Syllabus
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Text: Exploring the Universe by Michael A. Seeds, 10th Edition
Prerequisites: This is a course for non-science majors. We will use elementary algebra
in class and on homework. For anyone needing help with the math, the TA and I will always be
willing to provide it. The quiz and exam questions will be conceptual, not mathematical. If you
are a math or science major, this is not an appropriate course for you.
Grading: Grades will be based on homework (30% of the grade), three hour exams
(14% each), and 4 quizzes (5.5% each) and attendance (6%). A final exam will be given with options
for making up excused absences and for improving course grades. Attendance grades will be based
on in-class work and responses to questionnaires (so-called "completion" grades).
Help: The TA's and I will do everything we can to help you do well in the course. Help will
be available outside of class several times every week. Help sessions and office hours are listed in
Table 1. These times and locations are subject to change. Please check the on-line version of this
syllabus next week and periodically thereafter. Since we will be going over the problems in the
homework assignments, we ask you not to be late to the help session if you want to hear a discussion
of the first problem in the assignment. Endless repeating of the first problem discussion for the
benefit of latecomers bores the students who were on time and drives the instructor crazy.
Extra help sessions will be held before exams. Check the
Notices section of the course web page for
locations and times.
Observing: There are telescope viewing opportunities available on campus on Wednesday,
Friday, and Saturday nights. Check the following page for details:
http://outreach.as.utexas.edu/public/viewing.html
Contents and Approach: The emphasis in this course will be seeking an explanation for the
phenomena and objects that occur in the Universe. We will discuss physical laws and how astronomers
use them to understand their observations. Much of the time during class will be spent discussing
explanations and concepts rather than descriptions of astronomical objects. You will have to learn some
of the descriptive material from the reading assignments. To succeed in this class you will have to keep
up with the reading and come to class and be willing to participate in discussions and activities.
PhD students from AST 398T will be helping out in the class as part of their training. They will be
responsible (under direct supervision) for about 10% of the lecture time and will lead various small
group activities in class and outside of class. I will call upon all of you to provide constructive criticism of their work.
Homework: A homework assignment will be handed out most Wednesdays and be due the next Wednesday.
Some assignments may involve observations of the sky. You must hand in homework to the prof in class. If you are
unable to deliver your homework in person, you are responsible for seeing that it gets delivered. Late homework or
homework not handed directly to the prof. will be worth 50% of its grade up to one week past due. Students are
encouraged to work and learn together. The homework you hand in, however, must be your own. Copied or paraphrased
homework will receive no credit and may result in academic penalties.
Tests: There will be three 50 minute exams (September 25, October 23, November 20). There will be 4
quizzes (September 11, October 9, Nov 6, and Dec. 4). A final exam will be given at the official time and place. One
50 minute segment of the final will be a makeup for people with excused absences from a quiz or hour exam. Another
50 minute segment of the final will be optional for anyone wishing to replace a quiz or test score.
Nota Bene: You cannot replace a zero from an unexcused absence!
Most questions will require short written (grammatically correct) answers. We will take points off for poorly written or
illegible answers. Cheating will absolutely not be tolerated. We prosecute!
If you are unable to attend a quiz or exam due to illness, you must notify me IN ADVANCE. You can do this by e-mail or
by phone (leave a message). If you fail to do this, you cannot be excused unless you were demonstrably unconscious
at the time of the exam.
Class Participation/Attendance: Active participation in class discussions and activities is required. This means
do the reading ahead of time and come to class and get involved. You are not expected to know the "right" answer to
every question. Attendance in class is a requirement for this course.
Help Sessions/Office Hours: There will be several help sessions and office hours each week (see Table 1).
We urge you to take advantage of these sessions to get help with homework or to ask questions about the material.
You are welcome to arrange another time if you can't make one of the fixed times. If you have personal issues to discuss,
please see Prof. Jaffe during his office hours or make an appointment to see him at another time.
Reading Assignments: It is essential for the success of this class and for your success in it that you do the reading
BEFORE we discuss it in class. We will be going through the book in order. I will give you the reading assignments about 7
days ahead of time. Current reading assignments and other announcements can be found on the course webpage (see above).
Table 1: Help Sessions and Office Hours
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