Main Content
Syllabus
ANSC 107
Introduction to Equine Science and the Equine Industry (3 credits)
Overview | Objectives | Materials | Library Resources | Technical Requirements | Course Requirements and Grading | Course Schedule | Academic Integrity | Accommodating Disabilities | Additional Policies
Overview
This web based course provides students with basic knowledge about equine science and its application to the industry to prepare them to be more effective communicators with industry personnel. Inductive and deductive reasoning are introduced as a part of the scientific method and its application in critically evaluating products and concepts important to equine science and the industry. Equine science topics include basics of equine evolution, genetics and breeds, anatomy, physiology, reproduction, and nutrition. While these topics focus on the horse as a target, each topic also allows for comparisons to other mammalian species. Equine industry topics include history of use, disciplines, organization of the industry, components and careers; and prepare students to proceed into further studies in equine science. The course features presentations and interaction with industry professionals and instructors of higher level equine science courses at Penn State. In addition to the academic topics addressed, the course introduces students to using the university course management system, and the utilization of web based communication tools as individuals and as a team. There is no prerequisite knowledge required for this course.Course Objectives
Upon the completion of this course, you will be able to:
Explain
- How science can be used to benefit the horse and the horse industry,
- The historical role of the horse as compared to its role today, and
- How nutrition, reproduction, and health relate to successful management of equine facilities.
Identify
- Segments of the equine industry.
- Potential careers in the equine industry.
- Disciplines within the equine industry.
- Basic anatomy, physiology, and form and function of the horse.
- Appropriate courses and activities to strengthen your education in equine sciences at Penn State.
Present
- Written information through online commenting and teamwork on posts,
- Questions, ideas and opinions through online posts and comments
Learn to communicate!
One of the things we hear most frequently from employers and industry representatives is that they are looking for employees that have good communication skills. This means being able to speak and write. Online communication will be a critical part of this class. Embrace it! Think about your comments and make them worthwhile. Write a draft of your assignments before you post them. Take your time when your write answers to essay questions. Now is the time to practice these skills. Good communication skills will serve you well in any career you choose. The quality of your writing will impact your grade on all lecture and discussion comments, assignments, quizzes and exams.
A Few Thoughts on Netiquette...
Communicating online is an everyday activity for most of us; so much so that the tone and form of our communications oftentimes becomes highly informal and abbreviated. A breezy, informal communication style is fine with our friends but can become problematic when we’re trying to communicate with formal acquaintances (i.e., class instructors) or in situations (such as in online course discussions) where we might be trying to convey or discuss complex ideas with relative strangers.
As online communications are considered part of a college course, your writing style should conform to the rules of Standard English. Accordingly, you should introduce yourself, clearly state your reason for making contact, and use the spell and grammar check features prior to sending or posting. Please refrain from using emoticons, slang, or instant texting terms and never resort to using vulgar language. Don’t use all capital letters as it gives the impression you’re SHOUTING! Finally- be professional and respectful.
Here are some suggestions for contributing to online discussions and in your commuincation with instructors:
- Ask Nicely. If you are not certain about the meaning of a comment, grade, or announcement, ask the original poster to elaborate or clarify what they’ve written.
- Be respectful. Recognize and value the experiences, abilities, and knowledge that your fellow students, teaching assistants, and instructors bring to class. Acknowledge the diverse perspectives and viewpoints of everyone.
- Disagree with ideas, not people. When disagreeing with the ideas of another, be sure that your comments are directed toward his or her ideas and not the actual person. Never use personal attacks to express your disagreement.
- Use humor carefully. Be cautious about injecting humor into your comments and remember that it’s easy to misinterpret humor in written language.
- Be calm. If you’re upset, compose an email or message and save it for 24 hours before you send it.
- Reread messages. Reread any messages before you send them. You’ll catch any errors, disrespectful language, and notice areas for revision.
- Consider Face-to-Face Communication. Often times the weaknesses of written communication can be overcome when two people can see each other. Consider meeting classmates, teaching assistants, or instructors in person or online to discuss more challenging issues.
Required Course Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.Library Resources
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You can view the Online Students' Library Guide for more information.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and services. Once you have a Penn State account, you will automatically be registered with the library within 24–48 hours. If you would like to determine whether your registration has been completed, visit the Libraries home page and select My Account.
Technical Requirements
Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications. Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution During the semester you will receive information for completing the Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ). Your participation is an opportunity to provide anonymous feedback on your learning experience. Your feedback is important because it allows us to understand your experience in this course and make changes to improve the learning experiences of future students. Please monitor email and course communications for links and availability dates.
Operating System
Browser
Please note that Canvas does not support the use of Internet Explorer. Students and instructors should choose a different browser to use.
To determine if your browser is supported, please review the list of Canvas Supported Browsers.
Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites.
Additional Canvas Requirements
For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications.
Additional Software
Students will need a PDF reader, such as Adobe Reader.
Hardware
Audio: Microphone, Speakers
Camera (optional, recommended): Standard webcam - many courses may require a webcam for assignments or exam proctoring software.
Mobile Device (optional)
The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements.
Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ)
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Course Requirements and Grading
This course will require completion of numerous educational activities. Assigned readings are to be completed prior to the completion of assignments. Exams and the final will include questions taken from the readings, lectures and assignments.
Note: All due dates reflect North American eastern time (ET).
