Liberal Arts in Action: Rats in the City

Course Description

This course directs students to analyze an engaging topic (here, urban rats) from multiple perspectives in the liberal arts. Students strengthen their problem-solving skills by drawing upon the ideas and methods of three different liberal arts disciplines. The learning activities clarify how the liberal arts can be put into action to solve problems. The course strengthens students’ development of critical thinking and academic writing across the curriculum.  Students also will learn about resources that will be useful for their academic success at DePaul.

Required Learning Media

The following required text is available for purchase at the Loop Campus bookstore (Barnes & Noble) and other booksellers (any edition is acceptable):

Robert Sullivan, Rats: Observations on the History & Habitat of the City’s Most Unwanted Inhabitants, Bloomsbury USA, ISBN 978-1582344775 (paperback)

Also required is the following movie, which is provided streaming in the course:

Brad Bird and Jan Pinkava (directors), Ratatouillle, Disney–Pixar, 2007 (runtime: 1:51)

Further required readings are available on DePaul’s electronic reserves (ares) site:http://library.depaul.edu/services/Pages/Course-Reserves-Services.aspx.

Learning Outcomes

This course consists of multiple sections with distinctive learning outcomes. Students enroll in specific sections to develop respective learning outcomes as follows.

Liberal Arts in Action (LA1) (6 credits)

This section satisfies the Liberal Arts in Action requirement of the Liberal Learning core curriculum of the School for New Learning’s professional studies majors. Students who successfully complete this section will be able to compare typical questions, methods of inquiry and kinds of evidence in the liberal arts. Specifically, students will be able to

Civic Engagement (L3) (2 credits)

This section fulfills the Civic Engagement competency requirement of the Lifelong Learning core curriculum of the School for New Learning’s competency-based degrees. Students who successfully complete this section will be able to assess the social and personal value of civic engagement for achieving change. Specifically, students will be able to

Interconnections in the Natural World (S4) (2 credits)

This section fulfills the Interconnections in the Natural World competency requirement of the Liberal Learning core curriculum of the School for New Learning’s competency-based degrees. Students who successfully complete this section will be able to describe and explain connections among diverse aspects of nature. Specifically, students will be able to

Scientific Reasoning (S5) (2 credits)

This section of the course fulfills the Scientific Reasoning competency requirement of the Liberal Learning core curriculum of the School for New Learning’s competency-based degrees. Students who successfully complete this section will be able to explain and evaluate the nature and process of science. Specifically, students will be able to

Negotiated Competencies (with college approval)

For students in competency-based programs at the School for New Learning, other competency requirements aligning with the course content and faculty’s expertise may be fulfilled by special petition. To petition for a negotiated competence, consult with your instructor and faculty mentor and submit the online form; see https://snl.depaul.edu/student-resources/undergraduate-resources/Pages/forms.aspx.

Crosscutting Competencies

In addition to the section-specific outcomes, all students will develop crosscutting competencies including: inquiring, reflecting, connecting, deciding, communicating, and engaging.

Assignments and Assessment

An overview of assignments and their point values are given below. Refer to the course calendar in D2L for specific due dates.

Due

Assignment and Description

Points

Weekly

Discussions

Weekly, contribute to class discussions and other in-class activities.

110

Week 3

Stage 1 of Action Project: Proposal

Proposal of a problem and associated, action-based solution.

10

Week 6

Stage 2 of Action Project: Plan Draft

First draft of the plan, including both analysis of the problem’s context and the course of action recommended for the problem’s solution.

20

Week 8

Site Visit Report

Report on your visit to a civic site or event relevant to this course’s topic. The selected site requires prior instructor approval.

20

Week 9

Stage 3 of Action Project: Plan and Assessment

Final draft of the plan, with revisions based on instructor feedback on Stage 2, plus an assessment of the plan with respect to competence criteria or learning outcomes (depending on sections enrolled).

20

Final Week

Final Self-Assessment

An assessment of your learning with respect to your section’s learning outcomes and statement of your plans for putting liberal arts in action.

20

Total

200

 

Grading

As outlined above (see “Assignments and Assessment,” a total of 200 points are possible. To assign grades, the following grading scale and University grading standards will be used. (Any partial points will be rounded up to the nearest whole point.)

Grading Scale

A = 95 to 100%

A- = 91 to 94%

B+ = 88 to 90%

B = 85 to 87%

B- = 81 to 84%

C+ = 77 to 80%

C = 73 to 76%

C- = 69 to 72%

D+ = 65 to 68%

D = 61 to 64%

F = 60 or below%

 

Grades below C- in SNL courses do not satisfy competence and are not counted toward graduation.

The following University grading standards will be used in assessing students’ work:

A      Accomplished the stated objectives of the course in an EXCELLENT manner
B      Accomplished the stated objectives of the course in a VERY GOOD manner
C      Accomplished the stated objectives of the course in a SATISFACTORY manner
D      Accomplished the stated objectives of the course in a POOR manner
F       Did NOT accomplish the stated objectives of the course
PA    Passing achievement in a pass/fail course. (Grades A through D.) Students who take this course pass/fail must request this option by the end of the second week of the term. Students who request pass/fail grading cannot revert to A-F grading.
W      Automatically recorded when the student’s withdrawal is processed after the deadline to withdraw without penalty, but within the stipulated period.

Course Policies

Policy on Late Work

Any work submitted after an assignment deadline will receive a grade of 0, unless an extension was negotiated with the instructor prior to the deadline. All negotiated, late submissions are subject to a grade reduction of 5% for each non-holiday weekday that elapses following the due date, up to the date of submission. An unforeseen, documented emergency is an exception to this policy, and should be brought to the instructor’s attention as soon as possible. See also “Dean of Students Office” section below. Any assignment for which work is not submitted will receive a grade of 0.

College and University Policies

This course includes and adheres to the college and university policies described in the links below:

Academic Integrity Policy (UGRAD)

Academic Integrity Policy (GRAD)

Incomplete Policy

Course Withdrawal Timelines and Grade/Fee Consequences

Accommodations Based on the Impact of a Disability

Protection of Human Research Participants

APA citation format (GRAD)

Additional Course Resources

University Center for Writing-based Learning

SNL Writing Guide

Dean of Students Office

Changes to Syllabus

This syllabus is subject to change as necessary. If a change occurs, it will be clearly communicated to students.

Credits

This course was designed and produced by Donald Opitz and staff at SNL Online of the School forNew Learning of DePaul University.

© 2017 School for New Learning, DePaul University. All Rights Reserved by SNL.

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