Syllabus
Science Prerequisites for Health Professionals
MATH 1010: College Algebra
Credits - 3
Description
This course was designed to provide students with the quantitative skills necessary to model and analyze real-world problems. With just a handful of different algebraic tools and modeling techniques, students will be able to interpret, visualize, and describe a vast array of mathematical relationships that arise in ecology, economics, medicine, and many other fields. This course will emphasize using algebraic principles to strengthen problem-solving skills and enhance communication of quantitative concepts. Topics include polynomial functions, rational functions, absolute value functions, piecewise functions, logarithmic and exponential functions, solving systems of equations and inequalities, and elementary mathematical modeling and applications.
Materials
Learning Objectives and Outcomes
Course Objectives
- Identify function types (polynomial, radical, piecewise, absolute value, rational, exponential and logarithmic), symbolically and graphically.
- Interpret and create graphical information (intercepts, end behaviors, inverses, transformations).
- Analyze functions to determine properties such as domain and range and function values.
- Solve equations and inequalities.
- Communicate algebraic facility with respect to real-world problems (e.g. construct algebraic models for a set of data).
- Solve systems of linear equations.
SELF PACED DESIGN
On the course start date, students will have access to orientation. This must be completed to be able to gain access to the first module in the course. Students must complete the first module to gain access to the next one. We recommend that students spend about 15 hours per week to complete a course in 16 weeks. When trying to complete the course in less than 16 weeks, we typically see students do this successfully within 12-14 weeks. Instructors will be timely in grading and feedback, but it will not be instant.
Assignments
Greetings Discussion Boarding
Before getting started with any material in the course, students will need to participate in the greetings discussion board. This is an opportunity for students to introduce themselves to their peers and instructor. Students are encouraged to read other students’ posts to get to know their classmates. Participation in this discussion board is worth 2% of the final grade.
Knowledge Checks (14)
Each week, excluding the midterm and final weeks, students will complete a knowledge check. Knowledge checks are composed of ten multiple choice, true or false, or numerical answer questions. Students will only have one attempt at the knowledge checks and should prepare for these assignments by completing the assigned readings, watching the Try It demonstration videos, and completing the optional practice problems. Once the knowledge check is completed, students will see feedback and explanations on how to answer these questions. Each knowledge check is worth 1% of the final grade.
Homework Activities (6)
At the end of weeks 2, 4, 6, 10, 12, and 14, students will submit completed homework activities. The problems in these activities will cover the two weeks of material leading up to the submission deadline. The problems on these activities will focus on real-world applications of college algebra concepts. Each activity is graded out of 40 points and partial credit is possible. Each activity is worth 4% of the final grade.
Reflective Discussion Boards (4)
In weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16, students will have the opportunity to showcase their knowledge of material they’ve learned up to that point as well as reflect on their understanding of the material. Two of the four reflective discussion boards will require students to write an explanation of how to complete a problem they initially found challenging (these are called Reflective Discussion Boards with a Written Teaching Component). The remaining two discussion board assignments will require students to create a short video in which they will teach an important problem covered in the course (these are called Reflective Discussion Boards with a Video Teaching Component). Each discussion board is worth 2.5% of the final grade.
Projects (2)
There will be two small projects in the course. The projects will require students to apply the concepts they learn in the course to real-world applications that interest them. The projects will wrap up the midterm and final weeks of the course. The midterm project is worth 10% of the final grade and the final project is worth 15% of the final grade.
Midterm Assessment
In week 8, students will complete a cumulative assessment in Bightspace. This assessment will be made up of 20 multiple choice, true or false, and numerical answer questions. The assessment will be administered through ProctorU. Students should see UNE’s ProctorU page for information on proctoring logistics and scheduling. A UNE approved webcam is required for the proctoring session (see Course Materials, above). This assessment is worth 10% of the final grade.
Final Assessment
The course will conclude with a cumulative assessment in week 16. Students will answer 30 multiple choice, true or false, and numerical answer questions in Brightspace. The assessment will be administered through ProctorU. Students should see UNE’s ProctorU page for information on proctoring logistics and scheduling. A UNE approved webcam is required for the proctoring session (see Course Materials, above). This assessment is worth 15% of the final grade.
