Course Syllabus
Contact Information
Course Details
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Course Prerequisites
Graduate standing or permission of the instructor
Course Materials
All readings, lectures, materials and software are provided by the instructor through Canvas.
Grades
Breakdown
| Activity | Description | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Participation | Canvas Question Board, Live Session Attendance, Peer Evaluation and other Participation activities | 20% |
| Case Studies | Annotations, Student-led Summaries & Discussions | 20% |
| LCA Midterm Report | Individual contributions and one-on-one meetings with Dr. Lopez | 20% |
| LCA Final Project | Draft of LCA Project, LCA Final Report and Presentation | 35% |
| Course Reflection Paper | Connect your learning to other courses in the program and the field | 5% |
| Total | 100% |
Scale
A: 90-100%, B: 80-89%, C: 70-79%, D: 60-69%, F: <59%
Course Components
Participation
To get the most out of this course, it is essential to engage deeply with the course resources and to participate meaningfully in class activities. Learning does not happen in a vacuum. It requires you to interact with the instructional materials, your peers and your instructor. To that end, you participation throughout the term will factor into your overall grade. This score will be comprised of the three main activities below:
- Canvas Question Board: As you watch the pre-recorded lecture videos and review the resources provided in this course, identify a few questions or issues you'd like to discuss further. List these on the provided question board in Canvas. Instructor will choose a few of the questions from the class to discuss during the Live Session.
- Live Session Attendance: Join Live Session in real time or watch the recording and do the make up assignment.
- Peer Evaluation: At the end of the term, you will have the opportunity to assess each of the team members in your group. You'll break down the contribution each person makes towards to total group effort. Based on the feedback from your peers, I reserve the right to adjust your grade.
- Other Participation Assignments: May include discussion boards, one-on-one meetings with the instructor and other team assignments.
Case Studies
At points throughout the term, you'll be asked to read research and articles from scholarly journals. These will be provided to you through Canvas. Everyone is expected to read all assigned texts and to annotate these through social annotation platform. Groups of students will take turns leading the class through a summary and discussion of these articles during the Live Sessions. You will be graded on:
- Social Annotations: The comments and questions that you contribute to each article.
- Student-led Summaries and Discussions in the Live Sessions: At the end of the Live Session, you will be placed in breakout rooms. Your group will need to (a) summarize the themes of the discussion from the article annotations, (b) connect the article to the course content or industry, and (c) generate discussion/participate in Q&A.
LCA Midterm Report
The midterm report will include a collection of individual contributions (e.g., project scoping, materials balances, energy balances calculations, sustainability metrics selection, project management, etc.). You will need to set up at least two 1:1 meetings with Dr. Lopez before the midterm report is due to get feedback on your individual progress. You will be graded individually.
LCA Final Project
You will submit an environmental impact assessment throughout the product’s life cycle. At the end of the semester, each group will give a presentation to the class. Part of your project grade will also include an evaluation by your group colleagues (the peer-evaluation rubric can be found in Canvas under group project).
Course Reflection Paper
In this short paper, you are asked to integrate and apply what you have learned from this course and relate it to other courses in the program, your career and to the industry in general.
Course Policies
Communication
Send you email to Dora.E.Lopez.De.Alonzo-1@ou.edu. Please allow for two business days for a response.
Late Policy
Busy working on a project for another class? Yes, you can make it up. Completely forgot the assignment was due? Yes, you can make it up. Grandmother died? Condolences, and yes, you can make it up. The Make-Up Day is a late work policy that allows submission of missed work during a 24 hour period on a scheduled day of the semester and for up to full credit on the assignment. However, most assignments in this class require group interaction so try your best not to be late, so that you can fully participate of the scheduled activities.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Course Catalog
Search the OU Course Catalog.
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.
Diversity Statement
The University of Oklahoma is committed to achieving a diverse, equitable, and inclusive university community by embracing each person's unique contributions, background and perspective. The University of Oklahoma recognizes that fostering an inclusive environment for all, with particular attention to the needs of historically marginalized populations, is vital to the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of our institutional mission. This enhances the OU experience for all students, faculty and staff and for the communities we engage.
Land Acknowledgement
Long before the University of Oklahoma was established, the land on which the University now resides was the traditional home of the “Hasinais” Caddo Nation and “Kirikirʔi:s” Wichita & Affiliated Tribes.
We acknowledge this territory once also served as a hunting ground, trade exchange point, and migration route for the Apache, Comanche, Kiowa and Osage nations.
Today, 39 tribal nations dwell in the state of Oklahoma as a result of settler and colonial policies that were designed to assimilate Native people.
The University of Oklahoma recognizes the historical connection our university has with its indigenous community. We acknowledge, honor and respect the diverse Indigenous peoples connected to this land. We fully recognize, support and advocate for the sovereign rights of all of Oklahoma’s 39 tribal nations. This acknowledgment is aligned with our university’s core value of creating a diverse and inclusive community. It is an institutional responsibility to recognize and acknowledge the people, culture and history that make up our entire OU Community.
Non-Discrimination Policy
The University does not discriminate or permit discrimination by any member of its community against any individual based on the individual’s race, color, religion, political beliefs, national origin, age (40 or older), sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, disability, or veteran status in matters of admissions, employment, financial aid, housing, services in educational programs or activities, or health care services that the University operates or provides. For more information, please contact the Institutional Equity Office.
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 Accessibility and 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 Accessibility and 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 Title IX Office at 405-325-2215 (8–5, M–F) or OU Advocates at 405-615-0013 (24/7) to learn more or to report an incident. Also, please be advised that a professor/GA/TA is required to report instances of sexual harassment, sexual assault, or discrimination to the Sexual Misconduct Office.
Religious Holidays
It is the policy of the University to excuse absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide without penalty for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays. 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.
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.
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 their 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.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|