MSAG Student Handbook 2020-21, Exams of Nuclear Physics

Download MSAG Student Handbook 2020-21 and more Exams Nuclear Physics in PDF only on Docsity! Earth & Environmental Science Masters Programs Student Handbook Master of Science in Applied Geosciences University of Pennsylvania College of Liberal and Professional Studies Academic Year 2020-21 MSAG Student Handbook 2020-21 1 Table of Contents I. Program Overview...................................................................................................3 II. Curriculum .............................................................................................................4 III. Special Programs and Certificates .........................................................................8 IV. Program Policies .....................................................................................................9 V. Designing Your Program ......................................................................................14 VI. Course Registration Procedures ...........................................................................15 VII. Project Design and Graduation Procedures ........................................................19 VIII. University Policies & Resources ...........................................................................21 IX. Appendix MSAG Course List ...............................................................................31 MSAG Student Handbook 2020-21 4 II. Curriculum Students are required to complete at least 12 CUs of graduate level course work for the MSAG program. Students must take nine required courses, three electives, and complete a Masters level Project Design or “Technical Paper” positively evaluated by two readers in order to earn an MSAG degree. Required Courses • GEOL 620 Applied and Environmental Geophysics • GEOL 653 Introduction to Hydrology • DYNM 619 Organizational Project Management One course must be taken in each of the following five areas 1) Geocomputations • GEOL 651 Geocomputations I • GEOL 658 Geostatistics • ENVS 541 Modeling Geographic Objects • ENVS 681 Modeling Geographic Space 2) Geochemistry • GEOL 418 Geochemistry • GEOL 421 Elemental Cycling in Global Systems • GEOL 528 Aqueous Geochemistry • GEOL 618 Fundamentals of Air Pollution 3) Geomechanics • GEOL 654 Geomechanics: Solids • GEOL 668 Geomechanics: Fluids 4) Engineering Geology • GEOL 670 Engineering Geology: Rock Mechanics • GEOL 671 Engineering Geology: Surficial Materials & Processes • GEOL 680 Interpretation of Near-surface Geologic Structure for Engineering & Environmental Geology 5) Ground Water Hydrology • GEOL 656 Fate and Transport of Pollutants • GEOL 661 Environmental Groundwater Hydrology MSAG Student Handbook 2020-21 5 Three Elective Courses Students choose three electives within their area of concentration. A description of the concentrations in the MSAG program follows and specific courses that fulfill each concentration are described in the Appendix. The development of a concentration should be done in consultation with a program academic adviser (assigned when the student enters the program). You can find your academic adviser by going to Penn InTouch (Fig 1). If no name appears there, your academic adviser is Dr. Bordeaux (bordeaux@sas.upenn.edu). Figure 1. Finding your academic adviser on the Penn InTouch screen. Arrow points to where academic adviser name is listed. Click on name to email your adviser to set up a meeting or ask a question. MSAG Student Handbook 2020-21 6 Electives: Engineering Geology • GEOL 411 - Soil Science • GEOL 654 - Geomechanics: Solids • GEOL 658 - Geostatistics • GEOL 668 - Geomechanics: Fluids • GEOL 670 - Engineering Geology: Rock Mechanics • GEOL 671 - Engineering Geology: Surficial Materials & Processes • GEOL 680 - Interpretation of Near-surface Geologic Structure for Engineering & Environmental Geology • ENVS 541- Modeling Geographic Objects • ENVS 681- Modeling Geographic Space Hydrogeology • GEOL 528 - Aqueous Geochemistry • GEOL 656 - Fate and Transport of Pollutants • GEOL 661 - Environmental Groundwater Hydrology • GEOL 663 - Geochemical Modeling • GEOL 668 - Geomechanics: Fluids • ENVS 507 - Wetlands Environmental Geology • GEOL 411 – Soil Science • GEOL 421 - Elemental Cycling in Global Systems • GEOL 528 - Aqueous Geochemistry • GEOL 658 - Environmental Statistical Analysis • ENVS 507 - Wetlands • ENVS 541 - Modeling Geographic Objects • ENVS 681 - Modeling Geographic Space Note: Other courses may be used in any elective if pre-approved by the student’s academic adviser. Individualized Concentration For this concentration, the student meets with the Director of the MSAG and creates a program that consists of a coherent set of courses that aid the student in reaching their academic and professional goals. MSAG Student Handbook 2020-21 9 Dual Degrees There are two Dual Degree options with the MSAG degree: MSAG and Master of Law and the International Environmental Management program. Each dual degree has a set of approved courses and order in which courses are taken. Students in Dual degree programs should meet with their academic adviser in each program every semester to ensure that they are meeting the requirements of both degrees. Consult the MSAG Dual Degree Handbook for additional information about the specifics of each dual degree. If you are interested in applying to a dual degree program contact the MSAG program Director as soon as possible. IV. Program Policies Academic Standards Students in the MSAG are expected to maintain the highest possible academic standards. To assure that students are making satisfactory progress toward their degree, the program reviews student performance every semester, but it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that courses taken count toward the degree. Thus, it is vital that students meet with their Academic Adviser every semester to ensure that they are on track to graduation. The Earth & Environmental Science Faculty Advisory Committee (FAC) has adopted the following requirements for MSAG students as they progress toward their degrees: • Students must take all courses that will count towards the MSAG degree requirements for a letter grade. Pass/Fail or Audited courses are not counted toward the degree. The letter grades of “S” or “U” also do not count toward the degree. • Students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative average in order to be in good standing and to graduate. • Only one grade below a “B-” and no grade below a “C” will