Syllabus

Textbook: Knight, Jones, Field, College Physics: a strategic approach (4th Ed.), 2019

An algebra-based approach to the basic concepts of force, motion, conservation laws, and properties of matter.

1. Force and Motion

1.1. Representing Motion

1.2. Motion in One Dimension

1.3. Vectors and Motion in Two Dimensions

1.4. Forces and Newton's Laws of Motion

1.5. Applying Newton's Laws

1.6. Circular Motion, Orbits, and Gravity

1.7. Rotational Motion

1.8. Equilibrium and Elasticity

2. Conservation Laws

2.1. Momentum

2.2. Energy and Work

2.3. Using Energy

3. Properties of Matter

3.1. Thermal Properties of Matter

3.2. Fluids

Syllabus

Textbook: Larson, Roland E., Edwards, Bruce H.: Calculus (12th Ed.), Cengage publishing, 2019

Analytic geometry and functions; limits and continuity; derivatives, and applications of derivatives.

0. Preparation for Calculus (Text Ch P)

0.1. Graphs, Models, Rates of Change (Text P.1, P.2)

0.2. Functions and Graphs (Text P.3, P.4)

1. Limits and Their Properties (Text Ch 1)

1.1. Preview of Calculus (Text 1.1)

1.2. Finding Limits (Text 1.2)

1.3. Evaluating Limits (Text 1.3)

1.4. Continuity and One-Sided Limits (Text 1.4)

1.5. Infinite Limits (Text 1.5)

2. Differentiation (Text Ch 2)

2.1. The Derivative (Text 2.1)

2.2. Differentiation Rules (Text 2.2)

2.3. Higher-Order Derivatives (Text 2.3)

2.4. The Chain Rule (Text 2.4)

2.5. Implicit Differentiation (Text 2.5)

2.6. Related Rates (Text 2.6)

3. Applications of Differentiation (Text Ch 3)

3.1. Extrema in an Interval (Text 3.1)

3.2. Rolle’s Theorem and the Mean Value Theorem (Text 3.2)

3.3. Increasing/Decreasing Functions (Text 3.3)

3.4. Concavity (Text 3.4)

3.5. Limits at Infinity (Text 3.5)

3.6. Curve Sketching (Text 3.6)

3.7. Optimization Problems (Text 3.7)

3.8. Newton’s Method (Text 3.8)

Syllabus

Textbook: McKirahan, Richard D. Philosophy before Socrates: An Introduction with Texts and Commentary. Hackett, 2011.

A study of the pre-Socratic intellectual revolution that contributed to the development of foundational ideas of modern scientific disciplines, such as biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics. Topics covered include early ideas of cosmology, geometry, atoms, and medicine.

1. Introduction and Hesiod

2. Milesians (Thales, Anaximander, Anaximenes) and Xenophanes

3. Pythagoras and Heraclitus

4. Eleatics (Parmenides, Zeno, Melissus) and Pluralists (Anaxagoras, Empedocles)

5. Atomists (Leuccipus, Democritus)

6. Diogenes of Apollonia and Philolaus of Croton

7. Sophists (Protagoras, Giorgas, Hippias, et al.)

8. Convention vs. Nature and Early Medicine (Hippocrates)

Syllabus

Textbook: Rolf, H., Finite Mathematics (8th Ed.), 2014

Linear equations and inequalities; matrix algebra and linear programming; the mathematics of finance. 

1. Functions and Lines

1.1 Functions

1.2 Graphs and Lines

1.3 Linear Models

2. Linear Systems

2.1 Systems of Two Equations

2.2 Matrix Representation

2.3 Gauss-Jordan Elimination

2.4 Matrix Operations

2.5 Matrix Multiplication

2.6 Matrix Inverses

3. Linear Programming

3.2 Systems of Linear Inequalities

3.3 Optimization Problems

4. Simplex Method

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Standard Maximum Problems

4.3 Standard Minimum Problems

4.4 Standard Problems with General Constraints

5. Mathematics of Finance

5.1 Simple Interest

5.2 Compound Interest

5.3 Regular Annuities

5.4 Amortized Annuities

I am originally from Vancouver, Canada. I finished my Bachelor's degree in Finance in 3 years at the University of Calgary while also competing for their Track and Field team. Having 2 more years of athletic scholarship eligibility for which I wanted to complete a degree in mathematics, I reached out to schools across America. I ended up at Dominican College, a school I had never heard of having lived my entire life on the other side of the continent. 

Transitioning from a large public research university of 30,000 students to a small private liberal arts college of 2,000 students was quite a change. However, I immediately noticed the pleasant benefits of such an intimate setting. Each of my professors knew who I was, what my interests were, and what my strengths and weaknesses as a student were. Opposed to a large research university, the primary job of each of my professors at Dominican was to ensure the success of their students. This change impacted me quite heavily: my professors were the ones who pushed me to pursue a graduate degree in mathematics, help me find part-time employment at the college while I was a student, and write glowing letters of recommendation for me for future job applications.

This influence was so impactful that it made me realize the beauty of the teaching discipline. The charisma of my professors swayed me to work as a teacher and instructor in mathematics immediately after graduating from Dominican in 2018. The guidance of my professors helped me receive a full scholarship to every PhD program in Mathematics I applied to that following winter. 

I attended Virginia Tech on a graduate teaching assistantship in their mathematics program. After completing my Master of Science degree throughout the COVID pandemic, missing out on the in-person teaching opportunities that were normally a part of my graduate assistantship left me with an urge to teach. 

Seeing that teaching was far more rewarding to me than rigorous scientific research, I took the opportunity to teach full-time at Dominican for a year. Expecting to return for my PhD at Virginia Tech, it turned out that the community and opportunities at Dominican were too much to resist. 

Today, I am the assistant professor of mathematics and physics at Dominican University. Every day, I walk up the same stairs to my office on the 3rd floor of the Prusmack Center – the place where I used to study endlessly to pass my classes and connect with my professors. I think about how my life changed as a result of this experience walking up those stairs, and I can't help but feel excited, grateful and blessed to try to pass on the joy I found at this institution to my current students. 

It is my mission at Dominican University to help each of my students realize their true potential and break through self-imposed barriers the same way I did. It is my pride to show them it is possible.