upward Bound Program. The focus is to prepare students for college level science courses. We review some key concepts within the disciplines of physics, chemistry, biology and earth science. Students gain exposure to the expectations of a typical college level science class. This course is set up in traditional lecture style format with quiz and test taking. This course defines various parts of the natural world, examines the living and nonliving and what unites them.

Objective: Students will develop scientific literacy and the knowledge of what is required to do well in a typical university science class.

Instructional Method: This course is lecture based. Most weeks, on Tuesdays, there will be a short quiz at the start of class based on reading assignments and lecture notes from the class before. At 7:15 quizzes are passed in. There will be a midterm exam and a final exam. The final exam covers the entire cycle. Students are expected to read all assigned materials.

Evaluation: The grades will be calculated as follows:
Quizzes 30%
Midterm Exam 30%
Final Exam 35%
Attendance and classroom etiquette 5%

Attendance & Participation: You cannot make up quizzes. If you are absent for any reason or are so late coming to class that you miss a quiz, you cannot make up the quiz. Note that your lowest quiz grade will be dropped, before calculating your average quiz grade.

Conduct: Questions and comments directed to the instructor are welcomed, but students should raise their hand as not to interrupt the flow of the class or each other. Respect for the classroom environment is expected. Swearing will not be tolerated, nor conversations between students while lectures are ongoing. There is not to be any cell phone usage during class, turn the volume off when you come and check your messages between classes. Attendance, punctuality and appropriate classroom behavior is expected and necessary if all are to get the most out of class, it is 5% of your grade.

If any problems or questions arise, the student should approach the instructor or tutor at the very start or end of class. Messages can be left at the Veterans Upward Bound office on the third floor of the McCormack building in the instructor’s mailbox. Email is great for questions and issues that come up: you will be able to easily email the instructor, tutor and one another.

Scientific Foundations Fall 2008 Syllabus
(Subject to changes)

Primary text: (SM) Science Matters, R.M. Hazen & J. Trefil