NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

 

COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

 

 

Course title:    Beginning Algebra

Course prefix, number, and section number: MATH 0305 0970

Semester/Year of course:  Fall 2025

Semester start and end dates: 8/25/2025 – 12/13/2025

Modality: Face-to-Face

Class meeting location, days, and times:  Bowie 118 / Tuesday & Thursday / 9:30 a.m.

Semester credit hours:  3 (lecture hours: 48)

 

Course Description:  This course supports students in developing skills, strategies, and reasoning needed to succeed in mathematics, including communication and appropriate use of technology. Topics include the study of numeracy and the real number system; algebraic concepts, notation, and reasoning including algebraic expressions and equations, factoring polynomials and graphing; quantitative relationships; mathematical models; and problem solving. This course does not count toward graduation at NCTC.

 

Course prerequisites:  Appropriate placement score on TSI or other approved assessment test.

 

Required course materials: 

• MyLab Math for Developmental Math: Basic, Intro & Interm Algebra Access Code (e-book included with the MyLab Math access code). PURCHASE REQUIRED.
• Dependable Internet service and an operational computer with a connected web-cam.    Technology is required to connect to class meetings and to complete assignments.
• Browser requirements (with recent updates): Chrome or Edge.
• CALCULATOR: Non-graphing scientific calculators are permitted.  TI-30X IIS or TI-30XS Multiview is highly recommended. 

 

Note:  The following are not allowed on exams

• No graphing calculators.  No cell phone calculators.
• No notes, memory enhancers, or note cards.

 

Optional:

Elementary and Intermediate Algebra: Concepts and Applications, 8^th edition, Marvin Bittinger, David Ellenbogen, & Barbara Johnson, Pearson, 2024

 

Name of instructor:  Cammy Boaz

Office location:  Bowie campus, Room 116

Telephone number:  (940) 872-4002

Email address:  cboaz@nctc.edu

 

ACADEMIC COMMUNICATION

 

Communication is key to establishing a good academic association.  For this course, the preferred academic communication tool is utilizing the NCTC Student email system or the Canvas Inbox. Any communication sent using personal email will be redirected to your school email account or Canvas Inbox.  When addressing your instructor, please include your course section, your first and last name, and a detailed description of your concern.  The more information you provide in the initial communication will result in a better understanding of your concern and ultimately an improved response or resolution to your concern.

 

STUDENT HOURS (OFFICE HOURS)

Each week instructors have time set aside to meet with students outside of class. (Traditionally these times are called “office hours”.) This is a time when a student may ask questions regarding the class, or discuss a particular problem/topic with an instructor one-on-one.  Student hours may be held in-person or online.  See below for instructions on where/when/how instructors will offer student hours in this class.

 

In-person student hours:  Bowie campus, room 116

Monday:         8:00 – 9:00 a.m. / 11:00 – Noon

Wednesday:   8:00 – 9:00 a.m. / 11:00 – Noon

 

Online student hours:  We will be using the WebEx Office Hours tool for students to schedule appointments for online meetings via WebEx.  Appointments for virtual meetings can be made by clicking the Cisco WebEx link in the left navigation menu and selecting “Office Hours” option at the top. Please make appointments at least one day in advance.  If you need to re-schedule or cancel, please do so in advance of your appointment time.

Monday:          3:30-5:30 p.m.

Tuesday:          7:00-8:00 p.m.

Wednesday:   1:30-4:30 p.m.

• The student will receive a confirmation email (check your NCTC Student email account) containing the required WebEx meeting link for the designated date and time. Save and utilize this link to join the instructor at the requested date and time. Students can cancel and/or reschedule an appointment by contacting the instructor prior to the scheduled appointment.

 

 

 

Other ways to communicate with the instructor:

Asking Questions using Email/Canvas Inbox messaging/Access Pearson “ask the instructor” help feature:  Students are always welcome to communicate their questions or concerns using their NCTC Student email account.  Students may also send questions using the Pearson “ask the instructor” option available in each homework component.  To be most beneficial and timely in forming a response to you, students are expected to clearly identify themselves, their course, and use professional communication skills when posing a question.  I do also require students to send their written work when asking questions about any course content so that I can better understand where the processes used may be causing an issue.

 

MATH TUTORING LAB

 

Students who need help with any math class can visit the NCTC Mathematics Lab to receive assistance.  There are math tutors available on most campuses and online.  This service is free for all students enrolled in an NCTC math class. Sign up for an appointment or see the most current tutoring hours for all campuses at www.nctc.edu/math-lab. 

 

 

SYLLABUS CHANGE DISCLAIMER

 

The faculty member reserves the right to make changes to this published syllabus if it is in the best interest of the educational development of this class. Any such changes will be announced as soon as possible in person and/or writing.

 

 

SUMMARY OF COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

 

Pearson Homework and Quizzes                               25%

Participation Canvas assignments                              15%

Unit Exams (3)                                                             45%

Final Exam (1) *                                                          15%

 

Final grade scale:  Grade Scale:   90 – 100% = A;   80 – 89% = B; 70 – 79% = C;     Below 70% = F

*The final exam is a departmental comprehensive algebra exam and must be taken by all students. The final exam score, if better, may also be used to override the lowest unit exam score. There is no exemption/replacement/override for the final exam score. 

