The Logistics

In its working paper, the Core Review Committee proposes that a quantitative reasoning area be added to the Core only when there are "a sufficient number of courses available to provide real choice for students with different levels of skill."

It also states that there must be "enough flexibility in the whole system of requirements to increase the number of areas [from 10 to 11] while moderating the demands on student time."

Verba says he does not want to increase the number of required courses.

"Our committee felt students have too many requirements," he says. "It would be unfortunate to add a quantitative requirement without changing anything else."

Hurwitz agrees with the Core Review Committee that there must be a wide range of courses available to fulfill the requirement.

She says she would like existing departmental classes and new Core classes in computer science, game theory and statistics count.

"I'd be really disappointed if it turned out to be just a few statistics classes counting," Hurwitz says. "We really need a lot of classes to be able to count for this."

In addition, Hurwitz says students with substantial quantitative ability should be able to take more advanced departmental courses to fulfill the requirement.

The student report on the Core suggests two possible ways to create a quantitative requirement. The first is to set a minimum level of proficiency that every student must achieve. The second is to require every under-graduate to take a quantitative course at any level, regardless of previous exposure.

Even if the QRR change becomes policy in May, the class of 2001 will still have to take the QRR test, according to Verba, because there are too many uncertainties that need to be resolved.

The Faculty would have to form a committee to design the guidelines for the requirement and propose courses.

"I wouldn't think there would be enough available by this coming fall," Verba says. "It's just too short a time."

Possible Courses

The working paper contains a list of 10 types of courses which might be offered in quantitative reasoning.