Course Syllabus
Contact Information
Course Details
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Course Description
The material commonly taught in the context of engineering economics tends to be risk-free, in the sense that the economic estimations appear to be free of financial uncertainty. Special attention is normally given to the time value of money (i.e., interest and inflation), the deterministic estimation of profitability (e.g., return on investment, net present value), and the calculation of related costs (e.g., plant cost, equipment cost, raw materials cost, utilities cost). However, engineering models used to estimate costs have associated uncertainties whose onset range from the accuracy of semi-empirical correlations to external factors such as weather, natural disasters, and the global financial landscape.
In this course, the graduates will master methods for predicting capital and operational costs, approaches for the quantification of uncertainties and their impact on the profitability of industrial operations, and common approaches for decision-making in industry. Guest speakers from industry and case studies will present real-world problems in context and demonstrate how theory is applied in practice. Practice work will provide you with the opportunity to analyze problems, estimate the costs of chemical plants, evaluate the profitability, and make informed sustainable decisions.
Course Prerequisites
MATH 1914 or equivalent and graduate standing
Course Materials
Analysis, Synthesis, and Design of Chemical Processes. (5th ed, Turton et al., ISBN-13: 978-0-13-417740-3)
Practical Management Science (6th ed, Winston and Albright, ISBN: 978-1-337-40665-9)
Software: Excel and Mathematica
Grades
Breakdown
| Activity | Description | Points/Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Tutorial Participation | Live Session or Make-up Assignment | 15% |
| Homework Sets | Fifteen sets of homework will be completed. | 35% |
| Quizzes | Weekly quizzes will test your knowledge of the readings and lecture content. | 15% |
| Final Exam | Comprehensive final exam. The exam will include calculations. | 35% |
| Total | 100% |
Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90–100% | A |
| 80–89% | B |
| 70–79% | C |
| 60–69% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Course Components
Participation (Problem sets during Live Session)
A problem set will be assigned during the weekly Live Session. Students will work in groups during the Live Session and interact with their faculty. Students who cannot attend the session will not be penalized. Students are expected to watch the recording and complete a similar problem set. The purpose of this activity is to give students practice in using the knowledge learned, and prepare for the Final Exam.
Homework Assignments
Homework assignments are designed to test students on their understanding of the readings and will provide faculty with feedback on their understandings.
Quizzes
Reading quizzes will test students' preparation ahead of time for the weekly Live Session.
Final Exam
The questions are related to the chapter readings, lecture content and content learned during the live session, including calculations learned in the homework assignments.
Course Policies
Attendance Policy
To fully benefit from our class activities, you are expected to attend the weekly tutorials and actively participate in the exercises and discussions. Attendance is however not required. Should class time conflict with your commitments, please contact me, and efforts will be made to adjust the schedule to satisfy your concerns. In cases of sickness, we want to work with you to identify alternative arrangements, but you must alert us as soon as possible.
Communication
There is ample opportunity within our course for academic debate, disagreement, compromise, and for us to change our minds. In order for this to be a productive dialogue, I ask that we all:
- Recognize that we are entering into this space with different experiences and understandings.
- Use reasoned arguments that are supported by reputable resources.
- Practice truly listening to one another.
- Ask questions for clarification.
- Provide and receive feedback with grace.
- Respect the privacy of those sharing. We are all learning together, and we must take from here what we have learned. Please respect that people may share how the topics in this course have impacted their personal lives and also that people may make mistakes while they learn.
- If something is said or done in these dialogues that prohibits you from being able to participate in this class, I ask that you reach out to me directly. You may also choose to use other resources on campus, such as reporting through the 24-Hour Reporting Hotline (call at 844-428-6531). This hotline can be used to report bias, discrimination, physical or mental harassment or misconduct by OU community members.
You may contact me via email if you have any questions. I normally check my email in the evenings and will reply as soon as I can, within the following 24 hours Monday-Friday. I seldom check my email over the weekend, so I will probably reply on Monday the emails I receive during the weekend.
To create an adequate learning space, I ask you to be respectful of your instructor, teaching assistant, and classmates. Our interactions should be conducted in a professional yet amicable manner. You may address me as Dr. Perez.
