To achieve its mission of transforming lives in a student-centered atmosphere and encouraging academic excellence within the liberal arts tradition, the mathematics department at Spartanburg Methodist College offers a variety of courses to prepare students for their senior college experience and lifelong learning.

For students pursuing an Associate in Arts, the mathematics department at SMC offers general education courses for transfer into a bachelor’s degree program in liberal arts. Any course numbered 112 or higher may satisfy the mathematics requirement for an Associate in Arts. Students will work closely with their advisors and use our articulation agreements with four-year colleges and universities to determine which mathematics course will best serve the student.

For students pursuing an Associate in Science, two mathematics courses numbered 112 or higher, excluding MATH-207 and MATH-212, are required. The math department offers a calculus sequence for students who wish to pursue degrees in business and social sciences, a calculus sequence for students pursuing baccalaureate degrees in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields, and a statistics sequence for students who wish to transfer into a bachelor’s degree program.

Spartanburg Methodist College offers a wide range of Mathematics courses, including:

• Algebra
• Calculus
• Statistics

All of the Mathematics faculty at SMC hold advanced degrees in their field and bring their specialized knowledge of mathematics to the classroom.

Because SMC maintains small class sizes, Mathematics faculty are able to work closely with you as you develop your skills in math and grow as a student.

The statistics workshop provides additional support for students whose initial math placement is below Elementary Functions I (MATH-121). Instead of taking the College Algebra (MATH-103) prerequisite, these students may enroll in Introductory Statistics (MATH-112) while taking the workshop as a corequisite. The workshop supports the concepts presented in the lecture with collaborative learning and guided practice facilitated by the statistics professor.

“The workshop can make life a lot easier knowing you’ll be completing the majority of this course’s homework in class. Also, being able to have help right next to you helps as well.”

“The workshop keeps me from falling behind like I did in high school.”

“This class is super helpful. It’s basically extra help for the stats class. The professor makes it a priority to help each of us to ensure we understand the lesson.”

“The workshop is extremely helpful, especially when I’m unsure about a specific math problem. It boosts my confidence on doing well on my tests.”

“The workshop gives students that have a lot going on outside of class time to get their work done and get help from the professor if they need it.”

MATH-100: BASIC ALGEBRA. (3 hours) Begins with an intensive review of basic arithmetic concepts. Other topics covered include algebraic principles, including exponents; special products and factoring; linear equations and inequalities, and the rectangular coordinate system. Designed to help remove skill deficiencies and enhance chances for academic success. Placement is dependent upon established criteria. Students may be required to have intensive computer-assisted instruction as part of this course. (May not be used for elective credit toward graduation from SMC. Quality points for 100 level courses are not calculated into grade point averages. This course does not transfer to other colleges.)

MATH-103: COLLEGE ALGEBRA. (3 hours) Study of such topics as complex numbers, graphing, negative and rational exponents, algebraic expressions, systems of equations, quadratics, and fractional expressions. Math 103 is especially designed to support continuation in Mathematics 121. Helps remove algebraic skill deficiencies to enhance the likelihood of success in higher mathematics courses. Placement is dependent upon meeting established criteria or satisfactory completion of MATH-100.

MATH-112: INTRODUCTORY STATISTICS. (3 hours) Study of elementary probability and descriptive statistics. Correlation, regression, binomial and normal distributions, discrete and continuous random variables are also studied. Placement is based upon meeting established criteria, satisfactory completion of MATH-103, or enrollment in corequisite statistics workshop.

MATH-121: ELEMENTARY FUNCTIONS I (PRE-CALCULUS I). (3 hours) Study of concepts of functions, and graphs, polynomials of one variable, conic sections and properties, exponential and logarithmic functions. Placement is based upon meeting established criteria or satisfactory completion of MATH-103.

MATH-122: ELEMENTARY FUNCTIONS II (PRE-CALCULUS II) (3 hours) Continuation of Mathematics 121. Circular functions, trigonometric functions of rotations and angles, trigonometric identities and equations, inverse trigonometric functions, polar coordinates, vectors, and applications. Placement is based upon meeting established criteria or satisfactory completion of MATH-103.

MATH-207: FINITE MATHEMATICS I. (3 hours) Designed primarily for students of business, management, and social sciences. Topics include sets, percentages, and solving linear equations. Application includes such areas as solution of financial problems involving various interest rates and other related business topics.

MATH-210: CALCULUS FOR BUSINESS AND SOCIAL SCIENCE. (3 hours) A survey of the concepts of differential and integral calculus with applications from business, management, and social sciences. Topics include functions, linear models, limits, continuity, rates of change, derivatives of algebraic functions, optimization, exponential and logarithmic functions, anti-differentiation, and the fundamental theorem of calculus. (Not for majors needing MATH-221, such as Math Engineering and Pre-med, etc.). Placement is based upon meeting established criteria or satisfactory completion of MATH-121.

