MATH 1324 0400 - MATH FOR BUSINESS & SOCIAL SCIENCES

Introduction

Syllabus

NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

 

COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

 

 

Course title:  Mathematics for Business & Social Sciences

Course prefix, number, and section number:  MATH 1324 0400

Semester/Year of course:  Fall 2024

Semester start and end dates:  8/26/2024 – 12/14/2024

Modality Face to face

Class meeting COR rm 254, MW from 9:30 to 10:50 am 

Support course (if needed) COR rm 254, MW, 8:30 to 9:20 am:  NCBM 0224 0350

Semester credit hours:  3 (Lecture hours: 48)

 

Course Description:  The application of common algebraic functions, including polynomial, exponential, logarithmic, and rational, to problems in business, economics, and the social sciences are addressed. The applications include mathematics of finance, including simple and compound interest and annuities; systems of linear equations; matrices; linear programming; and probability, including expected value.

 

Course prerequisites:  Meet TSI college-readiness standard for College Algebra or equivalent

 

Required course materials:  MyLab Math access code (e-text included in MyLab Math access)

Scientific calculator, TI-30X IIS is recommended

Graphing calculators and phone calculators will not be allowed on exams.

Optional course materials:  Mathematics with Applications in the Management, Natural, and Social Sciences, Lial/Hungerford/Holcomb/Mullins, 13th edition, Pearson, 2024

 

Name of instructor:  Marla Owens

Office location:  COR 206

Telephone number:  940 – 498 -6226

Email address:  mowens@nctc.edu

When emailing, please give your name and class (course and section, or course and time)

Monday / Wednesday: 7:30 - 8:30 am; 11:00 am - Noon

Tuesday | Thursday 8:30 -9:30 am; 12:30 - 2:00 pm 

  Online: WebEx (click the Cisco Webex tab for an appointment)

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.  

 

 

I am here for you! Student Hours are times that I have set aside on a weekly basis to help guide you through anything you find difficult, to review homework, quizzes or exams, and to discuss anything that is getting in your way of being successful in this course. Student hours are a great time to discuss study habits and get some great tips from me on how to be successful on the upcoming exams. Student hours also build student -instructor relationships, which are shown to have a positive influence on motivation and persistence in difficult subject areas.  I am available for you in my office during these hours, however if these hours do not work for you, please let me know and we can find another time to meet. Please feel free to drop in or to set up an appointment by emailing me via Webex.  I hope to see you soon! When emailing, please give your name and class (course and section, or course and time)

 

 

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 https://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

**Homework and Quiz Assignments that are Online are in MyMathLab**

** All Tests and Final Exam will be in person. **

 

Homework: All homework assignments are to be completed on the computer using
MyMathLab (MML). Homework is an important component in student success for this course.

Homework reinforces the topics from each section. Homework assignments in MML will have
unlimited number of attempts and the highest score will be recorded.

Quizzes: Quizzes are assigned using MyMathLab. Students will have three attempts for each
online quiz. Some quizzes may have time limits. The highest score will be recorded.

Tests: Four tests will be given according to the tentative calendar. Tests will be taken in a PROCTORED environment. The tests will be given in person by the instructor or by the testing center. There will be one attempt, and a time limit. There are no make-up tests.

 

TENTATIVE TEST SCHEDULE

This schedule is tentative and will most likely change 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.

  • Test 1                Thursday, September 26
  • Test 2                Thursday, October 17
  • Test 3                Thursday, November 7
  • Test 4                Thursday, December 5
  • Final Exam       Thursday, December 12

 

Late work policy: Homework and quizzes may be worked past the original due date with a 20%
penalty up until the test for that section. There is no need to ask the instructor to modify due
dates because of this policy.

 

Final Exam:

The final exam will be comprehensive and is required of all students. The final exam will also be given in person, in the classroom. The final exam will be administered on be completed before or on December 12, by 9:30 – 11:20 am.  No exceptions. The final exam is comprehensive and must be taken by all students. The final exam may also be used to replace the lowest test grade. (Only if you missed 6 hours of class or less) No work will be excepted after the final exam.