be accepted toward fulfillment of the 12 CUs required to complete the program. • Students must make satisfactory progress on the capstone project including: obtaining approval for their capstone project proposal in the first year of the program, completing scheduled check-ins, submitting drafts on schedule, attending/presenting a poster at the annual EES Capstone Research Conference, and obtaining a positive evaluation on the final capstone paper and poster from two approved readers. Students who receive a grade below a “C+” or have more than one grade below a “B-” will be reviewed by the FAC and placed on academic probation. With the permission of the FAC, students may take additional courses in order to increase their GPA or to fulfill requirements in courses where the student received a grade below a “C”. In the case where the same course is taken again to meet the academic requirements of the program, both courses and grades appear on the transcript, but only the second course’s CU contributes to the total number of CUs and only the grade for the second course is included in the cumulative GPA. Students should work with the Program Director to develop an academic plan and facilitate student success; students will not be allowed to register for courses during their academic probation without an approved plan in place. MSAG Student Handbook 2020-21 10 Program Dismissal Students who do not meet the terms of academic probation are subject to dismissal from the program. At the end of each semester, the FAC will review the academic progress made by candidates for academic dismissal and decide whether to remove the student from academic probation, continue academic probation, or dismiss the student from the Program. If the Committee decides that the student is unlikely to successfully complete their degree program, the student will be sent an academic dismissal letter via email and U.S. mail. Inactive Status Students who do not enroll in courses for four consecutive terms, including summer, will be considered inactive and will be automatically withdrawn from the program during the fourth term. Students who are withdrawn will be required to apply for readmission to the program. Standard application fees will apply. Incomplete Grades An incomplete grade indicates that a student has not completed all the work in a course and has done so with the instructor’s permission. An instructor who chooses to grant an extension to a student who has not completed a course by the end of the term may grant either an Incomplete (I), an Extended Incomplete (II), or choose not to submit a grade (NR or GR). An Incomplete (including I, GR, and NR) must be made up within the first four weeks of the start of the next term, and an Extended Incomplete must be made up by the end of the next term (including the summer term). In either case, if the Incomplete is not made up by the deadline, it will become an F. An Incomplete is made up only when the official grade is received by the LPS Office and recorded by the Registrar’s office on the student’s official transcript. Once an Incomplete grade is converted to an F, the instructor may not change the grade even if the student has completed all required work. Students with two or more Incomplete grades are subject to registration hold and are required to meet with the MSAG Director to explain the circumstances of the Incompletes and develop a plan to resolve them. Students with two or more outstanding grades of incomplete will not be allowed to register for courses; students with two or more outstanding grades of incomplete who have already registered will be dropped from courses. The student’s eligibility for student loans will be affected by Incomplete grades and students may not be eligible for additional loans or aid until the Incomplete grades are cleared. Academic Grievances Evaluation of a student's performance in a course is the responsibility of the course instructor. Should a final grade in a course be disputed, the student must submit a written appeal to the instructor within the first two weeks of the academic semester immediately following the semester in which the grade was received. The instructor must respond in writing to the student within two weeks of receiving the written appeal. If, after receiving the written response from the instructor, the student still believes that the grade has been unfairly assigned, the student must submit a written appeal to the EES Faculty Advisory Committee. If the Committee believes the appeal demonstrates evidence of negligence or discriminatory behavior, a sub-committee will be MSAG Student Handbook 2020-21 11 formed to review the student's appeal and make a recommendation to the full Academic Committee. The School of Arts & Sciences and the Provost’s Office have policies governing academic grievances. Students should consult these for additional information about the grievance procedure. SAS policy for graduate students' grievances: https://www.sas.upenn.edu/graduate-division/resources/academic-grievance-procedure Penn Provost’s information on Academic Grievances: https://catalog.upenn.edu/pennbook/student-grievance/ Leave of Absence Students take time away from their studies for a wide variety of reasons that include: • Manage a medical concern • Fulfill a family obligation • Pursue career-related opportunities • Complete military service • Work on a political campaign While interrupting your studies to take time away may seem intimidating, a leave is a means to the successful completion of a degree, not a barrier to graduating. More than three quarters of students who take a leave return to complete their degree within two years. If you are considering a leave, take time to think carefully about your goals for your time away and for when you return. Speaking with the MSAG program director is an important first step. Depending on your circumstances you should get advice from other sources as well. Students taking time away in order to manage a medical condition should discuss the leave with their healthcare provider. Your MSAG program director will help you connect with other campus resources as you prepare to take a leave of absence, such as Student Financial Services, Housing, and International Student and Scholar Services. Students typically take a leave for a full academic year. Individual circumstances may require more or less time. Students on leave should remain in contact with their MSAG program director and update them about changes in plans. The return from leave