Review Guide Pages
At the end of each week, students will fill in the review guide page that corresponds to that week. This outline will help students reflect on and summarize the most important material covered throughout the week. Students are also encouraged to include examples of problems they find challenging. Students will need to submit their review guide pages to Brightspace; however, the content of the submissions will not be graded. The submission of each week’s review guide page is required to unlock the following week in Brightspace. Feedback on review guide page submissions will be provided by the instructor when appropriate.
Grading Policy
Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:
Grade Breakdown
| Assignment | Total Points | Percentage of Final Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Greetings Discussion Board | 20 | 2% |
| Knowledge Checks (14 total) | 140 (10 point each) | 14% (1% each) |
| Homework Activities (6 total) | 240 (40 points each) | 24% (4% each) |
| Reflective Discussion Boards (4 total) | 100 (25 points each) | 10% (2.5% each) |
| Midterm Assessment | 100 | 10% |
| Midterm Project | 100 | 10% |
| Final Assessment | 150 | 15% |
| Final Project | 150 | 15% |
| Total | 1000 | 100% |
Grade Scale
| Grade | Points Grade | Point Average (GPA) |
| A | 94 – 100% | 4.00 |
| A- | 90 – 93% | 3.75 |
| B+ | 87 – 89% | 3.50 |
| B | 84 – 86% | 3.00 |
| B- | 80 – 83% | 2.75 |
| C+ | 77 – 79% | 2.50 |
| C | 74 – 76% | 2.00 |
| C- | 70 – 73% | 1.75 |
| D | 64 – 69% | 1.00 |
| F | 00 – 63% | 0.00 |
Schedule
Week |
Topic |
Readings |
Assignments |
|
1 |
Intro to College Algebra: Review of Algebra Essentials |
Chapter 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 |
Discussion Board Optional Problems Knowledge Check Activity 1 Review Guide p. 1 |
|
2 |
Algebra Essentials Continued |
Chapter 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, and 2.7 |
Optional Problems Knowledge Check Activity 1 Review Guide p. 2 |
|
3 |
Overview of Functions |
Chapter 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, and 3.5 |
Optional Problems Knowledge Check Activity 2 Review Guide p. 3 |
|
4 |
Linear Functions |
Chapter 3.5, 4.1, 4.2, and 4.3 |
Optional Problems Knowledge Check Activity 2 Review Guide p. 4 Reflective Discussion Board |
|
5 |
Polynomial Functions |
Chapter 2.5, 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3 |
Optional Problems Knowledge Check Activity 3 Review Guide p. 5 |
|
6 |
Rational Functions |
Chapter 5.4, 5.5, and 5.6 |
Optional Problems Knowledge Check Activity 3 Review Guide p. 6 |
|
7 |
Composition and Inverse Functions |
Chapter 3.4, 3.7, and 5.7 |
Optional Problems Knowledge Check Midterm Project Review Guide p. 7 |
|
8 |
Midterm Review and Assessment |
Midterm Project Discussion Board Midterm Assessment |
|
|
9 |
Exponential and Logarithmic Functions |
Chapter 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, and 6.4 |
Optional Problems Knowledge Check Activity 4 Review Guide p. 8 |
|
10 |
Exponential and Logarithmic Functions Continued |
Chapter 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, and 6.8 |
Optional Problems Knowledge Check Activity 4 Review Guide p. 9 |
|
11 |
Miscellaneous Functions |
Chapter 3.2, 3.6, and 5.8 |
Optional Problems Knowledge Check Activity 5 Review Guide p. 10 |
|
12 |
Systems of Linear Equations |
Chapter 7.1 and 7.2 |
Optional Problems Knowledge Check Activity 5 Review Guide p. 11 Reflective Discussion Board |
|
13 |
Systems of Equations |
Chapter 7.3, 7.5, and 7.6 |
Optional Problems Knowledge Check Activity 6 Review Guide p. 12 |
|
14 |
Conic Sections |
Chapter 8.2, 8.2, and 8.3 |
Optional Problems Knowledge Check Activity 6 Review Guide p. 13 |
|
15 |
Conic Sections and Polar Coordinates |
Chapter 8.4 and 8.5 |
Optional Problems Knowledge Check Final Project Review Guide p. 14 |
|
16 |
Tying it All Together |
Final Project Reflective Discussion Board Final Assessment |
Student Resources
Online Student Support
Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you - they will monitor course progression and provide assistance or guidance when needed. Please don’t hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, course materials, billing, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.
