First Day Handout for Students MATD 0390 - 48832 DIL 090

Intermediate Algebra (computer mediated - distance learning ) Spring, 2012/ 12 week session

Welcome to your on-line developmental mathematics course.

Spring, 2012 - 12 week session - Feb. 13- May 10, 2012              

Welcome to your on-line developmental mathematics course page.

Bookmark this page.

Dr. Nancy C. Miller

Office Hours: Tuesdays PIN campus 9:30am - 10:40am; and 1:15pm-2:15pm; and 2:30-3:30pm; and 3:45-4:30pm

and Thursdays PIN campus 9:30am - 10:40am; and 2:30-3:30pm; and 3:45-4:30pm

Call or e-mail if you need an appointment..Nancy's Office: 1025 behind office 1023 Pin Campus

Nancy's phone number: .......223-8270

Address: Nancy C. Miller, Pinnacle Campus ACC, 7748 Highway 290 West, Austin, TX 78736

www.austincc.edu/nmiller ......................................Nancy's e-mail address.... nmiller@austincc.edu

Orientation: study course documents and submit reponses to orientation questions, in person orientation will be Thursday, Feb. 16, for those who need it at PIN campus 6th floor learning lab computer classroom from 5-6pm. Send your e-mail responses to the orientation questions by e-mail, but not attachment.

This course requires regular weekly work on MyMathLab software and weekly homework on paper that you must put in the mail every Monday.

You will have 3 major tests on paper, and a final exam on paper in any Austin Community College testing center during the 12 weeks on a set schedule. Tests must be prepared for and taken on schedule or a 3 point penalty results for being 1-7 days late. If you are more than 7 days late preparing for and taking a test, you will be withdrawn from the course and you could have other consequences if you are TSI mandated.

Read all of our course web pages and all links. If you still have questions or concerns contact me at nmiller@austincc.edu .

Text: Intermediate Algebra: 2nd Edition, Sullivan & Struve; Pearson Publishers. (ISBN 0-321-56752-8) You may buy the text shrinkwrapped with the MyMathLab software in an ACC bookstore, or just buy the software for about $80 that includes the text online at http://pearsonmylabandmastering.com/?cc after you qualify for the course by passing the MATD 0390 pretest in an ACC testing center or having earned a grade of A, B, or C in MATD 0370.

The 12 week distance learning MATD 0390 is not a good choice for most students who earned a C in MATD 0370 unless they have reviewed that course extensively and improved their self-regulated study skills before Feb. 13. A 12 week MATD course is also not a good choice for students who have not already established a pattern of strong study skills as shown in strong grades nor for students who don't have 16 hours weekly study time for the 12 week course. I want you to be in a class where you will be successful and happy learning.

You can access the chapters from the textbook covered in the first few days online at

http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/text/ ............password acc0390 ......before you buy your text or access the MyMathLab software if you like.

MyMathLab online software access, either full or temporary, is required by Feb. 16. All new textbooks purchased at an ACC bookstore include MyMathLab access. It is not included with the purchase of a used book, and may not be included with a new book purchased at a different bookstore.

Supplemental Materials: Paper, Pencils, Erasers, Scientific Calculator (non-graphing only on tests), Graph Paper, math loose leaf notebook for video notes, and organized steps of online homework problems, online quizz work, and your paper homework until you send it in every Monday. You will also keep your printout of homework in your notebook with checks by your completed assignments and circles around those you have sent me.

Prerequisite: C or better in Elementary Algebra (MATD 0370), or its equivalent knowledge shown on the course pretest in an ACC testing center http://www.austincc.edu/testctr/

early the first week of class.

COURSE RATIONALE: This course is designed to prepare students for various college-level science and mathematics courses. After succeeding in this course, students may enroll in a number of courses in science, mathematics and various technical areas. These include General College Physics, General Chemistry, Magnetism and DC Circuits, AC Circuits, Manufacturing Materials and Processes, Math for Business and Economics, and College Algebra.

Course Description: A course designed to develop the concepts covered in the second year of high school algebra. Topics include review of properties of real numbers, functions, algebra of functions, inequalities, polynomials, factoring, rational expressions and equations, radical expressions and equations, quadratic functions and graphs, solving quadratic equations, and exponential functions.

Course Objectives: They are in this handout and posted at http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/tfcourses/obj0390.htm .