MATH-212: ADVANCED STATISTICS. (3 hours) The course is a continuation of Math 112. Topics include: estimation of parameters, formulation and testing of hypotheses, multiple and non-linear regression, contingency tables, analysis of variance, special distributions and an introduction to nonparametric statistics. Prerequisite: Math 112 with a minimum grade of “C”.

MATH-221: CALCULUS I. (4 hours) Study of such topics as limits, derivatives of basic rational and trigonometric functions, chain rule, differentials, implicit differentiation, and various applications of derivatives (related rates and max.-min. problems; curve sketching). Introduction to anti-differentiation, followed by the definite integral and some of its applications. Placement is based upon meeting established criteria or satisfactory completion of MATH-121 and 122.

MATH-222: CALCULUS II. (4 hours) Continuation of MATH-221. Further applications of definite integrals are covered, followed by thorough study of the natural logarithm function, exponential function, and calculus of inverse trigonometric functions. Various techniques of integration are examined, followed by improper integrals, L’Hospital’s rule, indeterminate forms, sequences, and infinite series. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of MATH-221 or permission of the instructor.

MATH-223: CALCULUS III. (4 hours) Covers analytic geometry and advanced calculus in both two and three dimensional space. It begins with a study of the four conic sections, the polar-coordinate system, then 3-space, and vectors. Applications include such topics as arc length, motion, continuity, gradients, directional derivatives, maxima and minima of functions of two variables, multiple integrals, volume, and surface area. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of MATH-222 or permission of the instructor.

MATH-225: DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS (4 hours) An introduction to the study of first order and higher order equations and their applications to physical models. Topics include exact, series, and numerical solutions; solutions by means of Laplace transforms; and solutions of systems of differential equations. Prerequisite: Math 223 or permission of the instructor.

For students interested in exploring mathematics in greater depth outside of class, SMC offers a math team, led by David Gibson, in which students prepare to compete at the University of North Georgia Math Tournament. This competition, designed specifically for college freshmen and sophomores who have not yet taken any 3000-level mathematics courses, includes both team and individual events in calculus, trigonometry, geometry, statistics, and algebra.

The Mathematics Award is given by Spartanburg Methodist College upon the recommendation of the mathematics faculty to a student who displays qualities of excellence in mathematical skills. In 2016, this honor was awarded to Bret (Robert) McAbee, who is now minoring in mathematics at Presbyterian College.

The Student Support Services program at SMC makes tutoring services available at no cost for any student. Peer tutors (students themselves) are trained by the Tutor Coordinator to provide the best available assistance in subject areas across the curriculum. For further information regarding Tutoring Services at Spartanburg Methodist College, stop by the office in Walker 105 or contact the Student Support Services Tutor Coordinator at 587-4273

Kole Koterba, Introductory Statistics

Monday 7:00 – 9:00 pm

Tuesday 1:00 – 3:00 pm

Wednesday 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Thursday 1:00 – 3:00 pm

Julien Owens, Introductory Statistics

Monday 1:00 – 3:00 pm

Tuesday 6:00 – 7:00 pm

Wednesday 1:00 – 3:00 pm and 6:00 – 7:00

Thursday 6:00 – 8:00 pm
 

Daysha Meredith, Introductory Statistics

Monday 7:00 – 9:00 pm

Tuesday 6:00 – 8:00 pm

Wednesday 6:00 – 8:00 pm

Thursday 6:00 – 8:00 pm
 
 
 

Jacquie Goodman, Introductory Statistics

Monday 3:00 – 4:00 pm and 6:00 – 7:00 pm

Tuesday 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Wednesday 3:00 – 4:00 pm and 6:00 – 7:00 pm

Thursday 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Olivia Matsuda, Introductory Statistics and Elementary Functions I

Monday 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Tuesday 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Wednesday 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Thursday 6:30 – 8:30 pm
 
 

Keiondre Wedderburn, Introductory Statistics and Elementary Functions I

Monday 8:00 – 9:00 pm

Tuesday 12:00 – 1:00 pm and 8:00 – 9:00 pm

Wednesday 8:00 – 9:00 pm

Thursday 12:00 – 1:00 pm and 8:00 – 9:00 pm
 
 

Vladimir Zotov, Elementary Functions I & II and Calculus I

Monday 7:00 – 9:00 pm

Tuesday 6:00 – 8:00 pm

Wednesday 7:00 – 9:00 pm

Thursday 6:00 – 8:00 pm