process supports students in a successful re-entry to academic life at Penn. When preparing to return, students must consult their MSAG program director to develop a plan that includes connection with appropriate resources. Leave of absence policy and process: Requesting a Leave of Absence: • Students must meet with the MSAG program director to discuss a leave request. MSAG Student Handbook 2020-21 14 Courses taken outside of the University of Pennsylvania during a student’s matriculation in the MSAG program are not eligible for transfer credit. Financial Aid Tuition Support MSAG students are not eligible for University-based fellowships or scholarships. United States citizens or permanent residents are eligible to apply for loans through Penn’s Office of Student Financial Services, http://www.sfs.upenn.edu/. Full-time students (students taking 3 or more courses in a semester) and part-time students (students taking two courses in a semester) are eligible for loan support. International students are not eligible for loans through the University. Students may seek outside scholarship support. Research Support The MSAG program has limited funding available to support costs incurred during the conduct of student research. These funds are awarded on a competitive basis and are available for equipment and lab fees associated with the student’s research. Awards are typically on the order of a few hundred dollars. In addition, MSAG students may apply for funds to present their research at a conference or scientific meeting. To be eligible for research funds through the MSAG program, students must identify an adviser who will work with them on the research project. Students must be in good academic standing. Students with Incomplete (I or II) or unreported course grades (NR or GR) are not eligible for these funds. Proposals (including a detailed budget) are accepted on an ongoing basis. Forms are available on the Online Community under “Forms.” Students applying for funds to cover expenses associated with an oral or poster presentation at a conference or meeting must submit a copy of the accepted abstract, the notice of acceptance of that abstract, and a budget of the costs associated with travel to the conference. There are no deadlines for these requests, but students must submit materials at least 4 weeks prior to travel to allow for processing of such requests. V. Designing Your Program Student Advising Each student entering the MSAG program will be assigned an academic adviser. That academic adviser will guide the student through the initial course registration and program introduction as well as throughout their academic career in the MSAG. Student’s will meet with their adviser during the 1st Year Retreat and define a plan for the remainder of their MSAG career. Attendance at the 1st Year Retreat is mandatory. Students should meet with their academic adviser at least once a semester (usually during Advance Registration) to discuss their program progress and choose courses for the following MSAG Student Handbook 2020-21 15 semester. Students should use the student planning worksheet available on Penn InTouch (https://portal.apps.upenn.edu/penn_portal/intouch/splash.html) as well as the plan developed at the Retreat to choose courses each semester and ensure that all degree requirements are fulfilled for graduation. Course Selection Prior to Advance Registration each semester approved lists of courses from the MSAG program will be posted on the Canvas MES and MSAG Online Community. Departmental web pages often include course descriptions as well. The Course Timetable appears in March and October and may be viewed online at http://www.upenn.edu/registrar/timetable. Finally, Penn InTouch allows students to search for courses online using keyword searches. If a student selects a course that does not appear on the approved lists on the MES and MSAG Online Community, they must seek approval from their adviser as it may not be acceptable for the program. VI. Course Registration Procedures Advance Registration The course registration process involves two registration periods. The first is Advance Registration during which students enter their requests for courses they wish to take. Students are encouraged to register during this period so that they have the best chance of getting into the courses they prefer. At the end of Advance Registration, a scheduling program processes all registration requests at the same time to determine who is enrolled in the courses that have been requested. Students will then be able to view their courses in which they have actually been enrolled. Students may advance register during a two-week period starting in late March for the following summer and fall terms and during a two-week period in early November for the following spring term. Check the LPS website (http://www.sas.upenn.edu/lps/calendar) and/or the Registrar’s website for the exact dates for Advance Registration. Regular Registration The regular registration add/drop period opens approximately three weeks after the advance registration request period has closed and students have been notified of their schedules. During the regular registration period students know immediately whether or not they will be able to enroll in the course they are requesting. Students must register for courses through Penn InTouch (online registration). Registering through Penn InTouch requires the use of a personal computer and access to the web and is the only method of registration. In order to access the system, students must have a PennKey. To establish a PennKey, go to http://www.upenn.edu/computing/pennkey/ and follow the steps there. [Note: A Set-Up Code will be emailed to each new student to set up a PennKey.] The Penn InTouch web address is: https://portal.apps.upenn.edu/penn_portal/intouch/splash.html MSAG Student Handbook 2020-21 16 Some important information to remember when registering for courses:  Check with your academic adviser to be sure the course for which you are registering fulfills a requirement for your degree.  Courses must be taken for a normal letter grade in order to count toward the MSAG degree. “Pass/Fail” or “Audit” are not acceptable options.  Only courses numbered 400 and above (the first set of three digits after the course subject is the course number -- e.g., GEOL 420 001 but not GEOL 001 601) may count toward the degree.  As a masters student, permission may be needed from the instructor or department to register for some graduate courses in other departments or schools (permit procedures can be found on the Canvas MES and MSAG Online Community.  