Fall 2025
Contemporary Mathematics (Quantitative Reasoning)
Approved: Initials/date Contemporary Math (MATH 1332) CREDIT 3 Semester Credit Hours (3 hours lecture) MODE OF INSTRUCTION Face to Face Prerequisite/Co-requisite: • A score of 350 or above on the TSI-Assessment placement test (effective Fall 2013) or a “C” or better in TMTH 0374. • Complete the Online Orientation and answer yes to 7+ questions on the Online Learner Self-Assessment: http://www.lit.edu/depts/DistanceEd/OnlineOrientation/OOStep2.aspx COURSE DESCRIPTION Intended for Non STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) majors. Topics include introductory treatments of sets and logic, financial mathematics, probability and statistics with appropriate applications. Number sense, proportional reasoning, estimation, technology, and communication should be embedded throughout the course. Additional topics may be covered. This course is time-bound, structured, and online. COURSE OBJECTIVES (Student Learning Outcomes SLO) Upon successful completion of this course, students will: 1. Apply the language and notation of sets. 2. Determine the validity of an argument or statement and provide mathematical evidence. 3. Solve problems in mathematics of finance. 4. Demonstrate fundamental probability/counting techniques and apply those techniques to solve problems. 5. Interpret and analyze various representations of data. 6. 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. INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION Instructor: Chris Sams Email: casams@lit.edu Office Phone: 409-247-5186 Office Location: TC Rm. 240 Office Hours: M: 9:30am-12:10pm; 1:40pm-2:30pm W: 11:00am-12:10pm; 1:40pm-2:30pm TR: 8:00am-9:20am; 1:50pm-2:30pm F: 9:30am-12:00pm REQUIRED TEXTBOOK AND MATERIALS 18-week access MyLab Math with Pearson eText (18 Weeks) ISBN-13: 9780138051358 ($90 plus tax) 24-month access MyLab Math with Pearson eText (24 Months) ISBN-13: 9780138051303 ($150 plus tax) (Comes inclusive with ELE bundle for $42) 2. Calculator of your choice. (Ask instructor for available resources) ATTENDANCE POLICY Face to face classes: you are expected to attend every class. Failure to attend may result in being dropped or loss of credit (failing the course), with or without warning. Online classes: do not attend class but are expected to login to blackboard at least twice a week and complete assignments prior to due date. Failure to complete assignments prior to the due date may result in loss of credit. Late work may not be accepted. DROP POLICY If you wish to drop a course, you are responsible for initiating and completing the drop process by the specified drop date as listed on the Academic Calendar. If you stop coming to class and fail to drop the course, you will earn an “F” in the course. STUDENT EXPECTED TIME REQUIREMENT For every hour in class (or unit of credit), students should expect to spend at least two to three hours per week studying and completing assignments. For a 3-credit-hour class, students should prepare to allocate approximately six to nine hours per week outside of class in a 16- week session OR approximately twelve to eighteen hours in an 8-week session. Online/Hybrid students should expect to spend at least as much time in this course as in the traditional, face-to-face class. COURSE CALENDAR (Dates and assignments subject to change with or without notice) Week of Section Title Assignment 8/25 Syllabus / Introduction to Hawkes Online through Mymathlab 2.1 Set Notation Due 9/28 9/1 2.2 Subsets and Venn Diagrams Due 9/28 2.3 Operations with Sets Due 9/28 9/8 2.4 Problem Solving with Venn Diagrams Due 9/28 3.1 Logic Statements and Quantifiers Due 9/28 9/15 3.2 Truth Tables Due 9/28 3.3 The Conditional Due 9/28 3.4 Conditional and Related Statements Due 9/28 9/22 Test I Chapters 2 & 3 Due 9/28 5.1 Prime and Composite Numbers Due 10/19 9/29 5.4 GCF and LCM Due 10/19 6.1 Real Numbers, Order, and Absolute Value Due 10/19 10/6 6.2 Operations and Properties Due 10/19 6.3 Rational Numbers and Decimals Due 10/19 6.4 Irrational Numbers Due 10/19 10/13 6.5 Applications of Decimals and Percent’s Due 10/19 Test II Chapters 5 & 6 Due 10/19 10/20 7.3 Ratio, Proportions, and Variation Due 11/2 10.2 Fundamental Counting Principal Due 11/2 10/27 10.3 Permutations and Combinations Due 11/2 Test III Chapters 7 & 10 Due 11/2 11/3 11.1 Basic Concepts Due 11/16 11.2 Probability Involving (or) Due 11/16 11.3 Probability Involving (and) Due 11/16 11/10 Test IV Chapter 11 Due 11/16 12.1 Frequency Distributions Due 12/7 11/17 12.2 Mean Median and Mode Due 12/7 13.1 Simple Interest Due 12/7 11/24 Core Assessment Due 12/7 11/26-28 Campus Closed Thanksgiving Holiday 12/1 Make-up 12/1 Final exam Due 12/7 COURSE EVALUATION Final grades will be calculated according to the following criteria: • Test (Final Included) 60% • Course Assignments 20% • Core Assessment 20% GRADE SCALE • 90-100 A • 80-89 B • 70-79 C • 60-69 D • 0-59 F TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS The latest technical requirements, including hardware, compatible browsers, operating systems, etc. can be online at https://lit.edu/online-learning/online-learning-minimum-computer-requirements. A functional broadband internet connection, such as DSL, cable, or WiFi is necessary to maximize the use of online technology and resources. DISABILITIES STATEMENT The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 are federal anti-discrimination statutes that provide comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. LIT provides reasonable accommodations as defined in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, to students with a diagnosed disability. The Special Populations Office is located in the Eagles’ Nest Room 129 and helps foster a supportive and inclusive educational environment by maintaining partnerships with faculty and staff, as well as promoting awareness among all members of the Lamar Institute of Technology community. