I. ASCRC General Education Form (revised 1/27/11)
Use to propose new general education courses (except writing courses), to change existing
gen ed courses and to remove designations for existing gen ed courses.
Note: One-time-only general education designation may be requested for experimental courses
(X91-previously X95), granted only for the semester taught. A NEW request must be
submitted for the course to receive subsequent general education status.
Group
III. Language
VII: Social Sciences
(submit
III Exception: Symbolic Systems * VIII: Ethics & Human Values
separate forms
IV: Expressive Arts
IX: American & European
if requesting
V: Literary & Artistic Studies
X: Indigenous & Global
more than one
VI: Historical & Cultural Studies
XI: Natural Sciences
X
general
w/ lab  w/out lab X
education
group
*Courses proposed for this designation must be standing requirements of
designation)
majors that qualify for exceptions to the modern and classical language
requirement
Dept/Program Chemistry and Biochemistry
Course #
CHMY 191
Course Title
Prerequisite
Science in the 21st Century
none
Credits
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
3
Date
9/11/12
Instructor
Klára Briknarová
Phone / Email 4408/klara.briknarova@umontana.edu
Program Chair Mark Cracolice
Dean
Christopher Comer
III. Type of request
New
One-time Only X
Renew
Change
Remove
Reason for Gen Ed inclusion, change or deletion
GLI seminar
Description of change
NA
IV. Description and purpose of new general education course: General Education courses
must be introductory and foundational within the offering department or within the General
Education Group. They must emphasize breadth, context, and connectedness; and relate course
content to students’ future lives: See Preamble:
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/archives/minutes/gened/GE_preamble.aspx
This course is a Global Leadership Initiative Seminar focused on recent scientific pursuits and
discoveries and their impact on human lives and the society. The seminar will consist of
presentations, discussions and writing assignments based on articles from Scientific American
and news and commentaries from high profile science journals like Science and Nature. Topics
will range from human health and medicine to technology, sustainability and space exploration,
and some of the topics will be selected from science news and reports that are published at the
time when the seminar is offered.
The purpose of the seminar is (1) to provide opportunities to learn about different areas of
science and technology, and to investigate the historical context and ethical implications of
science pursuits and discoveries; (2) to increase scientific literacy and generate interest in
sciences; (3) to engage students in reading science news, which will help them become better
informed citizens; (4) to enhance student’s critical thinking and their understanding of how
scientists address global issues and how science affects the society; and (5) to engage students
in discussions and presentations.
V. Criteria: Briefly explain how this course meets the criteria for the group. See:
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/documents/forms/GE_Criteria5-1-08.aspx
1. Courses explore a discipline in the natural
The seminar will explore several disciplines
sciences and demonstrate how the scientific
in the natural sciences. Examples of recent
method is used within the discipline to draw
scientific pursuits and discoveries will serve
scientific conclusions;
to demonstrate how the scientific method is
used to draw scientific conclusions.
2. Courses address the concept of analytic
Examples of recent scientific pursuits and
uncertainty and the rigorous process required to discoveries will be used to illustrate the
take an idea to a hypothesis and then to a
rigorous process required to take an idea to a
validated scientific theory;
hypothesis and then to a validated scientific
theory.
3. Lab courses engage students in inquiry-based Not applicable. (The seminar does not
learning activities where they formulate a
include a lab.)
hypothesis, design an experiment to test the
hypothesis, and collect, interpret, and present
the data to support their conclusions.
VI. Student Learning Goals: Briefly explain how this course will meet the applicable learning
goals. See: http://umt.edu/facultysenate/documents/forms/GE_Criteria5-1-08.aspx
1. understand the general principles associated
Readings, presentations, written
with the discipline(s) studied;
assignments and class discussions will be
used to help the students understand the
general principles behind selected examples
of recent scientific pursuits and discoveries.
2. understand the methodology and activities
Readings, presentations, written
scientists use to gather, validate and interpret
assignments and class discussions will be
data related to natural processes;
used to help the students understand the
methodology and activities that scientists
use to gather, validate and interpret data
related to selected examples natural
processes.
