CSPG 230/240/250 and CPSP 359G: Science & Global Change Sophomore Practicum
Spring 2023

SGC Website: http://www.geol.umd.edu/sgc/
Download an pdf file of this syllabus.

INSTRUCTORS:

Dr. Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
Office: Centreville 1216
Phone: 301-405-4084
E-mail: tholtz@umd.edu
Office Hours: Mon 11 am-noon or by appointment
Dr. John W. Merck, Jr.
Office: Centreville 1218
Phone: 301-405-4379
E-mail: jmerck@umd.edu
Office Hours: Thurs 2-4 pm (Zoom) or by appointment

Undergraduate Teaching Assistant:
Malaika Nyawara
Office Hours: Centreville 1214 Mon 2-3 pm
E-mail: ELMS or myawara@umd.edu
[Title your email "SGC"]

Christian Sun
E-mail: ELMS or csun1235@terpmail.umd.edu
[Title your email "SGC"]
Office Hours: Fri 10-11 am on Zoom: see ELMS for link

Shelton Zhou
E-mail: ELMS or sz2001@terpmail.umd.edu
[Title your email "SGC"]
Office Hours: Centreville 1214 Thurs 3:30-5 pm


NOTE: It is your responsibility as a student to completely read through and understand this syllabus. If you have questions about it, please contact Dr. Holtz or Dr. Merck. You will be held responsible for following all requirements of this syllabus.

Requirements: All students need to do the following to fulfill your Practicum component of your Science & Global Change Citation, you must do the following:

For students in CPSG 230, 240, or 250, or CPSP 359G, you additionally must complete the following: Finally, those students in CPSP 359G have two additional items to complete, both submitted on ELMS by the last day of the semester:

Grades: For students doing the CPSG 230, 240 or 250 version of the Practicum, your grade for this class is based on the following:

For students doing CPSP 359G the percentages are as follows:

SGC students approved to be taking a Practicum class not run by Holtz & Merck (e.g., CPSP 249T, CPSP 359S, etc.) will receive a grade based on the requirements of those courses. HOWEVER, you are still required to provide the following deliverable items in order to consider you course as having fulfilled SGC's Practicum requirement:

IMPORTANT!!: Each and every person MUST do their own poster. This is true even if you were collaborators on the same exact project. Each poster must be individualized (although of course there will be some overlap if you are doing the same project!).

IMPORTANT!!: Any item not turned in by the end of final exam period will be graded as "0", unless special arrangements are made in advance of this date between the student and both faculty. "I forgot to turn it in" or "I was busy with other courses" do not represent "special arrangements"; you must be responsible for your own grade and graded items.

A guide is provided to help you construct your poster.

Our expectation is that everyone will get an A by following the rules. However, if you fall short of the standards, your grade will be docked accordingly.

GRADES for CPSG 230/240/250 and CPSP 359G: The numbers given represent the thresholds that must be passed in order to reach that grade (for example, A+ is 97.000... and any number greater). There is no rounding for letter grades; the thresholds must be passed. F is any grade below D-. Thresholds: 97, A+; 93, A; 90, A-; 87, B+; 83, B; 80, B-; 77, C+; 73, C; 70, C-; 67, D+; 63, D; 60, D-; < 60, F.

The Final Grade is the algebraic sum based on the numerical grades.

Schedule: The following includes our various meetings throughout the semester, plus other important dates. If you cannot make the individual evening meetings, please check in with us to make certain that you are getting all the relevant information.

IMPORTANT: It is expected that you will be present for your presentations at the Scholars Academic Showcase. Please plan your schedule that day accordingly.