Course Syllabus
Download the syllabus here
Instructor: Dr. David Sabatini
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Professor Gallogly College of Engineering Areas of Interests and Expertise Awards and Achievements Phone: (405) 325-4273 Email: sabatini@ou.edu Live Session: Thursday 8pm-9pm CT |
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Course Description
Course Purpose
This course, Water Security, is designed to train future water resource professionals on the broad topics that are critical to water security. It is a science-based course for students who intend to be water managers, environmental scientists, or policy makers and agents of influence. The course will provide an introduction to the concept of water security, a look at historical examples of water insecurity, and provide the context of water security by looking at water quantity, water quality and water equity. With this background the course will look at major water security challenges or threats - e.g., natural disasters (drought, flooding), water-food-energy nexus, urbanization, transboundary issues. The course will also discuss responses to these threats - e.g., water security/safety plans, water reuse/desalination, low impact development, and building a water ethic. Finally, this course will look at leading examples of how communities, and countries, have used these concepts to build a more water secure future.
Course Prerequisites
Admittance into the Hydrology and Water Security (HWS) Masters degree program
Required Course Materials
- Black, M. The Atlas of Water. 3rd 2016. University of California Press.
- Sedlak, D. Water 4.0: The Past, Present and Future. Yale Press.
- Siegal, S. Let There be Water: Israel’s Solution for a Water-Starved World. St. Martins Press.
Course Objectives
- The activities, content, and assignments in this course will help you be able to do the following:
- Relate to historical examples and current day challenges which result when water security is lacking;
- Understand the major factors that set the context for achieving water security from a quantity, quality and equity perspective;
- Be familiar with emerging techniques and technologies that can help respond to water stresses and systematically plan for a more water secure future; and
- Formulate your own informative presentation (PowerPoint, Youtube, etc.) around a water security challenge of your choosing.
Grades
Breakdown
|
Graded Activities & Assignments |
Percentage |
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Quizzes (8) |
15% |
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Homework (7) |
30% |
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Project (1) |
20% |
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Participation (8 Live Sessions) |
10% |
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Final Exam (1) |
25% |
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Total |
100% |
Scale
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90-100 |
A |
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80-89 |
B |
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70-79 |
C |
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60-69 |
D |
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<60 |
F |
Course Components
Quizzes
Quizzes will focus on the lecture videos and readings.
Homework
Your homework will be based on readings and related activities.
Project
You will develop a PowerPoint or YouTube video on a water security topic of your choosing.
Participation
You will receive credit for participating in Live Sessions. If you have to miss a Live Session, you can complete the makeup assignment. Missing more than two Live Sessions will result in a penalty.
Final Exam
Your final exam will be comprehensive.
Course Policies
Communication Plan
“Regarding questions on the homework, quizzes, etc. I encourage you to first reach out to the TA and/or raise questions during the Live Sessions. Beyond that feel free to reach out to me and I will attempt to respond within 24 hours during the week – note: response times may be longer on the weekend.”
Late Policy
Late work will not be accepted. Be sure to plan ahead.
UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA
ACADEMIC POLICIES AND STUDENT SUPPORT
Course Catalog
Search the OU Course Catalogue.
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.
Course Summary:
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