The Department of Learning Foundations offers courses which are designed to develop student skills and proficiency in writing, math and how to be a successful university student. The proficiency English and Math courses carry "institutional" credit which means the credits count towards financial aid, athletic or residential requirements but not towards graduation. Only FRS 180 (Academic Self-Management) counts towards degree credit.
This course is designed to help students who need to develop
proficiency
to enter ENG100C, College Writing. ENG 009A is a graded course and a C-
grade or better is required to pass to ENG 100C. Credit earned in ENG
009
does not apply or accumulate toward any degree program at the
University
of Southern Maine. (Cr. 3)
FRS 180 Academic Self Management
This learning strategy course explores the six major control
components that usually contribute to high academic achievement:
motivation, methods of learning, use of time, performance factors, and
relationships to both physical and social environment. Presentations
and readings involving learning research and theory are interconnected
to student participation, assessment, and self-monitoring activities.
Students will engage in the self-management and prescriptive process to
determine what specific academic behaviors will best assist individual
academic performance. Students must be registered in at least one other
college course in order to provide an application-practice field.
(Cr.3)
MAT 009 Developmental Mathematics
A review of fundamental topics of arithmetic needed for a study
of
algebra. This course will cover the following topics: Addition,
subtraction, multiplication, and division of fractions; use of
decimals and percent; estimation; addition, subtraction,
multiplication and division of real numbers; exponents; order of
arithmetic operations; distributive property; combining like
terms; substitution to evaluate expressions and formulas;
grouping symbols; addition and multiplication principle; equations with
fractions; formulas; sets; writing and graphing inequalities; solving
inequalities and problem solving. Successful
completion of an exit exam at a C level or higher is
required. Credit earned in MAT 009 does not apply or
accumulate
toward
any degree program at the University of Southern Maine. After
successful completion of MAT 009, students must complete both MAT 050
and MAT 051B in sequence to meet mathematics proficiency, or place out
of the proficiency courses via a retake of the placement exam. (Cr. 3)
MAT 050 Elementary Algebra
The first course of a two-course sequence designed for students
who
need to develop further their knowledge of basic algebra. This
course will cover the following topics: Solving word problems, graphing
linear equations, slope of a line, obtaining the equations of a line,
graphing linear inequalities, functions, the use of graphing
calculators, systems of equations in two and three variables,
applications of systems of linear equations, rules of exponents,
scientific notation, polynomial operations, multiplication and division
of polynomials. Emphasis is on
mastery
of algebraic solution processes. Completion of an exit exam at C
level
or higher is required. This course is taught in a lecture/lab
format.
Prerequisite: MAT 009 or its USM
equivalent.
Associate degree credit only. After successful completion of MAT 050,
students must then complete MAT 051B to meet mathematics proficiency,
or place out of the proficiency courses via a retake of the placement
exam. (Cr. 3)
MAT 051B Intermediate Algebra
A continuation of MAT 050, topics include factoring,
simplifying rational expressions, multiplying, dividing, addition and
subtraction of rational expressions; complex rational expressions;
equations involving rational expressions; ratio, proportion and applied
problems; radical expressions and functions; operations with radicals;
radical equations; formulas with applications; quadratic equations;
quadratic functions and the use of the graphing. Emphasis is on
mastery
of algebraic solution processes. Completion of an exit exam at C
level or higher is required to meet proficiency. Successful
completion
of this course fulfills the proficiency math requirement of the Core
curriculum.
Prerequisite: MAT 050 or its USM equivalent. Associate degree
credit
only.
(Cr. 3)