College algebra proves to be a major hurdle for students
Over 40 percent of CSUF students failed the course in spring 2007
By: Christin Davis
Issue date: 12/4/07 Section: News
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Students at Cal State Fullerton are struggling to get through math classes that are required for graduation - 42 percent of students enrolled in College Algebra in the spring '07 semester and 32 percent of students in the fall '06 semester did not pass.
"Math is very technical, demanding, and generally not viewed as fun," said Math Department Chair Paul De Land. "For many students it's a huge burden and a high hurdle to jump."
Many undergraduate students trudge through general education requirements doing their best to avoid any class that consists of equations, formulas and theorems only to find themselves with a slate of seemingly unsolvable quadratic equations.
The biggest problem, however, is often just passing.
"Remembering the formulas and equations make math hard for a lot of people," said freshman Emmelynn Guevara, an undeclared major who is currently enrolled in College Algebra. "They think they don't need to learn these things but really, we use it in everyday life."
General education at CSUF requires a minimum of three units to be completed in mathematics from a choice of seven 100-level courses with a grade of "C" or better.
Most students choose to fulfill this requirement with the four-unit College Algebra class; 1,682 students are enrolled in 44 sections this semester.
One factor for difficulty is a lack of preparation prior to enrollment in college level math courses.
"Math requires several levels of logical thinking, and unless you enjoy that or are trained in it, it can be difficult," De Land said.
Nearly 1.5 million high-school age students took the SAT college entrance exam this year, the largest group ever according to the College Board, a non profit group that owns the SAT.
The mathematics portion of the new test added questions on Algebra II and dropped quantitative comparisons.
In California, 49 percent of graduating students took the exam with an average math score of 516.
"Math is very technical, demanding, and generally not viewed as fun," said Math Department Chair Paul De Land. "For many students it's a huge burden and a high hurdle to jump."
Many undergraduate students trudge through general education requirements doing their best to avoid any class that consists of equations, formulas and theorems only to find themselves with a slate of seemingly unsolvable quadratic equations.
The biggest problem, however, is often just passing.
"Remembering the formulas and equations make math hard for a lot of people," said freshman Emmelynn Guevara, an undeclared major who is currently enrolled in College Algebra. "They think they don't need to learn these things but really, we use it in everyday life."
General education at CSUF requires a minimum of three units to be completed in mathematics from a choice of seven 100-level courses with a grade of "C" or better.
Most students choose to fulfill this requirement with the four-unit College Algebra class; 1,682 students are enrolled in 44 sections this semester.
One factor for difficulty is a lack of preparation prior to enrollment in college level math courses.
"Math requires several levels of logical thinking, and unless you enjoy that or are trained in it, it can be difficult," De Land said.
Nearly 1.5 million high-school age students took the SAT college entrance exam this year, the largest group ever according to the College Board, a non profit group that owns the SAT.
The mathematics portion of the new test added questions on Algebra II and dropped quantitative comparisons.
In California, 49 percent of graduating students took the exam with an average math score of 516.
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Kim
posted 12/04/07 @ 11:12 AM PST
As alumni of CSUF, I can't begin to tell you the incredible struggle I had passing Math. When I see quotes of how a Math professor says that struggles in this subject are partially due to a bad work ethic, I want to SCREAM! It wasn't until I graduated from CSUF that I learned I have ADHD with a LEARNING DISABILITY IN MATHEMATICS. (Continued…)
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