Course Syllabus

I. General Information

Course Number/Title:BUS 120 WB/Mathematics of Business Semester/Year: Spring 2016

Instructor Name: Andrew ColosimoE-mail:

Office Hours: M/W 1215-145 T/TH 915-945 & 1130-noon or Via email Phone: 724-925-4253 Class time: Online

I: Course Information

Catalog Description:

Provides a basic knowledge and skill in the calculations necessary for a business career, including trade discounts, commissions, sales, payrolls, financial statements, depreciation, interest, annuities, investment, credit and taxes. A background in high school algebra will be helpful.

General Course Objectives

This course will develop students’ knowledge of:

  1. Terminology and concepts used in different areas of business
  2. Basic mathematical operations involving, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of fractions, whole numbers, and decimals.
  3. A consumer-oriented approach to typical quantitative applications in business
  4. Quantitative foundations that will provide an adequate background for higher level quantitatively-oriented business courses
  5. Problem solving, teamwork and critical thinking

Outcomes:

Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:

1. Solve problems using sums, differences, products, and quotients in basic mathematics using whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and percent’s. (Communication 1, 4; Computation 1, 3; critical thinking 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; Information literacy 2, 5; interpersonal 1, 3, 4, 5; personal 1; Technology 1, 2, 3, 4)

2. Perform a bank statement reconciliation. (Computation 1, 3; Critical thinking 1, 5; Information Literacy skills 4, 5)

3. Perform portion, base, and rate problems and extend the "P/B/R schema" to the solution of application problems in the topical areas related to: (Communication 1, 4; Computation 1, 3; critical thinking 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; Information literacy 2, 5; interpersonal 1, 3, 4, 5; personal 1; Technology 1, 2, 3, 4)

a. Depreciation

b. Taxes and insurance

c. Trade and cash discounts

d. Markups and markdowns

e. Payroll

f. Simple interest and bank discount

g. Compound interest and present value

h. Future value of an annuity

i. Present value of an annuity

j. Installment buying using amortization and the United States Rule

II. Text/Supplemental Material (Warning!!!!!, the textbook from the bookstore will not look like this cover because it is customized to reduce costs to students.)

Slater, Jeffrey, Practical Business Math Procedures, 11th Edition, McGraw-Hill/Irwin, Publishing Company, 2014 (ISBN [10 digit] 0078095824). Connect Access Code.
Warning, the book at the bookstore will look different, it will have BUS120 on the front of it.
A calculator is required. A basic four function calculator will fine for this course.

III. Required Equipment/Supplies

PC, access to the Internet, an email account, -- available in WCCC Computer Resources Center (CRC), Four function calculator.

IV. Reference Materials and Resources

Various basic math and algebra books are available in the Learning Resource Center.

Student Class Files, grades, Blackboard or email: my.wccc.edu -- Login and click on course name

The Course Companion Web Site:

Click on Student Edition
The textbook Web site has a wealth of material designed to supplement the textbook, providing practice quizzes and Web sites that target chapter material.

If class material is not understood, it is important to remember that TUTORING IS AVAILABLE IN THE COLLEGE LEARNING CENTER - Room 565. Just call 1-800-262-2103, extension 4135 (or direct dial 724-925-4135).

Please remember that our professional counselors are available in Student Development to help you with personal counseling.

V. COURSE OUTLINE (see below)

VI. Procedures

A. Evaluation and Grading Scheme

Final course grade is approximately weighted and based on total points accumulated over the semester with a breakdown as follows:

Exams and LearnSmarts (LearnSmarts online only) / 68%
Connect Assignments / 32%

The student’s total number of points earned will determine grade. Your course grade will be based on the following components and point distribution:

Test I (500)and LearnSmart(150) (LS online only) 650 Points Chapters 4, 6, and 9 ______

Test II(500)and LearnSmart (150) (LS online only) 650 Points Chapters 7, 8, and 10 ______

Test III(500)and LearnSmart (150) (LS online only) 650 Points Chapters 11, 12, and 13 ______

Test IV (500)and LearnSmart (150) (LS online only) 650 Points Chapters 14, 15, and 16 ______

Final (500)and LearnSmart (150) (LS and FINAL online) 650 Points Chapters 17, 19, and 21 ______

Connect Assignments 1,500 Points 100 pts/chapter

90% - 100% 4,750 – 4,275 Points = A

80% - 89% 4,274 – 3,800 Points = B

70% - 79% 3,799 – 3,325 Points = C

60% - 69% 3,324 – 2,850 Points = D

Less than 60% Less than 2,849 Points = F

B. Exams

Exams are administered after each major topic and may include a combination of math problems and short answer questions. They will address chapter material as well as class discussion material. Students are required to complete all of the five (5) exams. Any student who misses a scheduled exam without prior approval of the instructor will be given a grade of zero (0) . No exam will be rescheduled without prior approval of the instructor. Approval will be granted only for the most extenuating circumstances. All required assignments must be completed before the chapter tests are taken in order to receive credit. . If any test becomes locked, the test will be reset if it was taken before the last date permitted. If more than one test becomes locked during the semester, it is at the instructors’ option if the test will be reposted or if the student has to have the test proctored or taken at the college.

