Math 3303

Fall 2016

SYLLABUS
MATH 3303 Ordinary Differential Equations

CRN 80954

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Catherine Matos

CLASSTIME: MWF 10:00-10:50 am
OFFICE HOURS: Main Campus: Mondays 1:00-2:00 & 3:30-4:45, Wednesday/Fridays 11:00-12:00pm
Henry County Campus: Tuesday/Thursday 11:45-12:15pm
Additional hours by appointment
OFFICE: U-404
WEBSITE: http://faculty.clayton.edu/cmatos
PHONE: 678-466-4434
E-MAIL: catherinematos@clayton.edu
PREREQUISITE:

Math 2502 with a grade of C or better

Math 2140 (can be taken concurrently) with a grade of C or better.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Math 3303 provides an introduction to the study of solution methods for ordinary
different equations. Topics include: classification of ODEs, modeling and methods of solution of first-order
linear and select nonlinear equations, general solution techniques for homogeneous and inhomogeneous linear
equations with constant coefficients, solutions of linear systems, and Laplace transforms. Many application
problems will also be included throughout the course. 3 credit hours
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
COMPUTER: A computer is required in Math 3303. Students will use their notebook computers during
class sessions and tests. Clayton State University requires that students have ready access throughout the
semester to a notebook computer that meets faculty-approved hardware and software requirements for the
student's academic program. See http://itpchoice.clayton.edu for full details of this policy.
TEXTBOOK: An Introduction to Differential Equations and their Applications, by Stanley Farlow. The
ISBN is 978-0-486-44595-3. The text has many explanations and examples which are surprisingly helpful
when read in conjunction with class discussions.
SOFTWARE:
o This course will rely heavily on the use of a computer algebra system called MAPLE. The
MAPLE software is available for purchase from the University bookstore and is a required part
of this course.
o Additionally, you will be responsible for sending and receiving email from your CSU account,
accessing websites, and downloading files from my website.
o Use of any technology that is not approved by the instructor may constitute Academic
Dishonesty.
YOU SHOULD BRING YOUR COMPUTER AND YOUR TEXTBOOK TO EACH CLASS MEETING.
COURSE CONTENT
Introduction and definitions (Ch. 1)
First-Order Differential Equations and Applications (Chapter 2)
Second (and Higher) Order Linear Equations and Applications (Chapters 3)
Laplace Transforms Methods for Solving Differential Equations (Chapter 5)
Solutions of Linear Systems of Differential Equations (Chapter 6)

COURSE OUTCOMES: The primary outcome for a student who successfully completes Math 3303 is that
the student will have a reasonable expectation of success in future math courses. A student who successfully
completes Math 3303 will be able to:
Classify ODEs according to order and type.

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Use any of several methods to solve linear and nonlinear first order ODEs.
Solve application problems governed by first order ODEs
Find all the linearly independent solutions of a linear ODE with constant coefficients.
Use the Methods of Undetermined Coefficients and/or Variation of Parameters to solve nonhomogeneous linear ODEs with constant coefficients.
Solve application problems related to higher-order ODEs (e.g. mechanical and electrical oscillations,
forced vibrations, etc.).
Solve homogeneous and inhomogeneous linear systems.
Solve application problems related to linear systems of ODEs.
Calculate matrix exponentials.
Use the Method of Laplace Transforms to solve a given linear ODE.

EVALUATION: Your grade in this course will be determined by the points that you earn on the homework and
quizzes, classwork and attendance, tests, and final exam.
Homework and Quizzes:
Reading sections of the textbook corresponding to the assigned homework exercises is considered part
of the homework assignment. You are responsible for material in the assigned reading whether or not it
is discussed in the class period. It will be expected that you read the assigned material in advance of each
lecture.
Homework and quizzes will be worth 25% of your grade. Each homework/quiz will weigh equally in
your grade.
Homework problems will be assigned for each section of the text. Some homework assignments will
consist of selected problems from the textbook or handouts, and will be collected and graded by the
instructor. Homework solutions may be typed up in Maple and emailed to me, or written neatly on paper
and turned in. Some homework assignments will be completed online via WeBWorK.
Non-WeBWorK homework solutions should include a narrative description (an explanation in complete
sentences) of the solution technique employed for that specific exercise. Supporting materials (such as
graphs, MAPLE worksheets, etc) should also be included when relevant. You will not earn full credit for
a problem that does not include a clear explanation of the solution process.
Late homework assignments/quizzes will incur the following penalties: 1 day late-10% penalty, 2 days
late- 30% penalty. Assignments more than 2 days late will not be accepted.
Unannounced and take-home quizzes may be given. Take-home quizzes will be posted on the website,
therefore quizzes cannot be made up.
Participation, Attendance and Class Activities:
There are three components to your participation grade: Group work and participation, attendance, and
an evaluation exam. Overall, participation/attendance/class activities will count for 12% of your total
grade.
Daily attendance will be recorded by RollCall, and will count for 3% of your grade. Students with 6 or
more recorded absences will receive 0% for this part of the grade. Each recorded absence between 4 and
6 will result in the loss of 1%.
Students will maintain a portfolio of in-class work/tasks. Most of the in-class work will be done in
groups. Portfolios will be checked periodically for completeness and effort. Portfolios, along with class
attendance, will serve as evidence of class participation. Portfolios will count for 9% of your grade.
You will be asked to take an evaluation exam at the end of the course to help assess the effectiveness of
the inquiry-oriented methods used in teaching the course. This exam is separate from the final exam for

Math 3303

the course. Taking the exam is worth 3% of your grade.

