School of Arts and Sciences

 

 

 

 

This course is an introduction to the basic concepts of science and future thinking. The content demonstrates how scientific and technological advances have significantly impacted all aspects of contemporary life.

 

The primary object of this class is to introduce students to a number of fundamental concepts in science, technology, and business. We will also examine several examples in which science and technology have had a profound impact upon American business and industry. By the end of this class students should have an awareness of:

1. How computers have become a major force in American society.
2. How computer networking and the internet further extended the influence of computers.
3. The basics of how infectious diseases spread, and the promise and limitations of antibiotics in controlling them.
4. The social, business, and technological factors leading to the near-universal usage of home appliances.
5. Basic versus applied research and its funding sources.
6. The role of intellectual property in science and technology.
7. The role that science and technology play in food production.
8. Perspectives on what constitutes $(Cre(Bal$(D ((Bor $(Cgo(Bod$(D) (B science versus $(Cqu(Backery$(D a(Bnd how to tell the difference.
9. The role of interests and objectives in forming the use of science and technology by business and industry.

 

 

 

Method of Instruction

 

Recognizing the diverse learning styles present in any classroom, a variety of

instructional techniques will be used to encourage learning. Examples include lecture, class discussion, small group work, assigned readings, presentations, and film.

 

Students are expected to read assigned readings before each class begins in order to participate in class discussions. Questions are encouraged. Course materials are available from the course website:

http://sarbayes.org/sci410/home

Assignments will be given in class and subsequently posted to the website. Check the website for schedule updates, news, and announcements.

 

The Stratford Libraries on campus are located both at the Falls Church campus and the Woodbridge campus.

 

The Online Library is available 24/7 through the Stratford home page at www.stratford.edu . Here you will find full text books, journals and other electronic resources to assist with your papers and research assignments.

            

EBSCOhost is a powerful online reference system accessible via the Internet. It offers a variety of proprietary full text databases and popular databases from leading information providers. It is also available from the Stratford home page at www.stratford.edu

    

 

 

 

Zimmerman, Barry and David Zimmerman. Killer Germs: Microbes and Diseases that Threaten Humanity. McGraw-Hill, 2002.   Cowan, Elizabeth S. More Work for Mother: The Ironies of Household Technology from the Open Hearth to the Microwave. Basic Books, 1985.

ISBN: 0071409262       ISBN: 0465047327

 

These books are available from the Stratford University online bookstore. At this point, you should already have the textbook in your possession! If not, please order right away and expedite shipping. Orders can be placed on the Stratford web site, or use an alternate such as Half.com or Amazon.com to find a used book.

 

Other handouts will be distributed in class and/or posted to the class website.

 

 

 

The final course grade will be determined as follows:

1)      Active Attendance (15%)

2)      In-class assignments (20%)

3)      Weekly homework (20%)

4)      Group project (30%)

5)      Final exam (15%)

 

The letter grade will be determined as follows:

90--100 = A

80--89 = B

70--79 = C

60--69 = D

0$(O59 (B = F

 

 

 

You need to be able to access class notes from the course website.

 

Assignments:

• Weekly Readings / Homework
• In-class assignments $(H S(Bhort writing assignments graded pass/fail.
• Group Presentation $(H S(Bee group project handout and/or the web site.
• Final Exam $(H T(Bhe final exam will be made available one week before it is due. The exam will be cumulative, covering the entire course. Students may use any source of written material (class notes, textbook, World Wide Web, other books, etc.). However, each student must work on the exam by themselves, cite sources, and use their own words.
• Field Trip $(H S(Btudents are encouraged to take one self-guided field trip, and write a brief written report. The report will be two pages, due in the class period following the field trip, which will be no later than week eight (8). The field trip report may replace the equivalent of two weekly homeworks or act as extra credit (up to instructor's discretion), but this does not include any portion of the final exam or group presentation.

