PrintEGEE 401: Energy in a Changing World
Syllabus (Summer 2024)
This syllabus is divided into several sections. You can read it sequentially by scrolling down the length of the document or by clicking on any of the links below to “jump” to a specific section. That being said, it is essential that you read the entire document, as well as material covered in the Course Orientation. Together, these serve the role of our course "contract."
Instructor
NOTE: I will read and respond to e-mail and discussion forums once per day during the work week (Monday through Friday). You may see me online occasionally on the weekends, but please don't count on it!
Class Support Services
Penn State Online offers online tutoring to World Campus students in math, writing, and some business classes. Tutoring and guided study groups for residential students are available through Penn State Learning.
Course Overview
EGEE 401: ENERGY IN A CHANGING WORLD (3 credits).
Energy is in transition, with increased international energy demand and increasing environmental pressures. Transitions, approaches, and outcomes necessary to reconcile ensuring energy accessibility, reliability, security, and sustainability are addressed.
The role of energy is increasingly important in light of imminent climate change, critical ecological constraints, transitioning energy policies, supply disruption and competition for energy. This course evaluates the existing energy infrastructure and energy/fuel use, both domestic and international, along with evolving technologies and implementation challenges to manage and meet growing energy demands. This course seeks to provide a holistic view and to serve all students interested in an energy or energy-related career. Students will understand the interrelationships between legislative, technology, environmental, and international factors associated with energy production, processing, distribution, and utilization.
EGEE 401 is conducted entirely online. There will be no set class meeting times, but you will be required to complete weekly assignments. The course begins with a course orientation that provides important information about the course and the course environment, as well as the Academic Integrity submission which you must complete in order to unlock the rest of the course.
There are 13 lessons, which will be completed at a rate of 1 lesson per week, with a final exam. Assignments will be in the form of Lesson Activities (based on assigned reading for each lesson and utilizing models and data from a range of sources), Discussion Forums (lively discussion of questions involving personal opinion and original thinking), and a final exam (comprehensive). Due dates for all assignments are posted on the course calendar in Canvas.
Prerequisites and concurrent courses:
EGEE 101 or EGEE 102 or CHEM 112. Please note, per university prerequisite policy students who do not meet these prerequisites may be dis-enrolled. If you have not yet completed at least one of these courses, please contact the instructor to request a waiver or drop this course and retake it at a later date.
Expectations
On average, most students will spend at least eight hours per week working on course assignments. Your workload may be more or less depending on your prior experience with computing and the Web in general, and with the course topics in particular.
We have worked hard to make this the most effective and convenient educational experience possible. The Internet is still a novel learning environment, but in one sense it is no different than a traditional college class: how much and how well you learn is ultimately up to you. You will succeed if you are diligent about keeping up with the class schedule and if you take advantage of opportunities to communicate with me, as well as with your fellow students.
Specific learning objectives for each lesson and assignment are detailed within each lesson. The class schedule is published on the course calendar in Canvas.
Course Goals:
Increasingly, energy is an issue influencing national security, quality of life, national economics, and global as well as local environmental challenges. Energy is intrinsically linked to the environment and the international challenges of producing and utilizing energy at a reasonable cost with the appropriate human and environmental concerns. We refer to the attributes of energy in our world in terms of accessibility, reliability, security, and sustainability. It is desirable to produce engineers, scientists, and energy business personnel who understand the energy system at a holistic level and can navigate these attributes in terms of competing priorities while applying systems thinking to reach desired outcomes. This course provides this holistic experience and introduces the students to the many aspects of the energy business.
Required Course Materials
All materials needed for this course are presented in our course website or in Canvas. No textbook is required. In order to take this course, you need to have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password (used to access the online course resources). If you have any questions about obtaining or activating your Penn State Access Account, please contact the World Campus.
Assessment: Assignments, Quizzes, and Exams
Infographics
Some lessons are accompanied by an infographic based on the weekly assigned readings and utilizing models and data from a range of sources. The idea is to promote learning (and retention!) by offering you an opportunity to confirm what you have learned from the readings and to help you draw connections between various topics or concepts related to this course.
Essays
Some lessons include a topic where you will be asked to write an essay (most essays are 325 words +/- 10%). These essays should take the material reflected in the specific unit and provide you an opportunity to display your understanding of the issue, in your own words.