Instructional Methodology: This distance learning course is conducted primarily on a computer connected to the internet, with tests at ACC testing centers.

Attendance: Attendance includes participating every week with thorough weekly discussion question responses, turning in written on paper homework every Monday with steps shown, and working on the MyMathLab Algebra web based software online homework and quizzes every week. TSI-mandated students who are not turning in homework with steps shown every Monday and working on MyMathLab Algbebra web based software online homework every week will be withdrawn. Students taking any test more than 7 days late will be withdrawn.

TSI Warning for students who are not TSI complete*
Students who are not TSI complete in math are not allowed to enroll in any course with a math skill requirement.
All students are required to be continually working on software schedule every week in order to remain enrolled in this course. If this is the only developmental class you are enrolled in, and you withdraw yourself from this course or are withdrawn by your instructor, then:
a) You may be withdrawn from courses that you should not be enrolled in, such as any class with a math skill requirement.
b) You will have a hold placed on your registration for the following semester. The Hold will require that you register for the next semester in person with an advisor or counselor and that you work with the Developmental Math Advisor during that semester.
c) You may continue to face more serious consequences, up to being restricted to only registering for developmental courses, until you complete the required developmental math course or satisfy the TSI requirement in another way.
More information can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/math/tsiwarning.htm.

Importance of Completing Developmental Course Requirements
The first steps to achieving any college academic goal are completing developmental course requirements and TSI requirements. The first priority for students who are required to take developmental courses must be the developmental courses. TSI rules state that students are allowed to take college credit courses, if they are fulfilling their developmental requirements. Because successful completion of developmental courses is so important, ACC will intervene with any student who is not successfully completing developmental requirements. This intervention can mean a hold on records, requiring developmental lab classes, working with the Developmental Math Advisor, and monitoring during the semester.

*Additional information about ACC's mathematics curriculum and faculty is available on the Internet at: www.austin.edu/math

Withdrawal Policy: It is the student's responsibility to initiate all withdrawals in this course. The instructor may withdraw students for not showing required progress each week, but makes no commitment to do this for the student. After the withdrawal date, neither the student nor the instructor may initiate a withdrawal. TSI-mandated students not showing weekly progress will be withdrawn. The withdrawal deadline is April 23, 2012.

Reinstatement Policy: Students who withdrew or were withdrawn generally will not be reinstated unless they have completed all course work, quizzes, and tests necessary to place them at the same level of course completion as the rest of the class with a C average or higher.

Incomplete grades (I) are given only in very rare circumstances. To qualify for an "I", a student must have completed almost all exams and assignments, have a passing grade, and have a serious officially documented situation occur that prevents course completion after the withdrawal deadline.

In Progress grades (IP) are also rarely given. In order to earn an "IP" grade the student must remain in the course, be making satisfactory weekly progress with online homework and online quiz grades of 80 or higher, turning in weekly written homework showing steps, taking all tests, and not be meeting the standards set to earn the grade of C or better in the course. Students who earn an IP grade must register and pay for the same course again to receive credit. Students who make a grade of IP should not go on to the next course with that grade. A maximum of two IP grades can be awarded in any one course.

HOMEWORK: ·Do the online homework first for each section after watching the section vidoes in the study plan online for each section and working some of the practice problems; or working through the multi-media text section, then do the written on paper homework problems from the text for each section.

Half of your homework grade is online homework in MyMathlab to be done before written paper homework for each section, which counts the other half of your homework grade. For your MATD 0390 course do the text assignments with steps shown in the list provided by Nancy Miller. Homework should be sent in by the due date listed on the assignment sheet that Nancy posts. Getting your online and written on paper homework done correctly with understanding by these dates is like attending class in a lecture class.

This is not a self-paced course unless you are ahead of schedule. Homework may be submitted either in person or by US mail (Nancy C. Miller, Pinnacle Campus ACC, 7748 Highway 290 West, Austin, TX 78736), or by dropping it off at the Pinnacle Campus mail room. Homework may also be sent through ACC campus mail by placing it in an intercampus mail envelope, clearly addressed to Nancy C. Miller at PIN campus, and then putting it into the PIN mail bin at any ACC campus mailroom every Monday. Your name, Nancy Miller, and lesson number (1.7, etc. – see homework list) must be clearly marked on all pages submitted. Answers to odd problems are in your multi-media and paper text, but be sure to show understanding by showing all steps to the problems. You are responsible for checking your answers and asking for help with problems that are challenging to understand. Homework assignments will be checked for completeness and process. In order to receive full credit for homework, you must do all assigned problems and show all work. Show steps on your paper you turn in and keep in order. You may turn in extras. Keep steps to your online homework in your loose leaf math notebook along with your work on online quizzes.

