MA111 INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS MATH

C O U R S E    S Y L L A B U S

Instructor: Mary O'Connor E-mail addresses: maryo1212@gmail.com

Business Mathematics, 11th Edition By Charles D. Miller, Stanley A. Salzman, Gary Clendenen ISBN-13: 978-0-321-50012-0 Published by Addison Wesley Higher Education © 2009

Prerequisite for this course:
Minimum score on placement test. Prerequisites and corequisites apply only to students who are intending to earn a degree through BMCC.

Course Credits :
3 Credits

Course Description:
This course provides an increased competence in fundamental mathematical skills and an understanding of the application of mathematical concepts of business activities. Emphasis is placed upon learning mathematical concepts through practical application to business problems.

Course Objectives:

1. To refresh and enhance student skills in working with whole numbers, decimals, fractions and percents.  Ability to be demonstrated by submitted work from student.
2. To explain the role of banks and banking services to the business manager in today's dynamic and ever changing business world.  Students will examine business and consumer loans as well as simple and compound interest.  Students will demonstrate this knowledge by completing a bank statement balancing.  Ability to be demonstrated by submitted work from student.
3. To teach students how to prepare payroll for a business enterprise such as the Bay Mills Resort and Casino.  Ability to be demonstrated by submitted work from student.
4. To teach the mathematics of buying and selling:  mark-up, mark-down, trade discounts.  Ability to be demonstrated by submitted work from student.

Student Outcomes as a Result of Taking this Course.
Students will have gained an understanding of the basic principles of mathematics used in modern small businesses across America. Some of these key principles which students will learn how to use as a result of taking this class are:

• Mark up and markdown of retail prices.
  
• How to work with credit cards, and how to understand interest rates.
  
• How to calculate payroll and depreciation of equipment.
  
• Students will understand fire, life, and automobile insurance.
  
• Students will learn many more pertinent math issues as they relate to the operation of a small business.
  

Coursework and Grading Scale:
We will cover all 15 chapters in your textbook.  You are required to complete 1 chapter each week of this 15 week course.  Your assignment for each chapter is the Case Study and Chapter Test.  Your grade will be calculated as follows: 

Tests	70%
Case Studies	30%
Total	100%

Tests:
Take the test at the end of each chapter.  Each chapter is divided into sections, and there are links for practice quizzes at the end of each section.  Take these as you work through the chapter.  These are for you to determine if you know the material, and they will not be graded. 

Case Studies :
Each chapter has one Case Study.  Complete this activity and e-mail it to me.

Late Work Policy :
Late assignments will be subject to a 10% grade reduction per week.  After 3 weeks, the assignment will no longer be accepted.  If extenuating circumstances arise in your life, notify me as soon as possible and we will see what we can do to help you succeed. 

Class Grade Scale:

A   94%-100%	C    74%-76%
A-  90%- 93%	C-   70%-73%
B+  87%-89%	D+  67%-69%
B    84%-86%	D    64%-66%
B-   80%-83%	D-   60%-63%
C+  77%-79%	F     00%-59%

Weekly Chats:
I will be available each Wednesday evening from 8:00pm – 9:00 pm for an online Chat. You can access the chat room here or on the index page of this class.  Please use this time to ask questions about the material and concepts you don’t understand. You are not required to participate in these chats.  I’m using these like office hours, so you are free to participate if you wish.  Because this is a college class, mature Internet communication (language) is expected.

Calculators:
You will need a scientific calculator for this course.  I recommend TI-30xa (it’s a Texas Instruments brand.)  They cost around $10.  You may want a financial calculator for some of the chapters at the end of the book, but it looks to me like you can use the tables provided in the book just as easily.

BMCC Policies:
It is very important that you click the following link to read BMCC's Policies.
Student Handbook : (http://www.bmcc.edu/StudentServices1/Handbook/index.html).
Drop or Add a Class : (http://www.bmcc.edu/StudentServices1/Handbook/index.html#course).
Book Refund and Book BuyBack Policies:(http://www.bmcc.edu/StudentServices1/vbookstore.html)
Billing or an outstanding bill: (http://www.bmcc.edu/StudentServices1/Handbook/billingProcedures.html).
Information about class schedules and transcripts:(http://www.bmcc.edu/StudentServices1/Handbook/transcripts.html).

Some Additional Pointers for Success in this Class:

• This class is set up so that you should be submitting one Chapter Test and one Case Study per week for 15 weeks.
• Be sure to save a copy of your Chapter Tests and Case Studies.  Accidents can occasionally happen and it is to your advantage to save everything to your hard drive, a floppy disk, etc.
• Many students in the past have found it best to print off a paper copy of the chapter tests, work out the questions on paper, then go online and fill in the answers on the test and then submit it.  This method prevents the inconvenience and frustration of having your Internet connection time out. There is no "save" feature on the test software.
• The technology used to deliver online courses is not completely perfect.  If problems arise, please be patient and be sure to e-mail me.  Most problems will have simple answers and are fairly easy to fix.
• I will post your grades to the Grade Page every Sunday (and usually more often than that.)
• Please e-mail me with your questions and/or concerns.  I will respond to you within 2 to 3 working days.

Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is unacceptable.  It is a serious offense and will result in loss of a grade for the required assignment or an "F" for the course.  Plagiarism is the use of quotations without giving credit, stealing and passing off someone else’s summaries, or paraphrases of ideas as one’s own.  It refers to a form of cheating that has been defined as the false assumption of authorship: the wrongful act of taking the product of another person’s mind and presenting it as your own.  The instructor reserves the right to fail any student who is found plagiarizing the work of others.  Read the following handout before beginning this course so that you are sure you understand the meaning of plagiarism, and so that you do not intentionally plagiarize: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/589/01/
Any assignments containing information found to be plagiarized; copied, stolen, etc., will receive a failing grade. Notice of plagiarism and the resulting grade will be sent to Bay Mills College, and their administrative board may discipline students who plagiarize.

Please click here to testify that you have read and understand the entire syllabus, and have read and understand the academic dishonesty and plagiarism information.

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