Discussions
There will be opportunities to openly engage in dialogue about the learning process of this course. There are specific discussion forums set up to allow you to voice your thoughts on what works well or supports your learning, and what doesn't work well or what could be improved upon. These are important conversations for us to have in order to continually meet the needs of you, our students and to ensure the course provides the highest quality learning experience possible.
Final Exam
The final exam will be comprehensive of all topics covered in this course.
It is important that your work is submitted in the proper format to the appropriate Canvas Assignment or Discussion Forum and by the designated due date. I strongly advise that you not wait until the last minute to complete these assignments—give yourself time to ask questions, think things over, and chat with others. You'll learn more, do better...and be happier!
| Assignment | Percent of Grade |
|---|---|
| Academic Integrity Evaluation | 2% |
| Infographics | 33% |
| Essays | 33% |
| Discussion Forum Participation | 18% |
| Final Exam | 14% |
I will use the Canvas grade book to keep track of your grades. You can see your grades in the grade book, too. Overall course grades will be determined as follows. Percentages refer to the proportion of all possible points earned.
Grading
| Letter Grade | Percentages |
|---|---|
| A | 93 - 100 % |
| A- | 90 - 92.9 % |
| B+ | 87 - 89.9 % |
| B | 83 - 86.9 % |
| B- | 80 - 82.9% |
| C+ | 77 - 79.9 % |
| C | 70 - 76.9 % |
| D | 60 - 69.9 % |
| F | < 60 % |
| X |
Unsatisfactory (student did not participate) |
Deferred Grades
If you are prevented from completing this course within the prescribed amount of time, it is possible to have the grade deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. To seek a deferred grade, you must submit a written request (by email or U.S. post) to your instructor describing the reason(s) for the request. It is up to your instructor to determine whether or not you will be permitted to receive a deferred grade. If for any reason, the coursework for the deferred grade is not complete by the assigned time, a grade of "F" will be automatically entered on your transcript.
Late Policy
Late work is not accepted for credit. If you have an unforeseeable personal, medical or family emergency and must request an exception to this policy, please contact the instructor immediately and directly. Such requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
EGEE 401 Course Schedule
Printable Schedule
Below you will find a summary of the primary learning activities for this course and the associated time frames. Due dates for all assignments are posted on the Canvas Syllabus page and course calendar.
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Course Orientation |
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| Lesson 7: Energy in the Industrial Sector |
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Lesson 9: |
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| Lesson 13: Climate and Water |
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Final Exam |
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Course Policies
Penn State E-mail Accounts
All official communications from Penn State are sent to students' Penn State e-mail accounts. Be sure to check your Penn State account regularly, or forward your Penn State e-mail to your preferred e-mail account, so you don't miss any important information.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest, and responsible manner. Academic integrity is a basic guiding principle for all academic activity at Pennsylvania State University, and all members of the University community are expected to act in accordance with this principle.
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity, an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete coursework and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, that can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for the Dean's List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
Please also see Earth and Mineral Sciences Academic Integrity Procedures, which this course adopts. To learn more, see Penn State’s “Academic Integrity Training for Students.”
Course Copyright
All course materials students receive or to which students have online access are protected by copyright laws. Students may use course materials and make copies for their own use as needed, but unauthorized distribution and/or uploading of materials without the instructor’s express permission is strictly prohibited. University Policy AD 40, the University Policy Recording of Classroom Activities and Note-Taking Services addresses this issue. Students who engage in the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials may be held in violation of the University’s Code of Conduct, and/or liable under Federal and State laws. For example, uploading completed labs, homework, or other assignments to any study site constitutes a violation of this policy.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides the contact information for every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the Student Disability Resources website.
To receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation. See Student Disability Resources: Applying for Services. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus’s disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Change in Normal Campus Operations
In case of weather-related delays or other emergency campus disruptions or closures at the University, this online course will proceed as planned. Your instructor will inform you if there are any extenuating circumstances regarding content or activity due dates in the course due to these delays or closures. If you are affected by a weather-related emergency, please contact your instructor at the earliest possible time to make special arrangements.
Reporting Educational Equity Concerns
Penn State takes great pride in fostering a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated (Policy AD29 Statement on Intolerance) and can be reported through Educational Equity via Report Bias.
