JoinPoint of View: Valuing the Prerequisite Course: Do Your Respect What You Require? Or Do You Send Mixed Messages to Your Majors?
Every science major has prerequisites: algebra, calculus, general chemistry, or introductory physics. As faculty, we understand the importance of these foundation courses. After all, we establish these prerequisites or, at least, review their utility periodically. Students often resent these courses because they are hard and command valuable time in academic schedules. Along the way, students set their study priorities: Everyone knows that the major class is important and the prerequisite course is just a hoop to jump through. And after taking the course, they reason they can forget this extraneous material.