Fall 2016

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Tests:
Three tests will be given, each worth 15% of your grade. The tentative dates for the exams are:
o Exam #1: September 16th
o Exam #2: October 19th
o Exam #3: November 18th
Exams may contain a take-home component.
Late (take-home) tests will incur the following penalties: 1 day late- 50% penalty. Tests more than 1 day
late will not be accepted.
If you miss a test, arrangements MAY be made to take it. Email me immediately, before missing the test
if at all possible. Make-up tests do NOT happen automatically- you must talk to me about any missed
tests. Tests must be made up before the graded test is returned to the class. You must have evidence of
an excused absence. Appropriate documentation will be required (doctors note, etc). Without prior
notice and valid documentation, you will receive a grade of 0 on the exam you miss.
Final Exam:
The final exam will be comprehensive and worth 15% of your grade.
The Final Exam date is December 9, 10:15-12:15pm.
Grading:
Grades will be earned based on the following scale:

A 90% B 80% C 70% D 60% F 0

Your grade will be comprised of the following elements:
Quizzes/Homework:
Attendance/Participation:
Tests:
Final:

25%
15%
45% (15% each test)
15%

MIDTERM GRADE REPORTS: Midterm grades will be reported by October 4th and will reflect
approximately 35% of your grade. Based on this grade, students may choose to withdraw from the course and
receive a grade of W. Students pursuing this option must fill out an official withdrawal form, available online
from the Office of the Registrar before the midterm date of October 7th. Student Withdrawals after that day
result in an automatic WF unless a hardship exception is granted. (See CSU catalog for hardship criteria.)
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
Students are expected to do their own work on all graded material for MATH 3303 including homework,
quizzes, tests, and the final exam, as outlined in the Clayton State University Student Code of Conduct, which
can be found in the Student Handbook. Cheating will not be tolerated in MATH 3303, and any student who
engages in suspicious conduct will be confronted and subjected to the disciplinary process. Cheaters will, at a
minimum, receive a failing grade on the quiz, test, or exam, which could result in a failing grade in the entire
course. Academic Misconduct charges will also be filed.
ATTENDANCE: Attendance is necessary in order to maintain a good grade in this course. Attendance will be
taken at the beginning of each class. Students are responsible for all material presented in class. Success on the
tests will be highly dependent on attending class and participating in the learning activities designed to apply the

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material. If you must miss a class, you are responsible for asking another student to fill you in on what occurred
in class. Regular attendance is expected and necessary to understand the material. You are responsible for
submitting all work by the deadline, whether you attend class or not.
Excused Absences: The student is responsible for providing satisfactory evidence to the instructor to
substantiate the reason for absence. Any absence that is not accompanied by a written excuse from a doctor or
other competent authority will be considered unexcused. Among the reasons absences are considered excused
by the university are the following:
Participation in an activity appearing on the universitys authorized activity list.
Death or major illness in a students immediate family (parents, siblings, grandparents,
grandchildren, spouse, spouses children, parents or grandparents, step-parents, -grandparents, children, or grandchildren, legal guardians, or others are deemed appropriate by the instructor or
students academic dean.
Illness of a dependent family member.
Participation in legal proceedings or administrative procedures that require a students presence.
Injury or illness that is too severe or contagious for the student to attend class. The student should
obtain a medical confirmation note, which contains the date and time of the illness and the
medical professionals confirmation of needed absence. An absence for a non-acute medical
service does not constitute an excused absence.
Required participation in military duties.
MAKE-UP WORK
Tests may not be made up unless an excused absence is obtained from the instructor. An unexcused
absence will result in a 0 for that test. There are NO make-ups for late quizzes/homework, and the
student will receive a 0.
To obtain an excused absence, the student must give the instructor a written explanation of the absence
PRIOR to the class being missed. The instructor will decide if the absence is excusable. You must call
me immediately, preferably before the test is missed.
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES: : Students are expected to abide by the Student Code of Conduct in the
Clayton State University Student Handbook. Academic integrity is of paramount importance at Clayton State
University. Students who violate the conduct code regulations will face disciplinary action and/or University
Sanctions. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to,
giving and receiving information. This policy will be enforced. No exceptions. Students who do not conduct
themselves appropriately will be asked to leave the classroom.
TECHNOLOGY ETIQUETTE: All materials displayed on your computer at all times during class must support
the learning experience in the classroom. This includes screensavers, wallpaper, computer games, email and internet
access. Specifically, students are expected to use computers only when requested for classroom use. If you are
surfing, playing games, watching videos, emails, or any other activity not related to what is going on in the
classroom, I will give you one warning before I turn off your computer. If the behavior continues, I will ask you to
leave the classroom for the remainder of the class.
Outside of class, any e-mail sent to the instructor should state your name and identify the class you are
taking. Remember to act professionally when sending e-mail to your instructor. Any unprofessional e-mail sent to
an instructor will not be tolerated.

