Course Form (revised 7-2008)
I. Summary of Proposed Changes
Dept / Program
Applied Arts and Sciences /
Course Title
Course #
SCN 105N
Science
Montana Ecosystems
Short Title (max. 26 characters incl. spaces)
Montana Ecosystems
Summarize the change(s) proposed
New Natural Sciences course with Lab
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Date
Requestor:
Gregory Peters
Phone/ email :
(406) 207-6154
greg.peters@mso.umt.edu
Program Chair/Director:
Cathy Corr
Dean:
Barry Good
III: To Add a New Course Syllabus and assessment information is required (paste syllabus into
section V or attach). Course should have internal coherence and clear focus.
Exact entry to appear in the next catalog (Specify course abbreviation, level, number, title, credits,
repeatability (if applicable), frequency of offering, prerequisites, and a brief description.) 
U 105N Montana Ecosystems 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. An introduction to the landscapes
and ecosystem diversity of Montana, with an emphasis on exploring the dominant habitats of
western Montana.
Justification: How does the course fit with the existing curriculum? Why is it needed?
SCN 105N: Montana Ecosystems will provide a much needed introductory Natural Sciences course with a
laboratory component at the College of Technology to assist students in the completion of an AA degree.
The course provides students an opportunity that exists in no other course offering to develop a broad
understanding of the regional habitats of Montana through both classroom discussion and hands-on
laboratory investigation. Montana Ecosystems is a unique complement to existing coursework offered
through the Division of Biological Sciences and the Montana natural History Center, and also presents nonscience majors a broad examination of biological systems as well as understanding the nature of science as an
ongoing process.
Are there curricular adjustments to accommodate teaching this course?
Complete for UG courses. (UG courses should be assigned a 400 number).
Describe graduate increment (Reference guidelines: http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/Grad/UG.htm)
Fees may be requested only for courses meeting specific conditions determined by the
YES
Board of Regents. Please indicate whether this course will be considered for a fee.
X
If YES, what is the proposed amount of the fee?
$20
Justification: There will be moderate transportation costs associated with laboratoy exercises.
IV. To Delete or Change an Existing Course – check X all that apply
Deletion
Title
Course Number Change
From:
Level U, UG, G
To:
Description Change
Change in Credits
From:
Repeatability
Cross Listing
From:
To:
NO
To:
Prerequisites
1. Current course information at it appears in catalog
(http://www.umt.edu/catalog) 
3. If cross-listed course: secondary program & course
number
4. Graduate increment if level of course is changed to
UG. Reference guidelines at:
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/Grad/UG.htm
(syllabus required in section V)
(primary program
initiates form)
Is there a fee associated with the course?
2. Full and exact entry (as proposed) 
Have you reviewed the graduate increment
guidelines? Please check (X) space provided.
5. Other programs affected by the change
6. Justification for proposed change
V. Syllabus/Assessment Information
Required for new courses and course change from U to UG. Paste syllabus in field below or attach and send
digital copy with form.
Below is the current syllabus for SCN 105N:
SCN105N: Montana Ecosystems (3 cr)
Fall 2009
Instructor: Greg Peters
Contact: greg.peters@mso.umt.edu or (406) 207-6154
Office Hours: T & Th, 12:30-2:00 in HB 02
Course Description:
Montana Ecosystems explores the living systems of Montana with a focus on the dominant habitat
types around us. We will explore the geologic setting that influences the distribution of Montana’s
remarkable diversity of ecosystems and species of life. We will explore the dominant vegetation
patterns across Montana and how these patterns influence distribution of important species of
animals. We will connect these systems to discussions of energy dynamics in living systems.
Finally, we will examine the role of humans in influencing the natural environment and its species.
Course Objectives:
- practice observing and reflecting on natural systems
- become familiar with Montana’s dominant ecosystems
- develop skills interpreting scientific literature
- understand the nature of science as a process
- understand principles of energy transformations in living systems
- become familiar with the human impacts on the landscapes of Montana
Assessment:
1) Exams (highest 3 of 4)
2) Lab Reports (4 @ 25 pts ea.)
3) Journal Article Summaries (4 @ 10pts ea.)
4) Field Notebook
5) Final Exam
TOTAL:
points
300
100
40
60
100
600
grades
90-100% = A- to A
80-90% = B- to B+
70-80% = C- to C+
60-70% = D- to D+
< 60% = F
Recommendations for success:
The most important thing you can do to get the most out of this course is to commit to regular
attendance in class.
There is no required text for this course, but there will be regular supplemental readings provided in
class or online. Make sure to complete these readings as they are presented to keep up
thoroughly with course content.
Your NetID will give you access to an online supplement to this course that includes portions of
class presentations. Log in at: https://courseware.umt.edu/webapps/login/
Exams will ask you to reflect on your learning by responding to questions in a diversity of formats.
Students will be expected to work alone and without outside resources.
Ultimately, make your field notebook reflect your own interests and observations.
Course Policies:
Your lowest regular session exam score will be dropped from your final grade, therefore,
there will be NO make-up exams offered. In other words, an excused absence from an
exam will count as your dropped exam. The final exam is comprehensive, will NOT be
dropped for any reason, and is required for all students to complete the course. No early
finals will be offered, so make any travel plans accordingly.
Students with disabilities will receive appropriate accommodations. Please contact me and
provide a letter from your DSS coordinator so that accommodations can be made.
