NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Course title: Introductory Chemistry I

Course prefix, number, and section number: CHEM 1406.0310

Semester/Year of course: Summer III 2024

Semester start and end dates: June 3, 2024 – August 8, 2024

Modality (Face to face/Synchronous or Asynchronous online/Hybrid): Asynchronous online

Class meeting location, days, and times: online through Canvas and WebEx

Lab meeting location, days, and times: online

Semester credit hours: 4 (48 hrs. lecture, 48 hrs. lab)

Course description: Survey course introducing chemistry. Topics may include inorganic, organic biochemistry, food/physiological chemistry, and environmental/consumer chemistry. Designed for allied health students and for students who are not science majors.

Course prerequisites: none

Required course materials:

Basic Chemistry, 6^th edition by Timberlake and Timberlake. ISBN 0-13-487811-6. Pearson. Hardbound or printed copy or e-text may be selected by the student.

Modified Mastering Chemistry Access code for Basic Chemistry, 6^th edition by Timberlake. This is available via NCTC bookstore or online through Canvas link. This is required and must be purchased by the student by the end of the first week of classes. 

Scientific calculator (You do NOT need a graphing calculator.)

Computer access with webcam and microphone capability that can support Respondus Lockdown Browser, Java, and Adobe Flash player; Reliable Internet access

Name of instructor: Amy Whiting

Office location: Corinth Room 334

Telephone number: 940-498-6213

E-mail address: awhiting@nctc.edu

Office hours for students:

Online via WebEx (Schedule as needed)

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:  4 Major Exams                             40%

                                                       Lab Reports                               30%

                                                       Homework and Quizzes          20%

                                                       Final Exam                                 10%

Final grade scale:  A = 90-100%      B = 80-89%     C = 70-79%      D = 60–69%    F = <60%

Late work policy:  Assignments are expected to be turned in on the due date as stated on Canvas. A period of two days will be permitted to accept late work, with penalty, for homework, quizzes and lab reports. After that time, no late work will be accepted nor credit given for.

In the event of a missed exam, the student must contact the instructor prior to 5pm the day of the exam in order to determine IF the absence is valid to the instructor and documentation can be provided, otherwise, your right to take the exam is forfeited. If it is determined that a student can make up the exam, it must be completed at the time determined by the instructor and within 2 days of the original exam. The exam may be in a different format from the original exam. No more than 1 exam can be made-up during the course.  If it is not possible to make up the exam, then a zero will be recorded. If you do poorly on an exam or miss an exam, your final exam grade can be used to replace your lowest (1) exam grade at the end of the semester.  The final exam cannot be dropped.  The final exam is a required exam that counts as 10% of the final course grade.

While there may be instances when being late is unavoidable, no over-time can or will be permitted for test-taking.

Exams are given in the Lockdown browser with the required use of a webcam. The student must scan the testing environment at the beginning of the exam and show that no other resources are being used including other person, phones, notes, etc. If at any point, other resources are shown or phone calls are taken, or similar circumstances are shown on video the student must explain them to the instructor or a challenge to the validity of the exam may be questioned. Failure to do this may result in points lost or a zero for the exam.

Extra credit is not given, nor should be expected, for this course.

SEE CANVAS FOR THE COMPLETE COURSE CALENDAR, OUTLINE, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF GRADED WORK, AND OTHER RELATED MATERIAL.

COURSE POLICIES

Academic Integrity Policy: Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, academic falsification, intellectual property dishonesty, academic dishonesty facilitation and collusion.  Faculty members may document and bring charges against a student who is engaged in or is suspected to be engaged in academic dishonesty. 

Honesty in completing assignments is essential.  Cheating, plagiarism, or any other kind of academic dishonesty on any assignment will not be tolerated and will result in appropriate sanctions that may include failing an assignment or exam, failing the class, or suspension or expulsion.  A report WILL be filed with the college. Consequences for academic dishonesty include that a grade of zero (“0”) on any assignment that might otherwise be eligible to be dropped (lowest lab or homework grade, etc) shall forfeit the right to said privilege. The zero shall stand and will count as part of the grade calculation. This includes an exam grade or final exam grade as well.

If cheating or collusion is suspected, a conference between the suspected parties, the instructor, and the appropriate dean will be scheduled and notation made in the student’s file.

Attendance Policy: Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered.  All absences are considered to be unauthorized unless the student is absent due to illness or emergencies as determined by the instructor.  It is the student responsibility to provide documentation as to the emergency for approval and judgement by the faculty member.  Approved college sponsored activities are the only absences for which a student should not be held liable and only when provided by a college official ahead of the absence.  Valid reasons for absence, however, do not relieve the student of the responsibility for making up required work.  Students will not be allowed to make up an examination missed due to absence unless they have reasons acceptable to the instructor.  A student who is compelled to be absent when a test is given should petition the instructor, in advance if possible, for permission to postpone the exam.  Student will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been justifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course’s objectives.    Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories will be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College.

Class Attendance:  Attendance will be taken by checking your progress on Canvas. You are required to complete assignments multiple times a week. You are responsible for keeping up with the due dates as outlined in the documents posted on Canvas.

Excessive absences may result in a student being dropped from the course with no credit awarded. Excessive absences will be defined as more than 2 weeks’ worth of assignments and work. A student who enrolls in this course and fails to attend must drop the course to avoid receiving an “F”.  Students may or may not be dropped automatically.

A student must pass the lab component of the course to receive a passing grade (D or higher) in the overall course. Passing is defined as average of 70 or better.

The instructor also retains the right to dismiss any student who exhibits verbal or nonverbal behavior that is distracting or disruptive to the learning environment.

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: July 15, 2024

Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Understand the basic concepts of matter and energy including properties and changes.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of units and use measurements in problem solving.
3. Use the periodic table to explain atomic structure.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of covalent and ionic compounds and their nomenclature.
5. Demonstrate knowledge of chemical bonding and molecular structure.
6. Understand, write, and balance chemical equations.
7. Use the mole concept to determine the number of atoms, moles, grams, and solve elementary stoichiometry-based calculations.
8. Demonstrate knowledge of gas laws to predict the behavior of gases.
9. Understand the principles of solutions and solve associated problems.
10. Understand and apply the principles of acids and bases
11. Understand and apply the fundamental concepts of organic chemistry
12. Relate the concepts covered to everyday life including human physiological processes.

Core Objectives:

Critical Thinking

Communication

Teamwork

Empirical and Quantitative Analysis

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