Departmental Syllabus
MATH-UA 120 Discrete Mathematics
Fall 2024
Discrete Mathematics at NYU is coordinated. Sections use the same syllabus, with minor adaptations, but write their own exams. The coordinator for Discrete Mathematics this term is Prof. Joe Foster (josephcfoster@nyu.edu).
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Class meets twice a week in two-hour blocks. There is no recitation section; each class will have elements of lecture and recitation together.
“Discrete” is being used to distinguish from “continuous” mathematics, which might be another name for calculus. In calculus, we study intervals, functions, curves, surfaces, arbitrarily small distances, and other concepts related to real numbers. In discrete mathematics, we use the integers almost exclusively; we consider lots of finite sets, and we look at different ways to organize and measure information (“structures”).
Thinking about math this way will probably be new to you, but it's extremely important if you want to be a math or computer science major.
Because the learning goals include standards of practice as well as content knowledge, the ways we will assess your understanding are varied.
The course weighted average will be converted to a letter grade starting with the departmental scale:
Minimum score | Letter grade |
93 | A |
90 | A- |
87 | B+ |
83 | B |
80 | B- |
75 | C+ |
65 | C |
50 | D |
As for a “curve”, these cutoffs may be adjusted in the downward direction (creating more higher grades) to bring the grade distribution in line with departmental norms. There is no prescribed proportion of any particular letter grade. Energy spent stressing over grades is more productively spent on learning the course material.
The textbook for Discrete Mathematics is Mathematics: A Discrete Introduction (3rd ed.) by Edward R. Scheinerman. The ISBN is: 9780840049421
We are participating in the Follett Access program. This is an NYU Bookstore initiative that delivers required course materials at the lowest possible price.
The book will be delivered to you digitally. The cost of the book is $50.50, which will be added as a “book charge” to your bursar bill.
To ACCESS your book:
Additional support is available by email to customerservice@brytewave.com
If you decide not to use this digital edition you can opt out of the program. The deadline for opting out is September 18th. If you have any questions, contact the bookstore at (212) 998-4656 or wsq.text@nyu.edu.
We have also requested that the text be put on reserve in the NYU Library. To check on reserve materials, visit Ares.
Students who need to miss a synchronous assessment (quiz or exam) should inform their instructor before the assessment. Plan on providing documentation. Assessments must be made up within one (1) university business day, except in extreme emergency situations involving extended medical care. Otherwise, the exam will be scored as zero.
If you discover an arithmetic error in computation of your score on any item, please let your instructor know so they can correct the record. If you have a question about how a problem was scored, please discuss it with your instructor as well. Graders work with a rubric, apply their judgment, and aim for consistency. The score on an assignment, quiz, or test is considered final five (5) university business days after it is returned.
Instructors comply with any and all accommodations as determined by the Moses Center for Student Accessibility. Students should share their accommodation letters with their instructors via the Moses Center student portal as soon as possible. Any rescheduling or relocating of assessments should be arranged a minimum of five (5) university business days in advance.
Related: NYU University Calendar Policy on Religious Holidays
Students who anticipate being absent because of any religious observance should notify faculty in advance of such anticipated absence. Whenever feasible, examinations and assignment deadlines will not be scheduled on religious holidays.
Your instructor’s office hours are a drop-in time to talk about any math issue. For personal issues, reach out to schedule a private appointment with your instructor. For additional math help visit the Courant tutoring center, or the University Learning Center.
All students are expected to abide by the CAS Honor Code to be found in the Academic Policies page. Academic integrity is part of your reputation as a responsible student and adult. Violations of the policy are a breach of the trust between professor and student. It is unfair to your fellow students, to the faculty, and to yourself.
The following are considered violations of academic integrity:
The list above should not be considered exhaustive.
If a student submits work that is not their own, with the intention to deceive the instructor, then the instructor has no way to evaluate the student’s learning. This usually results in a score of zero, at a minimum. Additionally, any such findings will be reported to the applicable dean in the student’s school, for recordkeeping and possible further disciplinary action.
Please also abide by the NYU policy on illegal downloading of copyrighted material, including textbooks.
As instructors, we will strive to create a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all students regardless of their identity. We recognize and value diversity inside and outside of the classroom, and recognize that each student has a unique contribution to make and brings with them different strengths and weaknesses. We welcome your ideas for how to promote a better understanding and deeper learning in this class as a community. Please feel free to ask questions, to participate in discussions, and to suggest new approaches to the class content. Please also feel welcome to raise any issue you may have in class or outside of class, including reporting incidents of bias or discrimination, whether intentional or unintentional, either to your instructor, to your advisor(s)/mentor(s), or by using the NYU Bias Response Line.