 

 

GRADING POLICY

Review Quizzes: These quizzes will be found in our Canvas course.  These quizzes will be made available on scheduled days (see course schedule) and will require you to upload written work within 24 hours.  No late submissions will be accepted.  These review quizzes are also used to track attendance/participation in this course.  Feedback is posted in the Canvas grade book upon grading.

 

Pearson Homework: All homework will be completed online using ACCESS PEARSON following the scheduled due dates.  You will have unlimited attempts to maximize your score by the assigned due date.

• Feedback and grading: Pearson auto-grades from the moment you open an assignment.  Pearson provides feedback of progress after each question is attempted.

 

Pearson Quizzes: All quiz assignments will be completed online using ACCESS PEARSON following the scheduled due dates.  You will have three (3) attempts to maximize your score by the assigned due date. The highest score will be recorded.

• Feedback and grading: Pearson auto-grades once a quiz has been completed.  Pearson provides feedback while reviewing the scored quiz.

 

Late Pearson Homework/Quizzes policy:  Due dates on homework/quizzes will not be extended but students can continue to improve assignments after the due date for a 10% penalty. Last day to enhance scores in Pearson assignments is Thursday, December 11, 2025.

 

 

TESTING POLICY

Unit Exams & Final Exam:  All exams are printed on paper and will be completed ‘In-person’ and proctored by the NCTC Testing Center.  Students will be provided with instructions on how and when to schedule a testing appointment with the NCTC Campus Testing Center location of your choice.  This is a requirement of every mathematics course.  No online testing is offered for any reason.  Students are required to provide their own course approved calculator (TI-30X IIs or similar basic scientific calculator) for testing.  Students must provide a valid Driver’s License or valid Passport as proof of identity at check-in to the NCTC Testing centers.

 

Length of Testing: Unit Exams time length will not exceed 2 hours.  Final Exam time length will not exceed 2 hours. Each exam will be presented on paper and requires students to show detailed work to prove their understanding of the content.

 

TENTATIVE TESTING SCHEDULE for Fall 2025

Exam 1                 Week 4 … Tuesday September 16 – Thursday September 18

Exam 2                 Week 8 … Tuesday October 14 – Thursday October 16

Exam 3                 Week 12 … Tuesday November 11 – Thursday November 13

Final Exam          Week 16 … Monday December 8 – Thursday December 11

 

Testing Feedback: Exams will be graded and scanned to the Canvas grade book within one week of the last day of testing.  Students have 48 hours, following the posting of exam scores, to raise questions or concerns about grading.  After the 48-hours have expired, students can no longer contest an exam grade. There will be no feedback or returned exam material provided for the final exam.

 

Course Grade Book: The grade book in Canvas is the official record keeper of this course. 

 

Missed Testing policy: There will be no late testing after the testing window closes. If you are aware of a necessary absence, please plan with your instructor to test early. This applies to all exams. Any missed exams will earn a zero.  Make-up testing or re-takes are not offered for any reason.  *The final exam is a departmental comprehensive statistics exam and must be taken by all students or a zero will be recorded. The final exam score, if better, may also be used to override the lowest unit exam score. There is no exemption/replacement/override for the final exam score. 

 

SEE CANVAS FOR THE COMPLETE COURSE CALENDAR, OUTLINE, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF GRADED WORK, AND OTHER RELATED MATERIAL.

 

 

COURSE POLICIES

 

Academic Integrity Policy: Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, academic falsification, intellectual property dishonesty, academic dishonesty facilitation, and collusion.  The use of online math solvers with submitted work is considered academic dishonesty.  Faculty members may document and bring charges against a student who is engaged in or is suspected to be engaged in academic dishonesty.  See Student Handbook, “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Code of Conduct ([FLB(LOCAL)]”.  

Consequences for academic dishonesty may include:

1. Zero on the assignment
2. Failing grade for the course

 

Attendance Policy:  Regular attendance is expected and necessary for student success in this course. For more information on attendance regulations please see the 2024-2025 NCTC Catalog.  (Attendance Regulations – NCTC Catalog)

 

Withdrawal Policy: A student may withdraw from a course on or after the official date of record. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate and complete a Withdrawal Request Form.

 

Last day to withdraw from a Fall 2025 course with a “W” is: Monday, November 3, 2025

 

Student Learning Outcomes:  At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:

1. Use appropriate symbolic notation and vocabulary to communicate, interpret, and explain mathematical concepts.
2. Define, represent, and perform operations on real numbers, applying numeric reasoning to investigate and describe quantitative relationships and solve real world problems in a variety of contexts.
3. Use algebraic reasoning to solve problems that require ratios, rates, percentages, and proportions in a variety of contexts using multiple representations.
4. Apply algebraic reasoning to manipulate expressions and equations to solve real world problems.
5. Use graphs, tables, and technology to analyze, interpret, and compare data sets.
6. Construct and use mathematical models in verbal, algebraic, graphical, and tabular form to solve problems from a variety of contexts and to make predictions and decisions.

 

 

COLLEGE POLICIES