Quantitative Literacy (QL) General Studies Requirement

One of the goals of our James Irvine Campus Diversity Initiative (i.e. Irvine Grant) was to improve the quantitative skills of all Mount St. Mary’s students. The main goal of the Quantitative Literacy Committee is to have quantitative skills infused across the curriculum, not just in the math and science courses. The following are the goals of our proposed quantitative literacy requirement:

1. To encourage an appreciation of mathematics and its usefulness in contemporary life.
2. To help students develop the skills, techniques, and confidence to work with quantitative information.
3. To help students grasp and apply significant mathematical ideas within compelling applied contexts.
4. To help students participate and function competently in a world where a basic knowledge of mathematics is instrumental on both the personal and professional level.

To this end, the QLC has come up with two QL designations:

• In QL 1 designated courses students should spend approximately 20% of the content/time on QL ideas.
• In QL 2 designated courses students should spend approximately 80% of the content/time on QL ideas.

The Requirement (Effective for all incoming students as of Fall 2004):

Associate Degree
Students must successfully complete (with a C- or better) three units of QL.

Baccalaureate Degree
Students must successfully complete (with a C- or better) six units of QL. A minimum of three units must be QL 2.