Please ask for help if you need it from Nancy Miller or the free learning lab at any ACC campus. If you do not complete a homework assignment or show your method, you will receive a small amount of partial credit for an attempt. The average of your homework grades will count 15% of your overall grade in the course.

Your textbook may be paper or the Multi-media text online in MyMathLab. The textbook is divided into sections just like the software. You should refer to this online muti-media text or paper text book when learning content in each section, completing homework assignments, reviewing for tests, or to prepare for the online Quizzes. In addition to taking a Pretest and Quizzes on the computer, you will be taking 3 Tests and a comprehensive departmental Final Exam in the ACC Testing Center you indicated to Nancy Miller.

More information about taking tests in ACC’s Testing Centers is available at http://www.austincc.edu/testctr/. ·

Quizzes: Your first quiz grade is your Intermeidate Algebra pre-test grade which you need to take as soon as possible by Feb. 15, in one of ACC’s testing centers unless you have credit at ACC for MATD 0370 with a grade of A, B, or C very recently. Ask Nancy if you will have difficulty getting in by Feb. 15, and she may be able to help you.

In MyMathLab software all students also take the online pretest in online quizzes as many times as needed to earn at least 80% before they go on to the regular sections.

Regular online quizzes are available for every 2-5 sections of text material, only. Please ask for help if you need it. Should any quiz grade be less than 80%, do the study plan for the those sections, watch the video again, take notes, and do practice problems before you redo the quiz to raise that online quiz to at least 80% or seek help in an ACC learning lab. The average of your quiz grades will count 10% of your overall grade in the course. ·No more than three attempts are allowed on the quizzes without discussion with Nancy Miller; highest grade is recorded. Online quizzes need to be completed for sections covered on each major test before test is taken in an ACC testing center. Get help before you take online quizzes, not during the online quiz. Take each online quiz like a test, without help of any kind and without looking up concepts and procedures in your notes. Remember to take the online quizzes each week.

Class Participation Expectation: Students participate in e-discussion every week by answering the discussion question for that week (by e-mail to Nancy or by reply on ACC Blackboard discussion board) or visiting or calling Nancy Miller’s office during office hours with questions. Satisfactory participation must take place each week in addition to weekly work on-line, turning in on paper homework weekly, taking online quizzes weekly, and taking 3 major tests, and the final exam.

Testing: You must take three major tests, and a final exam. In order to pass the class, you must take the final exam and the three major tests. The major tests count 15% each on the overall grade and the final exam counts 20%. You will take the three major tests and the final exam in an ACC Testing Center. Non-graphing calculators are allowed.

Open campus (distance learning) students must complete and turn in all work and take the final exam in an Austin, RR, or CYP Testing Center no later than Tuesday, May 8, 2012 (by noon Thursday at PIN only with prior permission). Earlier final exam and test 3 testing by May 1, is necessary outside of Austin, RR, or CYP; or they can be taken in Austin, RR, or CYP by May 8, at a requested Austin testing center for the final exam. Be sure to observe the testing dates on the homework schedule.

For more info and rules about taking tests and hours, please refer to http://www.austincc.edu/testctr

You may earn 5 bonus points on any test by preparing for and taking that test early, before the dates for which it is scheduled if you have successfully completed the software homework, online quizzes with scores at least 80% for those sections, and text paper homework. Please notify Nancy in advance if you plan to take a test early so the test will be available. You will lose 3 points for taking any test 1-7 days late after the date on the homework assignment sheet. You will be withdrawn from the course for more than 7 days late.

In order to receive maximum credit, please show your work (steps) for all problems on each test. If you use scratch paper while taking any exam, please clearly number any work you want Nancy to refer to, and do that work in an orderly fashion. Since partial credit may be given, at least attempt each problem. Please don't erase, but lightly X out when you make corrections so if your first try was correct, Nancy can give you credit for your showing your thinking. Little partial (or full) credit will be awarded for work done mentally or on your calculator because your instructor cannot read your thoughts or see your calculator when errors occur. Check your work with your non-graphing calculator on tests.