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Special Populations Coordinator at (409)-951-5708 or email specialpopulations@lit.edu. You may also visit the online resource at Special Populations - Lamar Institute of Technology (lit.edu). STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT STATEMENT It is the responsibility of all registered Lamar Institute of Technology students to access, read, understand and abide by all published policies, regulations, and procedures listed in the LIT Catalog and Student Handbook. The LIT Catalog and Student Handbook may be accessed at www.lit.edu. Please note that the online version of the LIT Catalog and Student Handbook supersedes all other versions of the same document. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE STATEMENT Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) recognizes the recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT, have changed the landscape of many career disciplines and will impact many students in and out of the classroom. To prepare students for their selected careers, LIT desires to guide students in the ethical use of these technologies and incorporate AI into classroom instruction and assignments appropriately. Appropriate use of these technologies is at the discretion of the instructor. Students are reminded that all submitted work must be their own original work unless otherwise specified. Students should contact their instructor with any questions as to the acceptable use of AI/ChatGPT in their courses STARFISH LIT utilizes an early alert system called Starfish. Throughout the semester, you may receive emails from Starfish regarding your course grades, attendance, or academic performance. Faculty members record student attendance, raise flags and kudos to express concern or give praise, and you can make an appointment with faculty and staff all through the Starfish home page. You can also login to Blackboard or MyLIT and click on the Starfish link to view academic alerts and detailed information. It is the responsibility of the student to pay attention to these emails and information in Starfish and consider taking the recommended actions. Starfish is used to help you be a successful student at LIT. ADDITIONAL COURSE POLICIES/INFORMATION Instructor Expectations from Students: ➢ Weekly email communication regarding assignment and upcoming test due dates ➢ Response to email/remind text within 24 (same day if received before 5pm M-Th or before noon Friday) ➢ Flexible office hours/ virtual help when needed. ➢ Weekly grade updates ➢ Extra credit opportunities Professor Expectations of Students: ➢ Join remind for text communication. (Directions found on Blackboard) ➢ Seek help from instructor early and often, do not wait until the last minute! ➢ Plan ahead; if you will miss an exam, make prior arrangements to take it early or schedule a make-up date at instructors’ convenience Course Expectations ➢ When sending emails identify yourself with class and section ➢ Participate in class lecture/discussion boards. Assignments: All homework assignments will be completed in MyMathLab. A link to MyMathLab, along with instructions on how to register, can be found in Blackboard under “Course Information.” Homework assignments are 20% of your final course grade. Assignments due dates are located in MyMathLab. Each assignment must be completed before the deadline. Late assignments will be accepted with 20% penalty. YOU CAN SCORE 100% ON EVERY MYMATHLAB ASSIGNMENT as long as you complete it before the due date. You have an unlimited amount of attempts for each problem. After answering a problem incorrectly three times, you will receive a new, but similar problem for which you can receive full credit. YOU CAN DO THIS UNTIL YOU SCORE 100%, as long as the assignment is not past due. After the due date, you will only be able to improve your score to 80%. Your score will be available to view in MyMathLab. Tests: Tests including Final exam will make up 60% of your final course grade. Each test will be given in class or given online and proctored through Respondus Lockdown Browser. Make-up exams will only be given in extreme circumstances. If for some reason you are unable to take a test, your comprehensive final will replace your lowest test score.(Final exam will not replace multiple exams, only one.) Test scores will be located in Blackboard. Core Assessment: The Core Assessment constitutes 20% of your final course grade. It is required. The due date will be found in your syllabus course calendar.