About Your Course

Instructional Methodology: DLS—Synchronous Virtual Class Meetings Required: Instruction is fully online with required online meetings during the specified days and times listed.

Synonym: MATH1332 76663/ NCBM0185 77107                 Section: MATH1332-007 NCBM0185-009

Prerequisites: Appropriate score on the TSI Mathematics Assessment. Corequisite(s): MATH 1332.

Paired Course Policy: This is a paired course.  Students who withdraw from NCBM 0185 will automatically be withdrawn from MATH 1332.

Making Time to Learn

We learn math by thinking about and working on mathematical problems, which takes time. Practice is crucial in a math course. To ensure that you have adequate time, set aside 8-12 hours per week outside of class time to practice and study for this course.  Ask for help immediately when something isn’t clear. 

Getting Help

ACC provides several free resources for students who need help; descriptions and links are below: 

Office hours: Another name for office hours is “student hours.” This is the time your instructor has set aside to answer student questions, so feel free to drop by if you have questions. Office hours may be virtual or on campus; see information above.

Instructional Associates: Instructional Associates specific to the course you are taking are available for tutoring. To make an appointment, go to https://sites.google.com/a/austincc.edu/math-students/meet/list and then click on your course.

Learning Labs: The ACC Learning Labs provide tutoring in math and other subjects. To schedule an appointment, go to https://www.austincc.edu/students/learning-lab. This site includes information about in person and virtual tutoring options.

Academic Coaching: Academic coaches offer extra support to students with study strategies; they want to help you learn to be an active participant in your own learning process. For more information or to make an appointment with an academic coach, go to https://www.austincc.edu/students/academic-coaching.

ACC Student Services: Services are offered in many areas, including Academic, Financial, Personal, and Technology Support.  For more information, go to https://www.austincc.edu/student-support.

Grades

MATH 1332 Grade Components

Major Proctored Assessments: 70%

Projects: 10%

Homework: 10%

Worksheets/Quizzes: 10%

Required Materials 

This is a First Day™ class. The cost of required course materials, including an online version of the textbook and software access, has been added to your tuition and fees bill.  

Textbook:  Using & Understanding Mathematics: A Quantitative Reasoning Approach, 8th Edition by Bennett & Briggs. Pearson Publishing (MyLab software)  ISBN-10: 0137575335, ISBN-13: 9780137575336

Supplemental Materials recommended:  printer, 3-ring binder, lined notebooks(spirals)

Calculator: You will need a handheld scientific or graphing calculator; it should have a yx or xy key and a square root key. Graphing calculators are fine but not required. A scientific calculator should compute with exponents, logarithms and simple probability and statistics.  Most ACC faculty are familiar with the TI family of calculators. Hence, TI calculators are highly recommended for student use.  Other calculator brands can also be used.  Your instructor will determine the extent of calculator use in your class section.

Other Technology:  Access to a webcam and microphone are required for this course. In addition, if your webcam will not allow your professor to see your workspace, hands, face, and computer screen, then you will need an auxiliary way to join class during test days. Eligible students can check out required technology at https://www.austincc.edu/students/student-technology-services.

Course Calendar

Note: Schedule changes may occur during the semester. Any changes will be announced in class and posted as a Blackboard Announcement.

Important Dates

Last day for 70% refund: January 25th

Last day to withdraw:  April 22nd

Holidays:  Spring Break March 11th – March 17th, Sunday, March 31st

(Please note these are the ONLY holidays this semester. Campuses are closed these days.)

Course Description

Credit Hours: 4, Contact Hours: 4

MATH 1332 - Contemporary Mathematics (3-3-0). A topics-based course, with a variety of possible topics chosen by individual instructors. The selected topics may include: sets, logic, number theory, geometry, probability and statistics, and the mathematics of finance and social choice. This course is not algebra-intensive, and is designed for non-technical majors.

NCBM 0185 – Support for Contemporary Mathematics (1-1-0). This course is designed to support students concurrently enrolled in MATH 1332 by providing additional focus on MATH 1332 topics and just-in-time review of prerequisite topics, as needed. This course is not for college level credit.

Course Rationale

MATH 1332: This course is intended to provide non-mathematics and non-science majors with a survey of topics in mathematics.  The emphasis may be towards developing students' quantitative reasoning skills, illustrating the beauty of mathematics as a discipline, and/or imparting a feel for the different ways in which mathematics is used.  The students who take this course generally are in nursing, the liberal arts, communication, workforce programs, or some social sciences. This course may be used to satisfy the Core Curriculum and the General Education Mathematics requirements.

NCBM 0185: This course is intended to provide support to students who are taking MATH 1332 Contemporary Mathematics.  It must be taken along with the paired section of MATH 1332.

MATH 1332 Course Objectives

1. Increase/improve your quantitative literacy.
2. Provide you with an opportunity to experience mathematics as an intellectual exercise and a way of thinking.
3. Provide you with an opportunity to appreciate the visual and intellectual beauty of mathematics.

MATH 1332 Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, a student should be able to:

• Apply the language and notation of sets. 
• Determine the validity of an argument or statement and provide mathematical evidence.  
• Solve problems in mathematics of finance. 
• Demonstrate fundamental probability/counting techniques and apply those techniques to solve problems.  
• Interpret and analyze various representations of data. 
• Demonstrate the ability to choose and analyze mathematical models to solve problems from real-world settings, including, but not limited to, personal finance, health literacy, and civic engagement.
• Understand that mathematics is an evolving discipline, interrelated with human culture, and understand its connections to other disciplines. 

NCBM 0185 Course Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes

1. Provide an opportunity to increase/improve quantitative literacy.
2. Provide an opportunity to communicate mathematical ideas in a small group setting.
3. Provide just-in-time review of prerequisite arithmetic and algebra topics.

General Education Competencies

• Communication Skills: Develop, interpret, and express ideas and information through written, oral and visual communication that is adapted to purpose, structure, audience, and medium.
• Critical Thinking Skills: Gather, analyze, synthesize, evaluate and apply information for the purposes of innovation, inquiry, and creative thinking.
• Empirical and Quantitative Skills: Apply mathematical, logical and scientific principles and methods through the manipulation and analysis of numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions.