ASTR380: Life in the Universe
Fall 2011

 Instructor: Prof. Andrew Harris
Phone: (301) 405-7531
Email: harris @ astro.umd.edu  (do not include spaces when you type this!)
Office: CSS 1229
Office Hours: TuTh 11:00 am - 12:00 pm and by appointment


TA: Ron Ballouz
Email:  rballouz @ astro.umd.edu (do not include spaces when you type this!)
Office:  0224A
Office Hours: W 3:00 - 4:00 pm


Textbook: Life in the Universe, 3nd Edition
by Jeffrey Bennett & Seth Shostak, 2012
(ISBN-13: 978-0-321-68767-8)

Course Description:

Welcome to Astronomy 380! This is a 3-credit course designed primarily for non-science majors with pre-requisites: ASTR100 or ASTR101 and completion of CORE Distributive Studies requirement in Mathematics and Sciences or permission of Department. Given the prerequisites (or their equivalent) we will assume a basic knowledge of introductory astronomy. This course will address some of life's most fundamental questions: How did life get started on the Earth? Could it happen elsewhere? What does the evolution of our species and development of civilization imply about the likelihood of intelligent species reaching similar levels elsewhere in our galaxy? What would be the most efficient means of communicating with intelligent aliens? This course will allow you to enter the debate on life in ihe universe from the astronomical perspective.

Course Expectations:

In-class activities:  In-class activities will be a part of the class scoring, and you must be present in class to receive credit.  No one activity will be a large part of the grade, but you should not plan on missing several of them.  See the policy on attendance and absences if you need to miss class for an excused absence.  Remember that you will need to notify (call or send an email) Prof. Harris before you miss class for an excused absence.

Preparation: You should read over the material before lecture and be prepared to discuss it.  A more careful reading is recommended after lecture. You should study the slides of the previous lectures and your class notes sometime before the next lecture to make sure that everything is clear.  You are encouraged to ask questions in class -- any question you have is certain to be one others have -- during office hours, or over email.

Study Habits: Study wisely and ask for help if you need it. If you just cram the night before the exam, you probably will not do very well. It is better (and easier) if you keep up with the material on a daily basis. If you have questions, please see Prof. Harris or your TA. We are here to help you learn.

Grading:

The Midterm and Final Exams are Major Scheduled Grading events defined in the University's policy on attendance (http://www.president.umd.edu/policies/v100g.html).  Exam grades are adjusted upward, if need be, so the median score is at least 72%.  Letter grades will be assigned based upon your cumulative score. Here is how your grade will be determined from your point total in the class.

Plus/minus grades will be given within each letter grade for scores near the top and bottom of the percentage ranges.

This point scale makes it possible for everyone in the class to do well. For example, if everyone scores above 75% in the course, you would all receive either an A or a B letter grade. Any adjustments to the scores will make it easier to get a given grade, never more difficult. 

Homework

There will be approximately weekly homework problem sets in this course. All homeworks will be available from the Assignments link on the class ELMS page. 

All homeworks must be turned in on 8.5x11 inch paper in class on the assignment due date.   If for whatever reason, the University is officially closed on the due date, the due date shifts to the next lecture date.  Homework is due in hard copy, and except by prior special arrangment with Prof. Harris, electronically mailed versions of your homework will not be accepted.   Homeworks turned in after the lecture ends will be considered late and will receive 50% credit at most; no credit will be given for homework handed in more than one lecture late.  If you have an excused absence that prevents you from handing your homework in on time, you must document it in writing (see Attendance and Absences, above)  and arrange to have the homework turned in as soon as possible, but no later than during the next lecture.

Text in homework must be typed, although figures and any math may be drawn by hand if you wish.  Unless you have made prior special arrangement with Prof. Harris, handwritten homework will receive at most 50% credit.

Although you may discuss the homework problems with your friends, the final writeup must be in your own words. Copying from a friend's homework, copying from a book, or allowing a friend to copy your homework is academic dishonesty (see Academic Integrity below) and will not be tolerated in this class. If you consult a reference other than the course text, please acknowledge it in your homework - this includes websites!

Midterm Exam

If for whatever reason, the University is officially closed on the exam date, the exam date shifts to the next lecture date. 

Final Exam

Extra Credit

Attendance and Absences

• If you wish to claim an excused absence, you must do so in writing and furnish supporting documentation. 
  
• You must notify Prof. Harris of the reason for an excused absence as soon as possible.  This will include sending Prof. Harris email or leaving a voicemail message as long as possible before absences from exams or homework deadlines.  For absences known far in advance (for instance, religious observance or participation in activities at the request of University authorities), you must notify Prof. Harris by the end of the schedule adjustment period.
• Attendance will not be taken in this class, but a occasional unannounced in-class work will count toward 15% of course credit.
• The Midterm and Final exams are the Major Scheduled Grading Events for this class.
• A prolonged absence in the sense of the University's policies on attendance and absence is two or more consecutive lectures.
• If you will be absent on a day homework is due you may hand in homework assignments early, either to Prof. Harris or in his mailbox in the Department office.  A classmate may turn in your homework for you if you are able to attend the class in which it is due (but please understand the University's policies on Academic Integrity and its potential implications before you do this). 
  
• If you have a medical or other excused absence for a single lecture that coincides with a homework deadline, and wish to turn in the homework up to one class meeting later, the policy in Sec. II.A. of http://www.president.umd.edu/policies/docs/V-100G.pdf applies. 
  
• Requesting to have three or more late homeworks, assignments, or in-class exercises accepted is possible only with written documentation justifying the request, and the consent of the instructor (see Sec. II.B.1). 
  
• Exams on alternative dates or for make-up are possible only in cases of excused absences.  When possible, exams will be given before the regularly-scheduled exams.  For unexpected absences from the Midterm or Final Exams, it is your responsibility to contact Prof. Harris to discuss make-up work within 48 hours of the missed exam.

Academic Integrity

Class Web Page

http://www.astro.umd.edu/~harris/ASTR380/

will contain links to course information, supplementary readings, and interactive programs to make ASTR380 fun and to help you learn. If you have difficulty accessing the internet, please discuss this with Prof. Harris before the end of the schedule adjustment period.  In addition, the class site is also a gateway to many other astronomy links, including sites with up-to-date astronomical images that are made available to the public from telescopes in space and on the ground.

Laptop Policy

1. You must sit in the far back row or on the sides with no one behind you to minimize distractions to other students.
2. You must turn the sound off and not use headphones.
   

Special Circumstances