Course Syllabus

Course Description

This course is designed for students majoring in life or social sciences. The main topics to be covered include linear and quadratic equations and inequalities, polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions and their graphs, systems of linear equations, matrices, sequences and series, combinatorics, and the Binomial Theorem. 

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the properties of linear, non-linear and functions, and use them to evaluate expressions, solve equations, and solve applications
• Use technology appropriately to explore and analyze linear, non-linear and functions
• Use simple linear algebra techniques to solve systems of equations
• Explore and analyze conic sections
• Differentiate between arithmetic and geometric sequences and series and use the binomial theorem to expand the power of a binomial

Required Textbook/Materials

Great news: your textbook for this class is available for free online!
College Algebra from OpenStax, ISBN 1-947172-12-3

You have several options to obtain this book:

• View online 
• Download a PDF
• Order a print copy

You can use whichever formats you want. Web view is recommended -- the responsive design works seamlessly on any device.

Access to Knewton Alta ($39.95), a TI-83/84 graphing calculator, and access to a PC or MAC. 

Student Expectations

• Read and understand the course syllabus.
• Arrive to class on time, prepared with guided notes, and participate during class.
• Complete all Knewton assignments (homework) in a timely manner.
• Complete all quizzes.
• Complete all exams and the final exam in-person, on the scheduled date.

Grading and Assignment Policy

Grading Scale

Your final grade is based on the following grading scale:

A (90-100%), B (80-89%), C (70-79%), D (60-69%), and F (0-59%). 

Grading of Assignments

The grade for this course will be determined according to the following formula:

Course Policies

Knewton Assignments (Homework) (15%)

• Expect to complete at least two hours of outside work, for every hour in class.
• All homework will be completed on Knewton Alta through Canvas.
• Each assignment will close at 11:59pm, 1 week after the section is completed.
• Make sure you complete your homework in a timely manner.
• You will need to purchase an access code for Knewton Alta (two-week trial period available).

Quizzes (15%)

• There will be a total of 6 quizzes on Knewton Alta through Canvas.
• LockDown Browser is required.
• You will have 2 days to complete the quiz once it is open. All quizzes will open on a Wednesday at 12am and close on a Thursday at 11:59pm.
• You have 2 attempts for each quiz. The higher score will be recorded into the gradebook.
• No makeups will be allowed for quizzes.

Exams (50%)

• There will be a total of 3 exams (dates listed on course schedule)
• No makeups will be allowed for exams.

Final Exam (20%)

• Final exam is cumulative and scheduled according to the final exam schedule.

Important Notes

• Important dates
  • Last day to get a refund/instructor initiated add:  Thursday, 8/25
  • Last day to drop with no “W” grade: Tuesday, 9/6 
  • Last day to elect pass/no pass: Tuesday, 9/20
  • Last day to drop with a “W” grade: Monday, 11/14

• Netiquette 
  • Speaking of email, in particular, and of online communication, in general, although this is an online course, you should always conduct yourself as if you were participating in a face-to-face class discussion. Employing proper “netiquette” (or “net etiquette”) in your online communications means, that you should always treat your classmates and their respective work with the utmost respect – even if you disagree. As a sign of respect, it is always best to begin any peer-to-peer interaction with a compliment. That does not mean, that you should simply dispense empty compliments; it means that you should offer only constructive criticisms. Your role isn’t to tell your fellow classmates their work is bad; it is to tell them how to make it good – in a positive and supportive tone.
  • Speaking of treating your classmates (and your instructor) with respect, please remember, outside the context of this course, many of your online communications may be informal and personal in nature – inside the context of this course, they need to be formal and professional. That is, you should express yourself in your online communications for this course with correct capitalization, spelling, grammar, structure, and punctuation.

• Attendance
  • Students not in attendance for the first two weeks of classes will be dropped from the course. Any student who misses an excess of 10% of the total class hours are subject to be dropped from the course (total class hours is 72 and 10% of 72 is 7.2 hours, which is the 4^th class missed). The day you enroll in the course you are signing a contract to come to class every day and on time. Arriving late or leaving early is not acceptable behavior and disruptive to the instructor and fellow classmates.   If more than 15 minutes of class is missed, then you will be marked as absent. 

• Academic Accommodations 

  • If you have a documented disability and need academic accommodations, you are encouraged to contact not only your professor, but also a Student Accessibility Services (SAS) counselor as soon as possible. SAS is located on the first floor of the Liberal Arts and Disabled Students Programs and Services Building. For more information, visit the SAS website.

• Student Conduct Policy
  • Students are responsible for upholding the Standards of Student Conduct (BP5500), including academic honesty and behavior expectations. 

• Academic honesty/dishonesty policy

  • Academic dishonesty is defined as the act of obtaining or attempting to obtain credit for work using any dishonest, deceptive or fraudulent means. If you are found violating the academic honestly-dishonesty policy, you will receive a failing grade on that assignment. Repeat offenders will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Grievances for further administrative action, such as suspension or expulsion from Cerritos College. For more information, visit the Academic Honesty -Dishonesty Policy.

• Basic needs
  • Cerritos College Food and Housing Insecurity Taskforce seeks to improve student’s ability to access food and housing resources. The taskforce is committed to fostering community partnerships, increasing awareness, advocating for resources, and addressing barriers to create a safe and supportive campus for our students to be successful.  For more information, visit the Falcon Basic Needs website.