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Quantitative & Symbolic Reasoning (QSR) Course Criteria
Scope
A QSR proposal should identify an existing course or propose a new course which
- May be taken at any time during a student’s academic career
- May fulfill GUR and major requirements simultaneously
- Is letter graded, and a three-credit minimum course
- May be a stand-alone course or offered as part of a link or sequence of courses
Learning Outcomes
To prepare WWU graduates with the ability to apply mathematical methods to the solution of real-world problems, QSR courses should be designed to meet the guidelines for QSR and at least two of the following learning outcomes:
- Demonstrate an understanding of numbers through calculation and estimation
- Utilize symbolic manipulation to understand the relationship between symbols and situations
- Reason in the contexts appropriate to mathematical or formal analysis and interpret mathematical models such as formulas, charts and graphs to draw conclusions and check statements for validity
- Make decisions in the contexts appropriate to mathematical or formal analysis, including selection of appropriate modes of analysis and presentation of quantitative information, and articulation of the limitations of the methods chosen
Proposal Development
- Faculty should find it helpful to recall the "Guidelines/Definition for Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning" in the Task Force report:
Quantitative and symbolic reasoning is the ability to distinguish situations in which numerical or symbolic information is relevant, and how to analyze and present numerical or symbolic information to reach valid conclusions. Specifically, a symbolic reasoner has the ability to understand the logic and validity of an argument through analyzing the relationships between/ among components, connections, and contingencies. An accomplished quantitative and symbolic reasoner has a sense of the relative size of numbers, is able to read and present graphs and charts, can decide whether an argument involving data is valid, understands the language of variables and relations, and understands how to model situations in order to make decisions and predictions.
- Faculty are encouraged to create or revise their courses in order to broaden the choices available to students as they develop their quantitative and symbolic reasoning skills.
- Proposals must clearly demonstrate that course content, student activities, and assessment methods will foster the specified learning outcomes.
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