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

 

 

 

List of graded assignments: 

# of Graded Elements               Title of Graded Element                 Percentage

15                                                  Attendance                                 5%

Approximately 35                      Homework                                  5%

 >10                                               Quizzes                                         10%

 4                                                   Tests                                              60%

 1                                                    Final Exam                                   20%

 

Final grade scale:  90 – 100% = A;   80 – 89% = B; 70 – 79% = C;  60 – 69% = D;  Below 60% = F

*The final exam is a departmental comprehensive algebra exam and must be taken by all students. The final exam may also be used to replace the lowest unit test grade.

 

 

 

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

 

Artificial Intelligence Policy:  While there are many great resources available to you, keep in mind that for this class ChatGPT, Desmos, 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 suspected of submitting 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 integrity 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.

 

 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.  (https://www.nctc.edu/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 the course with a “W” is: Monday, November 4, 2024

 

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

  1. Apply elementary functions, including linear, quadratic, polynomial, rational, logarithmic, and exponential functions to solving real-world problems.
  2. Solve mathematics of finance problems, including the computation of interest, annuities, and amortization of loans.
  3. Apply basic matrix operations, including linear programming methods, to solve application problems.
  4. Demonstrate fundamental probability techniques and application of those techniques, including expected value, to solve problems.
  5. Apply matrix skills and probability analyses to model applications to solve real-world problems.

 

Core Objectives:

X           Critical Thinking

X           Communication

X           Empirical and Quantitative

Teamwork

Personal Responsibility

Social Responsibility

 

COLLEGE POLICIES

 

 

 

 

ADA STATEMENT

NCTC will adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Office for Students with Disabilities to arrange appropriate accommodations.  See the OSD Syllabus Addendum.


AI STATEMENT

Absent a clear statement from a course instructor, use of or consultation with generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or other similar technologies shall be treated analogously to assistance from another person, agency, or entity. In particular, using generative AI tools to substantially complete an assignment or exam is not permitted. Students should acknowledge the use of generative AI (other than incidental use) and default to disclosing such assistance when in doubt.

 

When students use generative AI to replace the rigorous demands of personal engagement with their coursework, it runs counter to the educational mission of the college and undermines the heart of education itself. Artificial Intelligence, large language models, and other such technologies hold promise for deploying knowledge in service to others and accelerating the discovery of new knowledge. However, such technology poses new challenges to pedagogy and to integrity. Within the context of the teaching mission of the college and consistent with the Student Code of Conduct, the authority to define the appropriate use, study, and deployment of these technologies rests with the faculty.

 

Individual course instructors, in coordination with their divisions, set policies regulating the use of generative AI tools in their courses, including allowing or disallowing some or all uses of such tools. Course instructors will set such policies in their course syllabi and clearly communicate such policies to students. Students who are unsure of policies regarding generative AI tools are encouraged to ask their instructors for clarification.

 

AI MATH DIVISION STATEMENT

Many online calculators, equation solvers, and graphing tools exist that may aid students in computing and visualizing math problems. These tools are a great resource for helping better understand how to work problems and can be a huge help in studying. However, these tools can be misused/overused. Math classes require students to develop a certain level of skill that a student must be able to demonstrate without the aid of these tools. Often a student may become reliant on these tools or have false sense of confidence in their knowledge and skills. Generally, if a student is using tools or resources to help learn material, eventually they must take away those resources to ensure they are able to work problems with only the tools allowed in the class. In short, we encourage students to use whatever tools they find useful in developing their knowledge and skills. But, these tools must be used thoughtfully so that true understanding and proficiency are developed. 

 

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the Student Handbook.

 

STUDENT SERVICES

NCTC provides a multitude of services and resources to support students.  See the Student Services Syllabus Addendum for a listing of those departments and links to their sites.

 

 

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS

 

 

The student should contact the instructor to deal with any questions, concerns, or complaints specific to the class.  If the student and faculty are not able to resolve the issue, the student may contact the chair or coordinator of the division.  If the student remains unsatisfied, the student may proceed to contact the instructional dean.

 

Name of instructor:  Marla Owens

Office location:  COR 206

Telephone number:  940 – 498 -6226

Email address:  mowens@nctc.edu

 

Name of Chair/Coordinator:  Ben Owens

Office location:  Corinth 174

Telephone number:  940.498.6209

E-mail address:  bowens@nctc.edu

 

Name of Instructional Dean:  Mary Martinson

Office location:  Gainesville 1403

Telephone number:  940.668.7731 ext. 4377

E-mail address:  mmartinson@nctc.edu