Course Syllabus
Contact Information
Course Details
This course is to introduce the student to a broad range of topics in open channel hydraulics, including the following: Conservation Equations (energy, momentum and mass), uniform flow, gradually-varied flow, specific energy and rapidly-varied flow. The activities during the course will allow the student to gain a qualitative understanding as well as a sound theoretical background. Concepts learned in this class will be applied to practical hydraulic design problems in either homework assignments or a HEC-RAS project. Upon successful completion of this course, the student should have the tools needed to solve most steady-flow open channel problems such as channel analysis and design, floodplain analysis, computation of water surface profiles, and design of hydraulic structures.
Topical Outline
During the class, we will cover a good portion of the chapters in the text. Text reading will be supplemented with handouts in each module. The tentative order of the topics is listed below (note that we will not proceed sequentially through the book):
- Review of fluid mechanics, including the governing conservation equations.
- Uniform flow and its computation.
- Energy principle and critical depth.
- Gradually-varied flow and computation of water surface profiles.
- Momentum principle, rapidly-varied flow and channel controls.
- Channel transitions.
Course Materials
Open Channel Hydraulics (Third Edition), Terry Sturm, McGraw Hill, ©2021. ISBN: 9781260469707
- This text is available through the OU Bookstore or other online booksellers.
Throughout the semester, you will be asked to scan and upload your work. Here are some options for free scanning software:
- Evernote Scannable (iOS)
- Tiny Scan (Android & iOS)
- Genius Scan (Android & iOS)
- Handy Scan (Windows Phone)
Grades
Breakdown
| Activity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Participation | 5% |
| Concept Quizzes | 15% |
| Homework Assignments | 30% |
| Exam | 25% |
| HEC-RAS Project | 25% |
| Total | 100% |
Grade Scale
Letter grades will be assigned based on the 90-80-70 scales; however, I reserve the right to adjust these grade scale percentages lower by up to 5% depending on how the semester progresses and the amount of effort given to each category.
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90–100% | A |
| 80–89% | B |
| 70–79% | C |
| 60–69% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Course Components
Concept Quizzes
There will be concept quizzes given after some of the topical areas; they will be designed to test your understanding of basic concepts and will consist primarily of true/false and multiple-choice questions. Unless stated otherwise, all concept quizzes will be closed book and notes. Some of these quizzes will also occur following videos of lecture materials to ensure the material has been reviewed. Students can drop their lowest score.
Homework Assignment
Homework assignments will be given for some of the modules and you will be given approximately two weeks to complete the assignment unless otherwise noted on Canvas; the due date and time will be given within each homework assignment on the Canvas page.
Note that late assignments will lose 5% for every day they are late. Note that after homework solutions are posted late submissions will no longer be accepted.
Exam
This is an open-book and open-notes take-home exam that will be given after we have covered the basic open channel hydraulics concepts. This will be approximately in the 9th or 10th week of the course.
HEC-RAS Project
There will be an individual project based on a computer modeling exercise. The project will be provided in approximately the 10th week of the course.
Participation
A participation score will be determined from the attendance at the live sessions. If you are not able to attend a live session, there will be a chance to get the attendance points by watching the recorded session and provide a short summary.
Course Policies
Communication
All communication for this course should occur via email (directly or through Canvas). A response to emails will occur within 24 to 48 hours (during the week). During weekends, response times will vary.
W’s, I’s and AU’s
Withdrawal deadlines, and deadlines for switching from credit to audit, are listed in OU’s Course Schedule. No exceptions to these dates will be granted. A grade of incomplete will be issued only if, due to extenuating circumstances, the student has a small amount of work remaining to be completed at the end of the semester. The student must be passing the course at the time the “I” grade is given. Work must then be completed within a specified time frame, but it will year.
Late Policy
As mentioned in the Homework Assignment section, late assignments will lose 5% for every day they are late. Note that after homework solutions are posted late submissions will no longer be accepted.
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.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Course Catalog
Search the OU Course Catalog.
Student Handbook
Please familiarize yourself with the OU Student Handbook.
Student Support Services
OU offers a variety of services to support students. For more information, please refer to the Student Support Module in your Orientation course.
Online Library
Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries.
Copyright Statement and Privacy Information
Sessions of this course may be recorded or live-streamed. These recordings are the intellectual property of the individual faculty member and may not be shared or reproduced without the explicit, written consent of the faculty member. In addition, privacy rights of others such as students, guest lecturers, and providers of copyrighted material displayed in the recording may be of concern. Students may not share any course recordings with individuals not enrolled in the class or upload them to any other online environment.
Academic Integrity
As a member of the OU community, it is your responsibility to protect your educational investment by knowing and following the rules. 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.
Academic honesty is incredibly important within this course. Cheating is strictly prohibited at the University of Oklahoma, because it devalues the degree you are working hard to get. Should you know of someone else engaging in academic misconduct, please report it to your instructor or directly to the Office of Academic Integrity. Your instructor has a professional obligation to report 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.
Religious Observance
It is the policy of the University to excuse the absences of students that result from religious observances and to reschedule examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays, without penalty. [See Faculty Handbook 3.15.2].
