A New Mathematics Course Sequence for Life Sciences Majors : A progress report ∗

In response to the BIO 2010 report on transforming undergraduate education for biologists [9], a group of faculty applied for and received an NIH T36 grant to support curricular changes. We used a three-pronged approach: 1) modifications in the introductory biology, physics, and mathematics sequences for life science majors; 2) an interdisciplinary research seminar connecting the disciplines; and 3) creation of a new bioinformatics minor. We report here on changes in the mathematics curriculum, assessment of the changes, and related aspects of curricular change. Three new courses were created: Math 105, Introduction to Mathematical Models in Biology (replacing the trigonometry course), and Math 204/205 Applied Calculus I/II. In all new courses, the mathematical concepts are introduced and explained in the context of biological applications. The new sequence started in Fall 2011, and all three courses have been taught at least six times. Assessments of student attitudes towards mathematics and its importance show positive change, and students are taking the courses earlier in their careers. The positive trend in terms of pass rates from the first year of the implementation continues, even as the number of faculty teaching the courses has increased. Ongoing challenges such as finding instructors to teach the sequence, selecting suitable textbooks, and training of biology faculty on the new mathematics topics are discussed.