Course Requirements and Grading

Academic Honesty
Homework
Exams
Grades


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Academic Honesty

Cheating is dishonest, unethical, and unprofessional. It will not be tolerated. Copying work from other students, presenting work not done by you as your own, or otherwise misrepresenting your work will result in severe penalties including a failing grade.

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Homework

The homework we assign is for your practice and is not collected as typically this class has many students. We have provided you with many worked examples and homework solutions. As graduate students, you have already proved your capabilities as students so you should be able the use the reading and the examples to learn the material yourselves.

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Exams

The are four exams. The exams are equally weighted.

Dates for exams are available on the course calendarAs I have published the exam dates in advance, please plan around them.  Do not ask me to reschedule an exam for you for things such as vacations, job interviews, etc.  I will consider making a special exam (at an earlier date) for part-time students who have unavoidable job-related travel and temporary duty assignments.

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Grades

Final grades are based on the weighted average of the four exams. Final grades in general are not curved. This means that we do not assign grades to meet a percentage distribution of A's, B's, C's, and F's. If everyone in the class has a 95% to 100% average then everyone in the class has earned an A.

Typically, A's are in the 90% - 100% range; B's are in the 80% - 90% range; and C's are in the 70% - 80% range. The actual splits between plus and minus grades varies depending on the actual distribution of exam grades. Nevertheless, if your weighted average is 95% or more, you are assured of an A. Note: Do not assume that a "C" is the lowest grade you can receive. If your performance warrants an "F" you will receive an "F" as a final grade.

Final course grades are determined solely on the results of the four exams.  Do not ask for additional work or time to improve your grade. To honor such a request from one person means having to honor similar requests from all students which is impractical. Incompletes are given following university policy, i.e., for extreme medical reasons or unanticipated emergencies.  All incompletes will state what remaining work needs to be done and by what date. Failure to complete the work by the due date will automatically cause an "F" to be assigned as the final grade.

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Updated August 24, 2002