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The University of Oklahoma (OU) is committed to the goal of achieving equal educational opportunity and full educational participation for students with disabilities. If you have already established reasonable accommodations with the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center (ADRC), please submit your semester accommodation request through the ADRC as soon as possible and contact me privately, so that we have adequate time to arrange your approved academic accommodations.
If you have not yet established services through ADRC, but have a documented disability and require accommodations, please complete ADRC’s pre-registration form to begin the registration process. ADRC facilitates the interactive process that establishes reasonable accommodations for students at OU. For more information on ADRC registration procedures, please review their Register with the ADRC web page. You may also contact them at (405)325-3852 or adrc@ou.edu, or visit www.ou.edu/adrc for more information.
Note: disabilities may include, but are not limited to, mental health, chronic health, physical, vision, hearing, learning and attention disabilities, pregnancy-related. ADRC can also support students experiencing temporary medical conditions.
Title IX Resources
The University of Oklahoma faculty are committed to creating a safe learning environment for all members of our community, free from gender and sex-based discrimination, including sexual harassment, domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, in accordance with Title IX. There are resources available to those impacted, including: speaking with someone confidentially about your options, medical attention, counseling, reporting, academic support, and safety plans. If you have (or someone you know has) experienced any form of sex or gender-based discrimination or violence and wish to speak with someone confidentially, please contact OU Advocates (available 24/7 at 405-615-0013) or University Counseling Center (M-F 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 405-325-2911)
Because the University of Oklahoma is committed to the safety of you and other students, and because of our Title IX obligations, I, as well as other faculty, Graduate Assistants, and Teaching Assistants, are mandatory reporters. This means that we are obligated to report gender-based violence that has been disclosed to us to the Institutional Equity Office. This means that we are obligated to report gender-based violence that has been disclosed to us to the Institutional Equity Office. This includes disclosures that occur in: class discussion, writing assignments, discussion boards, emails and during Student/Office Hours. You may also choose to report directly to the Institutional Equity Office. After a report is filed, the Title IX Coordinator will reach out to provide resources, support, and information and the reported information will remain private. For more information regarding the University’s Title IX Grievance procedures, reporting, or support measures, please visit Institutional Equity Office at 405-325-3546.
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 the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center at 405/325-3852 and/or the Institutional Equity Office at 405/325-3546 as soon as possible. Also, see the Institutional Equity Office FAQ on Pregnant and Parenting Students’ Rights for answers to commonly asked questions.
Mental Health Support Services
Support is available for any student experiencing mental health issues that are impacting their academic success. Students can either been seen at the University Counseling Center (UCC) located on the second floor of Goddard Health Center or receive 24/7/365 crisis support from a licensed mental health provider through TELUS Health. To schedule an appointment or receive more information about mental health resources at OU please call the UCC at 405-325-2911 or visit University Counseling Center. The UCC is located at 620 Elm Ave., Room 201, Norman, OK 73019.
Final Exam Preparation Period
Pre-finals week will be defined as the seven calendar days before the first day of finals. Faculty may cover new course material throughout this week. For specific provisions of the policy please refer to OU's Final Exam Preparation Period policy.
Course Reflection Survey
You’ll receive a Course Reflection Survey at the end of each semester for each course that you are enrolled in. I strongly encourage you to complete this survey. Your feedback can help me adjust my class for future semesters to help other students be successful. Your feedback is confidential and I will only receive it after final grades are due. Course Reflection Survey results may also factor into teaching evaluations and annual performance reviews and are shared with department and program chairs
Required Policies for Students On Campus
Emergency Protocol
During an emergency, there are official university procedures that will maximize your safety.
Severe Weather: If you receive an OU Alert to seek refuge or hear a tornado siren that signals severe weather:
- Look for severe weather refuge location maps located inside most OU buildings near the entrances
- Seek refuge inside a building. Do not leave one building to seek shelter in another building that you deem safer. If outside, get into the nearest building.
- Go to the building’s severe weather refuge location. If you do not know where that is, go to the lowest level possible and seek refuge in an innermost room. Avoid outside doors and windows.
- Get in, Get Down, Cover Up.
- Wait for official notice to resume normal activities.
Additional Weather Safety Information is available through the Department of Campus Safety.
Severe Weather Preparedness Video
Armed Subject/Campus Intruder
If you receive an OU Alert to shelter-in-place due to an active shooter or armed intruder situation or you hear what you perceive to be gunshots:
- Avoid: If you believe you can get out of the area without encountering the armed individual, move quickly towards the nearest building exit, move away from the building, and call 911.
- Deny: If you cannot flee, move to an area that can be locked or barricaded, turn off lights, silence devices, spread out, and formulate a plan of attack if the shooter enters the room.
- Defend: As a last resort fight to defend yourself. For more information, visit:
OU's Emergency Preparedness site
Shots Fire on Campus Procedure
Fire Alarm/General Emergency
If you receive an OU Alert that there is danger inside or near the building, or the fire alarm inside the building activates:
- Leave the building. Do not use the elevators.
- Know at least two building exits
- Assist those that may need help
- Proceed to the emergency assembly area
- Once safely outside, Notify first responders of anyone that may still be inside the building due to mobility issues.
- Wait for official notice before attempting to re-enter the building.