Homework:
Three to four out of class projects will be assigned. Some of the work may involve using computers at home or in the Colleges’ computer laboratories.

Observing Sessions:
Optional. Will occasionally be held, weather permitting.

Attendance:
Regular attendance is expected. In this course, supplemental material will be presented which can only be obtained by regular class attendance. In addition, quizzes will be administered at every class meeting. If a student cannot take the midterm or final exam on the designated date, they must contact the instructor before the exam is given and make other arrangements. Always assume that classes will be held as scheduled unless an announcement is made of cancellation.

Student Preparation:
Students should read the assigned material before the class which deals with the material. They should be prepared to ask questions about the topic and answer questions posed by the instructor.

Course Assessment:

In-Class Assignments:	10%
Homework Assignments:	10%
Quizzes:	20%
Midterm:	30%
Final:	30%

Final grades will be assigned based on the distribution of numerical course grades. In borderline cases the instructor's evaluation of the student's total performance will be used to assign the grade.

Course Goals Include:

• Become familiar with the concept of constellations.
• Learn the nomenclature of stars and constellations.
• Learn the distance units used to measure astronomical distances.
• Understand the historical basis of the astronomy of stars and galaxies.
• Become familiar with the properties of electromagnetic radiation, its interactions with matter, and its importance to astronomy.
• Understand the principles of spectroscopy and its astronomical applications.
• Become familiar with technology used to explore the universe, both Earth-based instruments and spacecraft.
• Learn about the Sun as a star, including its sources of energy, its cyclic activity, and its variability.
• Become familiar with the types of stars found near the Sun, their relative numbers, and how they are displayed on the H-R diagram.
• Become familiar with stellar evolution, from the creation of stars to their ultimate fates as white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes.
• Learn about the physical characteristics and history of our galaxy, the Milky Way.
• Become familiar with the types of galaxies, their properties, and theories about their evolution.
• Learn about active galaxies and quasars and theories about their sources of energy.
• Become familiar with the large-scale structure of the universe, including the distribution of galaxies and dark matter.
• Understand current theories about the origin of the universe, how it evolved to its present state, and its ultimate fate.
• Become familiar with the possibilities of extraterrestrial life outside the solar system, including promising sites and past and future attempts to detect it.

The Spirit of Learning:
Members of The Sage Colleges community are expected to conduct themselves in a way which respects the learning environment. Thus, Sage has the right to remove any student from the classroom, other academic area, or program at any time if the student's behavior is contrary to the spirit of learning or hinders the operation of the program in any way. Violent, disruptive, harassing, or intimidating behavior is not tolerated in the classroom or any other place on campus. Any student whose conduct disrupts a class or other learning environment may be required to leave the premises immediately and subjected to disciplinary or legal actions.

Americans With Disabilities:
The Sage Colleges is committed to responding to the needs of students with disabilities, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act. A student seeking academic adjustment under the Americans with Disabilities Act must make a request in writing to The Sage Colleges Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities, Sage Albany Campus, 140 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY 12208: telephone 518-292-1764. Any student in need of classroom assistance or modification under the Americans with Disabilities Act must inform the instructor of the needed adjustment no later than the first week of class, and provide documentation from the Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities.

Policy on Academic Honesty:
Academic dishonestey in any of its forms, including cheating, plagiarism, misuse of SageNet, and failure to comply with guidelines for the conduct of human research, will not be tolerated at The Sage Colleges. A full statement of the policy on plagarism, cheating and academic dishonesty is available in any of the academic division offices, in the Russell Sage College Dean and Graduate Dean offices (Troy) and Sage Evening College and Sage JCA Dean office (Albany).

For guidance in proper referencing of sources, as well as how to avoid plagarism, consult the most recent editions of the following works, which are available in the reference sections of the libraries on the Troy and Albany campus:

• Joseph Gibaldi and Walter S. Achtert MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, New York, Modern Language Association.
• Kate L. Turabian A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Thesis, and Dissertations, Chicago, University of Chicago Press.
• American Psychological Association Publication Manual for the American Psychological Association, Washington, D.C., American Psychological Association.