535.662.81 - Energy and Environment

Course Structure

The course materials are divided into 14 modules which can be accessed by clicking Course Modules on the left menu. A module will have several sections including the module-at-a-glance, readings, video lectures and related content, discussions, and assignments. Students should regularly check the Calendar and Announcements for assignment due dates. Modules begin on Wednesdays and complete on Tuesday.

Course Topics

• Overview of Our Energy Conversion System
• Second Law Analysis of Energy Systems
• Life-Cycle Assessments
• Global Warming
• Energy Usage by Sector
• Energy Generation and Storage
• Energy Water Nexus

Course Goals

By the end of the course, students should be able to assess the resource efficiency of differing energy sources in the nation and estimate their relative environmental impact.  To do so, the students should be able to use the second law of thermodynamics to identify and quantify inefficiencies in energy conversion processes and analyze how well energy conversion processes are making use of available resources. Students will gain an understanding of key energy sources both in the United States and worldwide.  Students will be able to apply scientific methods to estimate the relative environmental impacts of energy systems. 

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

• Quantify performance of energy conversion systems using the second law of thermodynamics
• Assess the energy and environmental performance of systems through basic life cycle analyses
• Describe the key areas of the economy where energy is consumed
• Evaluate the environmental performance of various alternative methods of generating energy
• Calculate the ways that our energy systems and water systems interact

Textbooks

None

Other Materials & Online Resources

To be provided.

Required Software

PowerPoint, Microsoft Word

Student Coursework Requirements

It is expected that each module will take approximately 10-12 hours per week to complete. Here is an approximate breakdown: reading the assigned sections of the texts and journal papers (approximately 2 hours per week) as well as some instructional videos (1 hour per week), posting on the Discussion Board (1 hour per week), listening to the audio annotated slide presentations (approximately 1 hour per week), and completing assignments (approximately 2–3 hours per week), and progressing on the final project (approximately 2-3 hours per week).   

This course will consist of three basic student requirements:

1. Weekly problem assignments (30% of final grade)

Weekly problem sets will be assigned, and solutions are to be submitted through the Canvas site.  While students may submit solutions in any established format they choose (e.g., Word, PDF, Excel, etc), students should present their results clearly to ensure the instructor can understand the rationale and process by which the students arrived at the answer.  Partial credit will only be given if the instructor can easily understand the student’s thought process.  Students are encouraged to ask questions on these problems in the public discussion board space provided for each module. The instructor monitors and provides guidance as necessary. In addition, the instructor is available via email, by phone appointment, or through weekly synchronous office hours.

2. Discussion board assignments (20% of final grade)

Weekly discussion board assignments require you to think about applications for the concepts you will be learning and share your experiences as they relate to the course content. You are required to respond to each discussion prompt as well as respond to at least one other student’s post. A rubric for grading is provided below. 

3. Term Project (50% of final grade)

A project of the student’s choosing in consultation with the instructor will allow the students to apply the ideas introduced in the class on a real-world problem.  Interim milestones throughout the class will be graded and will provide check-in points during the semester.  A report and narrated slide set will be due at the end of the course, with the slide set being reviewed by your fellow students. 

Grading Policy

Assignments

Assignments are due according to the dates posted in your Canvas course site. You may check these due dates in the Course Calendar or the Assignments in the corresponding modules. I will post grades one week after assignment due dates. Grading for each week will be out of 10 points. One point will be deducted for a late assignment without prior approval from the instructor.  An additional point will be deducted for each additional week that the assignment is late.  No assignments will be accepted that are more than three weeks late.

I generally do not directly grade spelling and grammar. However, egregious violations of the rules of the English language will be noted without comment. Consistently poor performance in either spelling or grammar is taken as an indication of poor written communication ability that may detract from your grade.

Discussion Board

Each student is responsible for carefully reading all assigned material and being prepared for discussion. Reading will be assigned from documents supplied by the instructor.

Post your initial response to the discussion questions by the evening of day 4 for that module week. Posting a response to the discussion question is part one of your grade for module discussions (i.e., Timeliness). Each student is responsible for carefully reading or viewing all assigned material and being prepared for discussion. Reading will be assigned from documents supplied by the instructor. ½ point will be deducted for each day that this initial post is late. 

Part two of your grade for module discussion is your interaction (i.e., responding to classmate postings with thoughtful responses) with at least one classmate (i.e., Critical Thinking). Just posting your response to a discussion question is not sufficient; we want you to interact with your classmates. Be detailed in your postings and in your responses to your classmates' postings. Feel free to agree or disagree with your classmates. Please ensure that your postings are civil and constructive. ½ point will be deducted for each day that this follow-up post is late. 

Your instructor will monitor module discussions and will respond to some of the discussions as discussions are posted.

Evaluation of preparation and participation is based on contribution to discussions.

Preparation and participation is evaluated by the following grading elements:

1. Timeliness (50%)
2. Critical Thinking (50%)

Preparation and participation is graded as follows:

10–9 = A—Timeliness [regularly participates; all required postings; early in discussion; throughout the discussion]; Critical Thinking [rich in content; full of thoughts, insight, and analysis].

8 = B—Timeliness [frequently participates; all required postings; some not in time for others to read and respond]; Critical Thinking [substantial information; thought, insight, and analysis has taken place].

7 = C—Timeliness [infrequently participates; all required postings; most at the last minute without allowing for response time]; Critical Thinking [generally competent; information is thin and commonplace].

<7 = F—Timeliness [rarely participates; some, or all required postings missing]; Critical Thinking [rudimentary and superficial; no analysis or insight is displayed].

Term Project:

Grading guidance will be provided when the project is assigned.

Overall:

A grade of A indicates achievement of consistent excellence and distinction throughout the course—that is, conspicuous excellence in all aspects of assignments and discussion in every week.

A grade of B indicates work that meets all course requirements on a level appropriate for graduate academic work. These criteria apply to both undergraduates and graduate students taking the course.

EP uses a +/- grading system (see “Grading System”, Graduate Programs catalog, p. 10).

The course grading scale is the following:

100–98 = A+

97–94 = A

93–90 = A−

89–87 = B+

86–83 = B

82–80 = B−

79–70 = C

<70 = F

Final grades will be determined by the following weighting:

Academic Policies

Deadlines for Adding, Dropping and Withdrawing from Courses

Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar (https://ep.jhu.edu/student-services/academic-calendar/). Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course.

Academic Misconduct Policy

All students are required to read, know, and comply with the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) / Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct by Full-Time and Part-Time Graduate Students.

This policy prohibits academic misconduct, including but not limited to the following: cheating or facilitating cheating; plagiarism; reuse of assignments; unauthorized collaboration; alteration of graded assignments; and unfair competition. Course materials (old assignments, texts, or examinations, etc.) should not be shared unless authorized by the course instructor. Any questions related to this policy should be directed to EP’s academic integrity officer at ep-academic-integrity@jhu.edu.

Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility

Johns Hopkins University values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. Students with disabilities (including those with psychological conditions, medical conditions and temporary disabilities) can request accommodations for this course by providing an Accommodation Letter issued by Student Disability Services (SDS). Please request accommodations for this course as early as possible to provide time for effective communication and arrangements.

For further information or to start the process of requesting accommodations, please contact Student Disability Services at Engineering for Professionals, ep-disability-svcs@jhu.edu.

Student Conduct Code

The fundamental purpose of the JHU regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically. 

For a full description of the code please visit the following website: https://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/policies-guidelines/student-code/

Classroom Climate

JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity. 
 
If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).

Course Auditing

When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team [EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu] in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.