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Mathematics 595 - Modeling Practicum

Instructor

Dr. Chris Dugaw
Email dugaw@humboldt.edu
Office: BSS 354
Office Hours: Tues. 9-9:50, 11-11:50, Weds. 4-4:50, Thurs. 11-11:50, Fri. 10-10:50, & by appointment

Textbook

There will be no text for this class.

Course Time and Location

MWF - 11:00-11:50 BSS 211

Topics

You will gain experience learning about a real-world problem; doing a literature review; developing, analyzing, and interpreting a mathematical model; and presenting your work in written and oral form. All of this will be done in a group setting.

Course Description

Practical experience constructing and analyzing mathematical models.

Learner Outcomes

This course addresses all of the Learner Outcomes from the Environmental Systems Graduate Program:

  1. The ability to read the current literature in their area with understanding and insight.
  2. The ability to apply that current research to the solution of environmental and resource management problems in the area of interest to the student.
  3. The ability to successfully work as a team member on the solution of environmental and resource management problems.
  4. The ability to clearly articulate an understanding of and solutions to environmental and resource management problems.
  5. Overall, the ability to define and conceptualize an environmental problem; develop an appropriate approach to its solution; successfully complete the project; and clearly communicate the results.

Grading

Your grade will be based on the following grading scheme:

  • Homework - 10%
  • Periodic Evaluations - 45%
  • Final Project - 45%

Homework

There will be few homework assignments near the beginning of the class to get you focused the practice of modeling.

Periodic Evaluations

The main focus of this course will be a group project. Your participation in class and in the group will therefore be an important part of your grade. To make this a fair and transparent process you will be evaluated four times during the semester. I will divide the semester in half, and you will be assigned a grade for the first and second parts of the class. The mid-half evaluations will be advisory and will not count towards your grade. This way you will know how you are doing and what you can do to earn a high grade. Once the group work begins peer evaluations will be a part of this process.

Final Project Write-up

Each group will turn in a group paper and present the results to the class.

Calendar

  • 9/30 - First Term Progress Report (doesn't count towards grade)
  • 10/23 - Periodic Evaluation (counts toward grade)
  • 11/18 - Second Term Progress Report (doesn't count towards grade)
  • 12/14 - Final Periodic Evaluation (counts toward grade)
  • 12/14 - Final Project Write-up due

Furloughs

Due to extraordinary budget cuts to the CSU, fees to students have been increased 32%, many sections have been cut and faculty will be required to take nine furlough days each semester. These furlough days will unfortunately mean that you will be receiving less instruction than is normal and your access to your professors. You will need to take more personal responsibility for your education. I will be furloughing 9/8, 9/18, 10/13, 10/22, 11/6, 11/20, 12/8, and 12/19. My classes and office hours will be cancelled on those days and I will not be able to answer email.

I strongly encourage every student to let their feelings about these cuts be heard. See http://www.savethecsu.com/.

Course Policies

Students with Disabilities

Persons who wish to request disability-related accommodations should contact the Student Disability Resource Center in House 71, 826-4678 (voice) or 826-5392 (TDD). Some accommodations may take up to several weeks to arrange. http://www.humboldt.edu/~sdrc/

Add/Drop policy

Students are responsible for knowing the University policy, procedures, and schedule for dropping or adding classes. http://www.humboldt.edu/~reg/regulations/schedadjust.html

Incomplete policy

I will only give incompletes to students that satisfy all of the following conditions: the student has completed the majority of the course, the student is currently earning a passing grade (C or better), the student has a serious and compelling reason for requesting an incomplete.

Emergency evacuation

Please review the evacuation plan for the classroom (posted on the orange signs), and review http://studentaffairs.humboldt.edu/emergencyops/campus_emergency_preparedness.php for information on campus Emergency Procedures. During an emergency, information can be found campus conditions at: 826-INFO, or http://www.humboldt.edu/emergency

Academic honesty

Students are responsible for knowing policy regarding academic honesty: http://studentaffairs.humboldt.edu/judicial/academic_honesty.php or see the catalog: http://www.humboldt.edu/~reg/catalog.html

Attendance and disruptive behavior

Students are responsible for knowing policy regarding attendance and disruptive behavior: http://studentaffairs.humboldt.edu/judicial/attendance_behavior.php

Attendance is required and determines part of your grade measured in the periodic evaluations. If you need to miss class please talk to me ahead of time. Students are responsible for material covered in class and announcements made during class.