I. ASCRC General Education Form
Group
XI Natural Sciences
Dept/Program
Science
Course Title
Prerequisite
Course #
SCI U 225N
General Science: Physical and Chemical Science
Math 100 or equivalent
Credits
5
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Diane Friend & Brad Halpap
Instructor
Phone / Email
Date
9/18/08
4299/2061
diane.friend@umontana.edu
brad.halfpap@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, intended for porspective elementary school teachers and non-scientists, introduces
students to some of the physical and chemical processes that define the way our universe
works. Integrated lecture, discussion, demonstrations, and laboratory activities encourage
students to take a deeper look at the physical world around them and expose them to the
process of science as well as what’s been discovered. Topics are chosen from the fields of
physics, chemistry, and astronomy.
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
This course explores the physical sciences
1. Courses explore a discipline in the natural
through topics in physics, chemistry, and
sciences and demonstrate how the scientific
astronomy. Lectures outline the historical
method is used within the discipline to draw
scientific conclusions.
development of scientific ideas, give
students a foundation in basic principles,
emphasize applications, and illustrate how
the various topics covered interrelate.
Laboratory and discussion activities
demonstrate how scientific knowledge is
acquired.
Uncertainty in measurements is discussed in
2. Courses address the concept of analytic
uncertainty and the rigorous process required to discussion and lab activities. The path from
observations, to well-defined hypotheses, and
take an idea to a hypothesis and then to a
testing through further measurements and
validated scientific theory.
analysis is emphasized.
Laboratory activities in this course include:
modeling celestial motions, experiments
with acceleration and gravity, analyzing
atomic spectra, measuring light, principles of
geometric optics, making simple telescopes
and microscopes, experiments with
scattering and interference, experiments in
electrostatics and circuits, magnetism,
chromatography, acids and bases, and
chemical reactions. Laboratory work
provides an in-depth extension of
exploratory activities and topics covered in
discussion and lecture.
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
Discussion, homework, and laboratory
1. Students will understand the general
assignments emphasize critical thinking skills,
principles associated with the discipline(s)
analytic skills, and controlled
studied.
experimentation. Students are asked to apply
what they’ve learned to design their own
science presentation on a topic of their choice.
After critical review, this presentation is given
to local school children.
2. Students will understand the methodology and Laboratory activities emphasize scientific
method and expose students to techniques and
activities scientists use to gather, validate and
instrumentation used in these sciences.
interpret data related to natural processes.
From mini-experiments in lecture, to
3. Students will detect patterns, draw
exploratory activities in discussion, and
conclusions, develop conjectures and
hypotheses, and test them by appropriate means formal laboratory activities in lab sessions,
students are asked to make observations, pose
and experiments.
well-defined hypotheses, and formulate
conclusions based on their own observations
and analysis.
Discussion and lab activities give students
4. Students will understand how scientific laws
informal and formal investigative experiences
and theories are verified by quantitative
with a number of topics, testing scientific laws
measurement, scientific observation, and
and theories.
logical/critical reasoning.
5. Students will understand the means by which Formal laboratory activities address
analytic uncertainty is quantified and expressed scientific measurement and the uncertainty
in the natural sciences.
associated with the measurements.
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
3. Lab courses engage students in inquirybased learning activities where they formulate a
hypothesis, design an experiment to test the
hypothesis, and collect, interpret, and present
the data to support their conclusions.
*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.