Syllabus: Computer Assisted Math Modeling
MA 354−101
Spring 2016
Class Time: 10:10 am – 11:00 am, MWF
Location: Instructional Laboratory 0405
Instructor: Dr. Audi Byrne
Office: ILB 452
E-mail: abyrne@southalabama.edu (E-mail is the best way to reach me.)
Office Hours: 11 am —12 pm, MWF and 10:30 am – 12 pm, TH and by appointment.
Course webpage: http://www.southalabama.edu/mathstat/personal_pages/byrne/MA354_S2015.htm
Bulletin Description: This course is intended to provide the basic ideas regarding formulation,
development, testing and reporting of mathematical models of various real world problems.
Deterministic and stochastic models, optimization and simulations will be covered. Emphasis
will be on careful mathematical formulations and the use of computer software, such as
Microsoft Excel and Mathematica. A term project will be an important component of this course.
The course is taught in a laboratory setting with computers as lab equipment. Prerequisites:
MA227 and MA 238. This is a designated writing course (W).*
Text: A First Course in Mathematical Modeling, F.R. Giordano, W.P. Fox, S. B Horton and
M.D. Weir. (3rd Edition ISBN: 0-534-38428-5; 4th Edition: 0-495-01159-2)
Software: A personal copy of Excel, PowerPoint and the student version of Mathematica may be
useful. However, these are not required as you may complete your projects in the computer lab
(Instructional Laboratory 0405) between 9am and 5pm when classes are not in session. (There is
typically a schedule posted on the laboratory door.)
Course Objective: There are three objectives. The first is to be familiar with common modeling
approaches, including discrete, continuous and probabilistic, and to interpret their mathematical
descriptions. The second is to analytically and numerically study mathematical models (e.g., to
calculate solutions, describe the role of parameters, build an implementation of a model, and
ascertain the validity of a model in terms of given assumptions and real-world context). The third
objective is to construct models by identifying a modeling problem, selecting an appropriate
approach for one’s goals and making appropriate simplifying assumptions.
COURSE
TOPICS:
*
Discrete Dynamical Systems (Chapters 1 and 3)
Building Models and Modeling Principles (Chapter 2)
Continuous Dynamical Systems (Chapters 11 and 12)
Monte Carlo and Spatial Models
5 weeks
2 weeks
3 weeks
2 weeks
Two designated writing courses (W) are required as a general education requirement, with at least one course
chosen from offerings in the student’s major or minor.
Course Components
Homework and Modeling Projects (50%): This is a project-based course. Projects will be both
individual and team-based. Teams are assigned the first day of the semester and are permanent
throughout the course. Team-based components of modeling projects are completed in class.
Individual components are begun during lecture but may require extra time to complete outside
of class. Late assignments will be marked down 10%. There will be approximately 10 projects
over the course of the semester.
Final Project (20%): At the end of the semester, each student will choose a modeling topic on
which to prepare a final project. In the 12th week of the semester (March 30th), students will need
to submit a written description of a modeling topic with a set of corresponding model equations.
In the last week of class, student will give a Powerpoint presentation on their modeling project
which will represent a term project that will take the place of the course final.
Two Written Exams (20%): Two written exams are scheduled for Friday, February 12th and
Wednesday, March 23rd during regular class time. These exams will be based on written
homework problems and class notes, including definitions and computations. For this exam, you
may use the calculator provided with your lab computer.
Computational Skills Exam (10%): The computational skills exam is scheduled for Friday,
April 8th during regular class time. This exam is ‘open book’ and students are expected to solve
a set of computational problems using scripts they have developed throughout the course. The
choice of software (Excel, Mathematica, Octave) for each problem will be up to the student.
Grading:
The final grade will be calculated as follows:
Team-Based Projects
50 %
Written Exams
20 %
Computational Skills Exam
10 %
Final Project
20 %
The total score will then be curved and the letter grade for the class will be determined with a
conventional grading scale as follows:
A(90-100) B(80-89) C(70-79) D(60-69) F(0-59)
Important Dates:
2/12/2016 Written Exam 1
3/23/2016 Written Exam 2
3/30/2016 Modeling Project Description Due
4/08/2016 Computer Skills Exam
Last class days: Final Presentations (4/22, 4/25, 4/27 as needed)
Final Exam: There will be no final exam. However an electronic copy of Powerpoint presentations will
be due at the time of the scheduled final exam, Monday, May 2nd, 2016 by 12:30 pm.
