GEP 280 Foundations in Environmental Data Analysis Syllabus

  • Instructor: Professor Daniel Soto
  • Office: Stevenson 3729
  • Email: sotod@sonoma.edu
  • Semester: Fall 2025
  • Meeting Time: M/W 10:00 am -- 11:50 am
  • Classroom: Stevenson 2400
  • Units: 4

Office Hours (AMA) and Email

Signup is online and can be accessed through my website at danielrsoto.com. You can also access them through the GEP Department Website or directly through this link. Office hours are your opportunity to meet with me one-on-one for anything that helps your learning. Please meet with me during office hours for any grade checks or other issues that require individual attention.

When you send email, please put [GEP 280] in your subject line. This helps me identify and respond to student emails more quickly. It is my goal to respond to student emails within 48 working hours, please send a follow up if you have not received a reply in that time.

Course Catalog Description

Lectures and workshop designed to enhance students' confidence in analytical problem solving. Essential techniques emphasizing environmental applications: translating knowledge into abstract and mathematical models, numerical estimates, basic geometry and trigonometry, dimensional analysis, unit conversions, interpreting statistical data, and graphic display of information.

Prerequisites: Completion or concurrent enrollment in GE Area B4 (Math Concepts).

Course-level Learning Objectives

  • Increase confidence in the use of mathematics
  • Development of model thinking and quantitative estimation skills
  • Development of quantitative critical thinking skills
  • Development of quantitative communication skills
  • Develop and demonstrate consistent and sustainable work habits.

By completing the work in this course, you will develop the skills above. These skills will allow you to make and defend quantitative estimates with limited information to support decisions. You will also be able to devise strategies to make well-defined estimates to answer questions. Lastly, you will be able to evaluate the quantitative claims of others in your professional, personal, and civic lives.

Class Organization and Schedule

The first third of the class will focus on skills and tools needed to take on real-world estimations.

The second third of the course will deepen your intuition of linear, polynomial, and exponential models and their uses.

The last third of the course, will introduce statistical concepts and ask you to apply them to topics you are interested in.

Class Topic Schedule

  • Wed 20 Aug -- Mon 25 Aug: Introduction
  • Wed 27 Aug -- Wed 10 Sep: Concepts (Estimations, Relationships, Models, and Equations)
  • Mon 01 Sep: No Class Labor Day
  • Mon 15 Sep -- Mon 22 Sep: Quantities and Units
  • Wed 24 Sep: Exam Day 1
  • Mon 29 Sep -- Wed 01 Oct: Computation and Spreadsheets
  • Mon 06 Oct -- Wed 08 Oct: Linear Scales and Graphs
  • Mon 13 Oct: Exam Day 2
  • Wed 15 Oct -- Wed 22 Oct: Areas and Volumes
  • Mon 27 Oct -- Mon 03 Nov: Logarthimic Scales and Exponentials
  • Wed 05 Nov: Exam Day 3
  • Mon 10 Nov -- Mon 17 Nov: Histograms and Distributions
  • Wed 19 Nov: Exam Day 4
  • Wed 24 Nov -- Mon 01 Dec: Populations and Samples
  • Wed 26 Nov: No Class Thanksgiving
  • Wed 03 Dec: Exam Day 5
  • Mon 8 Dec: Final Exam 10:30 am -- 12:30 pm

Course Mode

This class is offered as an in-person class and is designed for you to learn from your classmates through frequent discussions and work in-person and at the same time (synchronous). Exams will be in-person. Ideally you will attend during class time, but there will be many things that make that difficult (work, family, pandemics) and there is no grade for attendance. There are however assignments that are due during the class period (synchronous assignments). Classes may be streamed and recorded to help you catch up if you are unable to attend but the recordings will not be as good as attending class.

Attendance and Excused Absences

If you miss class due to an unexcused absence, you will will not receive credit for any work due in class that day. If you have an excused absence, we'll arrange an extension for those in-class assignments.

To submit a request for an excused absence, please fill out this Excused Absence Form. The form asks for a brief and compelling reason for the absence but you do not need to reveal any personal, sensitive, or medical information.

I may contact you over email if I think your attendance is affecting your learning. If you have difficulty meeting your educational goals this semester because of outside difficulties, please reach out as early as possible and we can look for solutions.

Homework

There are two types of assignments in this course: homework and exam questions.

Homework is usually to be completed before class in preparation for the class period and is awarded full credit if complete and on time. All homework has a one-day grace period where late work receives 90% credit. Any homework up to one week late receives 80% credit. Any homework turned in after one week late will receive 70% credit.

