2000-01 Bulletin Entry for:


Quantitative Reasoning


Objectives


The quantitative reasoning requirement has been established to develop students' abilities to collect, summarize, and analyze numerical data, to make abstract concepts operational, and to think critically about the accuracy and soundness of conclusions based on data or on mathematical models. Quantitative reasoning courses usually embed methodological training in their subject matter. These courses vary widely in the skills that are emphasized, but they usually include one or more of the following:

A. Learning to read, construct, interpret, and evaluate tables, graphs, and charts.

B. Developing quantitative measures of physical, behavioral, or social phenomena.

C. Using mathematical models to express causal relationships and to explore the implications of changed assumptions or proposed solutions to problems in the physical or social world.

D. Collecting and organizing numerical data from archives, surveys, lab experiments, or other sources.

E. Testing hypotheses, using experimental or statistical controls.

F. Assessing the limitations of research, such as the reliability and validity of measures, adequacy of experimental design, sample size and quality, and alternative hypotheses and interpretations.

Each Brandeis undergraduate is required to take one course from the approved list of quantitative reasoning courses. This list may change, so students should consult the most recent list of approved courses in the Course Schedule to assure that they will receive requirement credit. (Naturally, students will not be denied credit retroactively if a course taken to fulfill the requirement is later dropped from the list.)

Courses with an asterisk (*) satisfy the quantitative reasoning requirement only when they are taken with the corresponding lab.


Courses of Instruction



ANTHROPOLOGY

ANTH 110a

Introduction to Human Evolution

BIOCHEMISTRY

BIBC 22a*

Genetics and Molecular Biology

BCHM 100a

Introductory Biochemistry


BIOLOGY

BIBC 22a*

Genetics and Molecular Biology


CHEMISTRY

CHSC 3a

The Planet as an Organism: Gaia Theory and the Human Prospect

CHSC 5a

The Magnitude of Things and How on Earth They Matter

CHSC 6a

Forensic Science: Col. Mustard, Candlestick, Billiard Room

CHSC 8b

Chemistry and Art

CHEM 10a

Basic Chemistry

CHEM 10b

Basic Chemistry

CHEM 11a

General Chemistry: Principles of Material Evolution

CHEM 11b

General Chemistry: Principles of Material Evolution

CHEM 15a

Honors General Chemistry, Lectures

CHEM 15b

Honors General Chemistry, Lectures

CHEM 150b

Special Topics in Chemistry


COMPUTER SCIENCE

COSI 21a*

Data Structures and the Fundamentals of Computing

COSI 21b*

Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs


ECONOMICS

ECON 2a

Introduction to Economics

ECON 83a

Statistics for Economic Analysis

ECON 135a

Industrial Organization

ECON 184b

Econometrics


B>LEGAL STUDIES

LGLS 138b

Science on Trial


MATHEMATICS

MATH 8a

Introduction to Probability and Statistics

MATH 36a

Probability

MATH 36b

Mathematical Statistics


NEAR EASTERN AND JUDAIC STUDIES

NEJS 170b

Analyzing the American Jewish Community


PHYSICS

PHSC 2b

Introductory Astronomy

PHSC 4a

Science and Development

PHSC 7b

Technology and the Management of Public Risk

PHSC 9b

Introduction to Physics

PHYS 10a

Physics for the Life Sciences I

PHYS 10b

Physics for the Life Sciences II

PHYS 11a

Basic Physics I

PHYS 11b

Basic Physics II

PHYS 15a

Honors Basic Physics I

PHYS 15b

Honors Basic Physics II


PSYCHOLOGY

PSYC 51a

Statistics

PSYC 152a

Experimental Psychology


SOCIOLOGY

SOC 106a

Issues in Law and Society

SOC 113b

Race and Power in Intergroup Relations

SOC 115a

Class Structure and Consciousness

SOC 181a

Quantitative Methods of Social Inquiry

SOC 190b

On the Caring of the Medical Care System