PrintEGEE 101 Syllabus: Residential Course, Summer 2024
Welcome to EGEE 101 Energy & The Environment
Instructor
Ang Liu
Instructor of Energy & Mineral Engineering
131 Hosler Building, University Park, PA 16802
College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University
- Phone: 571-392-0396
- E-mail: Please use the Canvas course email system.
- Office Hours: By appointment. Please directly use the Canvas course email system. Since we have over a thousand students, emailing me through Outlook/Gmail/other emails, or leaving comments under assignments, will not be effective.
- Where and when: Kern Grad Bldg 112 (MoWeFr 12:20 PM - 1:10 PM).
Class Support Services
Penn State Online offers online tutoring to World Campus students in math, writing, and some business classes. Tutoring and guided study groups for residential students are available through Penn State Learning
Course Overview
Course Description:
This course will introduce students to the various types of energy, their impact on the environment, and the economic factors that influence an energy portfolio. It is designed to be fun and informative. It will provide a basic understanding and appreciation of energy and environmental concepts. The main objectives of the course are to
- analyze energy consumption patterns
- discuss various energy resources that power modern society
- examine energy conversion processes
- explore interrelationships between energy use and industrial progress and environmental consequences
- discuss future energy alternatives and conservation methods
Energy is the lifeblood of any society. The information and principles learned in this course will allow the students to make sound judgments in the area of "personal energy choices." There is increasing concern about the influence of human activities, particularly energy use, on global climate change. This has an impact on global business aspects. Students in all walks of life need to be exposed to the basic concepts to appreciate the positions of policymakers, scientists, and industry over the interrelationship between greenhouse gas emissions and global climate change. The students will acquire knowledge, which will enable them to critically evaluate any energy-related concerns of society. This is important for any college graduate for responsible citizenship and stewardship.
Student performance will be evaluated continuously through participation questions, pre-class activities, homework assignments, and exams. This course is a stand-alone General Education course that contributes to the General Education Learning objectives of Key Literacies, as well as Critical and Analytical Thinking.
Prerequisites and concurrent courses:
None
Course Goals and Objectives
When you complete this course, you will understand and appreciate energy and environmental concepts and interconnectedness and will be prepared to:
- Analyze energy consumption patterns.
- Discuss various energy resources that power modern society.
- Examine the energy conversion processes.
- Explore interrelationships between energy use and industrial progress and environmental consequences.
- Discuss future energy alternatives.
Required Course Materials
Required textbook: None
Recommended textbooks: None
Canvas: Some of the materials needed for this course are presented online in Canvas. To access the online materials, you need to have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password (used to access the online course resources). If you have any questions about obtaining or activating your Penn State Access Account, please contact the Penn State IT Service Desk for World Campus students or Penn State IT Get Support (for students at all other campus locations). Students taking the course in residence will attend weekly lectures, and presentation slides will be posted to each respective module as the semester progresses.
Assignments
This course will rely on a variety of methods to assess and evaluate student learning, including:
Exams
There are three midterms worth a total of 30% and one final exam worth 20%. You will be allowed to bring one page of notes into the exam, which you will upload to a folder on Canvas when you complete the exam. Each midterm will take place over one day, and you will be allowed to start the midterm at a time that is convenient for you. Once you begin each midterm, you will have 60 minutes to complete it.
Pre-class Activities
There are 12 pre-class activities worth a total of 10%. Each quiz is equally weighted. You have unlimited access attempts for the lesson quizzes and the score from the highest attempt will be the recorded score for the assignment.
Homework Assignments
There are 6 homework assignments worth a total of 30%. These assignments will be completed through Canvas. They are more challenging than the lesson quizzes and should take more time to complete. You will still have unlimited attempts to complete, with the score from the highest attempt recorded.
Participation Points
Participation quizzes are scattered throughout the course. These quizzes will give you real-time feedback on your understanding of the content. You have unlimited attempts to complete each participation quiz.
Attendance
While attendance in this course is not required, those who do attend class may receive additional attempts on midterm and final exams. Throughout the semester, we will conduct random attendance checks 1-3 times through the collection of signatures.
Grading: Percent of Grade by Assignment Type
| Assignment | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Participation Points | 10% |
| Pre-class Activities (12) | 10% |
| Homework Assignments (6) | 30% |
| Midterms (3) | 30% |
| Final Exam | 20% |
| Grade | Cumulative Percentage |
|---|---|
| A | 92% to 100% |
| A- | 89% to 91.9% |
| B+ | 86% to 88.9% |
| B | 81% to 85.9% |
| B- | 75% to 80.9% |
| C+ | 68% to 74.9% |
| C | 60% to 67.9% |
| D | 52% to 59.9% |
| F | 0% - 51.9% |
Late Policy
Grades for pre-class activities and homework assignments will be reduced by 2% for each day late, up to 10 days. No late submissions are accepted after 10 days.
Make-up Policy for Midterms and Final Exam
Make-up exams will only be granted through the approval of the course instructor for legitimate and excused absences. Prior notification and approval for a make-up exam must be obtained by the student at least 72 hours before the scheduled exam. Special circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
EGEE 101 Course Schedule
Printable Schedule
Below, you will find a summary of the primary learning activities for this course and the associated time frames. The course contains 12 units with an orientation week preceding the official start of the course. Each module is one week long. See our Syllabus/Calendar in Canvas for specific lesson time frames and assignment due dates. This is a paced course, with modules opening one at a time, so you cannot work ahead.
Weekly schedule: Modules open on Monday and close on Sunday.
NOTE: See the Canvas Syllabus or Calendar for a full semester calendar of events.
