Math 300 
Spring 2016

Students / Syllabus

Ron Buckmire: 
Contact / Home / Schedule

Course Schedule

Requirements / Comps Preparation

Instructor: Ron Buckmire
Class Time: T 10:05am-11:30am
Class Room: Fowler 110
Office: Fowler 313
Office Hours: MTWRF 2:00-3:00pm.
Email: ron at oxy.edu
GoogleTalk:MadProfessah
Twitter: @MadProfessah

The official version of the syllabus is on this page. A pdf version of the course syllabus is also available.

Use the navigation bar at the top of each page to access the various course materials on this site.

Textbook: No Textbook Is Required For This Course.

Course Goals:
The main goal of the Junior Colloquium are

1. To prepare you for successful completion of Part 1 of the Comprehensive Exam (i.e. review the material in the Five Fundamental Courses)
   
2. To provide opportunities for students to demonstrate writing competency in their major discipline at the Junior level (i.e. satisfy the College's Junior Writing Requirement)
3. To advance your development as Mathematics majors (solidify fundamental concepts, learn LaTeX, gain experience in oral presentations, come up with a Senior Comps topic, become more informed of multiple career options)
   

Learning Outcomes: By the end of this course you should be able to:

• Show proficiency in writing clear and accurate mathematical content
• Show basic proficiency in presenting mathematical content verbally (in oral and written forms)
  
• Demonstrate satisfactory understanding of fundamental concepts in Differential Integral Calculus, Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra, and Discrete Mathematics
• Begin to develop a proficiency in professional written display of mathematical content using the LaTeX typesetting language
• Be exposed to a wide spectrum of mathematical ideas and applications
• Be informed of post-graduation career opportunities in mathematics

and much more!

Junior Writing Competency:Math 300 is  the course which the Mathematics Department uses to insure that all Mathematics Majors have fulfilled the Junior Writing Requirement. Thus there will be numerous opportunities to demonstrate your competency in the written presentation of mathematical ideas. Some of these assignments may be:

• An autobiographical paper summarizing and reflecting on your mathematical past, present and future.
• A  detailed solution to a standard Comps I problem (typewritten in LaTeX )
• A summary of some (atleast five) of the main concepts in one of the fundamental classes (typeset in LaTeX ).
• A written summary of and reflection on one mathematical talk you attend during the semester
• A short paper presenting a mathematical topic/problem of your choice (i.e. for your Senior Comps)
  

Most likely you will have opportunities to revise and resubmit at least one of these papers.

Comprehensive Exam:The Comprehensive Examination (which is a graduation requirement administered by every academic department at Occidental College) in the Mathematics Department is split into two parts, Part 1 and Part 2. Part 1 is a comprehensive exam on the five Fundamental Courses (Differential & Integral Calculus, Multivariable Calculus, Linear Systems, and Discrete Mathematics) usually taken for the first time in the Spring semester of your Junior year. Part 2 of the Comprehensive Examination in the Mathematics Department is usually done in the Spring semester of the Senior year and usually consists of a paper and oral presentation.  Junior Colloquium is intended to be the course where Part 1 is passed and preparation for Part 2 occurs.

We will work together throughout the first half of the semester to help prepare you for the Comps Part I Exam.  The success of this review work is up to you individually and as a group.  The exam will be given in late March or early April. (Tentatively, I have scheduled the Comps Part 1 Exam for Tuesday March 15 from 10am-1pm). 

In recent years, the math department has used the following policy: for each section of the Comps Part 1 Exam, you must earn at least 60% to pass that section; to be eligible for "Distinction" upon graduation with a math major, you must attain at least 80% on every section on your first attempt. We will probably use this or a similar policy again this year.

Senior Comps Talks: Unless you have a standing and unmovable commitment, and discuss this in-person with me, you are REQUIRED to attend the Senior Comps talks.  These are currently scheduled to be given on  Thursdays 4:30-6:30 in February and March. This will be part of your participation grade for Math 300.

Course Policies:

•  If you are late to a test, you will only be allowed the time remaining in which to complete your test.
• Late quizzes (or homework) will not be accepted under any condition since the solutions are made available on the same day that they are collected to be graded.
• This is not an exhaustive list of course policies!

College Policies:

Disabilities: Students with documented disabilities who are registered with Disability Services are required to present their accommodation letter to the instructor at the beginning of each semester or as soon as possible thereafter. Any student who experiences significant physical or mental impairments may contact Disability Services at (323) 259-2969 to learn about available services and support. More information is available at http://www.oxy.edu/disability-services.

Honest Academic Work: No form of academic dishonesty will be tolerated in this course. Any instances of cheating and/or plagiarism will be reported on the first offense.
Oxy has policies regarding intellectual honesty in the student handbook or see http://www.oxy.edu/student-handbook/academic-ethics/

Classroom Conduct: The goals of this course can only be accomplished in a setting of respect. Although differential equations rarely lends itself to too much controversy, we must still provide a safe environment that is conducive to learning. All are welcomed and encouraged to actively participate in the learning of all the materials of this course, regardless of gender, race, nationality, native language, sexuality, political ideology, and especially personal mathematical history. Any student who feels she or he is experiencing a hostile environment should speak to me immediately.

Electronic Devices: Please remember that common courtesy dictates turning off all electronic devices and cell phones (or place in silent mode) before coming to class; these devices can be a distraction for other students (and me!) in the class and thus should not be in use during class time unless I give you explicit permission to do so.

Grades: The final course grade will be composed of the following:

• Assignments 20%
  
• Junior Writing Competency 30%
• Comps Part 1 Exam Score 30%
• Class Participation and Individual Oral Presentation 20%
  

Homework: I will provide more information about the term project later in the semester. It will probably consist of  a 5-paged written presentation AND a 5-minute oral presentation which describes some topic involving complex variables which is of interest to the student. The project will be done individually (or possibly in pairs).