Full-time students should enroll in 3 or 4 courses. Students are not permitted to enroll in more than 4 courses per semester.  Part-time students should enroll in 1 or 2 courses per semester. Permits Courses that require special permission from the instructor are indicated in the Course Timetable as “Permit Required.” Instructions for how to obtain a Permit from various departments can be found on the Canvas MES and MSAG Online Community under “Course Planning.” Please check this list before emailing the instructor or random offices at Penn. Once a permit is obtained, students must “claim” the permit by actually enrolling in the course through Penn InTouch. After both Advance Registration and Regular Registration are complete, the Registrar’s Office removes unused permits from students’ records. However, out of courtesy, if you have decided not to take the course, please inform the office that issued the permit so they might release your seat to others who might be on a wait list. Independent Study Courses Students interested in pursuing an individualized study project should obtain a “Request for Independent Study” form from the Canvas MES and MSAG Online Community. The student should then approach a faculty member and obtain agreement from them to direct their project. It is the responsibility of the student to define the individualized project. Students should not approach a faculty member and request that they define a project for the student. Students must obtain the appropriate signatures from their adviser and the Director of the MSAG program. Independent Study Courses may not duplicate other courses offered during the same semester. Students should bear in mind that faculty members are not required to supervise an Independent Study course. MSAG students may register for up to 2 Independent Study courses during their career. NOTE: Internships cannot be counted for Independent Study credit. Auditing Courses MSAG students may audit courses. However, they will be charged tuition and fees at the MSAG tuition level. Audited courses will appear on the student’s transcript, but no grade will be issued MSAG Student Handbook 2020-21 19 Student Status Students with Visa restrictions and/or loan requirements should be aware of their student status. Students are considered full-time if they meet one of the following criteria: • Student is enrolled in 3 or 4 courses in a single semester • Student is enrolled in Master Thesis GEOL 990. If a student is enrolled in 2 or fewer courses in a single semester (other than Master Thesis) they are considered part-time. Students who meet the requirements of a full time student are automatically enrolled in Penn’s Student Health Insurance coverage unless the student shows proof of coverage through another source. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure all paperwork has been submitted if they choose to opt out of the Penn insurance plan. Time to Completion Master of Science in Applied Geosciences students may enroll on either a part-time or full-time basis. Time to completion will vary depending on how many classes are taken each semester and whether summer classes are taken. Full-time students can complete the program in two years, taking three or four classes per semester. Part-time students typically complete the degree in three years, taking one or two classes per semester. Students are expected to complete their degree in four years or less. Students needing additional time to complete their degree must petition the Faculty Advisory Committee for permission to continue beyond the four-year rule. In addition, students may not be on Masters Thesis (GEOL 990) for more than two semesters. Students not completing the program requirements after two semesters of Master’s Thesis may be withdrawn from the program for lack of progress toward degree. VII . Project Design and Graduation Procedures Faculty Readers Two faculty readers are required for the Project Design capstone: one designated as the primary reader and the other as the secondary reader. The primary reader will work with the student to plan and carry out the proposed research. The Primary Reader works with the student on a weekly basis to complete the project and ultimately approve the final capstone project. The secondary reader will evaluate drafts of the capstone project, though they may also be involved in formulating the project. The primary reader must be an expert in the capstone topic the secondary need not be. Capstone faculty readers need not be members of the Penn standing faculty, and one reader may be drawn from outside of Arts and Sciences. However, they must be academically engaged in the student’s capstone topic. Professors from local universities have served as capstone readers, as have adjunct faculty members and lecturers. In general, students choose faculty readers from among the professors they have had within the MSAG program. MSAG Student Handbook 2020-21 20 Students will identify a reader during the Project Design Seminar course under the guidance of the course instructor. All readers must be approved by the MSAG Faculty committee before they are asked by the student to work on the project. Registering for Project Design All students are required to take GEOL 699 Project Design in their first or second semester of their academic career. In that course students will write the proposal prior to the student beginning their research work. Writing the Project Design The Project Design may take one of two forms: an extended traditional academic research paper or a professional technical paper. Details of expectations for the Project Design proposal and project, including a timeline for completing the project, are available on the Canvas MES and MSAG Online Community capstone group once the student’s proposal has been approved and in the GEOL 699 Project Design Seminar course. Incomplete Projects and Master’s Thesis Registration Students who fail to complete their project by the end of the semester, must remain active students in all subsequent terms in order to complete their MSAG program and graduate. In brief, the final Project product is due to the Project Design Readers approximately two weeks prior to the evaluation deadline (students should check with their readers to see if they will need additional time for grading). Any students who have not had their final Project evaluated by both readers by that semester’s deadlines