Grading policy:

Final overall grades in this class will be calculated based on the following:

PARTICIPATION in weekly discussion questions with thorough, correct responses and orientation response 10%

OVERALL HOMEWORK AVERAGE including online and on paper 15%

ONLINE QUIZ AVERAGE 10%

3 MAJOR TESTS 15% each

COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM 20%

Course grades have both minimum average and minimum final exam grade requirements as listed.

90% average or above and final exam grade minimum of at least 80 earns a course grade of A

80% minimum average and final exam grade minimum of at least 70 earns a course grade of B

70% minimum average and final exam grade minimum of at least 60 earns a course grade of C

60% minimum average and final exam grade minimum of at least 50 earns a course grade of D

Below 60% or final exam grade below 50 earns a course grade of F

So if a student earns 90% on course work, but the final exam grade is 75, the final exam grade of 75 would mean the student would earn a course grade of B. Both minimum average and minimum final exam scores are required for any grade as listed above.

Missed exam policy: You must prepare and take all tests within 7 days of the deadline to stay in the course. There are no make-ups after the late grace period.

If your lowest major test grade is lower than your final exam grade, the final exam grade will replace your lowest test grade and will also count as your final exam grade.

Policy about late work: Participation in the weekly discussion questions, turned in on paper homework, software homework, and online quizzes must take place at least once every week. No late or make-up participations are accepted more than 2 weeks late. Late homework is accepted for 80% credit up to 7 days late. Late tests have 3 points deducted from the test grade for 1-7 days late. Tests not taken by 7 days after the date listed on the homework sheet result in withdrawal from the course.

This special section of the MATD 0390 course uses MyMathLab online computer software. The software provides visual explanations.

In this class, you will be in charge of your learning in a different way from a traditional lecture class. You may work ahead of schedule and complete the course before the end of the semester. You also may spend less time on familiar topics and more time on troublesome topics. In order to complete the course this semester in 12 weeks, you must keep up with the weekly schedule and test schedule provided. In order to succeed in this class, you should plan to spend 11 to 18 hours each week (or more, if necessary) working on the software and text, depending on how much of the material is review for you. The program is available all day everyday except when it is being backed up.

" Pearson tutoring: Pearson has a tutoring center that is available by phone for students using any of their texts. Information about the service can be found at www.aw-bc.com/tutorcenter/. Hours of operation are Sun-Thur: 4 PM - 11 PM Central time.
Students toll-free: 1.800.877.3016
Instructor info: 1.800.666.8801
Fax: 1.877.262.9774
Email Questions: mtutor@pearson.com

ACC Course Policies
Attendance/Class Participation.  If attendance or compliance with other course policies is unsatisfactory, the instructor may withdraw students from the class.
Withdrawal Policy      It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that his or her name is removed from the roll should he or she decide to withdraw from the class.  The instructor does, however, reserve the right to drop a student should he or she feel it is necessary.  If a student decides to withdraw, he or she should also verify that the withdrawal is submitted before the Final Withdrawal Date of April 23.  The student is also strongly encouraged to retain their copy of the withdrawal form for their records.
Students who enroll for the third or subsequent time in a course taken since Fall, 2002, may be charged a higher tuition rate, for that course.
State law permits students to withdraw from no more than six courses during their entire undergraduate career at Texas public colleges or universities.  With certain exceptions, all course withdrawals automatically count towards this limit.  Details regarding this policy can be found in the ACC college catalog.
Incompletes    An instructor may award a grade of “I” (Incomplete) if a student was unable to complete all of the objectives for the passing grade in a course.  An incomplete grade cannot be carried beyond the established date in the following semester. The completion date is determined by the instructor but may not be later than the final deadline for withdrawal in the subsequent semester.

Statement on Scholastic Dishonesty     A student attending ACC assumes responsibility for conduct compatible with the mission of the college as an educational institution.  Students have the responsibility to submit coursework that is the result of their own thought, research, or self-expression.  Students must follow all instructions given by faculty or designated college representatives when taking examinations, placement assessments, tests, quizzes, and evaluations.  Actions constituting scholastic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, collusion, and falsifying documents.    Penalties for scholastic dishonesty will depend upon the nature of the violation and may range from lowering a grade on one assignment to an “F” in the course and/or expulsion from the college.  See the Student Standards of Conduct and Disciplinary Process and other policies at http://www.austincc.edu/current/needtoknow 

Student Rights and Responsibilities    Students at the college have the rights accorded by the U.S. Constitution to freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, petition, and association. These rights carry with them the responsibility to accord the same rights to others in the college community and not to interfere with or disrupt the educational process. Opportunity for students to examine and question pertinent data and assumptions of a given discipline, guided by the evidence of scholarly research, is appropriate in a learning environment. This concept is accompanied by an equally demanding concept of responsibility on the part of the student. As willing partners in learning, students must comply with college rules and procedures.

