UB Curriculum Policy

View UB Curriculum policies in the Undergraduate Catalog by going to the home page of the Degree & Course Catalog and then clicking the Undergraduate Catalog button and then clicking the UB Curriculum (General Education) link in the left sidebar navigation.

Math and Quantitative Reasoning

This course provides a basis for students to develop skills in mathematical and quantitative literacy, especially as those skills apply to issues arising in everyday life.

Course Proposal Process

Learning Outcomes

Having completed the Math and Quantitative Reasoning course, students will be able to:
  • Choose appropriate methods or models for a given problem, using information from observation or knowledge of the system being studied. 
  • Employ quantitative methods, mathematical models, statistics, and/or logic to analyze data and solve real-world problems beyond the level of basic algebra. 
  • Identify common mistakes and/or limitations in a.) empirical and/or deductive reasoning, and b.) mathematical, quantitative, and/or logical problem solving.
  • Interpret mathematical models, formulas, graphs, and/or tables, to draw inferences from them, and explain these inferences. 

Aims & Objectives

  • Develop the mathematical and quantitative reasoning skills required by students in all fields of study, in order to analyze and interpret data, graphs, and models. 
  • Synthesize quantitative information from different sources, to understand the accuracy of the information and the limitations of conclusions drawn from it.
  • Interpret quantitative information and express inferences and conclusions in writing.

Considerations

  • For many students in STEM and the social sciences, the MQR learning outcomes will be met by courses required for the major.
  • For other students, several courses have been developed or adapted in order to meet the learning outcomes. 
  • Faculty interested in developing additional MQR courses, or adapting existing courses to meet MQR learning outcomes, should keep in mind the requirements include a recitation or lab, as well as the prerequisite requirement of 3 full years of high school mathematics, including high school courses in algebra.
    • Examples of topics that may be appropriate for this requirement include decision-making in personal finance and in health care, randomness in data, correlation and causation, extrapolation and interpolation, statistical paradoxes, and the application of numeracy to debates in current affairs.

MQR proposals and revisions will be submitted via the curriculum management system. You will log in with your UBIT name and password.

For a new course proposal, click the "New Proposal" button and navigate to form "New Course Proposal (Undergraduate)."

For an existing course, click the "New Proposal" button and navigate to form "UBC Course Proposal for MQR (Undergraduate)".

For questions contact vpue@buffalo.edu.

Additional Resources

Have a question about Math and Quantitative Reasoning?

Contact the Math and Quantitative Reasoning Sub-Committee Chair.