Course Schedule
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Course Policies
Penn State E-mail Accounts
All official communications from Penn State are sent to students' Penn State e-mail accounts. Be sure to check your Penn State account regularly, or forward your Penn State e-mail to your preferred e-mail account, so you don't miss any important information.
Technical Requirements
For this course, we recommend the minimum technical requirements outlined on the World Campus Technical Requirements page, including the requirements listed for same-time, synchronous communications. If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the HelpDesk (for World Campus students) or the IT Service Desk (for students at all other campus locations).
Internet Connection
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.
Mixed Content
This site is considered a secure website, which means that your connection is encrypted. We do however link to content that isn't necessarily encrypted. This is called mixed content. By default, mixed content is blocked in Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Chrome. This may result in a blank page or a message saying that only secure content is displayed. Follow the directions on our Technical Requirements page to view the mixed content.
Connect Online with Caution
Penn State is committed to educational access for all. Our students come from all walks of life and have diverse life experiences. As with any other online community, the lack of physical interaction in an online classroom can create a false sense of anonymity and security. While one can make new friends online, digital relationships can also be misleading. Good judgment and decision-making are critical when choosing to disclose personal information to others whom you do not know.
Academic Integrity
This course follows the EMS academic integrity procedures. Penn State defines academic integrity as "the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest, and responsible manner." Academic integrity includes "a commitment not to engage in or tolerate acts of falsification, misrepresentation, or deception." In particular, the University defines plagiarism as "the fabrication of information and citations; submitting other's work from professional journals, books, articles, and papers; submission of other student's papers, lab results or project reports and representing the work as one's own." Penalties for violations of academic integrity may include course failure. To learn more, see Penn State's "Academic Integrity Training for Students".
Course Copyright
All course materials students receive or to which students have online access are protected by copyright laws. Students may use course materials and make copies for their own use as needed, but unauthorized distribution and/or uploading of materials without the instructor’s express permission is strictly prohibited. University Policy AD 40, the University Policy Recording of Classroom Activities and Note Taking Services addresses this issue. Students who engage in the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials may be held in violation of the University’s Code of Conduct, and/or liable under Federal and State laws.
For example, uploading completed labs, homework, or other assignments to any study site constitutes a violation of this policy.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities. The Office for Student Disability Resources website provides contact information for Campus Disability Coordinators at every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the Office for Student Disability Resources website
To receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled. You will participate in an intake interview and provide documentation. See documentation guidelines at Applying for Services from Student Disability Resources. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus’s disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Change in Normal Campus Operations
Campus emergencies, including weather delays and closures, are announced on Penn State News and communicated to cell phones, email, the Penn State Facebook page, and Twitter via PSUAlert (Sign up at PSUAlert).
Reporting Educational Equity Concerns
Penn State takes great pride in fostering a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated (Policy AD29 Statement on Intolerance) and can be reported through Educational Equity via Report Bias.
Counseling and Psychological Services
Many students at Penn State face personal challenges or have psychological needs that may interfere with their academic progress, social development, or emotional well-being. The university offers a variety of confidential services to help you through difficult times, including individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, consultations, online chats, and mental health screenings. These services are provided by staff who welcome all students and embrace a philosophy respectful of clients’ cultural and religious backgrounds, and sensitivity to differences in race, ability, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Services include the following:
Counseling and Psychological Services at University Park (CAPS): 814-863-0395
Counseling Services at Commonwealth Campuses
Penn State Crisis Line (24 hours/7 days/week): 877-229-6400
Crisis Text Line (24 hours/7 days/week): Text LIONS to 741741
Deferred Grades
If you are prevented from completing this course within the prescribed amount of time for reasons that are beyond your control, it is possible to have the grade deferred with the concurrence of the instructor, following Penn State Deferred Grade Policy 48-40. To seek a deferred grade, you must submit a written request (by e-mail or U.S. post) to the instructor describing the reason(s) for the request. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested before the beginning of the final examination period. It is up to the instructor to determine whether or not you will be permitted to receive a deferred grade. If permission is granted, you will work with the instructor to establish a communication plan and a clear schedule for completion. If for any reason, the coursework for the deferred grade is not complete by the assigned time, a grade of "F" will be automatically entered on your transcript.
Military Personnel
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or spouses with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, disabilities, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.
Disruptive Behavior
Behavior that disrupts normal classroom activities will not be tolerated, in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.
Mandated Reporting Statement
Penn State's policies require me, as a faculty member, to share information about incidents of sex-based discrimination and harassment (discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and retaliation) with Penn State's Title IX coordinator or deputy coordinators, regardless of whether the incidents are stated to me in person or shared by students as part of their coursework. For more information regarding the University's policies and procedures for responding to reports of sexual or gender-based harassment or misconduct, please visit Penn State's Office of Sexual Misconduct Prevention & Response website.
Additionally, I am required to make a report on any reasonable suspicion of child abuse in accordance with the Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law.
Diversity, Inclusion, and Respect
Penn State is committed to creating an educational environment that is free from intolerance directed toward individuals or groups and strives to create and maintain an environment that fosters respect for others” as stated in Policy AD29 Statement on Intolerance. All members of this class are expected to contribute to a respectful, welcoming, and inclusive environment and to interact with civility.
For additional information, see:
- Penn State Affirmative Action Nondiscrimination Statement
- Policy AD 85 Sexual and/or Gender-Based Harassment and Misconduct, Title IX
- Penn State Values
- Action Together: Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Penn State
- Assessment of the Living, Learning, and Working Environment (ALLWE) in EMS| Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
Disclaimer Statement
Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus can be changed at any time, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Changes to the syllabus shall also be given to the student in written (paper or electronic) form.