NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Course title: Beginning Algebra
Course prefix, number, and section number: MATH 0305 0430
Semester/Year of course: Summer 2026
Semester start and end dates: 6/1/2026 – 8/6/2026 (10-week session Summer III)
Modality (Face to face):
Class meeting location, days, and times: Monday/Wednesday 9:00-11:20AM
Corinth Campus Room 366
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.
Name of instructor: Amanda Parker
Office location: Cor 331
Email address: aparker@nctc.edu
Email and office hours (below) are the best way to get in contact with me. I do my best to reply to emails within 24 hours, even on weekends. However, I do stop checking my email nightly around 7PM. Thus, any emails sent to me after that time will not get a response until the following morning.
Required course materials:
Included in Lion Book Bundle
MyLab Math for Developmental Math: Basic, Intro & Interm Algebra Access Code (e-book included with the MyLab Math access code)
Not included in Lion Book Bundle
Non-graphing / Scientific calculator, TI-30X IIS is recommended
Note: Graphing calculators and phone calculators will not be allowed.
Optional course materials:
Elementary and Intermediate Algebra: Concepts and Applications, 8th edition, Marvin Bittinger, David Ellenbogen, & Barbara Johnson, Pearson, 2024 (physical textbook)
Purchasing Course Materials
Starting in Spring 2026 NCTC is partnering with Barnes & Noble College (BNC) to make purchasing course materials easy and affordable. When students register for classes, they are automatically opted in to the Lion Book Bundle which will provide students first day access to course materials. In this program students are charged $24 per credit hour ($72 for a 3-hour class) as a fee on their NCTC student account. (These are labeled as “Book Fees” on NCTC invoice). Students may choose to opt out of this program, but would then be expected to purchase needed class materials on their own. If opting out, students would receive a refund on their NCTC student account. Students may choose to opt out starting one month prior to classes beginning through the first week of class. Students might benefit from opting out if they are enrolled in classes that use OER (free course materials). Note: The Lion Book Bundle applies to all classes a student is registered for in a given semester (both 16-week and 8-week). A student must either opt in or out for all classes—not each class individually. If you want to take advantage of the Lion Book Bundle, no action is needed as students are automatically opted in. If you would like to opt out of the program, you must go to the Opt-out page (click link below).
Click here for more information: Lion Book Bundle information
Lion Book Bundle for OER Courses
The Lion Book Bundle is a program NCTC has in partnership with Barnes and Noble College (BNC) where students are charged $24 per credit hour ($72 for a 3-hour course) for first day access to all required digital materials. This course uses OER (Open Educational Resources) which means there is no cost for students for course materials. Because you are enrolled in an OER course, you might be able to save money by opting out of the Lion Book Bundle program and purchasing required materials for each course individually. Note: A student must either opt in or out for all classes—not each class individually. Click here for more information and for a link to the Opt-out page: Lion Book Bundle information
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: Mondays and Wednesdays, 11:20AM – 12:00PM, Room 331
Online student hours: By appointment only!
We will all be utilizing the Webex Office Hour tool for students to schedule appointments for online meetings via Webex. Example: Appointments for virtual meetings can be made by clicking this Cisco Webex Link in Canvas and selecting the “Office Hours” option at the top. Please make appointments at least a day in advance.
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. For on-campus tutoring no appointment is needed. For online tutoring, go to UpSwing tutoring in OneLogin to make an appointment.
Tutor schedules and more information: www.nctc.edu/math-lab.
Corinth: The Corinth Math Tutoring lab is located in Room 186.
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
List of graded assignments:
- Attendance/Participation: 5%
- Homework: 20%
- Quizzes: 10%
- Exams 1-3: 40% (13.33% each)
- Final Exam: 25%
Final grade scale:
- MATH 0305: 90 – 100% = A; 80 – 89% = B; 70 – 79% = C; Below 70% = F
Homework: Will be completed through MyMath Lab on Pearson, due at 11:59PM every Sunday over the sections we covered in class that week. Homework assignments CLOSE after the turn in window, meaning late assignments are not accepted unless given prior permission by the instructor.
Quizzes: Quizzes will be given the at end of class EVERY Monday and will be over material covered in class and homework assigned from the previous week. The lowest quiz grade will be dropped for the final grade. Each quiz is provided 20 minutes for you to complete and is anywhere from 5-8 questions.
Exams: There will be three exams in this course and the tentative dates are listed in the course calendar. If an exam date is changed, it will always be pushed back, never pushed forward. Each exam is weighted evenly. You will be allowed your non-graphing, scientific calculator (not your phone!) on all exams. You cannot share these calculators, so make sure you bring you own!
**If you score low on one of your regular exams and your final exam grade is higher, I will replace the lowest single exam grade with the final exam grade at the end of the semester**
Late work policy: It is the student’s responsibility to inform the professor in a timely manner of any expected late work. This includes homework, quizzes, and exams. It is NCTC policy that if a student misses an exam due to illness, you have a doctor’s note for documentation. If you know in advance of any absences, let me know ASAP to make alternative arrangements. Unexcused absences will result in the student being unable to meet the course objectives and a failing grade.
Extra Credit policy: NO extra credit will be given in this course. It is expected that you earn your grade by succeeding on assigned homework, quizzes, and exams.
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” for more details.
Consequences for academic dishonesty may include:
- Zero on the assignment
- Failing grade for the course
Students may be required to meet with the instructor to explain their work and demonstrate their problem-solving methods, either in person or via Webex. If a student is unable or unwilling to schedule a meeting during regular business hours within one week of the request, a grade of zero may be assigned for the submission in question.
Canvas Access: All students must have complete access to Canvas and other online course materials for the entire semester. It is the student’s responsibility to have access to the internet, as well as all needed programs to complete both in-person and online courses. Students are not to give any other person access to his/her Canvas or online course platforms. Students can be removed from the course immediately upon violating this rule. Once a student has given another person access to his/her Canvas account, the credibility of any work completed becomes questionable.
Artificial Intelligence Policy: While there are many great resources available to you, keep in
mind that for this class ChatGPT, Wolfram-Alpha, Chegg, Symbolab, and similar programs
should only be used to help you understand the material we are covering in the class. Any
student found to have submitted work that is not their own (whether it is copied from another
student or from technology) will be required to meet with me. If a student is found to have
presented work that is not their own, they will be subject to the academic dishonesty policy. If
you would not be able to explain to me how to work a similar problem, you should not submit
the solution as your own. PLEASE also keep in mind that AI is not perfect and still in
development!! They are not actually that great at math and still make mistakes! Do NOT take
their answers as fact, but as a tool in your own studies.
Attendance Policy: Regular attendance is expected and necessary for student success in this course. For more information on attendance regulations please see the NCTC Catalog. (Attendance Regulations – NCTC Catalog)
Coming to class is one of the most impactful choices you can make for your success. Attendance counts toward 5% of your final grade, and Monday quizzes are only given in class — so each absence has a real cost. You are far more likely to pass this course when you show up consistently!
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 Summer III 2026 course with a “W” is: Monday, July 13, 2026
Student Learning Outcomes: At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
- Use appropriate symbolic notation and vocabulary to communicate, interpret, and explain mathematical concepts.
- 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.
- Use algebraic reasoning to solve problems that require ratios, rates, percentages, and proportions in a variety of contexts using multiple representations.
- Apply algebraic reasoning to manipulate expressions and equations to solve real world problems.
- Use graphs, tables, and technology to analyze, interpret, and compare data sets.
- 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