Course Policies
Course Webpage: The course webpage will contain a copy of this syllabus, a detailed schedule,
a list of all assigned homework problems, and any important announcements. It may also contain
useful handouts for the coursework.
Communication: The best way to contact me is in person during my office hours or through email. When sending e-mails, please include your name since it may be difficult to decode a
student’s name from their e-mail address. I frequently send announcements and course resources
via e-mail to your jaguar account. Please check this account regularly.
Late Assignment Policy: Assignments may be turned in as hard paper copies or via e-mail and
are due at the beginning of class. Late assignments without extenuating circumstances will be
marked down 10%. Assignment due dates will be announced in class and can also be found
online on the course webpage.
Make-Up Exams and Presentations: If a student misses an exam or a presentation due to an
extenuating circumstance, they will be able to make up their exam or presentation during the
next available time slot without penalty. Otherwise, they will be able to make up their exam or
presentation after a 10% deduction in their grade.
Attendance: Regular attendance is important in this course. Projects are begun and explained in
class and students may find it difficult to complete projects if a class is missed. It is your
responsibility to get any assignments or notes missed during an absence.
Distractions: Turn off cell phones while you are in class. Texting or working on other course
work while in class is not allowed. Surfing the internet is especially tempting in a computer lab
setting; to counter this, note that the computers may be occasionally monitored.
Dropping the Course: The last drop day for the course is Friday, April 1st. Students drop
courses for a variety of reasons, but if there is any way that I might help, please speak with me if
you are considering dropping the course. Also, consider speaking with the department chair (Dr.
Mulekar) or the assistant to the chair (Dr. Brick) before dropping.
Tutoring lab: The department offers a tutoring lab to all student taking mathematics and
statistics classes. There is no lab fee. Please check the bulletin board outside ILB 325 for details.
Disabilities: If you have a specific disability that qualifies you for academic accommodations,
please notify me and provide certification from the Office of Special Student Services located at
5828 Old Shell Road at Jaguar Drive, (251-460-7212). In accordance with the Americans with
Disabilities Act, students with bona fide disabilities will be afforded reasonable
accommodations. The Office of Special Student Services (OSSS) will certify a disability and
advise faculty members of reasonable accommodations.
Online Writing Support: The University of South Alabama provides online writing tutoring
services through SMARTHINKING, an online tutoring service. SMARTHINKING is available
at http://services.smarthinking.com. Students may enter the site by logging on with their Jag
number and using the last four digits of the social security number as the password. For
log-on problems, technical questions and/or on-campus writing assistance, contact
the USA Writing Center at 251-460-6480 or e-mail csaint-paul@usouthal.edu. Information about
the University Writing Center and Online Writing Lab can be found online at:
http://www.southalabama.edu/univlib/instruction/antiplagiarism/writinghelp.html
Academic Disruption: The University of South Alabama’s policy regarding Academic
Disruption is found in The Lowdown, the student handbook.: Disruptive academic behavior is
defined as individual or group conduct that interrupts or interferes with any educational activity
or environment, infringes upon the rights and privileges of others, results in or threatens the
destruction of property and/or is otherwise prejudicial to the maintenance of order in an
academic environment.
http://www.southalabama.edu/lowdown/academicdisruption.shtml
Student Academic Conduct Policy: The University of South Alabama’s policy regarding
Student Academic Conduct Policy is found in The Lowdown. The University of South Alabama
is a community of scholars in which the ideals of freedom of inquiry, freedom of thought,
freedom of expression, and freedom of the individual are sustained. The University is committed
to supporting the exercise of any right guaranteed to individuals by the Constitution and the
Code of Alabama and to educating students relative to their responsibilities.
http://www.southalabama.edu/lowdown/academicconductpolicy.shtml
The requirements and policies above may be modified as circumstances dictate. Such changes will be
provided to the students in class and in writing. You will often first be notified of changes by e-mail, so please
check your southalabama e-mail accounts regularly.