To Keep Students in STEM fields, Let’s Weed Out the Weed-Out Math Classes

The routes to a degree in science, technology, engineering and mathematics are through the classes. Hundreds of thousands of college students take introductory math each year. One of the reasons why students abandon a degree in science, technology, engineering and mathematics is because of traditional calculus courses. The loss of talent is something society can ill afford, as scientific understanding and innovation are increasingly central to solving 21st-century problems.

This dilemma is unlikely to be solved by math departments alone. Several of the promising reforms highlighted in our report were spearheaded by professors outside of math departments.