NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE COURSE SYLLABUS
Course Title:		College Algebra
Course Prefix & Number:			MATH 1314	Section Number:	380	Semester/Year:	Spring 2018
Semester Credit Hours:			3	Lecture Hours:	48	Lab Hours:
Course Description (NCTC Catalog): In-depth study and applications of polynomial, rational, radical, exponential and logarithmic functions, and systems of equations using matrices. Additional topics such as sequences, series, probability, and conics may be included.
Course Prerequisite(s): Meet TSI college-readiness standard for College Algebra; or equivalent
Required or Recommended Course Materials: ·         Thinkwell College Algebra access (may be purchased directly via the Thinkwell content link in Canvas or through the NCTC bookstore) ·         Scientific calculator, TI-30X IIS or TI-30XS Multiview is recommended ·         Graphing calculators and phone calculators will not be allowed on exams.

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:	Melissa Bird
Campus/Office Location:	Corinth Campus, COR201
Office Hours:	Monday & Wednesday 4:00 – 5:00 pm (via online Conferences in Canvas)
E-mail Address:	mbird@nctc.edu (best way to contact me)

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (From Academic Course Guide Manual/Workforce Education Course Manual/NCTC Catalog

At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
1	Demonstrate and apply knowledge of properties of functions, including domain and range, operations, compositions, and inverses.
2	Recognize and apply polynomial, rational, radical, exponential and logarithmic functions and solve related equations.
3	Apply graphing techniques.
4	Evaluate all roots of higher degree polynomial and rational functions.
5	Recognize, solve, and apply systems of linear equations using matrices.

 

GRADING CRITERIA

# of Graded Course Elements	Graded Course Elements	Percentage or Point Values
34	Quizzes (Online)	20%
3	Exams (On-campus)	60%
1	Final Exam (On-campus)	20%

Grade Scale:   90 – 100% = A;   80 – 89% = B; 70 – 79% = C;  60 – 69% = D;  Below 60% = F

 

COURSE SUBJECT OUTLINE (TENTATIVE EXAM SCHEDULE)

Exam 1	Saturday, January 27th	20% of overall grade
Exam 2	Saturday, February 10th	20% of overall grade
Exam 3	Saturday, February 24th	20% of overall grade
Final Exam	Saturday, March 3rd	20% of overall grade

 

GRADING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Method of Study: As this is an online course, students are responsible for their own learning. A common misconception is that online classes are easy to complete or take less time than traditional college classes. In a full semester class, a student should expect to spend a minimum of 5 hours a week for each credit hour. This means 15 hours minimum for a three-credit hour course. For 8-week classes, double that.

 

This course requires the use of Thinkwell, which is an online component that has been integrated into Canvas. Information on how to register and get started with Thinkwell can be found in the “Getting Started” module in Canvas. Active participation throughout the course is mandatory in order to succeed.

 

Method of Evaluation: The grade for the course will be based on online quizzes, as well as three on-campus proctored exams and a comprehensive on-campus proctored final.

 

All online study, practice quizzes, and graded quizzes will be completed online.
•	All online study and ungraded practice quizzes will be available in Canvas under “Thinkwell Content.”  Though ungraded, all assignments are expected to be completed as this will help prepare students for the exams.
•	All graded quizzes will be available in Canvas under “Assignments.”  The sections covered will be due on their due dates at 11:59 pm.
All exams (including the final exam) will be completed on-campus.
•	There will be three exams and a comprehensive final exam, which must be proctored on-campus – these are NOT online.
•	There are two options for taking these exams: either on the group testing Saturdays listed on the course calendar, OR by a scheduled appointment in one of the NCTC campus testing centers on designated day ranges. More information will be available through Canvas.
•	The final exam is a departmental comprehensive algebra exam and must be taken by all students.

 

Student final grades are based solely on the ability to demonstrate knowledge of the material and not the amount of work or effort put into studying for the course.  Extra credit will not be available.

 

LATE WORK POLICY

Students are responsible for completing and submitting all assignments by the posted due dates, as well as preparing for and attending all scheduled exams. Late work is not acceptable. When situations arise that can affect the ability to complete assignments or exams, first refer to the following information.