Statement on Students with Disabilities     Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented disabilities.  Students with disabilities who need classroom, academic or other accommodations must request them through the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD).   Students are encouraged to request accommodations when they register for courses or at least three weeks before the start of the semester, otherwise the provision of accommodations may be delayed.   

Students who have received approval for accommodations from OSD for this course must provide the instructor with the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ from OSD before accommodations will be provided.   Arrangements for academic accommodations can only be made after the instructor receives the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ from the student.  
Students with approved accommodations are encouraged to submit the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ to the instructor at the beginning of the semester because a reasonable amount of time may be needed to prepare and arrange for the accommodations.      Additional information about the Office for Students with Disabilities is available at http://www.austincc.edu/support/osd/
Safety Statement    Austin Community College is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for study and work. You are expected to learn and comply with ACC environmental, health and safety procedures and agree to follow ACC safety policies. Additional information on these can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/ehs. Because some health and safety circumstances are beyond our control, we ask that you become familiar with the Emergency Procedures poster and Campus Safety Plan map in each classroom. Additional information about emergency procedures and how to sign up for ACC Emergency Alerts to be notified in the event of a serious emergency can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/emergency/.
Please note, you are expected to conduct yourself professionally with respect and courtesy to all. Anyone who thoughtlessly or intentionally jeopardizes the health or safety of another individual will be dismissed from the day’s activity, may be withdrawn from the class, and/or barred from attending future activities.

Use of ACC email     All College e-mail communication to students will be sent solely to the student’s ACCmail account, with the expectation that such communications will be read in a timely fashion. ACC will send important information and will notify you of any college related emergencies using this account.  Students should only expect to receive email communication from their instructor using this account.  Likewise, students should use their ACCmail account when communicating with instructors and staff.  Instructions for activating an ACCmail account can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/accmail/index.php.

Testing Center Policy     Under certain circumstances, an instructor may have students take an examination in a testing center.  Students using the Academic Testing Center must govern themselves according to the Student Guide for Use of ACC Testing Centers and should read the entire guide before going to take the exam.  To request an exam, one must have:

• ACC Photo ID,  Course Abbreviation (e.g., ENGL),  Course Number (e.g.,1301),  Course Synonym (e.g., 10123),  Course Section (e.g., 005),  Instructor's Name

Do NOT bring cell phones to the Testing Center.  Having your cell phone in the testing room, regardless of whether it is on or off, will revoke your testing privileges for the remainder of the semester.  ACC Testing Center policies can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/testctr/
Student And Instructional Services       ACC strives to provide exemplary support to its students and offers a broad variety of opportunities and services.  Information on these services and support systems is available at:   http://www.austincc.edu/s4/
Links to many student services and other information can be found at: http://www.austincc.edu/current/
ACC Learning Labs provide free tutoring services to all ACC students currently enrolled in the course to be tutored.  The tutor schedule for each Learning Lab may be found at:  http://www.autincc.edu/tutor/students/tutoring.php  For help setting up your ACCeID, ACC Gmail, or ACC Blackboard, see a Learning Lab Technician at any ACC Learning Lab. STUDENT SERVICES: http://www.austincc.edu/current

Common Course Objectives for MATD 0390 (revised July 2009)

The following objectives are listed in a sequence ranging from the simple to the more complex. As such, this document should not be viewed as a chronological guide to the course, although some elements naturally will precede others. These elements should be viewed as mastery goals which will be reinforced whenever possible throughout the course.

Overall objectives:

1. Students will feel a sense of accomplishment in their increasing ability to use mathematics to solve problems of interest to them or useful in their chosen fields. Students will attain more positive attitudes based on increasing confidence in their abilities to learn mathematics.
2. Students will learn to understand material using standard mathematical terminology and notation when presented either verbally or in writing.
3. Students will improve their skills in describing what they are doing as they solve problems using standard mathematical terminology and notation.