Feedback
You can expect to receive feedback and grades one week after every assignment.
Late Policy
I understand that many of us may be faced with unforeseen circumstances that can prevent us from completing our work on time or attending every session. Our late work and attendance policy exists, however, because your participation is crucial not only to your success but also to contributing to the success of your peers who can learn from what you bring to the classroom.
Group Work
When group work is assigned, the expectation is that all group members will contribute equally to the completion of the assignment. Learning to operate in a group, to discuss different points of view, and to reach the necessary compromises is essential for securing management positions in the industry. Make use of the group activities in this course to develop those skills. In some cases, you should act as a leader, in other cases you should facilitate discussions, in other cases you should provide the required material for the completion of the assignment. Successful groups are those in which all various needs are provided by group members. When each group member expects to act as a leader, the outcome tends not to be excellent. Please contact me if you observe unhealthy and unproductive group dynamics early on so that I can help you discuss the requirements with your group members. Early corrections can lead to excellent outcomes.
Late Work
As you are in your Master's program, you need to prepare for the work environment.
As such, the class policy is that no late work will be accepted.
However, if something is preventing you from submitting work on time, I ask that you contact me as soon as you realize there may be an issue so that we can discuss options, within University policies. Late work that is submitted without a conversation with me will not be graded.
The University of Oklahoma has established an honor code, and Students and Professors are expected to abide by it. You may find a copy of it at: https://integrity.ou.edu/. Do not hesitate to ask the Instructor whether any action or behavior constitutes academic dishonesty. Each kind of dishonesty will be reported to the Academic Authorities and no excuse will be accepted.
Plagiarism
The overall goal of this course is your learning. To demonstrate that you have reached this goal, the work you turn in needs to be your own. This includes putting written work into your own words and citing your sources, as appropriate to avoid plagiarism. Penalties for serious offenses include a zero on the assignment and egregious offenses can even result in expulsion from the university, so it is important to understand expectations. The most serious offenses can often be avoided by citing sources—when in doubt, cite it! As part of our work together we will talk about how to accurately and responsibly cite sources, both to avoid plagiarism and to strengthen your arguments.
Plagiarism as defined by the OU Integrity Office includes:
- Copying words and presenting them as your own writing.
- Copying words, even if you give the source, unless you also indicate that the copied words are a direct quotation.
- Copying words and then changing them a little, even if you give the source.
- Even if you express it in your own words, it is plagiarism to use someone else’s idea as your own.
For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
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.
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, the 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 in 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 Accessibility and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) is committed to supporting students with disabilities to ensure that they can enjoy equal access to all components of their education. This includes your academics, housing, and community events. Please review OU's Accessibility Policy.
If you are experiencing a disability or a mental/medical health condition that has a significant impact on one or more life functions, you can receive accommodations to provide equal access. Possible disabilities include but are not limited to learning disabilities, AD(H)D, mental health, and chronic health. Additionally, we support students with temporary medical conditions (broken wrist, shoulder surgery, etc.) and pregnancy.
To discuss potential accommodations, please contact the ADRC at 730 College Avenue, (phone) 405-325-3852, or adrc@ou.edu.
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. To learn more or to report an incident, please contact the Institutional Equity Office (M-F, from 8-5, at 405-325-3546) or OU Advocates (available 24/7 at 405-615-0013).
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 your instructor 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.
Mental Health Support Services
If you are experiencing any mental health issues that are impacting your academic performance, counseling is available at the University Counseling Center (UCC). The Center is located on the second floor of the Goddard Health Center, at 620 Elm Rm. 201, Norman, OK 73019. To schedule an appointment, call 405-325-2911. For more information, please visit the University Counseling Center.
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.
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 the innermost room. Avoid outside doors and windows.
- Get in, Get Down, Cover Up.
- Wait for official notice to resume normal activities.
Additional information about severe weather preparedness is available through the Department of Campus Safety's Emergency Management Division.
OU-Norman Campus: Tornado Refuge Protocol
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 who may need help.
- Proceed to the emergency assembly area.
- Once safely outside, Notify first responders of anyone who may still be inside the building due to mobility issues.
- Wait for official notice before attempting to re-enter the building.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|