Introduction to Astrophysics I - ASTR:3771

Fall 2014

Syllabus

Instructor:  Prof. Philip Kaaret
Office: 702 Van Allen Hall
Phone: 335-1985
E-mail: philip-kaaret@uiowa.edu
Web: http://astro.physics.uiowa.edu/~kaaret
Office hours:  Monday 11 am - noon, Tuesday 1:30-2:30 pm, Wednesday 2:30-3:30 pm, or by appointment.

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Department of Physics and Astronomy
DEO: Prof. Frederick Skiff
Office: 203 Van Allen Hall
Phone: 335-1686


The course will cover: fundamentals of astrophysical processes in stars, nebulae, the interstellar medium, galaxies, cosmology; topics include stellar spectra, binary stars, interstellar gas and dust, stellar and galactic kinematics, stellar evolution, HII regions, radiation processes in galaxies and quasars, mathematical descriptions of the universe.  The fall semester will cover stars, nebulae, and the interstellar medium.  The spring semester will cover the Milky Way, galaxies, and cosmology.


Course Information

• Lectures are from 9:30 to 10:45 am Tuesdays and Thursdays in Room 358 of Van Allen Hall.
• The required textbook for the course is Astrophysics in a Nutshell by Dan Maoz.
  
• There is a website for the course: http://astro.physics.uiowa.edu/~kaaret/2014f_astr3771.  The website will contain the syllabus, lecture notes, and other class-related materials.
• Students are expected to attend all lectures.  Poor attendance is likely to affect success in the course.
• Examinations will be held during the regular class period.  Dates are specified on the course web site.
  
• There will be a final examination.
• Make-up examinations will be allowed only for the most compelling circumstances, such as incapacitating illness or death in the immediate family. Documentation of the circumstances will be required.
• The grade in the course will be determined as follows.  Each one-hour examination will count for 100 points. The final examination will count for 120 points.   Homework will count for 100 points.  The final letter grade distribution will be curved as recommended by the College.  Plus/minus grades will be awarded.
  
• Homework will be due at the beginning of class on the dates noted in the schedule.  Students are allowed to work on the homework in small groups.  However, each student should be sure to understand each homework problem.  Students should feel free to come during office hours to discuss the homework assignments.
• Students are expected to attend all class sessions (2.5 hours per week) and do an additional 6.5 hours of work per week outside class for a total of about 9 hours per week devoted to this class.

Administrative Home
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is the administrative home of this course and governs matters such as the add/drop deadlines, the second-grade-only option, and other related issues. Different colleges may have different policies. Questions may be addressed to 120 Schaeffer Hall, or see the CLAS Student Academic Handbook.

Electronic Communication
University policy specifies that students are responsible for all official correspondences sent to their University of Iowa e-mail address (@uiowa.edu). Faculty and students should use this account for correspondences. (Operations Manual, III.15.2. Scroll down to k.11.)

Accommodations for Disabilities

A student seeking academic accommodations should first register with Student Disability Services and then meet privately with the course instructor to make particular arrangements. See www.uiowa.edu/~sds/ for more information.

Academic Fraud
Plagiarism and any other activities when students present work that is not their own are academic fraud. Academic fraud is a serious matter and is reported to the departmental DEO and to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Curriculum. Instructors and DEOs decide on appropriate consequences at the departmental level while the Associate Dean enforces additional consequences at the collegiate level. See the CLAS Academic Fraud section of the Student Academic Handbook.

CLAS Final Examination Policies

Final exams may be offered only during finals week. No exams of any kind are allowed during the last week of classes. Students should not ask their instructor to reschedule a final exam since the College does not permit rescheduling of a final exam once the semester has begun. Questions should be addressed to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Curriculum.

Making a Suggestion or a Complaint
Students with a suggestion or complaint should first visit the instructor, then the course supervisor, and then the departmental DEO. Complaints must be made within six months of the incident. See the CLAS Student Academic Handbook.

Understanding Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment subverts the mission of the University and threatens the well-being of students, faculty, and staff. All members of the UI community have a responsibility to uphold this mission and to contribute to a safe environment that enhances learning. Incidents of sexual harassment should be reported immediately. See the UI Comprehensive Guide on Sexual Harassment for assistance, definitions, and the full University policy.

Reacting Safely to Severe Weather
In severe weather, class members should seek appropriate shelter immediately, leaving the classroom if necessary. The class will continue if possible when the event is over. For more information on Hawk Alert and the siren warning system, visit the Public Safety web site.