Quantitative Literacy

KSC Definition of Quantitative Literacy

Quantitative literacy is a habit of mind manifested by knowledge of and confidence with numerical information. The ability to question, interpret, manipulate, and analyze numbers encountered in all aspects of life is the hallmark of a quantitatively literate person.

Generic Course Description for All QL Courses

Introduces students to quantitative reasoning skills and habits of mind to understand and apply quantitative information to their lives. Students will investigate questions or problems and analyze data. Students will create written reports and orally present the results of their investigations.

Students who are quantitatively literate are able to:

1. apply the basic methods of descriptive statistics, including both pictorial representations and numerical summary measures, to analyze data;
2. use appropriate software to create spreadsheets, tables, graphs and charts;
3. read and interpret visually represented data;
4. distinguish among various types of growth models (e.g., linear, exponential) and the types of situations for which the models are appropriate;
5. critically read and interpret a quantitative problem; and
6. apply acquired quantitative skills and concepts to describe, analyze and interpret real-life data.

The following courses have been identified as IQL alternatives, as they meet the outcome requirements for an IQL course. Students who successfully complete an alternative will have met the IQL program requirement.

Students who entered in Fall 2007 and Fall 2008 can continue to use the following course alternatives for IQL 101:

Math 120, Math 130, Math 141, MATH 151, Math 172, MGT 140, and PSYC 251.

Students who enter in Fall 2009 and beyond can use the following course alternatives for IQL 101:

Math 120, Math 141, Math 172, Math 175 (special note: for Fall 2010, Math 199-02 is experimental section for Math 175. Math 175 will be offered beginning Fall 11), and MGT 140.