Course Syllabus
Download the syllabus - pdf format.
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Technical Areas:
Research Interests:
Email: dresback@ou.edu
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Dr. Kendra Dresback Research Assistant Professor School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science |
Course Overview:
This course provides an introduction to contemporary topics in professional practice, including the role of ethics in engineering, the concepts of sustainable development and sustainable engineering, and project management. Grading will be based on homework assignments, quizzes, a comprehensive final exam and two "in-class" assignments.
After completing this course, you should be able to:
- Describe the main components of the ASCE and NSPE codes of ethics and their relationship to traditional ethical theories.
- Be able to identify solutions to a range of professional ethical dilemmas.
- Explain the concept of sustainable development and its relationship to the ASCE and NSPE codes of ethics.
- Explain the major steps in a life cycle assessment.
- Practice applying sustainability metrics like LEED and Envision.
- Know the responsibilities of a project manager.
- Schedules for project implementation.
Course Materials:
All the required reading will be posted or linked on Canvas. Newstories or additional readings will occasionally be added to the assigned reading.
Course Components:
- Homework Assignments: There will be three homework assignments for this course - one for each topical area we will cover in this course (ethics, sustainable development, and project management). All assignments should be submitted on Canvas.
- Quizzes: There will be two quizzes given at the end of two topical area (ethics and sustainable development). Quizzes will take the form of true/false statements, or multiple-choice questions, matching or calculations.
- Comprehensive Final Exam: Questions for the exam will cover each of the topical areas.
- "In-class" Assignments: There will be two of these assignments during the course.
Grades:
Breakdown
- Homework Assignments (3) 35%
- Quizzes (2) 15%
- Comprehensive Final Exam 30%
- Participation - "In-class" Assignments (2) 20%
Scale
Final grades will be assigned using the following scale: 90 - 100% = A; 80 - 89% = B; 70 - 79% = C; 60 - 69% = D; <60% = F. However, I reserve the right to adjust percentages by minus 5% depending on how the semester progresses and the amount of effort given to each category.
Course Policies:
Communication
All communication with me should occur via email (directly or through Canvas). I will try to respond to your emails within 24 to 48 hours during the week.
Late Policy
Assignments received late will have a 10% penalty for every two days that they are late.
UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA
ACADEMIC POLICIES AND STUDENT SUPPORT
Course Catalog
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Student Handbook
Please familiarize yourself with the OU Student Handbook.
Online Library
Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries.
Academic Misconduct
In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.
It is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with the definitions, policies, and procedures concerning academic misconduct. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity.
This site also defines misconduct, provides examples of prohibited conduct, and explains the sanctions available for those found guilty of misconduct.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The University of Oklahoma is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for all students with disabilities. Students with disabilities who require accommodations in this course should contact their professor as early in the semester as possible.
Students with disabilities must be registered with the Disability Resource Center prior to receiving accommodations in this course.
If you have a disability and you would like to make a request for reasonable accommodation, please see the Graduate Student Handbook or get in touch with the Disability Resource Center.
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Learn more about the rights of pregnant and parenting students by consulting the FAQ sheets provided by the Institutional Equity Office.
Title IX Resources
For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, or intimate partner violence, the University offers a variety of resources, including advocates on-call 24/7, counseling services, mutual no contact orders, scheduling adjustments, and disciplinary sanctions against the perpetrator. Please contact the Sexual Misconduct Office 405-325-2215 (8-5, M-F) or OU Advocates 405-615-0013 (24/7) to learn more or to report an incident.
Religious Holidays
It is the policy of the University to excuse absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays without penalty. It is the responsibility of the student to make alternate arrangements with the instructor at least one week prior to the actual date of the religious holiday.
Copyright Policy
It is illegal to download, upload, reproduce, or distribute any copyrighted material, in any form and in any fashion, without permission from the copyright holder or his/her authorized agent. The University of Oklahoma expects all members of its community to comply fully with federal copyright laws. If such laws appear to have been violated by any user, the university reserves the right (1) to terminate that user’s access to some or all of the university’s computer systems and information resources and (2) to take additional disciplinary actions as deemed necessary or appropriate. Repeat offenders will be sanctioned and their privileges terminated.
Registration and Withdrawal
If you choose to withdraw from this course, you must complete the appropriate University form and turn the form in before the deadline. If you stop attending the course and doing the coursework without doing the required paperwork, your grade will be calculated with missed homework and examination grades entered as zero. This could result in receiving a grade of F in the course. Deadlines are shown in the Academic Calendar, which is available from the Office of the Registrar.
Student Grievances
In addition to any policies outlined related to submitting an informal or formal grievance by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook for more information about the process of submitting a formal grievance.