Summer2 2007 Course Syllabus
Course: 2196.021.
Course Title: Basic Concepts of Mathematics.
Time: MTWR 10:45-12:15.
Place: BB 107.
Instructor: Schiller, John J.
Instructor Office: Wachman Hall 508.
Instructor Email: john.schiller@temple.edu
Instructor Phone: 215-204-8419.
Office Hours: MWR 12:40-1:30.
Prerequisites: Two semesters of calculus.
Textbook: None; notes will be distributed.
Course Goals: Math 2196 is a transition course from basic calculus, where the emphasis is on techniques, to advanced mathematics, where the emphasis is on proofs. The goal is to prepare prospective mathematics majors or mathematics-education majors for rigorous higher-level mathematics courses, such as modern algebra and advanced calculus.
Topics Covered: Number theory related to base-r expansions of rational numbers; recurrence relations and mathematical induction in the context of the Fibonacci sequence; mathematical systems - groups, rings, and fields; the completeness property of the real number system.
Course Grading: Quizzes 15%; three tests, lowest counts 15%, the other two count 35% each.
Exam Dates: Quizzes twice a week, three tests evenly spaced.
Attendance Policy: Attendance and engagement in class are expected and will be factors in borderline grading cases.
Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me privately to discuss the specific situation as soon as possible. Contact Disability Resources and Services at (215) 204-1280, 100 Ritter Annex, to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities.
Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The University has adopted a policy on Student and Faculty Academic Rights and Responsibilities (Policy # 03.70.02) which can be accessed here.
Students will be charged for a course unless a withdrawal form is processed by a registration office of the University by the Drop/Add deadline date given below. For this semester, the crucial dates are as follows:
During the first two weeks of the fall or spring semester or summer sessions, students may withdraw from a course with no record of the class appearing on the transcript. In weeks three through nine of the fall or spring semester, or during weeks three and four of summer sessions, the student may withdraw with the advisor's permission. The course will be recorded on the transcript with the instructor's notation of "W," indicating that the student withdrew. After week nine of the fall or spring semester, or week four of summer sessions, students may not withdraw from courses. No student may withdraw from more than five courses during the duration of his/her studies to earn a bachelor's degree. A student may not withdraw from the same course more than once. Students who miss the final exam and do not make alternative arrangements before the grades are turned in will be graded F.
The grade I (an "incomplete") is reserved for extreme circumstances. It is necessary to have completed almost all of the course with a passing average and to file an incomplete contract specifying what is left for you to do. To be eligible for an I grade you need a good reason and you should have missed not more than 25% of the first nine weeks of classes. If approved by the Mathematics Department chair and the CST Dean's office, the incomplete contract must include a default grade that will be used in case the I grade is not resolved within 12 months.