- Recommended Text -

• The Cosmic Perspective, Bennett, Donahue, Schneider and Voit

The lecture schedule lists the chapter of the textbook associated with each lecture topic. Reading the relevant chapter before a topic is covered in lecture not only reenforces the material in your mind but allows you to bring questions to class and motivates in class discussion.

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- Course Policies and Procedures -

Academic Standards
In the process of conducting scientific work, it is essential that an attitude of trust and honesty exists between all participants. In the Physics Department, we have an honor code. We expect you to behave honorably in all aspects of your life. This means that we trust you. For example, you are free to leave the room during a test without asking me. We take this trust seriously and a breach of trust has severe consequences. Cheating in any form is grounds for dismissal from the course with a grade of F.

Exam Information
Please see the beginning of this document for the exam dates. Bring two #2 pencils to all exams! You are allowed to bring one double-sided 8.5'' by 11'' page of notes to each of the exams. Exams are multiple choice and the final exam is comprehensive. I encourage you to argue with me about your exam score if you believe that something was graded incorrectly or if you believe that you deserve more points.

Makeup Exam Information
If you cannot take an exam, see me well in advance about scheduling a makeup exam. If you cannot notify me in advance (minimum 1 week), contact me as soon as possible; this is best accomplished through e-mail. All makeup exams will have short-answer / essay questions ONLY.

**The Final Exam CANNOT be made up or rescheduled**

Math
Although this course is largely descriptive in nature, proficiency in basic algebra is expected. During lecture and on exams, you will not need a calculator. I want you to come away with a basic understanding of the mathematical reasoning behind modern scientific research. Plugging numbers into an equation and getting an 'answer' is not the best way to achieve this. Instead, I would like to help you understand, through some basic algebra, what an equation really has to say about the natural world.

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