 

Assignments should be turned in by the due date unless prior arrangement is made with the instructor or unless accompanied by a doctor's excuse. Late assignments will lose up to 10% credit per week overdue. Non-excused assignments that have not been turned in by the day after the final class meeting will receive an automatic ZERO for the missing assignment(s). If some serious event occurs which prevents you from turning in an assignment on time, contact me via e-mail as soon as possible so that other arrangements may be made.

 

Attendance: Students are expected to be in class, on-time, and stay for the duration.

1)      Attendance is the proportion of time you are actually in the class, participating. If you miss half the class, you get 50% for that day$(Bs (Battendance, at most.

2)      There will be in-class assignments most class meetings. Each is graded simply pass/fail. It is not possible to make up an in-class assignment.

Absences for military, medical or court reasons will be excused as long as documentation is provided. Further exceptions may be possible, but need to be cleared through the Dean before or during the first week of class.

 

Plagiarism: Students are encouraged to search websites and research good books in order to enhance their view of the topics discussed. You may quote directly from these sources, or paraphrase the findings, but please make sure to specifically indicate the quotation. When paraphrasing, also be sure to attribute your findings to the particular sources. Students will be credited for their thorough research, as well as their ability to formulate their own conclusions. Passing off other people$(Bs (Bwork as your own is unethical and unacceptable in this course. If it is inadvertent, the assignment will receive a ZERO. If intentional, it will result in a failing grade for the course, and possible expulsion.

 

Cell phone use during lecture is forbidden. If your family or work obligations require you to take calls, set your phone to silent, and quietly take the call outside the class. Please also refrain from texting and email.

 

VERY IMPORTANT: Backups and Backups

1)      Keep copies of all major assignments that you submit. From time to time e-mail and/or server failures occur, along with human clerical errors. In the event that one of these occurs, you need to have copies of your work available so that problems can be straightened out quickly.

2)      Make backup copies. Keep at least one backup copy of your work at all times, in case of hard drive failure. Never rely on a single medium: hard drives, floppies, USB sticks, and CDs can all fail.

 

Generally speaking, final grades of "I" are not allowed except rare cases involving serious medical problems, military obligations, etc. This policy is mandated by the school's accrediting agency, not by the instructor or Stratford University.

 

 

 

Please refer to the Stratford University Catalog for complete information on grounds for punishment up to and including expulsion from school. Listed below are examples of unacceptable behaviors and practices that will result in penalties enforced against the offending student. Do not engage in any of these practices personally, and please notify your instructor or the program Dean if you are aware of any other students who have committed any of these offenses.

 

Grounds for Academic Dishonesty/Misconduct

 

• Plagiarism $(H p(Bresenting the work of another as one$(Bs (Bown in a paper, exam, or other assignment. Acknowledgment must be given for the use of another$(Bs (Bideas or language.
• Cheating on Examinations $(H c(Bopying another$(Bs (Bwork or allowing your work to be copied; using unauthorized notes; taking another$(Bs (Bexam or having another take yours.
• Computer Use $(H s(Boftware is protected by copyright. Students may not copy the institution$(Bs (Bsoftware without permission of the copyright holder. Additionally, students may not place personal software on the institution$(Bs (Bcomputers or damage or destroy either software or computers.
• Other Forms $(H o(Bther forms of academic dishonesty include: selling or purchasing examinations, papers or other assignments and submitting or resubmitting the same paper for two different classes without explicit authorization.

 

Grounds for Non-Academic Dishonesty/Misconduct

 

• Physical and/or psychological abuse, threat, or harassment.
• Initiation of, or causing to be initiated, any false report, warning or threat of fire, explosion, or other emergency.
• Unauthorized use, possession, or storage of any weapon, dangerous chemical or explosive element.
• Disrupting, obstructing or interfering with University-sponsored events.
• Theft of school equipment, products and supply materials.
• Unauthorized possession, use, sale, or distribution of alcoholic beverages or any illegal or controlled substance.
• Gambling or holding raffle or lottery at the University without proper approval.
• Disorderly, lewd, or obscene conduct.

 

 

 

In the case of inclement weather campus status announcements will be made on the Stratford University website or tune to Channels 4, 5, 7, 9 or WTOP.

 

 

 

See the Schedule page.