Schedules and notes:

Course Number and Title: Math 144  College Trigonometry
Semester: Fall 2012
Credit Hours: Two(2)
Prerequisites:  Math 108 (grade of C or better); or permission of instructor
Course fee:  There is a mandatory, non-refundable, course fee of $30 for the rental of a TI-nSpire Calculator/Computer Algebra System. 

Text: Precalculus, 7th ed., by Cohen, Lee, and Sklar.  ISBN # 9780840069429

Office hours:
Open:  MTWTh: 1:30-2:30
 By appointment: All other times. 
 Note:  Open office hours are on a first-come first-serve basis.  I will make every effort to be in my office at these times, or advise students of a conflict.  By appointment office hours are reserved for those students making prior arrangements with me.  If no appointments are made, I may or may not be available in my office at these times without notice to students.

Students are reminded that the Division of Natural Sciences operates a Math Lab in MLH 320, where well-trained student tutors are available to assist you in this course.

Calculators: A TI-nSpire Calculator/CAS is provided to each student in this course, and their use is required both on examinations and in class.  You paid a $30 non-refundable fee for the use of this calculator when you registered for the course.  This entitles you to the possession of the calculator only while a valid student in the course.  If you drop this course, you must return your calculator at that time.  Failure to do so will result in an academic hold being put on all of your student records.   I consider a student to have dropped the course for calculator return purposes once he/she has missed an hour exam without contacting me.  Academic holds will be put on student records at this time, even if the student has not officially dropped the course.  If you purchase your own calculator, or are in multiple classes each using the calculator, your fees will be refunded via the division office.

Class Meeting Times:  TTh; 09:00AM - 09:50AM; ACW 135

Purpose:  Math 144 is part of a two course sequence which includes Math 143 and which, together,  fulfill the core mathematics requirement.  It may be taken without taking Math 143, counting only for elective credits - not to meet core requirement.  Math 144's primary purpose is to present those elements of trigonometry fundamental to an introductory study of calculus.  Students not planning on taking Math 144 in preparation for calculus should be aware that, while this is okay, the course is highly analytic (as opposed to applied).  In general, Math 144 prepares a student both theoretically and computationally for a rigorous course in calculus.  For students not planning to take calculus, but wanting a course emphasizing applied trigonometry, MTHPT 137 may be a better choice.

Methods of Instruction:  Homework is fundamental to the learning of mathematics. Time will be reserved at the start of each class period for the discussion of homework problems or readings. Students should not leave a particular homework assignment until they are reasonably certain they understand every problem given. There is an expectation that students work cooperatively on homework, either with each other, the personnel in the math lab, or with me in office hours.

Methods of Evaluation: I will grade the course with homework counting for 20% of the final student grade.  Two homework assignments will be disregarded for grading purposes.  Late homework is not accepted for any reason whatsoever.  Four hour exams, equally weighted, will make up 70% of the course grade course grade.  Exams cannot be made up for any reason whatsoever.  If you know in advance that you must miss an exam, it may be taken ahead of the time stated on the class schedule, but never after.  If an unforeseen emergency prevents a student from taking an exam, the situation will be addressed by the instructor on a case-by-case basis. A cumulative final exam will comprise the remaining 10 % of a students grade.

The minimum score for each grade is: A: 92; A-: 89; B+: 86; B: 82; B-: 79; C+: 76; C: 72; C- 69; D+: 66; D: 60.  Grades below 60 will be scored as F.  For those students required to get a 2.0 or better in this course, it should be noted that a grade of C- is insufficient.  A grade of at least C must be achieved.

Disability Statement: If course adaptations or accommodations are needed because of a disability, if you need to make me aware of emergency medical information, or if you need special arrangements in case of building evacuation, please contact me immediately. I ask that you put any request in this regard in writing.