will be registered automatically for GEOL 990 in the subsequent term and for each and every term thereafter until the completed and approved Project is submitted to the MSAG Program. Note: GEOL 990 may only be repeated twice (see Master’s Thesis Registration section above about limitations for this course). In addition to the requirements for enrollment in each term during which students continue to work on the project, graduation posting will also be affected. Students must reapply online for graduation in the term during which they plan to complete the project. Thus if a student does not complete the project design in the semester in which they originally applied, they must re-apply for graduation in the next semester. The student’s graduation date will be posted for the term in which they complete their project and receive passing evaluations, not the term in which the student originally intended to graduate. MSAG Student Handbook 2020-21 21 VIII. University Policies and Resources The Pennbook is a collection of policies that relate to student life at the University of Pennsylvania. These policies govern academic activities such as grading and exams, provide guidance on the use of campus resources, and explain expectations for membership in the university community. https://catalog.upenn.edu/pennbook/ Enrollment Status MSAG students who are enrolled for three or four courses per term are considered full-time students and will be billed the full general fee. This fee covers access to many of the services described below. MSAG students enrolled in one or two courses per term are considered part- time students. Student Identification Once a student is enrolled at Penn, a student I.D. number (PennID) will be issued; this I.D. is used for registration and other transactions throughout the University. Never give out your social security number via email or fax. Once matriculated, students should never give out their entire social security number; the PennID number or the last four digits of your social security number are all that is necessary. PennCard and PennCard Center http://cms.business-services.upenn.edu/penncard/home.html 2nd Floor of the Penn Bookstore, 36th & Walnut Streets The PennCard is the official University of Pennsylvania identification for students, faculty, and staff. The PennCard provides access to University facilities, services, cash convenience and more. To obtain a PennCard, students should bring a valid form of photo ID (driver’s license, passport, etc.) to the PennCard Center. Only active students registered for courses in the current or upcoming term may receive a PennCard, which should be carried at all times on campus. PennKey http://www.upenn.edu/computing/pennkey/ A PennKey is required to authenticate, or verify, an individual’s identity for many of Penn’s networked computer systems and services. Authorized users need a PennKey and password to access such resources as Penn InTouch (course registration), Canvas (used in most classes/ https://canvas.upenn.edu), certain library resources, and public campus computers. A PennKey is also required to obtain a Penn email address. New students should receive either a letter or an email with information on how to create a PennKey and password within a few days of their admission to the MSAG. MSAG Student Handbook 2020-21 24 Libraries http://www.library.upenn.edu/ 3420 Walnut Street (entrance on College Green) Van Pelt Library, the main University library has extensive holdings, computers, and the Weigle Information Commons. Writing Center http://www.writing.upenn.edu/critical/ 215-573-2729 Weigle Information Commons at Van Pelt Library The Writing Center provides free writing consultation by appointment at Weigle Information Commons. Appointments are made online. Recreation Facilities http://www.upenn.edu/recreation/ 215-898-6100 MSAG students have access to all of the recreation facilities available to the University community. For information on fees, hours, programs, locker rentals, etc. see website above. Office of the University Ombudsman http://www.upenn.edu/ombudsman 215-898-8261 The Office of the Ombudsman assists individuals in finding solutions to problems that they may not be able to resolve through normal channels. The office is concerned with safeguarding individual rights and promoting better channels of communication throughout the University. It is independent of all administrative offices. The Ombudsman is not an advocate for any one individual or group. He or she is an advocate for fairness, adherence to University regulations, due process, and personal responsibility. The Office supplements, but does not replace, any existing grievance mechanisms or modes of redress. It can and does recommend changes in the existing rules and practices when necessary. Student Health Information http://www.upenn.edu/shs 215-662-2850 The university has a number of health-related requirements for students. These include completion and submission of health and immunization records, coverage for outpatient medical care through the Student Health Service (SHS) and maintenance of health insurance coverage for in-patient and catastrophic care. Students are advised to call SHS or consult their web site for the most accurate and up-to-date information on student health requirements. Student Health Service http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/shs/ 3535 Market St, 1st floor MSAG Student Handbook 2020-21 25 The University provides outpatient medical care to students through its Student Health Service. The SHS offers an array of clinical services, including initial and follow-up treatment of acute medical illness and injury, management of chronic health problems, health screening and preventive care. All full-time students must carry coverage for care at the Student Health Service, either through payment of the Clinical Fee or through enrollment in the Penn Student Insurance Plan (PSIP). Full-time students who have private or employer-sponsored insurance do not have to purchase the student plan, but they must still pay the clinical fee for coverage at the Student Health Service. Coverage for the Student Health Service (either through the clinical fee or through enrollment in PSIP) is optional for part-time students. Be sure to bring your PennCard and insurance information whenever you go for medical care. For hours and other information refer to the Student Health web site. Student Health Insurance The University requires all full-time students to maintain medical insurance