The purpose of the Quantitative Reasoning Center at DePaul
University is to help DePaul students to become confident and critical
users of quantitative information of all kinds. It directly supports the
course LSP 120 Quantitative Reasoning and supports the development of
quantitative skills across the curriculum.
It consists of
- 25 networked computers
- student tutors
- technical coordinator
- program coordinator
The program addresses the growing need for quantitative and computer
literacy in response to the enormous expansion in the use of
quantitative methods and information in the social and physical sciences
as well as civic life. The use and misuse of quantitative information
in public policy and scientific issues are particularly emphasized;
students are taught to recognize the limitations of the quantitative
methods as well as the insights they provide.
The characteristics of the course are
- Emphasis is on reasoning
- Context is interdisciplinary
- Technology is an integral part of course
- Active learning is emphasized
- Faculty share across disciplines
Students learn by working with data sets from many different
disciplines, such as psychology, environmental science, economics,
finance, sociology, history. Students write critiques of quantitative
arguments, gather data and present arguments of their own.
Students are introduced to spreadsheets (Excel), word processors
(Word), presentation software (PowerPoint), email, and the internet in
all sections. Specific quantitative skills that are addressed include:
- Estimation
- Percentage Change
- Proportional Reasoning
- Scaling
- Descriptive Statistics
- Simple Mathematical Models (linear, exponential)
The course is taught by instructors from many disciplines;
psychology, communication, geography, history as well as mathematics and
computer science faculty have recently taught or are planning to teach a
section. The course is a prerequisite to the Science Inquiry Domain
courses in the Liberal Studies Program. It provides a solid foundation
upon which subsequent courses in the disciplines and the Liberal Studies
Program can and must necessarily build.
Visit our main website at http://qrc.depaul.edu.