NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE COURSE SYLLABUS
Course Title:		College Algebra
Course Prefix & Number:			MATH1314	Section Number:	0380	Semester/Year:	Spring 2020
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 Course Materials: Pearson MyMathLab access code (may be purchased directly via the MyLab and Mastering content link in Canvas or through the NCTC bookstore) Current e-mail address Scientific calculator, TI-30X IIS is recommended; TI 83 or 84 may be used ** Phone calculators will not be allowed on exams.   Recommended Course Materials: Textbook OPTIONAL: College Algebra, Lial/Hornsby/Schneider/Daniels, 12th edition, Pearson, 2017 or MyMathLab access code (e-text included in MML)

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:	Prof. Leticia T. Escobar
Campus/Office Location:	Denton Campus – By Appointment Only
Office Hours:	n/a
Telephone Number:	972-860-7082
E-mail Address:	lescobar@nctc.edu (**best way to reach me!**)

 

GRADING CRITERIA

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

 

*The final examination is a comprehensive exam and is required of all students. The final exam may also replace a low or missing test grade.

*Any student who accumulates in excess of 2 absences in the class may be dropped from the course.

*The grading policy may be amended during the semester at the instructor’s discretion.

 

COURSE SUBJECT OUTLINE (Major Assignments, Due Dates, and Grading Criteria)

See weekly calendar posted in Canvas

 

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.

 

All students at NCTC are assigned a student email address, also known as Lion Pride email. Lion Pride email can be accessed on the NCTC home page by clicking on MyNCTC, then the link “Lion Pride Email” to the left. After clicking the Lion Pride Email link, the Microsoft Office 365 window will open.
1. Enter your NCTC student e-mail address. (for example, Smithj123456@student.nctc.edu)

2. Enter your password (your NCTC Student ID Number, either 7 or 9 numbers).

3. From the list of Microsoft icons, choose MAIL.

4. You will be asked to set your language and local time zone (Central Time). Your account is now activated.

 

**It is the student’s responsibility to activate and regularly monitor the assigned NCTC (Lion Pride) e-mail account. Important announcements and notifications from the Admissions office, Financial Aid, or other college staff will be sent via the Lion Pride student email system.

 

For communicating with classmates and instructors, students also have an option to communicate through Canvas. Canvas messaging is NOT the same as Lion Pride e-mail. Failure to read and/or receive NCTC e-mails (either in Lion Pride or in Canvas) is no excuse for not complying with any school policy. Be sure to regularly check BOTH the Lion Pride email as well as the Canvas inbox for important messages and information.

Regular and punctual 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)

 

 

HOMEWORK, QUIZZES, AND TESTS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

All homework and quizzes will be completed online in MyMathLab (MML). You will need an access code that can be purchased in the bookstore or online after you log into MyMathLab. Read the announcements in Canvas for all instructions. 

Learning New Content:

This is an accelerated lecture course with mandatory attendance. Students will learn and apply new objectives from the online component MyMathLab (MML). To learn the course material students will access the section video presentations in MyMathLab. These videos can be accessed from the Chapter Contents menu or in the assignments list in MML. If you do not have a high-speed Internet connection, it may be difficult to view the videos. The videos contain instruction on each objective that is to be covered in the course. If you don’t watch the videos, it will make the HW difficult to complete. There is also a power point presentation for each section within MML.

 

Homework:

All due dates are listed in MML. You can complete the assignments until 11:59 pm of the due date listed. The homework may be attempted multiple times in order to increase your homework grade.

 

Quizzes:

Weekly quizzes will be due at 11:59 pm of the due date listed in MML. Quizzes may be attempted three times, and each quiz attempt has a time limit.  Only the highest score will be counted. Students should attempt the quiz multiple times in order to be prepared for the partial exams. At the end of the semester, the lowest quiz grade will be dropped.

 

Partial Exams:

There are 3 partial exams scheduled during this 8 weeks period. Make sure to follow the deadline dates listed in MML, and watch for the test announcements.  The exams will be administered in a proctored setting.  You will have only one attempt. You will have 90 minutes to complete each exam. Students will be allowed to use a scientific or graphing calculator on the tests. No make-up exams will be given, but the final exam can replace your lowest test grade.

 

Final Exam:

The final exam will be comprehensive and is required of all students. The final exam will be administered during the last week of class. The final exam may be used to replace your lowest regular exam grade. The final exam will be administered on Wednesday, 3/11/20. No exceptions. These will be administered at the Denton Campus. If you cannot attend you will need to let your instructor know a week ahead so your exam could be sent to the appropriate testing center.

The Partial Exams dates are listed below:

 

• Partial Exam #1 – Wednesday, 2/05/20 – Denton Campus – 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
• Partial Exam #2 – Wednesday, 2/19/20 – Denton Campus – 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
• Partial Exam #3 – Wednesday, 3/04/20 – Denton Campus – 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
• FINAL EXAM – Wednesday, 3/11/20 – Denton Campus – 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

 

No make-up exams will be given, but the final exam can replace your lowest test grade. 

Gradebook:

The gradebooks in My Math Lab and in Canvas keep a running average of your grade. I will review all quizzes in order to assign partial credit where possible.  I will NOT review HW answers because you have unlimited attempts for each problem. 

 

 CLASS RULES

• Regular participation and attendance is VERY IMPORTANT in this class! You are enrolling in an 8 week math course, so expect to work on your Math work very frequently. Waiting to work on one day at the end of the week would be disastrous for this eight week course!! Assignments will be broken up into two units each week.
• Our typical ‘week’ will be broken into two units: Monday to Wednesday, and Thursday to Sunday.   All assignments for the week will typically open on Monday, and the first unit homework section(s) will close on Wednesday. The second unit homework section(s) will close on Saturday, and the weekly quiz closes on Sunday.
• To be clear: from the first day of class, you must log in at least twice every week and work on assignments until you have completed all the assignments and taken the final.
• Please do not ask me to extend the due dates. Work ahead on the assignments instead (remember… if something can go wrong, it will).
• If you live close to one of the NCTC campuses, you are welcome to visit the on campus Math Lab during their posted hours for additional help. Students also have access to online tutoring through Upswing.
• You are welcome to contact me is via email, lescobar@nctc.edu if you have any questions regarding your assigned work.

 

TENTATIVE  SCHEDULE

The schedule posted in Canvas is tentative and may change slightly as the semester progresses.  It is provided so that you have a general idea of the order and speed with which we will be covering the material.

 

LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW

Last day to withdraw from a 1^st 8-week course with a “W” is Friday, February 21, 2020.

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 campuses at http://www.nctc.edu/student-services/student-success/tutoring/mathematics-lab.html.

 

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).    https://www.nctc.edu/catalog/student-services/office-students-with-disabilities.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

 

x         Critical Thinking

x         Communication

x         Empirical and Quantitative

 

o          Teamwork

o          Personal Responsibility

o          Social Responsibility