Computational:

1. Evaluate a function using function notation.
2. Find the domain of a function.
3. Perform elementary arithmetic operations with functions.
4. Perform division of polynomials
5. Perform elementary arithmetic operations with rational expressions that require factoring up to and including the sum or difference of cubes.
6. Simplify a complex fraction, including one with negative exponents.
7. Simplify an expression with fractional exponents.
8. Simplify a radical expression, including rationalizing a monomial or binomial denominator.
9. Perform elementary arithmetic operations with complex numbers.

Equation and Inequality Solving:

1. Solve an absolute value equation.
2. Solve a rational equation, including one with a quadratic expression in the denominator.
3. Solve an equation with one radical.
4. Recognize an extraneous root.

Using Forms and Formulas

1. Graph a function, such as a simple absolute value or rational function, by completing a table and plotting points.
2. Solve a quadratic equation with real or non-real solutions.
3. Find the midpoint and the distance between two points.
4. Complete a square to rewrite an equation for a circle in standard form and identify its center and radius.
5. Determine if a formula, correspondence, table or graph represents a function.

Graphing:

1. Graph a linear inequality on the Cartesian plane.
2. Graph a system of linear inequalities on the Cartesian plane.
3. Graph and analyze a linear and quadratic function.
4. Sketch a quadratic function, written in the form f(x)=a(x-h)^2+k, using transformations.
5. Sketch a circle from its standard form.

Applications:

1. Represent English descriptions of numerical relationships in algebraic form.
2. Solve application problems including, but not limited to, linear and quadratic models, direct and inverse variation, and those requiring 2x2 systems of linear equations

Weekly schedule for completing course in 12-weeks
1..........R.1-R.5, 1.1-1.3...... R means review sections
2..........1.4-1.7
3..........1.8, 2.1-2.3, Test 1, March 1-7
4..........2.4-2.7
5..........3.1, 3.2, 3.6, 4.GR, 4.1, 4.2
6..........4.3-4.6, Test 2, March 22-28
7..........4.7, 4.8, 5.1-5.3
8..........5.4, 5.6, 6.1, 6.2
9..........6.3-6.7
10........6.8, 7.1, 7.2, 7.4, Test 3, April 26-May 2

11........7.5, 8.2, 9.1, 9.2
12........Review & Final Dec. 1-6

Paper from text homework assignments to send in for Intermediate Algebra 2nd Ed. By Sullivan and Struve
Text WITH use of MyMathLab
All online homework and listed paper homework problems are mandatory.

Put all written on paper assignments in mail to Nancy Miller each week by Monday.

Prerequisites for Calculus

There are two calculus sequences at ACC (and at most colleges) -- Business Calculus and Calculus. The prerequisite sequence is different for these. Depending on background, students may start the prerequisite sequence at different places

Intermediate Algebra (MATD 0390) followed by
College Algebra**(MATH 1314) followed by *Trigonometry (MATH 1316) followed by Precalculus (MATH 2412) followed by Calculus I (MATH 2413) , followed by
Calculus II (MATH 2414) followed by Calculus III (MATH 2415)

or
Intermediate Algebra (MATD 0390) followed by Math for Bus & Eco or (MATH 1324) College Algebra
(MATH 1314) followed by Business Calculus I (MATH 1425) followed by Business Calculus II (MATH 1426)

Where to start: The only way that students may skip courses in a sequence is to begin higher in the sequence, based on current knowledge of material from high school courses.
1. A student who needs a review of high school Algebra II will start in Intermediate Algebra (or below.)
2. A student who completed high school Algebra II, but no higher, and whose assessment test score indicates that he/she remembers that algebra, will start in College Algebra or Math for Business & Economics. A substantially higher assessment test score enables the student to start in Trigonometry.

** Some students who are very successful in College Algebra are tempted to skip either Trigonometry or Precalculus and enroll in Calculus I. That is not acceptable. Trigonometry topics are essential to success in Calculus, and while it is true that the topic list for Precalculus has only a few additions from the topic list for College Algebra, the level of sophistication of the presentation and the problems on all topics is greater in Precalculus. That increased sophistication is necessary for an adequate background for the Calculus sequence. ***

*** For additional information, including prerequisite review sheets for most courses, see http://www.austincc.edu/math/

Nancy Miller's web pages