Late Assignment Policy
Assignments are due on the date indicated on the syllabus and/or CANVAS Calendar in order to receive full credit. Assignments that are late will be graded at 50% of the possible grade. Assignments a week or more late will not be graded and will be assigned a grade of 0. Exams and Quizzes cannot be taken late except in extreme circumstances and arrangements in these circumstances must be made well in advance of the scheduled exam.
Grading Policy
Letter grades will be based on the following scale:
|
Percentage |
100-93 |
92-90 |
89-87 |
86-83 |
82-80 |
79-77 |
76-70 |
69-60 |
< 60 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grade |
A |
A- |
B+ |
B |
B- |
C+ |
C |
D |
F |
Requests for Grade Review
Questions about how an assignment or exam were graded must be submitted as an email within 1 week of the student having received the grade. The request must also include documented references for the correct answer or supporting material for the answer that was provided. After this time period, no change in grade will be permitted. If there is a question about the grading of the exam, we will re-grade the entire exam.
Assignments
Assignment details will be communicated through the Modules. All exams are cumulative, although most questions will focus on recent material.
|
Activity |
% of Grade |
|---|---|
|
Weekly commenting on lecture pages |
15 |
|
Weekly commenting on discussions |
5 |
|
Quizzes based on lecture pages AND readings |
15 |
|
Assignments
|
20 |
|
Mid-Terms – (2) |
25 |
|
Final |
20 |
Important Weekly Dates
- Monday
Modules including Lectures, Assignments, and the Discussion Leaders Assignment will all be opened on Monday before noon. - Wednesday
Lecture Comments must be posted by Wednesday at 11:59 pm. - Friday
Module Discussion Comments are due by Friday at 11:59 pm.- Comments are on the Module Discussion added on Monday.
- YOU DO NOT NEED TO COMMENT ON YOUR OWN MODULE DISCUSSION.
- Sunday
- Weekly quizzes will be posted on Wednesday morning and must be completed by Sunday at 11:59 pm.
- Teams must work together to complete their Module Discussion in their team work space by Sunday at 11:59 pm. (Note: The instructor will copy the Module Discussion from each team's work space into the apporpriate module each Monday.) Please note: If for any reason, you do not participate in this group assignment, you will receive a zero as a grade. There will be no exceptions made and no extensions granted.
- Mid-term exams are due on Sundays by 11:59 pm. Exams will be available for 7 days prior to the due date. We suggest taking them earlier than later.
- Any assignments for the week will be due on Sunday at 11:59 pm.
There is also no reason why you should not try to get some assignments done before the due date. An online class offers much more flexibility in when you can complete your assignments.
The Assignments and Readings in the syllabus can also be used as a checklist, so that students can check off items they have completed. This should help you to ensure that you complete the assignments.
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies. If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.
For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Course Schedule
Note: All due dates reflect North American eastern time (ET).
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Lecture and Readings:
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Lecture
Textbook
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Activities: |
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Lecture and Readings: |
Lecture
Textbook
Paper
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Activities: |
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Lecture and Readings: |
Lecture Textbook |
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Activities: |
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Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please go to the Graduation Information on the My Penn State Online Student Portal.
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
Accommodating Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has resources for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides contacts for disability services at every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the SDR website.
In order to apply for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability resources office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation based on the documentation guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability resources office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Additional Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or dependents with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.
If you have a crisis or safety concern, mental health services are available to you as a Penn State student. Crisis and emergency contacts are available, no matter where you are located:
- Anywhere in the United States: Call the Penn State Crisis Line at 1-877-229-6400 or text LIONS to 741741. You can also contact your local crisis services or hospital for emergencies.
- Outside the United States: Please contact emergency services in your current location. You can also use the International Crisis and Emergency Services listings.
- At University Park: Assistance is available at Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) locations on campus.
- At a Penn State branch campus: You can search for counseling information at your campus.
- Students are responsible for online course content, taking notes, obtaining other materials provided by the instructor, taking tests (if applicable), and completing assignments as scheduled by the instructor. As a general rule, students should plan on logging into the course at least three times per week and spending at least three hours per course credit per week on the course, e.g., if the course is three credits, the student should plan on spending at least 9-12 hours per week on the course, just as they would in a residence course.
- Students are responsible for keeping track of changes in the course syllabus made by the instructor throughout the semester.
- Students are responsible for monitoring their grades.
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Students must contact their instructor (and teammates when working on any collaborative learning assignments) as soon as possible if they anticipate missing long periods of online time due to events such as chronic illnesses, death in the family, business travel, or other appropriate events. The instructor will determine the minimal log on time and participation required in order to meet course responsibilities. In the event of other unforeseen conflicts, the instructor and student will arrive at a solution together.
- Requests for taking exams or submitting assignments after the due dates require documentation of events such as illness, family emergency, or a business-sanctioned activity.
- Conflicts with dates on which examinations or assignments are scheduled must be discussed with the instructor or TA prior to the date of the examination or assignment.
- Students are responsible for following appropriate netiquette (network etiquette) when communicating with their instructor and classmates. For reference, see the Academic Success Kit.
- Behaviors that disrupt other students’ learning are not acceptable and will be addressed by the instructor.
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For severe and chronic problems with student disruptive behavior, the following will be applied for resolution:
- Senate Committee on Student Life policy on managing classroom disruptions: Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
- Penn State Principles
Penn State takes great pride to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated and can be reported through Educational Equity via the Report Bias webpage.