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 0401
Semester/Year of course: Spring 2026
Semester start and end dates: 1/12/2026 – 5/9/2026
Modality: Face to face
Class meeting location, days, and times: COR, Rm 315, 9:30 – 10:50 am
Support course (if needed) meeting location, days, and times: NCBM 0224 0401
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
Name of instructor: Ms. Owens
Office location: COR 206
Telephone number: 940.498.6226
Email address: mowens@nctc.edu
When emailing, please use your Canvas email, give your name and class (course and section, or course and time)
Required course materials:
Included in Lion Book Bundle
MyLab Math access code (e-text included in MyLab Math access)
Not included in Lion Book Bundle
Scientific calculator, TI-30X IIS is recommended
Note: 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
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 are on the Corinth campus only:
Monday / Wednesday: 7:00 - 8:30 am; 11:00 am – Noon pm
Online student hours: 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.
Tuesday | Thursday: 9:00 am to 11:00 am
Any virtual appointments outside of the designated times will need to be arranged via email.
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.
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 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.
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 Wednesday, February 11
- Test 2 Wednesday, March 4
- Test 3 Wednesday, April 1
- Test 4 Wednesday, April 22
- Final Exam Wednesday, May 6, 9:30 – 11:20 am.
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 Wednesday, May 6, 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 10%
Approximately 35 Homework 15%
>10 Quizzes 15%
4 Tests 40%
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.
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
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 his given another person access to his/her Canvas account, the credibility of any work completed becomes questionable.
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)
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 Spring 2026 course with a “W” is: Monday, March 30, 2026
Student Learning Outcomes: At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
- Apply elementary functions, including linear, quadratic, polynomial, rational, logarithmic, and exponential functions to solving real-world problems.
- Solve mathematics of finance problems, including the computation of interest, annuities, and amortization of loans.
- Apply basic matrix operations, including linear programming methods, to solve application problems.
- Demonstrate fundamental probability techniques and application of those techniques, including expected value, to solve problems.
- 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