3. detect patterns, draw conclusions, develop
conjectures and hypotheses, and test them by
appropriate means and experiments;
4. understand how scientific laws and theories
are verified by quantitative measurement,
scientific observation, and logical/critical
reasoning; and
Not applicable.
Readings, presentations, written
assignments and class discussions will be
used to help the students understand how
selected scientific theories were/are verified.
5. understand the means by which analytic
Not applicable.
uncertainty is quantified and expressed in the
natural sciences.
VII. Justification: Normally, general education courses will not carry pre-requisites, will carry
at least 3 credits, and will be numbered at the 100-200 level. If the course has more than one
pre-requisite, carries fewer than three credits, or is upper division (numbered above the 200
level), provide rationale for exception(s).
NA
VIII. 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
Global Leadership Initiative Seminar
Science in the 21st Century
Fall 2013
Scientific understanding of the world around us has been expanding with unparalleled pace. In
this seminar, we will explore recent scientific pursuits and discoveries and their impact on
human lives and the society. The seminar will consist of presentations, discussions and writing
assignments based on articles from Scientific American and news and commentaries from high
profile science journals like Science and Nature. Topics will range from human health and
medicine to technology, sustainability and space exploration, and some of the topics will be
selected from science news and reports that are published at the time when the seminar is
offered.
Learning outcomes:
 Become familiar with selected examples of recent scientific pursuits and discoveries, their
historical context, impact on human lives and ethical implications.
 Improve communication skills through reading, discussion and writing.
Time and location: TBD
Instructor: Klára Briknarová, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Office: CHEM 111, aka Mouse House (across from CHEM 102)
Office hours: TBD, or by appointment
Phone: 243-4408
Email: klara.briknarova@umontana.edu
Course materials:
You will need to purchase a subscription to Scientific American Digital, which will provide
you with 12 monthly downloadable issues in PDF format and online access to over 200
Scientific American issues dating back to 1993. To subscribe to Scientific American Digital, go
to http://www.sciamdigital.com/, click on SIGN IN in the upper left corner, and select the
SUBSCRIBE option. Several additional digital publications from Scientific American that are
not included in the subscription may also be required during the semester.
Many scientific journals including Science and Nature can be accessed through Mansfield
Library. To access the journals, click on the Mansfield Library link on the left side of the UM
home web page (http://www.umt.edu/). Select the Journals tab on top of the page, find your
journal and then follow the link to the publisher’s web site. You can also go directly to
http://www.nature.com/ or http://www.sciencemag.org/.
Course requirements:
Keeping up with assigned readings, attendance and participation in class are essential. The
grade will be based on class discussions and presentations, writing assignments and quizzes.
Tentative schedule:
Week 1
Week 2 (Labor Day 9/2)
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12 (Veteran’s Day 11/11)
Week 13
Week 14 (Thanksgiving 11/27-29)
Week 15
Human Health and Disease
Mind and Brain
Human Evolution
Earth and the Environment
The Universe
The Frontiers of Physics and Technology
The schedule and the topics may be modified to accommodate science news and reports that are
published during the semester.
Academic honesty:
All students must practice academic honesty. Academic misconduct is subject to an academic
penalty by the course instructor and/or a disciplinary sanction by the University. All students
need to be familiar with the Student Conduct Code. The Code is available for review online at
http://life.umt.edu/vpsa/student_conduct.php.
Students with disabilities:
Whenever possible, and in accordance with civil rights laws, The University of Montana will
attempt to provide reasonable modifications to students with disabilities who request and
require them. Please feel free to setup a time with me to discuss any modifications that may be
necessary for this course. For more information, visit the Disability Services for Students
website at http://www.umt.edu/disability.
Please note: Approved general education changes will take effect next fall.
General education instructors will be expected to provide sample assessment items and
corresponding responses to the Assessment Advisory Committee.