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Download a zip file that includes all the web pages and downloadable files from the instructor's materialsSyllabus - Water: Science and Society
Fall Semester, 2015
This syllabus is divided into several sections. You can read it sequentially by scrolling down the length of the document or by clicking on any of the links below to "jump" to a specific section.
Course Overview
Description
This course is designed as a general-education investigation of the importance of water to the existence of life on Earth, and the qualities of water that lead to its unusual but critical properties. The first part of the course will provide a basic scientific background for understanding water movement, occurrence, and behavior, through a series of interactive activities. The second part of the course will draw upon this scientific framework to understand the relationships between water and human activities. Among other diverse topics, we will examine the role of water in climate regulation, the impact of water on human populations and activities, the benefits and drawbacks of modern water management strategies related to irrigation and dams, and policy issues regarding water quality and availability. A sense of the human history of water use and the impacts of natural cycles will be conveyed through activities, virtual field trips (filmed footage with the instructors and discussion focused on key topics related to surface water, water reuse and recycling, and dams), and assigned readings and associated online discussions. Although we will focus on case studies from the American West, we will extend this to include global issues of water scarcity and potential conflict, for example in India, China, and the Fertile Crescent.
Course Objectives
When you successfully complete this course, you will be prepared to:
- effectively describe the two-way relationship between water resources and human society: how water availability and quality affect economic opportunities and human well-being and how human activity affects water resources;
- knowledgeably explain the distribution and dynamics of water at the surface and in the subsurface of Earth and how the distribution and characteristics are expected to change over the next 50 years;
- identify appropriate data collection practices for a variety of hydrologic data, synthesize and analyze data from multiple sources, and interpret the results;
- develop strategies and best practices to decrease water stress and increase water quality;
- thoughtfully evaluate information and policy statements regarding the current and future predicted state of water resources, and communicate their evaluations in terms that can be understood by the general public.
Expectations
On average, most students spend 8–10 hours per week working on course assignments. Your workload may be more or less depending on your study habits.
We have worked hard to make this the most effective and convenient educational experience possible. The Internet may still be a novel learning environment for you, but in one sense it is no different from a traditional college class: how much and how well you learn is ultimately up to you. You will succeed if you are diligent about keeping up with the class schedule and if you take advantage of opportunities to communicate with us as well as with your fellow students.
Specific learning objectives for each lesson and project are detailed within each lesson.
Required Course Materials
The course relies heavily on readings provided online through our course website, and from the assigned textbook, "The Big Thirst," by Charles Fishman. The reading assignments for each module are listed in the course schedule below. Additional citations for further reading are also provided in each module.
Assignments and Grading
Assignments
This course will rely on a variety of methods to assess and evaluate student learning, including:
- One midterm exam short answer/essay, given in the lab period midterm week, one final exam in class
- Labs take place during weekly lab meetings
- Capstone activity will be introduced at the end of the first unit (Module 2)
It is important that your work be submitted in the proper format (including file name: make certain that your last name and module number is in file name: e.g. harris.module2b.docx) to the appropriate Dropbox or Discussion Forum and by the designated due date. We strongly advise that you not wait until the last minute to complete these assignments—give yourself time to ask questions, think things over, and chat with others. You will learn more, do better . . . and be happier!
Due dates for all assignments are posted in the syllabus for your campus and below. Please make sure you are aware of the weekly deadlines.
Grading
Penn State Sections and Utah State Recitation Section
| Assignment | Percent of Grade |
|---|---|
| Formative Assessments in Web Modules | 35% |
| Summative Assessments in Web Modules (written and oral assignments, discussion) | 35% |
| Two Exams (Midterm & Final, not comprehensive) (10% each) | 20% |
| Capstone Activity | 10% |
Utah State Large (non Recitation) Section
| Assignment | Percent of Grade |
|---|---|
| Formal Writing Assignments | 35% |
| Other Formative Assignments and Summative Assessments in Web Modules | 25% |
| Two Midterm Exams (15% each) | 30% |
| Final Exam | 10% |
| Letter Grade | Percentages |
|---|---|
| A | 93 - 100% |
| A- | 90 - 92.9% |
| B+ | 87 - 89.9% |
| B | 83 - 86.9% |
| B- | 80 - 82.9% |
| C+ | 77 - 79.9% |
| C | 70 - 76.9% |
| D | 60 - 69.9% |
| F | < 60% |
| X | Unsatisfactory (student did not participate) |
Course Schedule
Below you will find a summary of the primary learning activities for this course and the associated time frames. This course is 16 weeks in length, with an orientation week preceding the official start of the course. There are 12 weeks of material each involving a lab meeting. Most modules are one-week long, but some cover two weeks.Modules open on Friday, close on Friday right after the PSU class, assignments are due as in table below:
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Module Opens: USU Lab 1-1.50PM | ||||
| USU Lab 1-2:50PM | USU Lab 1-2:50PM | PSU-UP Lab 2:30PM-4:15PM | Module Closes (after USU Class) |
| Weekly Schedule | |
|---|---|
| Week 1: Course Orientation | |
| Dates | Monday, August 23, 2015 - Friday, August 28, 2015 |
| Topics | See Orientation page |
| Readings | None |
| Assignments |
|
| Week 2: Present and Future Views of Global Fresh Water Resource Availability and Value | |
| Dates | Friday, August 28, 2015 - Friday, September 4, 2015 |
| Topics | |