 

Online Graded Quizzes
•	No late quiz assignments will be accepted. Each student is expected to work on the assignments prior to the due date.  Do not wait until the day an assignment is due to begin working in it.  Computer problems and other life events do happen, so assume they will, and get the assignment done early.
•	This policy also means that quiz assignments will not be opened again at the end of the semester.
On-Campus Exams
•	No late exams will be given. If a student anticipates not being able to take the exam on the schedule group testing date, s/he must schedule an appointment with the testing center and inform the professor. Remember 48 hours’ notice is required to make an appointment in the testing centers.
**Exceptions to the Late Work Policy will only be made in extreme and well-documented circumstances and only at the discretion of the professor. If you feel your situation fits this description, contact your professor via email as soon as possible with documentation ready to determine if an exception can be made.

 

DROP/REPLACE POLICY

This policy is designed to alleviate missed assignments due to any unexpected life events (including but not limited to personal and medical emergencies, technical issues, etc.). This is NOT a “safety net” for dropping low assignment grades or boosting overall course grades. It is a courtesy. Some life events cannot be planned for, so expect that they will happen and get the work done early.

 

At the end of the semester,

•	The two lowest quiz grades will be dropped.
•	The lowest of exam score may be replaced with the final exam score, if the final exam grade is higher. This policy allows a student to miss one exam with no penalty.

 

COURSE CALENDAR (This schedule is tentative and subject to change.)

Due Dates	Topics	Assignments Due
Friday, January 19th	Introduction to the Course 2.1: Solving Linear Equations 2.2: Modeling Linear Equations	Getting Started Module Graded Quizzes for Sections 2.1 and 2.2
Monday, January 22nd	2.3: Quadratic Equations 2.4: Other Types of Equations	Graded Quizzes for Sections 2.3a, 2.3b, and 2.4
Thursday, January 25th	2.5: Inequalities 3.1: Coordinates and Graphs 3.2: Slope and the Equation of a Line	Graded Quizzes for Sections 2.5, 3.1, and 3.2
Saturday, January 27thth	Exam 1 (over 2.1-3.2)
Monday, January 29th	3.3: Variation 3.4: Functions	Graded Quizzes for Sections 3.3 and 3.4
Thursday, February 1st	3.5: Graphs of Functions 3.6: Transformations of Functions 3.7: Combining Functions	Graded Quizzes for Sections 3.5, 3.6, and 3.7
Monday, February 5th	3.8: Inverse Functions 4.1: Quadratic Functions & Models 4.2: Polynomial Functions & Graphs	Graded Quizzes for Sections 3.8, 4.1, and 4.2
Thursday, February 8th	4.3: Dividing Polynomials 4.4: Real Zeros of Polynomials 4.5: Complex Zeros & the F.T.A.	Graded Quizzes for Sections 4.3, 4.4, and 4.5
Saturday, February 10th	Exam 2 (over 3.3-4.5)
Monday, February 12th	5.1: Graphing Rational Functions 6.1: Exponential Functions	Graded Quizzes for Sections 5.1 and 6.1
Thursday, February 15th	6.1b: One-to-One Property 6.2: Logarithmic Functions 6.3: Properties of Logarithms	Graded Quizzes for Sections 6.1b, 6.2, and 6.3
Monday, February 19th	6.4: Exponential & Log Equations 6.5: Exponential & Log Models	Graded Quizzes for Sections 6.4 and 6.5
Thursday, February 22nd is the last day to drop the course with a W
Thursday, February 22nd	7.1: Solving Systems of Two Linear Equations 7.2: Nonlinear Systems 7.4: Multivariable Linear Systems	Graded Quizzes for Sections 7.1, 7.2, and 7.4
Saturday, February 24th	Exam 3 (over 5.1-7.2)
Monday, February 26th	8.1: Matrices 8.2: Operations of Matrices	Graded Quizzes for Sections 8.1 and 8.2
Thursday, March 1st	8.3: Determinants & Cramer’s Rule 9.1: Sequences and Series	Graded Quizzes for Sections 8.3 and 9.1
Saturday, March 3rd	Final Exam (Required and Comprehensive)

 

COMMUNICATION POLICY

Communication is an integral part of the learning process. The college and professors will communicate with students via Canvas and Lion Pride email, so please access those daily. Similarly, students should use Canvas or Lion Pride email when contacting professors, as no sensitive information will be sent to a non-school email account.

