I. ASCRC General Education Form
Group
XI Natural Sciences
Dept/Program
Physics & Astronomy
Course Title
Prerequisite
Elementary Astronomy I
High school algebra &
geometry
Course #
Credits
ASTR U 131N
3
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Instructor
Phone / Email
Date
TBD (Vice-Friend)
6221 (chair’s contact info)
andrew.ware@umontana.edu
Program Chair
Andrew Ware
Dean
Gerald Fetz
III. Description and purpose of the course: General Education courses must be introductory
and foundational. They must emphasize breadth, context, and connectedness; and relate course
content to students’ future lives: See Preamble:
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/gened/GEPreamble_final.htm
This course is an introduction to three major aspects of astronomy: 1) the night sky as we
observe it from Earth, 2) a history of how we have come to understand our solar system and
universe (including telescopes and other instruments), and 3) the nature of the objects in our
solar system. It also serves as an introduction to methods and practices in the physical
sciences, and as such, is oriented more toward exploration and discovery rather than just the
imparting of facts and information.
IV. Criteria: Briefly explain how this course meets the criteria for the group. See:
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/ASCRCx/Adocuments/GE_Criteria5-1-08.htm
The primary purpose of this course is to
1. Courses explore a discipline in the natural
teach students about the process of science.
sciences and demonstrate how the scientific
Relationship between observation,
method is used within the discipline to draw
scientific conclusions.
experiment, and theory is examined
throughout the course.
2. Courses address the concept of analytic
Broad classes of physical and astronomical
uncertainty and the rigorous process required to phenomena are explained by using a small
set of physical laws.
take an idea to a hypothesis and then to a
validated scientific theory.
3. Lab courses engage students in inquiryThis is not a laboratory course (ASTR 134N
based learning activities where they formulate a is laboratory course which accompanies
hypothesis, design an experiment to test the
ASTR 131N).
hypothesis, and collect, interpret, and present
the data to support their conclusions.
V. Student Learning Goals: Briefly explain how this course will meet the applicable learning
goals. See: http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/ASCRCx/Adocuments/GE_Criteria5-1-08.htm
The great synthesizing principles relevant to
the solar system are emphasized: Kepler’s
laws of planetary motion, Newton’s laws of
motion, Newton’s law of gravity.
2. Students will understand the methodology and Data gathering is done in the accompanying
laboratory course (ASTR 134N); some
activities scientists use to gather, validate and
homework assignments in the lecture address
interpret data related to natural processes.
the interpretation of data.
Students are quizzed daily in the form of
3. Students will detect patterns, draw
“what if…” questions; physical laws are
conclusions, develop conjectures and
hypotheses, and test them by appropriate means routinely tested by using classroom
demonstrations.
and experiments.
The scientific method is routinely applied to
4. Students will understand how scientific laws
test hypotheses. Experimental verification of
and theories are verified by quantitative
theory is emphasized.
measurement, scientific observation, and
logical/critical reasoning.
5. Students will understand the means by which This topic is addressed but not emphasized
analytic uncertainty is quantified and expressed in the lecture class. Uncertainty in data is
done in the accompanying laboratory course
in the natural sciences.
(ASTR 134N); some homework assignments
in the lecture address the uncertainty of data.
VII. 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
1. Students will understand the general
principles associated with the discipline(s)
studied.
*Please note: As an instructor of a general education course, you will be expected to provide
sample assessment items and corresponding responses to the Assessment Advisory Committee.