with coverage for in-patient care and catastrophic illness and injury. Students may satisfy insurance requirements through private or employer-sponsored plans or through enrollment in PSIP. All full-time students must either enroll in PSIP or submit a waiver indicating alternative coverage. Students who fail to provide information about coverage will be enrolled and billed for PSIP. Part-time students may enroll voluntarily in PSIP, but they are not subject to the insurance requirement, and will not be enrolled by default in PSIP. Coverage for the Student Health Service (either through the Clinical Fee or through enrollment in PSIP) is optional for part-time students. Immunization Students enrolled in the MSAG are part of the University community and benefit from the University’s efforts to provide a safe and healthy environment. All MSAG students are required to comply with immunization requirements upon first enrolling in credit courses. To comply, students should complete a Pre-Matriculation Health Record obtained from the Student Health Service. Please note: Students born on or before January 1, 1957 are exempt from the above requirements. The Student Health Service can provide missing immunizations at a fee that covers costs. In the event of an outbreak of a communicable disease in any Penn class, all students in that class would be required to comply immediately with the University’s immunization requirements. Contact the Immunization Coordinator at 215.349.5047 for more information. Code of Conduct and Code of Academic Integrity Provost’s Code of Academic Integrity: https://catalog.upenn.edu/pennbook/code-of-academic-integrity/ Provost’s Code of student conduct: https://catalog.upenn.edu/pennbook/code-of-student-conduct/ Student Guide to Academic Integrity: http://www.upenn.edu/academicintegrity/ MSAG Student Handbook 2020-21 26 Inasmuch as the standing of an educational institution and the value of a degree from that institution are dependent upon the integrity of study and research carried on at that institution, the Code of Academic Integrity is drawn to make clear the policy of the University concerning academic honesty. Each student attending the University must abide by this code, the text of which appears in the Pennbook and is found at the website above. Confidentiality of Student Records https://catalog.upenn.edu/pennbook/confidentiality-student-records/ Pursuant to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, in general, personally identifiable information can be disclosed to people outside the University only with the written consent of the student or alumnus involved. A statement setting forth specific University policy concerning (1) disclosure of information to people outside the University, (2) disclosure of information to people within the University, (3) permitting students to inspect and review records and (4) providing students with the opportunity to seek the correction of their records appears in the Pennbook and is found at the website above. Nondiscrimination Policy www.upenn.edu/affirm-action 215-898-6993 3600 Chestnut Street, Sansom Place East, Suite 228 The University of Pennsylvania values diversity and seeks talented students, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a disabled or Vietnam Era veteran in the administration of its educational policies, programs, or activities, admissions policies and procedures, scholarship and loan programs, employment, recreational athletic or other University administered programs. Questions or concerns regarding the University’s equal opportunity and affirmative action programs and activities or accommodations for people with disabilities should be directed to the Director of Affirmative Action. Also see: https://catalog.upenn.edu/pennbook/student-grievance/ Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Policy: https://catalog.upenn.edu/pennbook/equal-opportunity-affirmative-action-policy/ Rules Governing Exams Provost’s Policy on Common Midterm Examinations: https://catalog.upenn.edu/pennbook/common-midterm-examinations/ Rules Governing Final Examinations: https://catalog.upenn.edu/pennbook/final-examinations/ MSAG Student Handbook 2020-21 29 The Weingarten Learning Resources Center houses the Office of Student Disabilities Services (SDS), which provides comprehensive professional services and programs for students with disabilities to ensure equal academic opportunities and participation in University-sponsored programs. Reasonable accommodation to a qualified student’s known disability may be provided to assure equal access. Penn invites students with disabilities to self-identify at any time during their course of study as enrolled students. Although the self-identification process is confidential and completely voluntary, it is required for those requesting accommodation. Office of Student Affairs https://www.vpul.upenn.edu/osa/ 215-898-6533 The Office of Student Affairs, a department within the Division of University Life, serves as a primary source of information and advice about co-curricular opportunities and resources. Staff members assist students in becoming involved in campus life, conduct leadership development programs, provide continuity for organizations from year to year, manage organizational finances, educate students about University policies, mediate disputes, advise event planners, and help students put classroom learning into practice through the techniques of experiential education. A full list of services provided by the Office is available. The Office of Student Affairs seeks to provide a range of co-curricular experiences designed to supplement students' classroom experience and contribute significantly to their personal development. Staff members encourage students to create and participate in intellectual, artistic, social, recreational and multicultural activities; to assume campus leadership and governance responsibilities; to develop positive interpersonal relationships and skills within groups; to explore different cultures, ideas and experiences; and to put their learning into practice in the laboratory of co-curricular programs. Staff members support students through various forms of advocacy, through the encouragement of proactive approaches to campus problems and concerns, and through a commitment to the creation of a Penn community. OSA provides information on student organizations categorized as follows. Students can learn more by visiting their website. • Academic and Educational • Cultural and Support • Environmental Organizations • Governmental and Umbrella • Hobbies and Recreation • Honor Societies • Performing Arts • Political Issues • Publications and Media • Religious • Service • Social • Graduate and Professional Organizations • Registered Organizations MSAG Student Handbook 2020-21 30 Penn Violence Prevention (PVP) https://secure.www.upenn.edu/vpul/pvp/ The University of Pennsylvania is committed to the safety of all students, and is at the forefront of handling cases involving sexual violence, relationship violence, and stalking. The Penn Violence Prevention (PVP) is a collaborative program that grew out of the Penn Women’s Center. PVP aims to engage the Penn community in the prevention of sexual violence, relationship violence, and stalking on campus. The goal is to not only ensure students have access to safe and effective resources, but to provide preventative education focused on building healthy relationships, understanding consent, reaching out to friends in need, and being an active bystander. Also see: Sexual Misconduct Policy, Resource Offices and Complaint Procedures https://catalog.upenn.edu/pennbook/sexual-misconduct-resource-offices-complaint-procedures/ MSAG Student Handbook 2020-21 31 Appendix MSAG COURSE LIST NOTE: This is a comprehensive list of courses offered in Earth & Environmental Science as of 8/26/2020 that may be taken to fulfill requirements in the MSAG curriculum. Be aware that new courses are being offered all the time and some courses are being discontinued due to faculty availability. Please consult the latest course lists each semester for the most up to date lists. The parentheses indicate which requirement the course fulfills and the brackets indicate the semester when the course is typically offered. Not all courses are offered every year. Check current course listings for which courses are offered each semester. Some courses may fulfill more than one requirement. GEOL 411 Soils (Elective Engineering Geology/ Env Geology) {Fall} Soil is considered the "skin of the Earth", with interfaces between the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. It is a mixture of minerals, organic matter, gases, liquids and a myriad of organisms that can support plant life. As such, soil is a natural body that exists as part of the environment. This course will examine the nature, properties, formation and environmental functions of soil. GEOL 418 Geochemistry (Required course: Geochemistry) {Fall} This course provides a comprehensive introduction to theory and applications of chemistry in the earth and environmental sciences. Theory covered will include nucleosynthesis, atomic structure, acid-base equilibrium, thermodynamics, oxidation-reduction reactions. Applications will emphasize oceanography, atmospheric sciences and environmental chemistry, as well as other topics depending on the interests of the class. Although we will review the basics, this course is intended to supplement, rather than to replace, courses offered in the department of Chemistry. It is appropriate for advanced undergraduate as well as graduate students in Geology, Environmental Science, Chemistry and other sciences, who wish to have a better understanding of these important chemical processes GEOL 421 Elemental Cycling in Global Systems (Required Course: Geochemistry/ Elective Env Geology) {Spring} Humans have an enormous impact on the global movement of chemical materials. Biogeochemistry has grown to be the principal scientific discipline to examine the flow of elements through global earth systems and to examine human impacts on the global environment. This course will introduce and investigate processes and factors controlling the biogeochemical cycles of elements within and between the hydrosphere, lithosphere, atmosphere and biosphere. Students will apply principles learned in lectures by building simple computer-based biogeochemical models. MSAG Student Handbook 2020-21 34 are MODFLOW (USGS), MT3D, and the US Army Corps of Engineers GMS (Groundwater Modeling System). GEOL 658 Geostatistics (Required: Geocomputations/Elective) {Summer or Spring} Statistical analysis of data from geological, geotechnical, and geohydrologic sources. GEOL 661 Environmental Groundwater Hydrology (Required: Groundwater Hydrology/ Elective Hydrogeology) {Spring} This course is designed to introduce the major definitions and concepts regarding groundwater flow and contaminant transport. The theory underlying concepts, including mathematical derivations of governing equations used to model groundwater flow and contaminant transport, will be discussed and applications to environmental problems addressed. Upon completion of this course, students should expect to have attained a broad understanding of and familiarity with groundwater flow and contaminant transport concepts, and to have acquired the skills necessary to pursue work in flow and transport modeling. GEOL 668 Geomechanics: Fluids (Required: Geomechanics/Elective Hydrogeology/Engineering Geology) {Spring} Static and Dynamic mechanical properties of fluid in earth materials, as applied to the Hydrologic Sciences; Principles of Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics applied to open channel flow in earth materials; flow through gates, weirs, spillways, and culverts; Applications of Darcy's Law to subsurface flow and seepage. GEOL 670 Engineering Geology: Rock Mechanics (Required: Engineering Geology/Elective Eng Geology) {Fall} This course focuses on the rock mechanics aspects of Engineering Geology. The theme is characterization of the geologic environment for engineering and environmental investigations. Covered are the various exploration tools and methods, including: Collection and analysis of existing engineering data; Interpretation of remotely sensed imagery; Field and laboratory measurements of material properties; Measurement and characterization of rock discontinuities; Rock slope stability analysis; Stress, strain and failure of rocks and the importance of scale; Rock core logging; Rock mass rating; Rock support and reinforcement; Rock excavation, blasting and blast monitoring and control. GEOL 671 Engineering Geology: Surficial Materials and Processes (Required: Engineering Geology/Elective Eng Geology) {Spring Odd Years} As the human population continues to grow, the environment and earth's resources become more important. This course will concentrate on the occurrence and distribution of earth’s surficial materials and their engineering and environmental properties. The engineering