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I. ASCRC General Education Form (revised 2/8/13) Use to propose new general education courses (except writing courses), to change existing gen ed courses and to remove designations for existing gen ed courses. Note: One-time-only general education designation may be requested for experimental courses (X91-previously X95), granted only for the semester taught. A NEW request must be submitted for the course to receive subsequent general education status. Group II. Mathematics VII: Social Sciences (submit III. Language VIII: Ethics & Human Values separate forms III Exception: Symbolic Systems * IX: American & European if requesting IV: Expressive Arts X: Indigenous & Global more than one V: Literary & Artistic Studies XI: Natural Sciences general w/ lab w/out lab education VI: Historical & Cultural Studies group *Courses proposed for this designation must be standing requirements of designation) majors that qualify for exceptions to the modern and classical language requirement Dept/Program Physics and Astronomy Course # ASTR U 135N Course Title Prerequisite Elementary Astronomy Laboratory II Prereq. or coreq., ASTR 132N Credits II. Endorsement/Approvals Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office Please type / print name Signature 1 Date Instructor Diane Friend Phone / Email 4299/[email protected] Program Chair Andrew Ware Dean Chris Comer III. Type of request New One-time Only Renew Change Remove Reason for Gen Ed inclusion, change or deletion Description of change IV. Description and purpose of new general education course: General Education courses must be introductory and foundational within the offering department or within the General Education Group. They must emphasize breadth, context, and connectedness; and relate course content to students’ future lives: See Preamble: http://umt.edu/facultysenate/archives/minutes/gened/GE_preamble.aspx This course provides practical, laboratory experiences in stellar and galactic astronomy and cosmology as a supplement to Introductory Elementary Astronomy II (ASTR 132N). Students learn how astronomers make observations and models that lead to a greater understanding of how the universe works through exposure to the tools and techniques that astronomers use, an understanding of the physical principles involved, and an exposure to data acquisition, analysis, critical thinking, and the scientific method. V. Criteria: Briefly explain how this course meets the criteria for the group. See: http://umt.edu/facultysenate/documents/forms/GE_Criteria5-1-08.aspx 1. Courses explore a discipline in the natural sciences and demonstrate how the scientific method is used within the discipline to draw scientific conclusions. The primary purpose of this course is to teach students about the process of science. The emphasis is on experimentation, observation, and critical thinking as applied to the discipline of astronomy. 2. Courses address the concept of analytic Laboratory activities progress from modeling uncertainty and the rigorous process required to activities which familiarize students with the take an idea to a hypothesis and then to a properties of light and a broad range of validated scientific theory. astronomical phenomena to specific experiments and observations which require students to become familiar with the scientific process and focus on a particular physical law or the characteristics of nebulas, stars, or galaxies. The course is designed to expose students to a wide range of investigative and data analysis techniques used by astronomers. 3. Lab courses engage students in inquiry-based Students become competent in the use of learning activities where they formulate a telescopes, a variety of sky simulation hypothesis, design an experiment to test the software programs, star maps, and how to hypothesis, and collect, interpret, and present use web resources to find astronomical data. the data to support their conclusions. Activities include spectral identification, solar and night sky observing, experimentation with astronomical distance determination methods, photoelectric photometry, an examination of stellar evolution, characteristics of our galaxy, galactic evolution, and the expansion of the universe. Laboratory activities closely follow, and elaborate on, the discussion of similar topics in the lecture course, ASTR 132N. VI. Student Learning Goals: Briefly explain how this course will meet the applicable learning goals. See: http://umt.edu/facultysenate/documents/forms/GE_Criteria5-1-08.aspx The great synthesizing principles relevant to 1. Students will be able to understand the stars and galaxies are emphasized: general principles associated with the fundamental forces, the nature of matter and discipline(s) studied. radiation, the make-up and evolution of the universe and objects within it. Students engage in experimental, 2. Students will be able to understand the observational, and computer modeling methodology and activities scientists use to activities that mirror the actual methods gather, validate and interpret data related to astronomers use to determine many of the natural processes. properties of stars, galaxies, and the universe that are explored in ASTR 132N. See below for some specific activities. Lab activities are designed to address these goals. Some specific examples: Students experiment with an analysis of spectra of individual elements, the techniques of using a spectrometer to identify elements, and then apply what they’ve learned to identifying specific spectral signatures in stars. The students are then asked to use stellar spectra to group and classify stars with similar properties. They then apply these stellar classification systems to stars of different initial mass in star clusters to examine the effect of mass on stellar evolution. Another example: students examine a variety of galaxies and classify them according to their appearance. They then experiment with a 3D galaxy-interaction modeling program to observe how galactic collisions affect galaxy morphology and evolution. Student activities encourage both descriptive 4. Students will be able to understand how and quantitative reasoning, spatial scientific laws and theories are verified by visualization, and ongoing exploration. A quantitative measurement, scientific combination of experimentation, modeling, observation, and logical/critical reasoning. and observation exposes students to different investigative techniques and encourages them to seek connections that strengthen their conclusions. Class and individual discussions emphasize scientific questioning and creative thinking. 5. Students will be able to understand the means Experimental labs require students to take by which analytic uncertainty is quantified and measurements, analyze data, formulate expressed in the natural sciences. conclusions, and make predictions. These labs focus on understanding general physical principles that are fundamental in astronomy. VII. Justification: Normally, general education courses will not carry pre-requisites, will carry at least 3 credits, and will be numbered at the 100-200 level. If the course has more than one pre-requisite, carries fewer than three credits, or is upper division (numbered above the 200 level), provide rationale for exception(s). The course carries 1-credit as it is a lab complement to a 3-credit lecture course. VIII. Syllabus: Paste syllabus below or attach and send digital copy with form. The syllabus should clearly describe how the above criteria are satisfied. For assistance on syllabus preparation see: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/syllabus.html 3. Students will be able to detect patterns, draw conclusions, develop conjectures and hypotheses, and test them by appropriate means and experiments. Please note: Approved general education changes will take effect next fall. General education instructors will be expected to provide sample assessment items and corresponding responses to the Assessment Advisory Committee.