EMSC 302
Orientation to Energy and Sustainability Policy

Course Expectations and Requirements

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Course Expectations

ESP courses typically outline all requirements in the course syllabus. If you have a question about the mechanics or administration of the course, CHECK THE SYLLABUS FIRST. Chances are, the information you need can be found there!

You can view the course syllabus by clicking on the "Syllabus" link in Canvas, on the left-hand side of your screen. See the screen capture below. If you do not see the Syllabus link in the left-hand menu, click on teh hamburger menu (the three lines) near the upper left corner of the Canvas page. 

 It is essential that you read the entire syllabus, It serves as the course "contract."

Screenshot of EMSC 302 Canvas page, highlighting two links to the course syllabus.
Credit: © Penn State University is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Technical Requirements

As we work through the course content, you need to make sure the computer you are using is configured properly for the lessons and assignments that you will encounter.

Note

Access to a reliable Internet connection is required for this course. A problem with your Internet access may not be used as an excuse for late, missing, or incomplete coursework. If you experience problems with your Internet connection while working on this course, it is your responsibility to find an alternative Internet access point, such as a public library or Wi-Fi® hotspot.

Software Requirements

In EMSC 302, students are expected to complete lesson assignments using Microsoft Office software, including Word and Excel. You can utilize Office 365 to access the Microsoft Office suite by logging on to the Penn State Office 365 Home Page.

Penn State Offers Office 365 Training that will allow you to learn more about each tool.

Also, Google Drive (available to anyone) allows you to create/download/open Excel (.xls) and Word (.doc) files. Finally, your local library may be another option; many libraries offer the use of Microsoft Office programs at their public computer stations.

For this course, we recommend the minimum technical requirements outlined on the World Campus Technical Requirements page. If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the World Campus HelpDesk.

Note

Links to any website outside of the course may not display if you are using the latest version of Firefox.

Much like a pop-up blocker because our courses use a secure URL and display the link inside of the content (e.g. when you are viewing TED or YouTube videos within a course page), Mozilla calls this "mixed content" and it may NOT display. The new browser's default is to block outside content. To unblock, users must click on the small shield displayed to the left of the URL and select, "Disable protection on this page."

If you have questions, please contact the World Campus HelpDesk.