Choosing a Foundational Mathematics Course in Higher Education: How Is the Decision Made?

This qualitative research used the tenants of phenomenological research to structure a study that begins to identify faculty coordinator's decision processes in selecting a general education mathematics course. In this study, I examined the question if a faculty member's experiences or beliefs had any influence on the decision process. The interviews occurred with faculty in degree programs grouped by the following a) no specific mathematics requirements (e.g., Humanities) degree programs, b) mathematics-light degree programs (e.g., Social Sciences) and c) mathematics-intensive degrees (e.g., Computer Science). The results of this study are varied but suggest that faculty tasked making decisions on mathematics should understand current recommendations and trends in mathematics selection. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]