UniversityStudies
ClusterCourseAddition
Adding a previouslyunapprovedcourseto a cluster
(Wen addressingquestions,pleaseattacha separatesheet)
nZ
PROPOSING
FACULTY (MichaelL. Cummines//L
Q6Slogy)
1. THE COURSE
A. COI.IRSETITLE, NUMBER, AND CATALOG DESCRIPTION
Life in the Universe,G 345, Focuson issuessurroundingthe origin and evolution of life on earth,the
environmentalconditionsrequired'forlife elsewhere,and the potentialfor life on other planetsand
satellitesin our solar system.Additional topics include the discovery,occurrenceand habitability of
extrasolarplanets,and the philosophicaland societalimplicationsof searchingfor life beyondEarth.
Prerequisite:Upper division standing.
B. DEVELOPMENT
Is the coursebasedupon an existingcourse,or is it a new courseunder development?
Life in the Universewas developedby Dr. Melinda Hutson as G 399U after it was approvedby the
UniversityStudiesCommitteein200l-2002. The coursewas first offeredas G 399U in Summer,2002,
2003, and winter, 2003.The Departmentof Geology is submittinga parallel proposalto the University
Curriculum Committeeto establishthis coursewith a discretenumber,G 345 Life in the Universe.
AVAILABILITY
With what regularityhas the coursebeen---orwill the coursebe--offered?
As indicated,the coursehasbeenoffered threetimes sincesummer,2002.The coursewill be regularly
offered during summerterm by Dr. Melinda Hutson and will be offeredon a fund-availablebasisand
staff availablebasisduring the academicyear.Dr. Hutson is a tenuredfaculty memberat Portland
Community College.If Dr. Hutson is not available,the coursecould also be offered by Dr. SherryCady,
a faculty memberin the Departmentof Geology.
D. PREREQUISITES
List any courseprerequisitesbeyondthe clusterSophomorelnquiry course.
There areno prerequisitesbeyondthe Global EnvironmentalChangeSophomoreInquiry. A general
prerequisiteis UpperDivision Standing.
2. COI.'RSEOUTLINE.
Providea detailedoutline of the proposedcourse,also including its preliminary readinglist, and the
name(s)of instructor(s)committedto teachingthe course.
Week l: Overview- What constitutesevidenceof life?
Week 2: Astrobiology- a new scientific discipline
Week 3: Geologyand Chemicalaspectsof life on earth
Week 4: Biology and Planetaryaspectsof life on earth
Week 5: Meteorites,Asteroidsand Comets
Week 6: Strategyfor searchingfor life on Mars; Conceptof Analog ecosystems,a.8.,
hydrothermalecosystems.
Week 7: Energy and Life in the Universe;Requirementsfor ET Life
Week 8: Meteoritesand imoacts
Week 9: Studentpresentationsand papers
Week 10: Studentpresentationsand papers
Texts:B. Jokosky,1998,The Searchfor Life on Other Planets,CambridgeUniversityPress,
Cambridge,LlK, 326 p.
Scientific America, 1995,Life in the Universe, w. H. Freemanand Company,122p.
Astrobiology, a peer-reviewedscientificjournal publishedby Mary Ann Liebert, [nc.
lnstructorcommittedto teachingthe course:Dr. Melinda Hutson,Adjunct faculty memberin
geology.Melinda is committedto teachingthe coursein the surnmer.If agreementscan be
reachedwith PCC Sylvaniacampus,the coursewill be offeredduring the academicyear.
3. GENERAL EDUCATION GOALS.
A. COTIRSECONTENT & SUITABILITY FOR CLUSTER
Discussthe coursecontentin relationshipto the thematicfocus of the cluster.
The contentof G 345 Life in the Universeexpandsexistingthemesin the Global EnvironmentalChange
Cluster.At present,G 456U Astrogeologyand G 399U (G345) Life in the Universeprovide a
perspectiveon planetaryevolution.The G 399U (G345) Life in the Universealso complimentsthe
contentof G430U Life of the Past.Thesethreecourses(G345, G456, and G430) form a group that
encouragesstudentsto explorethe origin and evolution of life and placesthesefundamentaltopics in the
context of planetaryevolution.
In addition to the abovementionedcourses,the Departmentof Geology offers G 351
Oceanography,G 455 Minerals in World Affairs, G 452 Geologyof the OregonCountry, G 344
Geology and the National Parks,and G 457 Volcanoesand Earthquakes(proposedfall2003) in the
Global EnvironmentalChaneeCluster.
