NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE
MATH 0305 + NCBM 0205 COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Course title: Integrated Beginning Algebra
Course prefix, number, and section number: MATH 0305 0426 / NCBM 0205 0426
Semester/Year of course: Fall 2025
Semester start and end dates: 8/25/2025 – 12/13/2025
Modality: Face to Face
Class meeting location, days, and times: M/Tu/W/Th 11:00AM – 12:15PM
Semester credit hours: 5 (Lecture hours: 80)
Course Description: MATH 0305 – Beginning Algebra (3 credit hours)
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.
NCBM 0205 – BASE NON-COURSED BASED OPTION FOR MATH (2 credit hours)
This course is designed for those students with little algebra background, and must be taken concurrently with MATH 0305. Course may include basic study skills, note-taking, time management, learning styles, math anxiety, and test-taking strategies. This course does not count toward graduation at NCTC.
Course prerequisites: Appropriate placement score on TSI or other approved assessment test.
Required course materials:
MyLab Math for Developmental Math: Basic, Intro & Interm Algebra Access Code (e-book included with the MyLab Math access code)
Current email address (default email address is Lion Pride)
Non-graphing scientific calculators are permitted.
*** NO GRAPHING CALCULATORS NOR CELL PHONE CALCULATORS ALLOWED – ONLY SCIENTIFIC CALCULATORS ALLOWED. *** TI-30X IIS is highly recommended.
Free scanner app
Notebook
Optional:
Elementary and Intermediate Algebra: Concepts and Applications, 8th edition, Marvin Bittinger, David Ellenbogen, & Barbara Johnson, Pearson, 2024
Name of instructor: Amanda Parker
Office location: Room 201 (Corinth Campus)
Email address: aparker@nctc.edu
Email and office hours (below) are the best way to get in contact with me. I have multiple MATH 0305 sections, so please indicate in your email your section number so I know where to find you!
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: Tuesdays and Thursdays 12:30-1:30PM, Room 201
Online student hours: Wednesdays 2:00-4:00PM, by appointment
We will all be utilizing the Webex Office Hour tool for students to make 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. Sign up for an appointment or see the most current tutoring hours for all campuses at www.nctc.edu/math-lab.
As part of an NCBM course, you have mandatory tutoring requirements. The first two weeks of school, you are required to make and attend at least one tutoring appointment (15 minutes) each week. From there, for each week your grade in Canvas is below an 80, you must make and attend another mandatory tutoring appointment and send the proof to me. It is your responsibility to check your grade each week and provide me proof of your appointment to receive credit. Proof can be a screenshot of your UpSwing confirmation or the time and tutor you met with in the 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
List of graded assignments for MATH 0305:
- Attendance/Participation: 5%
- Homework: 20%
- Quizzes: 10%
- Exams 1-4: 40% (10% each)
- Final Exam: 25%
List of graded assignments for NCBM 0205:
- Participation: 5%
- Weekly Check-ins: 30%
- Tutoring: 30%
- Skill Building: 30%
- End of Semester Reflection: 5%
Final grade scale:
- MATH 0305: 90 – 100% = A; 80 – 89% = B; 70 – 79% = C; Below 70% = F
- NCBM 0205: 70 – 100% = P; 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. As part of an NCBM course, you also have weekly check-in assignments (1-2 per week) due every Sunday.
Quizzes: Quizzes will be given the first part of class EVERY Monday and will be over material covered in class and homework assigned from the previous week. The lowest two quiz grades will be dropped for the final grade.
Exams: There will be four 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.
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 the 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.
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 ([FLB(LOCAL)]”.
Consequences for academic dishonesty may include:
- Zero on the assignment
- 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, 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 2024-2025 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 Fall 2025 course with a “W” is: Monday, November 3, 2025
Student Learning Outcomes: At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
MATH 0305 and NCBM 0205:
- 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
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: Amanda Parker
Office location: Room 201 (Corinth Campus)
Email address: aparker@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
ADDENDUMS
Please look on your Canvas course homepage for syllabus addendums. These include information on the Office of Student Disabilities (OSD), Library Information, and various other student services. If you are having trouble locating any of this information on Canvas, send me an email requesting the documents and I will be happy to send them directly to you.