Counseling and Psychological Services
Many students at Penn State face personal challenges or have psychological needs that may interfere with their academic progress, social development, or emotional wellbeing. The university offers a variety of confidential services to help you through difficult times, including individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, consultations, online chats, and mental health screenings. These services are provided by staff who welcome all students and embrace a philosophy respectful of clients’ cultural and religious backgrounds, and sensitive to differences in race, ability, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Services include the following:
Counseling and Psychological Services at University Park (CAPS): 814-863-0395
Counseling Services at Commonwealth Campuses
Penn State Crisis Line (24 hours/7 days/week): 877-229-6400
Crisis Text Line (24 hours/7 days/week): Text LIONS to 741741
Military Personnel
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or spouses with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, disabilities, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.
Connect Online with Caution
Penn State is committed to educational access for all. Our students come from all walks of life and have diverse life experiences. As with any other online community, the lack of physical interaction in an online classroom can create a false sense of anonymity and security. While one can make new friends online, digital relationships can also be misleading. Good judgment and decision-making are critical when choosing to disclose personal information with others whom you do not know.
Technical Requirements
For this course, we recommend the minimum technical requirements outlined on the World Campus Technical Requirements page, including the requirements listed for same-time, synchronous communications. If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the IT Service Desk.
Internet Connection
Access to a reliable Internet connection is required for this course. A problem with your Internet access may not be used as an excuse for late, missing, or incomplete coursework. If you experience problems with your Internet connection while working on this course, it is your responsibility to find an alternative Internet access point, such as a public library or Wi-Fi ® hotspot.
Equations
This course must be viewed using the latest version of Firefox, Safari, Chrome, or Edge. Internet Explorer is not supported. If you use any other browser, or if you are not using the latest version of your browser, some pages containing equations may not render properly. In addition, javascript must be enabled for equations to render properly. If you have any issues with equations not rendering properly, please update your browser to the latest version or try using a different browser. If you need additional technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the HelpDesk (for World Campus students) or the IT Service Desk (for students at all other campus locations).Deferred Grades
If you are prevented from completing this course within the prescribed amount of time for reasons that are beyond your control, it is possible to have the grade deferred with the concurrence of the instructor, following Penn State Deferred Grade Policy 48-40. To seek a deferred grade, you must submit a written request (by e-mail or U.S. post) to the instructor describing the reason(s) for the request. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested before the beginning of the final examination period. It is up to the instructor to determine whether or not you will be permitted to receive a deferred grade. If permission is granted, you will work with the instructor to establish a communication plan and a clear schedule for completion within policy. If, for any reason, the coursework for the deferred grade is not complete by the assigned time, a grade of "F" will be automatically entered on your transcript.
In EMS, inclusivity is one of our core values. We prioritize fostering a diverse and equitable community where each member knows they belong here and is inspired to succeed. We encourage everyone in our EMS community to be actively engaged in fostering this ideal, and all members of this class should contribute to a respectful, welcoming, and inclusive environment and interact with civility. Our commitment to inclusivity aligns with Penn State’s values and policies.
To learn more, visit EMS Educational Equity. Here, you will find information about the EMS ALLWE initiative, the Rainbow EMS Network, Anti-Racism, active ally-ship, bystander intervention, and more. The site also has resources for where to turn if you need assistance and links to University references. Also, contact your EMS department’s Associate Head for DEI for more information about department initiatives.
Attendance
This course will be conducted entirely online. There will be no set class meeting times, but you will be required to complete weekly assignments with specific due dates. Many of the assignments are open for multiple days, so it is your responsibility to complete the work early if you plan to travel or participate in national holidays, religious observances, or university-approved activities. If you need to request an exception due to a personal or medical emergency, contact the instructor directly as soon as you are able. Such requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Mandated Reporting Statement
Penn State’s policies require me, as a faculty member, to share information about incidents of sex-based discrimination and harassment (discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and retaliation) with Penn State’s Title IX coordinator or deputy coordinators, regardless of whether the incidents are stated to me in person or shared by students as part of their coursework. For more information regarding the University's policies and procedures for responding to reports of sexual or gender-based harassment or misconduct, please visit Penn State's Office of Sexual Misconduct Prevention & Response website.
Additionally, I am required to make a report on any reasonable suspicion of child abuse in accordance with the Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law.
Disclaimer
Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus can be changed at any time, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Changes to the syllabus shall be given to you in written (paper or electronic) form.