ELECTRONIC MESSAGES
The instructor may send emails with information vital to your success in the course. Check your email often, at
least once a day.

Math 3303

Fall 2016

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The instructor will not send you an e-mail or telephone you to tell you everything you missed in class if you did
not attend that day.
Any voice-mail or e-mail message left will be returned during the regular workweek. The instructor checks email each workday.
When contacting me via e-mail, you must identify the email with your first and last name, the course
number, and the section number.
Absolutely no graded assignments will be accepted via email. Assignments must be turned in on paper or as
instructed in the assignment.

RESOURCES: I hold regular office hours online and by appointment in person and am willing to help! A list of my
office hours is posted outside my office door (UC-404), in this syllabus, and on my webpage. If you cant come to
any of my regular office hours, or if you dont want to share me with other students, you can make an appointment to
see me individually. Another resource to help you is the Center for Academic Success (CAS), which is located in
Edgewater Hall Suite 276. The CAS home page is http://www.clayton.edu/cas/. The CAS sponsors a Peer Tutoring
Program. Please see the CAS website for more information and to schedule an appointment with a Peer Tutor.
Additional group instruction is available from the members of the CAS staff who have advanced mathematics
training. There are materials and computer software which may be of help. The library also has several differential
equations textbooks, which may help you as well.
I have a student assistant for the course this semester, who will offer weekly office hours for help with Math 3303 as
well. Please see my webpage for hours.
UNIVERSITY POLICIES: See the current Academic Catalog for details on this policy.

NO SHOW Policy: Any student who has failed to attend a class by the published deadline for the semester will be
identified as a no show. The no show student will be administratively withdrawn from the class, a grade of
W$ will be posted, and the student will NOT be reinstated. Any appeals on the decision are made to the Dean of
your major.

OTHER NOTES:
Homework problems from the textbook will be assigned, but not all of them will be collected.
In order to succeed in this course, a student must do each homework assignment. On the average, homework
will require three hours, per semester credit hour, of work outside of class each week.
Any instance of academic dishonesty will be dealt with in accordance with University policies with a minimum
penalty of a zero being given for any associated work and the filing of Academic Misconduct charges.
DISABILITY SERVICES: Students with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations need to register
with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) in order to obtain their accommodations. You can contact them at
678-466-5445 or disabilityservices@clayton.edu. If you are already registered with DRC and are seeking
accommodations for this course, please make an appointment with your instructor to discuss your specific
accommodation needs for this course and give the instructor your accommodations letter.
All cell phones must be turned off during class. Please mute your computer speakers in class.
Disruptive Classroom Behavior1

Disruptive behavior in the classroom can negatively effect the classroom environment as well as the educational
experience for students enrolled in the course. Disruptive behavior is defined as any behaviors that hamper the ability of
instructors to teach or students to learn. Common examples of disruptive behaviors include, but are not limited to:

Math 3303

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Eating in class
Monopolizing classroom discussions
Failing to respect the rights of other students to express their viewpoints
Talking when the instructor or others are speaking
Constant questions or interruptions which interfere with the instructors presentation
Overt inattentiveness (e.g., sleeping or reading the paper in class)
Creating excessive noise
Entering the class late or leaving early
Use of pagers or cell phones in the classroom
Inordinate or inappropriate demands for time or attention
Poor personal hygiene (e.g., noticeably offensive body odor)
Refusal to comply with faculty direction

Students exhibiting these types of behaviors can expect a warning from the instructor or dismissal for the lesson in which
the behavior occurs. Failure to correct such behaviors can result in dismissal from the course.
More extreme examples of disruptive behavior include, but are not limited to:

Use of profanity or pejorative language

Intoxication
Verbal abuse of instructor or other students (e.g., taunting, badgering, intimidation)
Harassment of instructor or other students
Threats to harm oneself or others
Physical violence

Students exhibiting these more extreme examples of disruptive behavior may be dismissed from the lesson or the entire
course.
Students dismissed from a lesson will leave the classroom immediately or may be subject to additional penalties.
Dismissed students are responsible for any course material or assignments missed.
Students dismissed from a course have the right to appeal the dismissal to the department head responsible for the
course. Appeals beyond the department head may also be pursued. If no appeal is made or the appeal is unsuccessful,
the student will receive a grade of WF (withdrawal failing) regardless of the current grade in the course.
Conditions attributed to physical or psychological disabilities are not considered as a legitimate excuse for
disruptive behavior.
The description of disruptive behavior and listings of examples of disruptive behavior are taken from the Web sites of
James Mason University, the University of Delaware and Virginia Tech.
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