I. ASCRC General Education Form (revised 2/8/13)
Use to propose new general education courses (except writing courses), to change existing
gen ed courses and to remove designations for existing gen ed courses.
Note: One-time-only general education designation may be requested for experimental courses
(X91-previously X95), granted only for the semester taught. A NEW request must be
submitted for the course to receive subsequent general education status.
Group
X II. Mathematics
VII: Social Sciences
(submit
III. Language
VIII: Ethics & Human Values
separate forms
III Exception: Symbolic Systems * IX: American & European
if requesting
IV: Expressive Arts
X: Indigenous & Global
more than one
V: Literary & Artistic Studies
XI: Natural Sciences
general
w/ lab  w/out lab 
education
VI: Historical & Cultural Studies
group
*Courses proposed for this designation must be standing requirements of
designation)
majors that qualify for exceptions to the modern and classical language
requirement
Dept/Program Mathematics
Course #
M 104
Course Title
Prerequisite
Numbers as News
M 090 or ALEKS score ≥ 3
Credits
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
3
Date
Instructor
Dr. David Patterson
Phone / Email 243-6748 dapatterson@mso.umt.edu
Program Chair Dr. Leonid Kalachev
Dean
Dean Christopher Comer
III. Type of request
New
One-time Only
Renew X
Change
Remove
Reason for Gen Ed inclusion, change or deletion
Description of change
IV. Description and purpose of new general education course: General Education courses
must be introductory and foundational within the offering department or within the General
Education Group. They must emphasize breadth, context, and connectedness; and relate course
content to students’ future lives: See Preamble:
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/archives/minutes/gened/GE_preamble.aspx
This course covers foundational understanding of numbers and statistics for future Journalists.
Only Journalism students are admitted. News stories often involve numbers and statistics, but
understanding of numerical and statistical concepts is often inadequate among reporters. This
class studies examples of the way both numbers and statistics are used in various media as a
means of increasing understanding of their fundamental role and nature.
V. Criteria: Briefly explain how this course meets the criteria for the group. See:
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/documents/forms/GE_Criteria5-1-08.aspx
Upon completion of the mathematical literacy
requirement, a student will be able to
effectively apply mathematical or statistical
reasoning to a variety of applied or theoretical
problems.
By seeing how numbers and statistics are
used and often misused in various media we
increase our understanding of these concepts.
There are many different ways to present
data, and the manner of presenting data
should correspond to the type of data to be
presented. There are also aspects of
statistical practice (see the learning goals
below) which need to be appreciated by the
working journalist.
VI. Student Learning Goals: Briefly explain how this course will meet the applicable learning
goals. See: http://umt.edu/facultysenate/documents/forms/GE_Criteria5-1-08.aspx
1. To achieve fluency in dealing with
Learning goals are met through a
numbers as reported in the media:
combination of lecture, readings from texts
estimation, percents, rates, interest
for journalists, in-class group work,
calculations, real and nominal values,
homework, and discussion of news items.
etc.
2. To learn the basics of constructing
numerical and graphical summaries of
data and become critical evaluators of
such summaries presented in the media.
3. To learn the basic ideas of good
experimental design and good sampling
design and become critical evaluators of
such studies.
4. To understand the nature of randomness
and its role in assessing apparent trends
and patterns in real data.
5. To understand the interpretation of
margin of error and confidence intervals
in the context of real problems.
VII. Justification: Normally, general education courses will not carry pre-requisites, will carry
at least 3 credits, and will be numbered at the 100-200 level. If the course has more than one
pre-requisite, carries fewer than three credits, or is upper division (numbered above the 200
level), provide rationale for exception(s).
VIII. Syllabus: Paste syllabus below or attach and send digital copy with form.  The syllabus
should clearly describe how the above criteria are satisfied. For assistance on syllabus
preparation see: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/syllabus.html
MATH 104, Sec. 1: Number as News
Spring 2012, TuTh 11:10-12:30 in LOM 272
Instructors: Dr. David Patterson, Math 208, 243-6748, david.patterson@umontana.edu
Ms. Sharon O’Hare, Lommasson 278, 243-5672, sohare@mso.umt.edu
Textbooks: Math Tools for Journalists, 2nded., by Kathleen W. Wickham, 2003.
The Numbers Game, by Michael Blastland and Andrew Dilmot, 2009.
Prerequisites: M 090 (grade of B- or better) , or M 095, or Level 3 placement on ALEKS
placement exam
Office Hours: Patterson: Tu 1-2, W 1-2, Th 10-11; O’Hare: by appointment. Instructors are
also available by appointment and are also usually available right after class.
Final Exam (required): Thursday, May 10, 8:00-10:00 am. The final exam will not be given
early.
Tutoring help: help on computational problems is available at the Math@ Mansfield tutoring
center on the main floor of the Mansfield Library. Tutors may not be able to help you on more
conceptual problems.
Important dates:
February 10 – last day to drop/add, change grading option by Cyberbear
March 26 – last day to drop by paper form (may be signed by Math office staff). After March
26, drops may only be made by petition for circumstances beyond the student’s control (see
catalog); written documentation is required.
April 2-6: Spring break (no classes)
May 4: last day of class; last day to change grading option (paper form); last day to drop by
petition
May 10: final exam, 8:00 am
Note: a grade of C- or better is required to satisfy the general education mathematical literacy
requirement; a CR grade will give you credit for the class but will not satisfy the general
education math requirement.
Grading:
Attendance/participation (including group work): 20%
Quizzes/homework (lowest quiz score will be dropped): 40%
Midterm (March 15): 20%
Final (May 10): 20%
The grading scale is 90-100% A/A-; 80-89% B+/B/B-; 70-79% C+/C/C-; 60-69% D+/D/D-; <
60% F. Cutoffs may be lowered but will not be raised. For CR/NCR grading, a grade of CR is
given if the letter grade would be D- or above.
Catalog description
An exploration of mathematics and statistics as used in the popular media. For students in the
School of Journalism only.
Learning Goals:
1. To achieve fluency in dealing with numbers as reported in the media: estimation,
percents, rates, interest calculations, real and nominal values, etc.
2. To learn the basics of constructing numerical and graphical summaries of data and
become critical evaluators of such summaries presented in the media.
3. To learn the basic ideas of good experimental design and good sampling design and
become critical evaluators of such studies.
4. To understand the nature of randomness and its role in assessing apparent trends and
patterns in real data.
5. To understand the interpretation of margin of error and confidence intervals in the
context of real problems.
Incompletes are given at the discretion of the instructors and are only considered in cases
where
a. the student has been in attendance and doing passing work up to three weeks before
the end of the semester, and
b. for reasons beyond the student’s control and which are acceptable to the instructors,
the student has been unable to complete the requirements of the course on time.
Negligence and indifference are not acceptable reasons.
Students with disabilities are welcome to discuss accommodations with us.
Academic Honesty
All students must practice academic honesty. Academic misconduct is subject to an academic
penalty by the course instructor and/or a disciplinary action by the University.
All students need to be familiar with the Student Conduct Code. You can find it in the A-Z
index on the UM home page.
Please note: Approved general education changes will take effect next fall.
General education instructors will be expected to provide sample assessment items and
corresponding responses to the Assessment Advisory Committee.