classification, testing, and use of the earth materials will be emphasized. The geohazards of surficial processes will MSAG Student Handbook 2020-21 35 also be studied in the context of geologic history and the planning and use of the geologic environment. GEOL 680 Interpretation of Near-surface Geologic Structure for Engineering and Environmental Geology (Required: Engineering Geology/Elective Eng Geology) {Spring Even Years} The course introduces the basic principles of structural geology and their applications to engineering and environmental site characterization. Includes the mechanisms for the deformation and failure of the earth’s crust, folded and faulted structures, and the orthogonal and stereographic solutions to characterize near-surface geologic structure. It also includes the construction and interpretation of geologic maps, geologic cross sections and block diagrams. Emphasis is placed on the graphical representation of subsurface data, including the use of selected computer programs, and the integration of the data to solve problems encountered in engineering and environmental projects. GEOL 699 Project Design (Required){Spring} This course is designed to prepare Master of Science in Applied Geosciences students to undertake their capstone exercise. In this course, we discuss how to identify an appropriate research project, how to design a research plan, and how to prepare a detailed proposal. By the end of the course, each student is expected to have completed a capstone proposal. SELECTED ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES COURSES FOR MSAG ENVS 410 The Role of Water in Urban Sustainability and Resiliency (Elective Hydrogeology) [Fall] This course will provide an overview of the cross-disciplinary fields of civil engineering, environmental sciences, urban hydrology, landscape architecture, green building, public outreach and politics. Students will be expected to conduct field investigations, review scientific data and create indicator reports, working with stakeholders and presenting the results at an annual symposium. There is no metaphor like water itself to describe the cumulative effects of our practices, with every upstream action having an impact downstream. In our urban environment, too often we find degraded streams filled with trash, silt, weeds and dilapidated structures. The water may look clean, but is it? We blame others, but the condition of the creeks is directly related to how we manage our water resources and our land. In cities, these resources are often our homes, our streets and our communities. This course will define the current issues of the urban ecosystem and how we move toward managing this system in a sustainable manner. We will gain an understanding of the dynamic, reciprocal relationship between practices in a watershed and its waterfront. Topics discussed include: drinking water quality and protection, green infrastructure, urban impacts of climate change, watershed monitoring, public education, creating strategies and more. ENVS 411 Air Pollution: Sources & Effects in the Urban Environment (Elective: Env Geology) [Fall] This course is designed to provide the student with an understanding of air pollution at the local, regional, and global levels. The course will focus on Philadelphia's air quality and how air MSAG Student Handbook 2020-21 36 pollutants have an adverse effect on the health of residents. Through a partnership with Philadelphia Air Management Services (AMS), the science of air monitoring and trends will be explored. The city's current non-attainment status for PM 2.5 and ozone will be studied, as well as current initiatives to improve air quality. Students will learn to measure PM 2.5 in indoor and outdoor settings and develop community-based outreach tools to effectively inform the community about air pollution. ENVS 507 Wetlands (Elective Env Geology/Hydrogeology) [Fall] The course will focus on the natural history of different wetland types including the factors of climate, geology, and hydrology which influence wetland development and associated soil, vegetation, and wildlife characteristics and key ecological processes. Lectures will be supplemented with weekend trips to different wetland types ranging from tidal salt marshes to non-tidal marshes, swamps, and glacial bogs in order to provide field experience in wetland identification, characterization, and functional assessment. Outside speakers will discuss issues in wetland seed bank ecology, federal regulation, and mitigation. Students will present a short paper on the ecology of a wetland animal and a longer term paper on a selected wetland topic. Readings from the text, assorted journal papers, government technical documents, and book excerpts will provide a broad overview of the multifaceted field of wetland study. ENVS 541 Modeling Geographic Objects (Required: Geocomputations/Elective) [Fall] This course offers a broad and practical introduction to the acquisition, storage, retrieval, maintenance, use, and presentation of digital cartographic data with both image and drawing based geographic information systems (GIS) for a variety of environmental science, planning, and management applications. Its major objectives are to provide the training necessary to make productive use of at least two well-known software packages, and to establish the conceptual foundation on which to build further skills and knowledge in late practice. ENVS 644 Energy, Waste, and the Environment (Elective) [Spring] The aim of this course is to provide an incentive to use geochemical and mineralogical principles to address and solve major environmental problems. The students identify the problems that are associated with different types of waste. This course covers a wide range of problems associated with the waste arising from the generation of electricity. The main topics will be the uranium cycle, characterization of nuclear waste, and the containment and disposal of nuclear waste. Based on insights from the nuclear fuel cycle, solutions are presented that diminish the environmental impacts of coal and biomass combustion products, incineration of municipal solid waste, toxic waste due to refuse incineration, and landfills and landfill gases. ENVS 681 Modeling Geographic Space (Required: Geocomputations/Elective) {Spring, Except Spring 2018} This course explores the nature and use of digital geographic information systems (GIS) for the analysis and synthesis of spatial patterns and processes through 'cartographic modeling'.