| Readings |
|
| Assignments | |
| Week 3: Climatology of Water | |
| Dates | Friday, September 4, 2015 - Friday, September 11, 2015 |
| Topics | |
| Readings |
|
| Assignments | |
| Week 4: Rivers and Watersheds | |
| Dates | Friday, September 11, 2015 - Friday, September 18, 2015 |
| Topics | |
| Readings |
|
| Assignments | |
| Week 5: Flood and Drought | |
| Dates | Friday, September 18, 2015 - Friday, September 25, 2015 |
| Topics | |
| Readings |
|
| Assignments | |
| Week 6: Dam It All! | |
| Dates | Friday, September 25, 2015 - Friday, October 2, 2015 |
| Topics | |
| Readings |
|
| Assignments | |
| Week 7: Groundwater Hydrology Part 1: Aquifers and Properties | |
| Dates | Friday, October 2, 2015 - Friday, October 9, 2015 |
| Topics | |
| Readings |
|
| Assignments | |
| Week 8: Groundwater Hydrology Part 2: Aquifer Processes and Dynamics | |
| Dates | Friday, October 9, 2015 - Friday, October 16, 2015 |
| Topics | |
| Readings |
|
| Assignments | |
| Week 9: Midterm Exam | |
| Dates | Friday October 16, 2015 - Friday, October 23, 2015 |
| Topics | Modules 1-6 |
| Readings | None |
| Assignments | Midterm exam in regular class meeting |
| Week 10: What is in your Water? | |
| Dates | Friday, October 23, 2015 - Friday, October 30, 2015 |
| Topics | |
| Readings |
|
| Assignments | |
| Week 11: Cities in Peril Part 1: Dealing with Water Scarcity - History and Current Approaches | |
| Dates | Friday, October 30, 2015 - Friday, November 6, 2015 |
| Topics | |
| Readings |
|
| Assignments |
|
| Week 12: Cities in Peril Part 2: Dealing with Water Scarcity - Future Growth and Climate Change | |
| Dates | Friday, November 6, 2015 - Friday, November 13, 2015 |
| Topics | |
| Readings |
|
| Assignments | |
| Week 13: Water and Politics | |
| Dates | Friday, November 13, 2015 - Friday November 20, 2015 |
| Topics | |
| Readings |
|
| Assignments | |
| Week 14: Solving the Water Crisis? | |
| Dates | Friday, November 23, 2015 - Friday, December 4, 2015 |
| Topics | |
| Readings |
|
| Assignments |
|
| Week 15: Final Exam | |
| Dates | Friday, December 4, 2015 - Friday, December 11, 2015 |
| Topics | Modules 7-10 |
| Readings | None |
| Assignments |
|
Course Policies
Late/Missed Class Policy
Class meetings and activities constitute an important part of the class—they are the forum in which you apply concepts from the web modules to relevant questions of water behavior, availability, quality, and societal impacts. Unless specifically approved by the instructors in advance, there will not be opportunities to make up missed in-class activities, discussions, or assignments.
Disabilities
Persons with disabilities will be accommodated in accordance with university guidelines, Please see website for guidelines. If USU students have a disability that requires note-takers, interpreters for the deaf, extended testing time, etc., tell Patrick and contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) directly (room 101 of the University Inn). Course material can be provided in alternative formats such as large print, audio, diskette, or Braille in cooperation with the DRC. Disabilities must be documented by the DRC.
Academic Integrity (PSU)
Academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest and responsible manner. Academic integrity is a basic guiding principle for all academic activity at The Pennsylvania State University, and all members of the University community are expected to act in accordance with this principle. Consistent with this expectation, students should act with personal integrity, respect other students' dignity, rights and property, and help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their efforts. Academic integrity includes a commitment not to engage in or tolerate acts of falsification, misrepresentation or deception. Such acts of dishonesty violate the fundamental ethical principles of the University community and compromise the worth of work completed by others (see Faculty Senate Policy 49-20 and G-9 Procedures).
Cheating will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Cheating is unfair to your classmates and an insult to curiosity and intellectual inquiry. Discussion of course material outside of class and sharing of ideas are encouraged, but students are expected to complete all assignments individually, and to write their papers in their own words using proper citations. All written work may be subject to electronic plagiarism checking. Students are not to copy problem or exam answers from another person's paper and present them as their own; students may not plagiarize text from papers or websites written by others. Anyone caught looking at or copying their neighbor's assignments or exams will receive an automatic failing grade on that assignment/exam and will be reported to University officials. General guidelines can be found in University Policies and Rules, p. 41. This course follows the guidelines set out for Academic Integrity and Research Ethics by the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, and in defining offenses and appropriate punishments.
Academic Integrity (USU)
On all assignments, students are expected to produce their own, original work. Plagiarism, falsification, and cheating will be subject to disciplinary action, which can include failing the entire course.
Inclement Weather (PSU-UP)
Students should check WPSU-FM at 91.5 MHz, the website, the official sources for weather-related delay or cancellation advisories at Penn State's University Park campus. Campus emergencies, including weather delays, are announced on Penn State News: http:/news.psu.edu/ and communicated to cellphones, email, the Penn State Facebook page, and Twitter via PSUAlert. In case of weather-related delays, the online portions of the course (scheduled assignments and readings) will proceed as planned, unless otherwise noted by the instructors.
Inclement Weather (PSU-Harrisburg)
Official Penn State Harrisburg closing information is disseminated via the college website; the AUDIX system; e-mail correspondence via listserv; and PSUTXT, the text messaging system. The information is also posted to Penn State Harrisburg's Facebook page and to regional television and radio stations. In case of weather-related delays, the online portions of the course (scheduled assignments and readings) will proceed as planned, unless otherwise noted by the instructors.
Inclement Weather (USU)
KUSU FM 91.5 will be the prime public source of disseminating information concerning campus closure or other emergency or special plans. In addition other local public media sources will also be given the same information for dissemination.