 

When situations arise that can affect the ability to complete assignments or exams, first refer to the Late Work Policy and the Drop/Replace Policy in this syllabus. After reading and understanding those policies, contact your professor as soon as possible so that she is aware of the details of the situation.

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Regular and weekly online attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered.  All absences are considered to be unauthorized unless the student is absent due to illness or emergencies.  It is the student’s responsibility to provide documentation as to the emergency for approval by the faculty member.  Approved college-sponsored activities are also excused absences.  The instructor is responsible for judging the validity of any reason given for an absence.  Valid reasons for absence, however, do not relieve the student of the responsibility for making up required work.  Students will not be allowed to make up an examination missed due to absence unless the absence is documented and excused by the instructor.  Student will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been justifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course’s objectives.    Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories will be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College. From Board Policy FC (LOCAL)

LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is Thursday February 22, 2018.

MATH LAB Students who need help with any math class can visit the NCTC Mathematics Lab to receive assistance. No appointments are necessary. See the most current tutoring hours for all five campuses at http://www.nctc.edu/student-services/student-success/tutoring/mathematics-lab.html.    TIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON TUTOR AVAILABILITY: GAINESVILLE – 1403 (Library) CORINTH – 182 FLOWER MOUND - 111 Mon & Thurs 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Mon through Thurs 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Mon & Wed 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Tues & Wed 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Fri 9:00 am – 12:00 pm Tues & Thurs 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Fri 9:00 am – 12:00 pm Sat 10:00 am – 1:00 pm Fri 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

 

DISABILITY SERVICES (Office for Students with Disabilities)

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides accommodations for students who have a documented disability. On the Corinth Campus, go to room 170 or call 940-498-6207. On the Gainesville Campus, go to room 110 or call 940-668-4209.  Students on the Bowie, Graham, Flower Mound, and online campuses should call 940-498-6207.

North Central Texas College is committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, ADA Amendments Act of 2009, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112).   http://www.nctc.edu/catalog/north-central-texas-college-student-handbook/section-i/special-accommodations-office-students-with-disabilities/osd-department-contacts.html.

 

CORE CURRICULUM FOUNDATIONAL COMPONENT AREA (For classes in the Core)________     

 

o         Communication

x        Mathematics              

o         Life and Physical Science

o         Language, Philosophy & Culture

o         Creative Arts

o         American History

 

o         Government/Political Science

o         Social and Behavioral Sciences

o         Component Area Option

 

REQUIRED CORE OBJECTIVES (For classes in the Core)

 

x          Critical Thinking

x          Communication

x          Empirical and Quantitative

 

o           Teamwork

o           Personal Responsibility

o           Social Responsibility

 

COURSE TYPE

o           Academic General Education Course (from ACGM but not in NCTC Core)

x        Academic NCTC Core Curriculum Course

o         WECM Course

 

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook. http://www.nctc.edu/catalog/North-Central-Texas-College-Student-Handbook/nctc-student-handbook.html. 

 

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, academic falsification, intellectual property dishonesty, academic dishonesty facilitation and collusion.  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 Conduct ([FLB(LOCAL)]”. 

Consequences for academic dishonesty may include:

• Zero on the assignment
• Failing grade for the course

 

QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS?

Division Chair :	Dr. Elizabeth Howell
Office Location:	Corinth 236
Telephone Number:	940-498-6209
E-mail Address:	ehowell@nctc.edu
Instructional Dean:	Sara Flusche
Office Location:	Gainesville 1306
Telephone Number:	940.668.3351
E-mail Address:	sflusche@nctc.edu

 

CAMPUS RESTRICTIONS

Tobacco-Free Campus:  NCTC restricts the use of all tobacco products, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and smokeless tobacco, on campus property.

 

Campus Carry: Effective August 1, 2017, a license holder may carry a concealed handgun on or about the license holder's person while the license holder is on the campus of an institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education in this state. For more information, see the website at http://www.nctc.edu/police/campus-carry.html.