Lecture Time: 10:00am – 11:50am (MW) Location: Knudson Hall 207

Instructor: Mei Yin mei.yin@du.edu
   Office and Office Hours: Knudson Hall 203B, 10:30am – 12:00pm & 2:00pm – 3:30pm (T), or by appointment

Course Description: The purpose of this seminar is to make available for students samples of important and realistic applications of mathematics. The goal is to provide illustrations of how mathematics is employed to solve relevant contemporary problems. No matter how simple a mathematical model is, it involves making choices and calls for creativity. The class will not assume much background in mathematics except high school mathematics.

Student Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, a student will develop the following skills:
1. Learning How to Learn: Practice newly acquired skills in an active learning environment where writing, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, presentation and argument, and/or information literacy will shape the goals and activities of the seminar.
2. Foundational Knowledge: Identify the key elements for building appropriate mathematical models.
3. Application: Engage in critical inquiry in the examination of concepts, texts, or artifacts, and effectively communicate the results of such inquiry.
4. Integration: Relate mathematical procedures to quantitative reasoning that goes on in all other courses, including the humanities.
5. Human Dimensions: Discover what it means to be an active member of an intellectual community by meeting rigorous academic expectations through critical reading, discussion, research, and/or writing.
6. Caring: Value the importance of precise language in this field of work, as part of professionalism.

Grading: Your final grade for the course will be determined based on a numerical weighted average calculated as follows: Attendance/Participation 20% Homework/Discussion Questions 40% Term Paper/Presentation 40%. This average percentage will then be converted into a final letter grade based partially on how other students perform this quarter, and partially on typical percentage grades from previous quarters of the course.

Attendance: Students are expected to attend and actively participate in every scheduled class.

Homework: Homework and/or discussion questions will be assigned every week. You may work on the assignments either on your own or in a group consisting of no more than three people. The due date is every Monday at the beginning of the class. Assignments must be turned in promptly to receive credit. For submitted problems, students are expected to show work and justify their answers. Please write your name on the first page. If you are submitting multiple pages, please staple them together. For students who are working in a group, only one assignment should be turned in, with the names of the group members written on the first page. The eight highest homework scores will contribute to 40% of your final grade.

Term Paper: Students are expected to form three-member teams and write a term paper on a mathematical modeling project that tackles a real life situation. Each team will give a 30 min presentation of their project during the last week of the quarter and there will be a short Q&A session following each team presentation.

Inclusive Learning Environment: In this class, we will work together to develop a learning community that is inclusive and respectful. Our diversity may be reflected by differences in race, culture, age, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and myriad other social identities and life experiences. The goal of inclusiveness, in a diverse community, encourages and appreciates expressions of different ideas, opinions, and beliefs, so that conversations and interactions that could potentially be divisive turn instead into opportunities for intellectual and personal enrichment.

Help: Additional handouts will be distributed throughout the quarter. Students are also encouraged to ask for individualized help from the instructor at any time.

Students with Disabilities: If you qualify for academic accommodations because of a disability or medical issue, please submit a faculty letter to me from Disability Services Program (DSP) in a timely manner so that your needs may be addressed. DSP determines accommodations based on documented disabilities/medical issues. DSP is located on the 4th floor of Ruffatto Hall, 1999 E Evans Ave, 303-871-2278. Information is also available online at http://www.du.edu/disability/dsp; see the Handbook for Students with Disabilities.

Religious Accommodations: University policy grants students excused absences from class or other organized activities for observance of religious holy days, unless the accommodation would create an undue hardship. Faculty are asked to be responsive to requests when students contact them in advance to request such an excused absence. Students are responsible for completing assignments given during their absence, but should be given an opportunity to make up work missed because of religious observance. Once a student has registered for a class, the student is expected to examine the course syllabus for potential conflicts with holy days and to notify the instructor by the end of the first week of classes of any conflicts that may require an absence (including any required additional preparation/travel time). The student is also expected to remind the faculty member in advance of the missed class, and to make arrangements in advance (with the faculty member) to make up any missed work or in-class material within a reasonable amount of time.