Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

Contemporary Mathematics (Face-to-Face)

MATH 1030-07

Course: MATH 1030-07
Credits: 3
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: MATH
CRN: 11247

Course Description

An exploration of contemporary mathematical applications with a focus on developing quantitative reasoning skills. Students will represent and analyze multiple concrete real-world problems using quantitative tools. Topics include voting theory, graph theory, financial mathematics, statistics, and probability. Additional topics from geometry and modeling may also be discussed. Appropriate for non-science majors, the course is designed to foster an appreciation of mathematics and involves limited algebraic manipulation. (Fall, Spring, Summer) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): MATH 1010 or MATH 0990 or MATH 0970 or MATH 0930 or adequate test score within the last two (2) years - Prerequisite Min. Grade: B- (MATH 0970/0990), C (MATH 1010) Prerequisite Test: ACT Math Subscore (18) or ALEKS PPL (30) Prerequisite Can Be Concurrent? Yes (MATH 0930) Registration Restriction(s): None General Education Category: Quantitative Literacy

Required Texts

Optional: Math in Society, by David Lippman

This is a FREE textbook.  You can view or download the entire textbook here.  The textbook sections are also available on Canvas. If you want a printed copy, you can order a paperback copy here.

Required Materials

A basic scientific calculator with exponents will be necessary to do some assignments and test problems.  A graphing calculator can also be used, but is not required.  Calculators may be used during tests, but cell phones, tablets, etc. will not be allowed during tests.  Please make sure you have an actual calculator (not just a phone app) for all of your assignments so that you can practice using the calculator correctly before you have to use it on a test. I use the TI-30XIIS scientific calculator (Walmart Link and Amazon Link) and I recommend it as a low-cost investment if you do not already have a scientific calculator. 

Course Outline


Homework
: The principal purpose of homework is for you to learn and practice mathematical concepts.  Please do homework with the purpose of learning, not just to get points. If you do homework too quickly or take too many shortcuts while completing homework, you will probably not learn the concepts well and will not perform well on tests.

Homework assignments will be completed in Canvas.  Assignments and due dates are listed in Canvas.  Please spend time on homework each day and complete assignments well before due dates.

Each student has a number of homework "late passes."  Each late pass will allow a student to extend the due date for a homework assignment by three days.  Other than this, no credit will be given for homework assignments completed after the due date has passed.

Even though homework assignments are submitted online, students are encouraged to practice showing their work by hand on paper as they complete the online assignments.  Writing out solutions and steps helps to order and organize your thinking.  This will also prepare students for working problems by hand and showing work on tests.

Tests: There will be five regular tests taken throughout the semester. Tests will be taken in person in the SUU Testing Center.  Students are required to complete every test.  No test scores will be dropped. Test dates are shown below.  Plan ahead to make sure you take the tests on these days.  No make-up tests will be given without prior arrangement.  A score of zero will be given on missed tests.

The SUU Testing Center is located in ELC 209.  Visit the Testing Center's website for hours and policies.

The material for each test are shown below.  Dates will be provided in Canvas

Test 1 | Graph Theory Unit
Test 2 | Finance Unit
Test 3 | Social Choice Unit
Test 4 | Probability Unit
Test 5 | Statistics Unit

Final Exam:
 The final exam will be similar in format to the other tests, but it will cover material from the entire semester.  You should review throughout the semester to be well prepared for the final exam.

Course Requirements

Category | Weight
Homework | 30%
Tests | 50%
Final Exam | 20%

Grades will be awarded as follows:
        A       above    93                                 B–     80    -     82                                D+     67    -     69
        A–     90    -     92                                 C+     77    -     79                                D        63    -     66
        B+     87    -     89                                 C        73    -     76                                D­–     60    -     62
        B        83    -     86                                 C­–      70    -     72                                F       below    60

Canvas Gradebook
The grades for this class will be kept in the Canvas gradebook.  You are encouraged to regularly monitor your grade on Canvas for progress updates and to verify that your scores are accurate.  If there is an error in the gradebook, contact me to have it corrected.  You are encouraged to keep graded paper-based assignments, so that in the case of an error in the gradebook, you have evidence of the correct score.