B. LTNSTGOALS
Indicatewhat materialsand assignmentswill addressthoseUniversity Studiesgoals
appropriateto the coursecontentand clustertheme(the goalsare Inquiry and Critical
Thinking, Communication,Diversity of Human Experience,and Ethical Issues& Social
Responsibility).
1) Inquiry and Critical Thinking: The analysisof scientificdata,how thesedata are used
to constructhypotheses,and the style by which scientificargumentationis developed
provide a structurefor inquiry and critical thinking in this course.As the field of
astrobiologyevolvesthe criteriaby which the evidenceis evaluatedfor the existence
of life in the universebecomesan importantissue.Studentswill explorethe issues
surroundingthe identificationof life eitherby direct evidenceof the organismor
through the impact an organism producesin its environment.
2) Communication:The studentpresentationsduring the last two weeksof the term
provide an opportunity for oral presentationsthat are groundedin written reports. The
use of Internetresourcesas a point of discussionprovidesstudentswith informal
opportunitiesto discussimportanttopics in the course.One of the themesdeveloped
in the courseis communicationof information on astrobiology.There are great
differencesbetweeninformation presentedin the popularliterature/science
fictiorllnternet resourcesand informationpresentedin peer-reviewedscientific
literature.Studentswill gain experienceevaluatingthe structureof scientific
argumentsand how data are usedto supporthypotheses.
3) Diversity of Human Experience:All culturesstrugglewith the questionof origins.
How we explain the origin of life is deeply rootedin our belief systemsand cultural
experiences.Discussionsamongstudentsand faculty on the questionof life in the
universewill allow studentsto explorethis diversity of humanexperience.
4) Ethical Issues& SocialResponsibility:Any discussionof life and its origins moves
into ethicalissues.As geoscientistswe have alwayshad to deal with theseissuesin
our classeswhen topics of geologictime and biological evolution are introduced.
Although this courseis not designedto addresstheseissuesdirectly, instructorsare
relatively skilled at moving discussionsin theseareaswhen appropriate.
C. CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT
Discussthe teachingstrategiesemployedin the courseand how they articulatewith the
student-centered,
active-learningstrategiescharacteristicof University Studiescourses.
The Departmentof Geology is committedto increasingappropriatetechnologyuse in cluster
coursesoffered by the depdrtment.Nearly all clustercourseshave a componentof computerbasedinstructionor useof analyticalinstrumentationin studentprojectsand presentations.
The
samewill hold true in Life in the Universe.The breakingnews in astrobiologyis communicated
on lntemet. However, studentsneedto gain confidencein evaluatingthe informationthat is
presentedin this volatile setting.Classsessionswill be scheduledin a technologyclassroom
where studentsusecomputersas part of the instruction.Studentswill searchthe web and the
instructorwill be able to project sitesthat they find and usethesesitesas a basisfor discussion
and evaluation.
Quizzes,midterm exam,and final exam in essay/shortanswerformat will evaluatestudent
learningin the basicconceptsof the content.
Studentpresentationsbasedon their own investigationof the peer-reviewedscientific,popular,
and Internetliteratureallow studentsan opportunityto exploretheir interestsand interactionwith
the faculty memberteachingthe coursesincethesetopics needto be approvedand discussed
with the instructor.
Lectureand in-classdiscussionsround out the approachesusedin this course.
PROPOSING
FACULTY:
COURSETITLE AND NIIMBER:
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OBTAIN CHAIR AI{D CLUSTER COORDINATOR SIGNATURES
BEFORE SUBMITTING TO UIVVERSITY STUDIESOFFICE
DEPARTMENT CHAIR(S):
DArE: tr/O/A
DATE:
7
CLUSTERCOORDINATOR:
o,an,L((t)(a3
All changesto Clustersmust be approved by PSU's SenateCurriculum Committee.
THE ORIGINAL + 12 COPIESOF THE PROPOSAL
MUST BE RECEIVEDAT UNIVERSITYSTUDIES(CH 163)
BY OCTOBER31,2OO3
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COURSEAPPROVEDFOR CLUSTERINCLUSION
CHAIR,CLUSTERCOORDINATORS:
DATE:
CHAIR. I-INSTCOMMITTEE:
DATE:
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