Questions? Submit your student support request.
Online Peer Support
Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.
Instructor and Support Contact Information
Check Brightspace for specific instructor and support specialist contact information.
Student Lounge
The Student Lounge Discussion Forum is a designated support forum in which students may engage with each other and grapple with course content. Feel free to post questions, seek clarification, and support each other, but be mindful of UNE's Academic Integrity Policy.
Your instructor will monitor this forum. However, if you are seeking specific and timely answers to questions about course content or your personal grades, please contact your instructor via course messages. For questions about course materials, program policy, and how to navigate and proceed through the course, please contact your Student Service Advisor through the Student Portal.
Policies
Proctored Examinations
Your course may have proctored exams. Please see your course for full details, access, testing requirements, and guidelines.
Students must follow all proctoring requirements for their exams to be credited. Please contact your instructor for specific feedback.
Exam Attempts Policy
Students will receive two attempts at all proctored examinations. The higher score of the two attempts will be calculated into the final grade.
All students are encouraged to use a second attempt on their exams in order to improve their overall performance in the course.
Course Discussions
Discussion topics cover events or materials related to this course that contribute to a deeper understanding of key concepts and allow you to interact with your classmates and the instructor. Each discussion topic may require you to conduct internet research, read additional materials, visit a specific webpage, AND/OR view a short video before writing a response following the specific guidelines in the discussion topic prompt.
To earn full credit you will need to post a response to the discussion topic, respond to the original posts of other students, and then contribute meaningfully to an ongoing discussion. You may need to post your initial response before you will see any posts from your classmates. For special cases where one or two students are accelerating faster through the course, the instructor will participate in the discussion so that everyone has the opportunity to interact.
Please see Brightspace for a full description, along with specific guidelines, for each discussion topic. Discussion board assignments should be completed, along with all other assignments in the course, in the order that they appear. Due to the course design, you may be unable to take a proctored exam if you do not complete all assignments that appear prior to that exam.
Please also refer to the Grading Policy/Grade Breakdown section of the syllabus to learn the percentage of your grade that each discussion is worth.
Technology Requirements
Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Programs: Technical Requirements
Course Length
A schedule of lectures and assignments is included in this syllabus. This is, however a self-paced course and you can complete the course in less time.
- Courses in the SPHP program are equivalent to one-semester courses designed to be completed in 16 weeks
- Enrollment in the course begins the day your section opens which is listed in the Academic Calendar found on the Student Success Portal.
- Course start and end dates are in respect to Eastern Time.
Withdrawal and Refund Policies
Please visit the enrollment page to review the withdrawal and refund policies.
Grade Policy
Students are expected to attempt and complete all graded assignments and proctored exams by the end date of the course. View the incomplete grade policy..
Transcripts
Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, only the student may request official transcripts. This may be done online by going to the University of New England Registrar website and following the directions on the page.
Academic Integrity
The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:
- Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
- Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
- Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
- Multiple submission of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
- Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.
Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.
Using Generative AI When Completing Coursework
Generative AI (GenAI) applications (like ChatGPT) have proven to be powerful and effective tools, and students are encouraged to become familiar with and use them. However, as with any tool, students must use GenAI in ways that support learning, not replace it. Learning to use AI responsibly and ethically is an important skill in today’s society.
In their courses, students are not allowed to use advanced automated tools, such as generative AI tools, on assignments unless explicitly directed to do so. Each student is expected to complete each assignment, including labs and quizzes as applicable, without substantive assistance from others, including automated tools.
Using AI-content generators to complete assignments without proper attribution violates academic integrity. By submitting assignments in UNE courses, you pledge to affirm that they are your own work and you attribute use of any and all tools and sources.
Unauthorized Use
Unauthorized use of AI is treated as a violation of academic integrity.
Citing AI Use
If permitted, students should indicate and cite any use of AI tools.
Instructor responsibility
Instructors should clearly reiterate, using UNE Online’s Policy, how students can use AI tools in their courses, and communicate this policy to students at the beginning of the semester.
Student responsibility
Students must follow the academic integrity policy of the University of New England.