All students need to be familiar with the Student Conduct Code and practice academic
honesty. The Code is available for review online at
http://www.umt.edu/SA/VPSA/index.cfm?page?1321.
Laboratory: The laboratory portion of this class is required for completion of the course.
There are four field trips and three indoor labs scheduled over the course of the semester;
please check the course schedule to ensure that you can attend all laboratory meetings.
We will be using these lab field trips as opportunities to explore several of the dominant
ecosystem types of Montana. Each Lab will present an opportunity to examine real-world
inspired questions through application of the scientific method. We will discuss lab
objectives in class prior to each trip. Please be prepared for short distances of walking,
unpredictable weather, and any personal needs such as food, water, and medication. We
will discuss lab policies and safety issues in detail before our first trip.
Field Notebook:
Your notebook will be your personal written record of observations and ideas from our field
trips. The notebook is intended as a less formal opportunity for you to reflect in ways that
are most meaningful to you about your experiences in the different habitats we explore.
Consider including sketches, notes, outlines for Lab Reports, and anything else you deem
relevant. You can share your notebook with your instructor at any time prior to its due date
if you want feedback.
Lab Reports:
Each Lab will require a written Lab Report; due dates are in the class schedule. The lab
reports will be a more formal record of your experiences in each lab. You will be expected
to incorporate notebook observations, questions and hypotheses as raised in the field,
lecture notes, and supplemental literature research into a thorough description of the
habitat(s) visited during lab trips and an interpretation of your findings. Specific
expectations will be explained in more detail prior to the first Lab Report deadline.
Scientific Journal Article Summaries:
There are 4 summaries due over the course of the semester; due dates are provided in
the course schedule. Shoot for a length of about 3/4 of a page, typed and double spaced.
The publications you summarize must be peer reviewed articles concerning some topic
related to Montana ecosystems, flora, or fauna. Generally, you can tell if a journal is peer
reviewed by examining the "fine print" on the credits pages at the beginning of a journal, or
you can look it up on the Mansfield Library website; request only those journals that are
"peer reviewed". If you still have questions, email me or ask the librarian. Some of these
journals require a subscription for access; usually the university already has a subscription.
To access this, however, you must go through the university library system. Check with the
COT or Mansfield librarian to get access information.
For full credit, your summary must include:
a) a copy of the article you read
b) a citation for the article (APA formatting is good). Below are two examples of
citations in APA format, the second for an article published strictly online:
Emery, R.E. (2005). Marital turmoil: Interpersonal conflict and the children of discord and divorce.
Psychological Bulletin, 92, 310-330
Hitchens, C. (2004, June 21). Unfairenheit 9/11. Slate. Retrieved October 28, 2004, from
http://slate.msn.com/id/2102723/
Some suggestions for written assignments:
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Make sure to include your name and which assignment you are submitting
Read through your work to ensure that there are no errors
Reflect in your own words on what you have learned
Summarize the methods, findings, and interpretation for Journal Article
Summaries
Always include a copy of the original article
Include a formal citation for all Journal Article Summaries
Submit work on time; late assignments will lose 10% per class meeting
Class Schedule:
Date:
Aug 31
Sep 2
Topic:
Course Introduction, policies
Science as a process
Sep 7
Sep 9
Sep 11
Labor Day Holiday
Lab expectations, Intro to alpine systems
Lab #1: Alpine
Sep 14
Sep 16
Montana physiography
Montana’s mountains, landscapes
Sep 21
Sep 23
Sep 25
Montana climate, Intro to montane forests
EXAM 1
Lab #2: Montane forests
Sep 28
Sep 30
Montana ecosystem diversity overview
Diversity of Life
Oct
Oct
Oct
Alpine habitats continued
Montana forest types , Intro to grassland systems
Lab #3: Sagebrush & Grassland
5
7
9
Oct 12
Oct 14
Montane forests continued, dominant fauna
Rare Montana forest habitats and species
Oct 19
Oct 21
Oct 23
EXAM 2
Grasslands, Intro to Floodplains
Lab #4: Floodplains
Oct 26
Oct 28
Grasslands continued
Sagebrush steppe
Nov 2
Nov 4
Nov 5
Floodplains
Deserts, savannah, juniper woodlands
Lab #5: Field Trip, Montana natural History Center
Nov 9
Nov 11
EXAM 3
Veteran’s Day Holiday
Nov 16
Nov 18
Nov 19
Energy transformations, food webs
Changes in ecosystems, ecosystem boundaries
Lab Notebooks, revise Lab reports
Nov 23
Nov 25
Human impacts on Montana’s ecosystems
Thanksgiving Holiday
Nov 30
Dec 2
Dec 3
Montana wildlands
Impacts of climate change
Lab #7: mapping Montana wildlands
Dec 7
Dec 9
EXAM 4
Course wrap-up, instructor evaluations
Dec 16
Cumulative Final Exam
Assignment due:_____
Summary #1
Lab Report #1
Lab Report #2
Summary #2
Lab report #3
Lab Report #4
Summary # 3
Notebooks due
Summary #4
VI Department Summary (Required if several forms are submitted) In a separate document list course
number, title, and proposed change for all proposals.
VII Copies and Electronic Submission. After approval, submit original, one copy, summary of
proposals and electronic file to the Faculty Senate Office, UH 221, camie.foos@mso.umt.edu.