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Each student has a number of homework "late passes."  Each late pass will allow a student to extend the due date for a homework assignment by three days.  Other than this, no credit will be given for homework assignments completed after the due date has passed.

No make-up tests will be given without prior arrangement.  A score of zero will be given on missed tests.

Attendance Policy

This is a face-to-face class; it is not an online or remote course.  In person attendance is expected.  Plan on being in class every day. If you do not intend to attend regularly, you should not take this class.  If it is occasionally necessary for you to miss class, you are responsible for reviewing the material covered in class that day.  You are encouraged to contact other students in the class to find out what you missed and if any announcements were made in class.  It is your responsibility to be aware of test dates and due dates for assignments.

Learning Outcomes

Unit 1 - Graph Theory
  • Identify patterns and describe them with mathematical expressions.
  • Understand graph theory as a way of representing and analyzing relationships between objects. 
  • Learn and use the definitions of basic terminology in graph theory. 
  • Explore the properties of some of the fundamental structures in graph theory (trees, complete graphs, paths/circuits, etc).  
  • Apply graph theory to a variety of real-life scenarios.
  • Introduce choice trees and factorials as counting methods. 

Unit 2 - Finance 
  • Use formulas appropriately by correctly identifying the values of variables and using the order of operations to simplify and solve for the unknown variable in the formula.
  • Understand the difference between simple and compound interest.
  • Calculate how savings annuities are grown over time and how loans are paid off over time with regular payments. 
  • Differentiate between and identify which finance formulas are appropriate to use for a variety of real-life scenarios. 

Unit 3 - Voting Theory
  • Examine the complexities that arise when a group of people vote between more than two choices.
  • Learn to determine the winner of a vote using a variety of methods.
  • Discuss the factors that should be considered to make sure that the method of choosing a winner reflects the preferences of the people in the fairest way possible. 
  • Understand apportionment as fairly dividing a fixed number of things among groups of different sizes. 
  • Learn multiple methods of apportionment that have been used historically to apportion representatives to each of the United States. 

Unit 4 - Probability
  • Build a conceptual understanding of counting methods such as the fundamental counting principle, permutations, and combinations.
  • Use counting methods to find the sample spaces of compound events and the probabilities of various outcomes in compound events. 
  • Calculate the probability of a variety of outcomes for simple, conditional, and compound events.
  • Find the expected value of simple and compound events.
  • Apply the principles of probability to a variety of real-life scenarios. 

Unit 5 - Statistics
  • Understand how statistical studies are conducted (sampling a population, collecting data, analyzing the data, reporting the data).
  • Identify sources of bias that may invalidate the results of a study. 
  • Create and interpret visual representations of categorical and numerical data sets. 
  • Calculate measures of center and measures of spread to describe and summarize numerical data sets. 
  • Explore the characteristics of normal distributions and individual data points within normal distributions. 

Math 1030 fulfills the General Education requirements for Quantitative Literacy
This course fulfills the Quantitative Literacy requirement for General Education.  The stated learning outcomes for the QL GE requirement are that students will demonstrate skill with the following:
  1. Interpretation: Explain information presented in mathematical forms (e.g., equations, graphs, diagrams, and tables)
  2. Representation: Convert relevant information into various mathematical forms (e.g., equations, graphs, diagrams, and tables)
  3. Calculation: Demonstrate the ability to successfully complete basic calculations to solve problems
  4. Application/Analysis: Make judgments and draw appropriate conclusions based on quantitative analysis of data, recognizing the limits of this analysis
  5. Assumption: Make and evaluate important assumptions in estimation, modeling, and data analysis
  6. Communication: Express quantitative evidence in support of the argument or purpose of the work (in terms of what evidence is used and how it is formatted, presented, and contextualized)
  7. Creation: Demonstrate the ability to problem solve using quantitative literacy across multiple disciplines.

Artificial Intelligence Policy

For this course, students are expected to submit their own original work for assignments.  In the same way that students should not turn in work copied from another student or a tutor, students should not turn in assignments created using generative Artificial Intelligence tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, etc.  Although the use of these types of tools may be allowed in other classes or are used professionally, this class will focus on learning mathematics without the aid of generative AI.  Any perceived improper use of generative AI will be investigated for possible submission to the university as scholastic dishonesty.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.