NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Course title: Astronomy 1403 – Stars and Galaxies
Course prefix, number, and section number: ASTR 1403 0343
Semester/Year of course: Spring 2024
Semester start and end dates: 1/6/24-5/11/2024
Modality (Face to face/Synchronous or Asynchronous online/Hybrid): Asynchronous, Online
Class meeting location, days, and times: N/A - online
Lab meeting location, days, and times: N/A - online
Semester credit hours:4
Course description: Study of stars, galaxies, and the universe outside our solar system. May or may not include a laboratory. 48 lecture hours + 32 laboratory hours
Course prerequisites: N/A
Required course materials:
-OpenStax Astronomy (Free):
https://openstax.org/details/books/astronomy-2e
- Virtual and Hands-on labs in Canvas modules (Free)
Name of instructor: Bruce Layton
Office location: Online
Telephone number: 228-234-6972 (please leave voicemail with your name, course, and
questions)
E-mail address: blayton@nctc.edu
Office hours for students: Mondays 9-10am CDT – please send questions through Canvas Inbox
SYLLABUS CHANGE DISCLAIMER
The faculty member reserves the right to make changes to this published syllabus if it is in the best interest of the educational development of this class. Any such changes will be announced as soon as possible in person and/or writing.
SUMMARY OF COURSE ASSIGNMENTS
List of graded assignments:
(5) Major Unit Exams - 15%
(1) Final Exam – 20%
(4) Discussion Questions – 5%
(1) PowerPoint or Conceptual Paper (Space Travel) – 5%
(10) Labs – 25%
(15) Chapter Quizzes – 15%
(15) Chapter Homework – 15%
Final grade scale:
A 90- 100
B 80-89
C 70-79
D 60-69
F 0-59
Late work policy:
Late work will be accepted with a 10% penalty for each week it is late. There are no extra credit
opportunities in this course.
SEE CANVAS FOR THE COMPLETE COURSE CALENDAR, OUTLINE, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF GRADED WORK, AND OTHER RELATED MATERIAL.
COURSE POLICIES
Communication:
Correspondence between the instructor and student should generally be done via the Canvas
Inbox. I will respond to all messages in less than 24 hours (Monday – Friday).
Academic Integrity Policy:
In this online course, you should apply these standards to be sure that you maintain academic
integrity:
This online course is considered entirely “open book.” You may use any resources from the
course as you complete the practice quizzes, chapter quizzes, labs, tests, and final exam. You
should not, however, consult any other person or website while completing an assessment in
our course (i.e. “Googling” answers to quizzes, tests, or the final is considered cheating).
Attendance Policy:
Completion of all activities is mandatory. Students should expect to login to the Canvas
course, and complete a portion of at least one of the assignments each week, at the
minimum.
Grading and Feedback
Assignments will generally be graded within one week of the due date. Students are always
welcome to ask the instructor for more detailed feedback on any graded assignment.
Withdrawal Policy
A student may withdraw from a course on or after the official date of record. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate and complete a Withdrawal Request Form.
Last day to withdraw from the course with a “W” is: April 1, 2024
Student Learning Outcomes:
-Define and apply basic astronomical concepts.
-Define and apply the basic concepts of light and spectra.
-Understand the physical properties of stars and apply them to explain their classification.
-Explain the birth, evolution, and death of stars.
-Describe the main features of galaxies and their classification.
-Articulate modern cosmological ideas about the universe.
-Analyze and interpret data from laboratory observations to draw valid scientific conclusions and communicate these conclusions in a clear and articulate manner
Core Objectives:
-Critical Thinking
-Communication
-Empirical and Quantitative
-Teamwork
COLLEGE POLICIES
STUDENT HANDBOOK
Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the Student Handbook.
ADA STATEMENT
NCTC will adhere to all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Office for Students with Disabilities to arrange appropriate accommodations. See the OSD Syllabus Addendum.
STUDENT SERVICES
NCTC provides a multitude of services and resources to support students. See the Student Services Syllabus Addendum for a listing of those departments and links to their sites.
QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS
The student should contact the instructor to deal with any questions, concerns, or complaints specific to the class. If the student and faculty are not able to resolve the issue, the student may contact the chair or coordinator of the division. If the student remains unsatisfied, the student may proceed to contact the instructional dean.
Name of Chair/Coordinator: Jaime Noles
Office location: Gainesville 408
Telephone number: 940-668-7731 ext. 4930
E-mail address: jnoles@nctc.edu
Name of Instructional Dean: Mary Martinson
Office location: Gainesville 1403
Telephone number: 940.668.7731 ext. 4377
E-mail address: mmartinson@nctc.edu