CHE 117
Chemistry and the Modern World
Spring 2007

Course Description: This is a course for the student who intends to take only one term of college chemistry. Basic chemical principles will be studied in an effort to understand and carefully analyze problems of current interest in today’s society. Both the methods of science and its application are discussed. Laboratory work will be required. Not open to students who have taken CHE 131. Prerequisite: MAT 110 or math proficiency. (four credit hours)

Instructor: Dr. Jennifer Muzyka, Olin 214, 238-5413.

Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 9-11 AM and by appointment.

Required Supplies:

• The World of Chemistry Essentials 4th edition, by Joesten, Castellion & Hogg
• New York Times (available on campus)
• Lab notebook (with yellow carbon copy sheets)
• Safety goggles for use in lab.

Attendance is expected at every class and laboratory meeting, and will be monitored. Quizzes may not be made up. Other assignments given will count as additional quiz grades. These assignments may be in-class and unannounced, or they may be for students to complete outside of class.

Participation. Your active engagement in this course is important to help you learn the material. Each unexcused absence will result in the loss of one of the eight participation points. “Clickers” will be used to help the instructor assess your understanding of concepts as we proceed, which will make up part of your participation grade. (Make sure you pick up your clicker on the way into class each day!) Another aspect of your participation grade will be how well you work with other team members when we do group work in class.

Tests. There will be weekly quizzes, three in-class exams, and one final exam. The lowest quiz score will be dropped before determining the quiz average. If a test is missed due to illness or personal emergency, a written, verifiable excuse must be submitted before a make-up exam will be given. Every student is required to take the comprehensive final exam at the end of the term during the assigned exam period.

Laboratory. If you have a planned excused absence for a laboratory period (e.g., sporting event), you must make prior arrangements with your lab instructor in order to make up the experiment. For unplanned absences (e.g., illness), you will need to make arrangements to make up the lab as soon as possible. Experiments missed due to unexcused absences may not be made up.

Classroom Behavior. Students are asked to exhibit classroom behavior that is respectful and considerate of the others in the class and not distracting or disruptive. Please arrive on time, turn off cell phones, and do not wear hats in the classroom. In addition, you should not leave and reenter the classroom in the middle of class (save in cases of dire necessity).

Student Disabilities. Students with physical impairments and learning disabilities will sometimes need accommodations to help them have an equal opportunity to learn. It is the student's responsibility to inform the College of any disabilities for which he or she seeks accommodation. If you wish to seek any accommodations for disabilities, you must initiate the process at the beginning of the term, for relief cannot always be granted at the last minute and will not be granted after the fact. Students should contact Dr. Mary Gulley, the Assistant Dean for Advising, in the Office of Academic Affairs. She is charged with reviewing all documentation for disabilities and with coordinating any accommodations offered to students.

Academic Honesty. Students are reminded of the regulations governing academic honesty, especially with regard to plagiarism and other forms of cheating. Copying the work of another student or using outside sources without proper attibution are serious breaches of academic honesty. These regulations are found on pp 22-23 in the Student Handbook.

Tentative Class Schedule