C. Assignments:

There will be assignments due during the semester. These are designed to provide the student with activities to increase proficiency with the material presented in class. Each assignment has to be completed before the associated test is taken in order to receive credit for it. Late assignments will not be accepted and the student will receive a zero.

D. Class Participation

Face-to-face students will participate in classroom activities and online students will email the instructor with any questions. When students email the instructor with questions on the homework, the student must send all of their calculations.

F. Attendance

Any college class requires a time commitment from the student. You must plan to spend 6-9 hours per week outside of class time working on course material. This involves:

Reading the assigned chapter

Reading and reviewing lecture material presented in the classroom

Viewing and reporting findings from assigned Web sites

Participating in classroom activities

For this to be a rewarding and positive educational experience you must manage your time wisely. Develop a schedule for yourself so that you are completing course work on a regular basis. This may be at the same time and day each week, or as time permits.

You should make every effort to attend all classes, arriving on time with the required materials and ready to begin promptly. Irregular or casual attendance results in fragmented understanding and poor performance. You are responsible for all work and all announcements made during class.

G. Withdrawal Policy:

Students withdrawing before midterm will receive a "W" grade. Students withdrawing after mid-term will receive a grade of "W" only if passing at the time of the request. There may be a financial issue associated with your withdrawal and you are encouraged to meet with a counselor prior to completing the required withdrawal forms.

H. Plagiarism and Cheating

Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Any student who is found to be an active participant, on either end, in any incident, will receive an F for the course.

I. Classroom Conduct

 Cell phones and other electronic devices not needed for the course are to be turned off during class.

 The course will use computers with continuous Internet capability and “Surfing the Net,” “chatting online,” or any other unauthorized extra-curricular activity during class is not permitted.

 Students enrolling at the college assume obligations to conduct themselves in a manner compatible with the college’s function as an educational institution. Your attention is drawn to the WCCC Catalog and Student Handbook, in particular the sections concerning the Code of Student Conduct, Disruptive Student Behavior, and Academic Dishonesty.

J. Students with Disabilities

If you need an accommodation due to a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, please contact Disabilities Services in Room 130 Founders Hall, 724-925-4121; or Lauren Eicher, Counselor of Disabilities & Student Behavioral Intervention Services, at . Advance notice may be necessary for some accommodations to be provided in a timely manner. Accommodations must be supported by adequate documentation and are determined on an individual basis.

VII. Course Schedule

Note: For online courses, follow the schedule posted in course materials in blackboard. For in person classes this is your schedule. Although the instructor may deem it appropriate to deviate from the following schedule, the basic design of the course will be:

Course Schedule
Spring 2016
BUS120
Dates Available / Chapter / Topic / Text Pages
week 1 / Chapter 4 / Banking / 88-111
week 2 / Chapter 6 / Percents and Their Applications / 136-169
week 3 / Chapter 9 / Payroll / 170-201
week 4 / EXAM 1
week 5 / Chapter 7 / Discounts: Trade and Cash / 202-214, 218-233
week 6 / Chapter 8 / Markups & Breakeven Analysis / 234-255
week 7 / Chapter 10 / Simple Interest / 256-275
week 8 / EXAM 2
week 9 / Chapter 11 / Promissory Notes, Simple Discount Notes / 276-291
week 10 / Chapter 12 / Compound Interest and Present Value / 292-313
week 11 / Chapter 13 / Annuities and Sinking Funds / 314-337
week 12 / EXAM 3
week 13 / Chapter 14 / Installment Buying / 338-345, 348-363
week 14 / Chapter 15 / Cost of Home Ownership / 364-371, 380-398
week 15 / Chapters 16 / Financial Statements / 412-422, 456-467,
week 16 / EXAM 4
week 17 / Chapter 17 / Sales, Excise, & Property Taxes / 492-509
week 18 / Chapter 19 / Depreciation
week 18 / Chapter 21 / Stocks, Bonds and Mutual Funds

week 18EXAM 5