Exams

The course grade is mostly based on the credit/no-credit demonstration of specific skills listed in the course grading section. During the exams, the instructor will hand out exam questions focused on these specific skills for you to attempt. You will complete these questions and turn them in. The instructor will return the exam questions with a grade of completion or to reattempt. You may reattempt the skill without penalty in a future exam session, or in the current exam session if time permits.

You will complete these questions and briefly present them to the instructor. The instructor will look over the work, ask any clarifying questions, and assign a grade of complete or not-yet. You may reattempt the work without penalty during the current or future exam sessions.

Course Grading

To earn an A grade:

  • Complete all skills for B, C, and D grades
  • Calculate the dimensions of a volume taking different shapes
  • Fit a distribution to a histogram in a spreadsheet
  • Extract the slope of a best fit line in a spreadsheet
  • Use distances along a logarthimic scale to estimate logarithms
  • Estimate the likelihood of observing a result under the null hypothesis
  • Earn a score of at least 90% on homework

To earn a B grade:

  • Complete all skills for C and D grades
  • Perform area and volume calculation on physical objects
  • Show how PEMDAS rules affect computations
  • Estimate the mean and standard deviation from a histogram/distribution
  • Use linear scales to represent unit conversions
  • Graph exponential data on paper and computer
  • Earn a score of at least 80% on homework

To earn a C grade:

  • Complete all skills for D grade
  • Accurately convert between units of areas and volumes
  • Create a spreadsheet using references to cells to perform computations
  • Create an equation that can be used to solve for a variable of interest in a practical situation
  • Distinguish between elements of histograms and similar plots
  • Assign locations to numbers on a linear scale
  • Assign locations to numbers on a logarithmic scale
  • Recognize and describe the use of a model in a peer-reviewed source
  • Balance dimensions and units on both sides of an equation
  • Earn a score of at least 70% on homework

To earn a D grade:

  • Describe and complete plausible estimates with little information given
  • Use the factor-label (or other clear) method to convert units
  • Recognize and describe the presentation of a relationship in a peer-reviewed source
  • Earn a score of at least 60% on homework

Final Exam

Our final exam period is Mon. Dec 8th from 10:30 am -- 12:30 pm. You can verify this on the Sonoma State final exam schedule.

Class Text

You are not required to purchase any texts for this class. All course readings will be made available online.

Classroom Technology

I will announce when you need to bring a laptop to class to work on assignments. For every class, please bring a device that will allow you to access the internet and Google Docs and Sheets. If you don't have access to devices, I can point you to campus resources.

Class Norms and Agreements

Late work

Students often have circumstances beyond their control that interfere with their studies. If you believe you have a compelling case for turning in an assignment late for full credit, make an office hours appointment with me and we can discuss it.

Respectful tone in classroom

Each of us is responsible for creating a class environment where all of us can reach our highest potential. Attendance and meaningful class participation supports this goal. Civility is required from all students during discussions and interactions. In general, I expect students to be completely supportive of each others learning goals.

Willingness to take risks and experiment

I frequently try new approaches to teaching and learning. These are always with the intention of making this class as beneficial to you as possible and are usually evidence-based.

Academic Integrity

There are many resources and technologies available that could be used to complete the work in this class: online solutions like Chegg, large language models like ChatGPT, and online calculators.

You may use any of these tools in ways that support your learning, but you must be able to explain any work that you turn in and cite any work that is not your own. If you cannot clearly explain the work you have turned in you will not receive credit.

University Policies

There are important University policies that you should be aware of, such as the add/drop policy; cheating and plagiarism policy, grade appeal procedures; accommodations for students with disabilities and the diversity vision statement. Go to this URL to find them. http://www.sonoma.edu/uaffairs/policies/studentinfo.shtml

Also important are the policies around withdrawals or incompletes and your options if you find yourself unable to complete the course.

Health Concerns

In the event that your life or our class is directly or indirectly disrupted by a communicable disease outbreak, let me know and we'll construct a plan. If there is an interruption in classes, all deadlines will be postponed. After we return, I will post the new deadlines after consulting with students.

Natural Disasters

If the campus is closed, any assignments or work that were due during the closure will be postponed. When the campus is reopened, we will discuss a new schedule and new assignment due dates. If you are personally affected by a natural disaster but the campus isn't closed, you will be granted extensions on any work.

Basic Needs

Any student who believes their performance in the course may be affected by their access to sufficient food, stable housing, or their citizenship status is encouraged to seek out assistance from Sonoma State. If you are comfortable with it, please notify me as well so I can help direct you to any available resources.