MATH 4990 COURSE SYLLABUS
MATH 4990--Seminar in Mathematics. This course counts as three credits and is open only to mathematics majors. The course is normally taken during the last semester of coursework and is required of all mathematics majors. The course is designed to give graduating mathematics majors a broad perspective of mathematics, mathematical activity, and problem solving in various areas of application; to prepare for exit examinations; to acquaint them with job possibilities, to aid in career decisions; and to acquaint students with the nature of graduate study in mathematics. Credit is pass-fail.
Purpose: This course is a capstone seminar course for graduating mathematics majors, designed to help them review/learn anew, assimilate, connect, and extend concepts from various mathematics courses in the undergraduate major. This includes material from courses not taken by every math major.
Objective: Upon completion of the course, each graduating senior will have
· gained a broad perspective of mathematics, mathematical activity, and problem solving in various areas of application;
· prepared for exit examinations.
Topics Covered: This course is designed to help students chart a successful course of study for the Major Field Assessment Test (MFAT). Topics covered will vary based on student need but will come from single and multivariable calculus, sets and logic, linear algebra, group and ring theory, differential equations, probability and statistics, analysis, topology, and graph theory.
Grading: This course is graded Pass-Fail. Attendance is required; missing more than three class meetings will result in a failing grade. Students will work in small groups to solve and present problems similar to those found on the MFAT. Each group will be assigned problems from Calculus I - III, Linear Algebra, and Advanced Topics (selected from Differential Equations, Abstract Algebra, and Topology). Students will work in small groups to solve and present problems. Solutions must be correct and include brief introductions to background, history, and context surrounding the problem as needed. Group members will be graded based on the following criteria
Level of participation in producing and executing the presentation
Clarity of all presentations (this is a group grade received by all members)
Correctness and thoroughness of all solutions (this is a group grade received by all members)
Extent to which connections to other majors or within given major are pointed out (this is a group grade received by all members)
Ability to handle questions from the audience
Individual group members will be graded on a twenty point scale with regard to the above criteria. Each group will make at least four presentation during the semester, and group members must earn at least 70% of the possible presentation points to pass the course.
There will be a comprehensive in-class examination at the end of the semester; you must pass this exam in order to pass the course. There is no final exam in this course; however, you are required to take the MFAT exam on one of the dates specified. You cannot pass the course if you do not take the MFAT.
MFAT DATES: Tuesday December 10 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM (Our Final Exam Time) Friday December 6 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Grading Summary: In order to pass the course, you must
Miss NO MORE than three class meetings without an official excuse
Prove participation in every team presentation
Make at least three presentations as part of your team
Score at least 70% on your team presentations and at least 60% on the comprehensive examination
Take the MFAT
Failure to meet any one of the criteria above will result in a failing grade for the class.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Team 1
Presentation 1 (Sept 3) Presentation 2 (Sept 17) Presentation 3 (Oct 1) Presentation 4 (Oct 17) Presentation 5 (Oct 31) Presentation 6 (Nov 14)
Problems 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
Team 2
Presentation 1 (Sept 5) Presentation 2 (Sept 19) Presentation 3 (Oct 3) Presentation 4 (Oct 22) Presentation 5 (Nov 5) Presentation 6 (Nov 19)
Problems 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
Team 3
Presentation 1 (Sept10) Presentation 2 (Sept 24) Presentation 3 (Oct 8) Presentation 4 (Oct 24) Presentation 5 (Nov 7) Presentation 6 (Nov 21)
Problems 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
Team 4
Presentation 1 (Sept 12) Presentation 2 (Sept 26) Presentation 3 (Oct 10) Presentation 4 (Oct 29) Presentation 5 (Nov 12) Presentation 6 (Nov 26)
Problems 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
LOTTERY
STATEMENT:
INCOMPLETES: An incomplete will be given only in accordance with the University Policy.
If you have a disability that may require assistance or accommodation, or you have questions related to any accommodations
for testing, note takers, readers, etc., please speak with me as soon as possible. Students may also contact the
Office of Disabled Students Services (898-2783) with questions about such services.
ACADEMIC
MISCONDUCT:
Middle
Tennessee State University takes a strong stance against academic misconduct.
Academic Misconduct includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism,
cheating, and fabrication. Plagiarism,
cheating, fabrication, or facilitating any such act.
For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1)
Plagiarism:
The adoption or
reproduction of ideas, words, statements, images, or works of another person as
one’s own without proper attribution. This includes self-plagiarism, which
occurs when an author submits material or research from a previous academic
exercise to satisfy the requirements of another exercise and uses it without
proper citation of its reuse.
(2)
Cheating:
Using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or
study aids in any academic exercise. This
includes unapproved collaboration, which occurs when a student works with others
on an academic exercise without the express permission of the professor.
The term academic exercise includes all forms of work submitted for
credit or hours.
(3)
Fabrication:
Unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or
citation in an academic exercise.
Going
online and taking information without proper citations, copying parts of other
student’s work, creating information for the purposes of making your paper
seem more official, or anything involving taking someone else’s thoughts or
ideas without proper attribution is academic
misconduct. If you work together
on an assignment when it is not allowed, it is academic misconduct. If
you have a question about an assignment, please come see me to clarify.
Any cases of academic misconduct will be reported to the Office of
Academic Affairs for violating the academic honesty requirements in the student
handbook. They will also result in
failure for the course. Remember –
ignorance is NOT a defense.
Students with Disabilities: Middle Tennessee State University is committed to campus access in accordance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Any student interested in reasonable accommodations can consult the Disability & Access Center (DAC) website and/or contact the DAC for assistance at 615-898-2783 or dacemail@mtsu.edu.
Title IX (Harrassment):
If you believe you have been
harrassed, disciminated against, or have been the victim of sexual assault,
dating or domestic violence, or stalking, please contact a Title IX Deputy
Coordinator at 615-898-2185 or 615-898-2750 or visit http://www.mtsu.edu/titleix/
for resources. As a faculty member, I am legally obligated to share
reports of such incidents with the MTSU Title IX coordinator.
This syllabus is only a guide for your convenience; I reserve the right to make changes as class needs dictate.
Important dates:
Sept 8 --- Last day to drop without a grade Oct 30 --- Last day to drop with a "W"
Oct 12 - 15 --- Fall Break Nov 27 - Nov 30 Thanksgiving Break
Dec 5 --- Study Day (No Classes) Dec 6 - 13 --- Finals Week