We determined a number of years ago that not everyone needs a full
sequence of algebra in college to study "liberal arts" math. We do
however use placement tests that measure both arithmetic and algebra
skills, and students with low scores on these tests must remediate up
through ELEMENTARY algebra before taking the FIRST of the liberal arts
maths. INTERMEDIATE algebra skills are prerequisite only for students in
technical, business, computer science, math or science programs.
Since we changed the prerequisites for liberal arts math, we have
found less math anxiety among students in those courses -- they can
actually do those courses without factoring a single trinomial!! Also the
clentele in the intermediate algebra classes has better motivation for
learning the sometimes archane techniques.
On the down-side: One of the local transfer colleges no longer
accepts our first "liberal arts" math even though it still has an
elementary algebra prerequisite and their own has no algebra prerequisite
at all! Students who intend to transfer there are advised to complete
intermediate algebra and then a "higher-level" liberal arts math.
matthewg@sunyocc.edu
George E. Matthews, Onondaga Community College, Syracuse, NY13215
(315) 469-2381
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