UT students stand above the trend of U.S. college students, who are reported to be less interested in math and science courses and are thus less prepared for global competition, according to a new study.
A year-long study by the Commission on Presidential Leadership and Global Competitiveness released in September found college students to be undereducated in science, technology and math.
The commission solicited all 300 members of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and used information from those who responded for the report.
Bruce Shepard, president of Western Washington University and chairman of the commission that conducted the study, said the apparent lack of interest in math and sciences concerns him. He said that in order for the U.S. to effectively compete in a global market, interest needs to be generated in natural sciences and international relations.
“Making our campuses more international benefits everybody’s education,” Shepard said.
“This great depression really brought home to us all the increased importance of thinking globally.”
Despite the study’s findings, UT has seen a slight increase in enrollment at the College of Natural Sciences.
Total enrollment for the college increased .30 percent from fall 2007 to fall 2008 and .75 percent from fall 2008 to fall 2009, according to the UT Office of Information Management and Analysis.
Brett Rambo, postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said interest in science at UT seems high.
“A lot of students go through this department to get where they want to be,” Rambo said. “If we are ever going to improve the world or make an impact on the world, math and sciences are the way to go about it.”
Evolutionary biology professor Eric Pianka said his class size has doubled in the past year.
In addition to drawing awareness to math and science programs, colleges are recommended to increase international awareness on campus and to promote study abroad, according to the study.
Christian Clarke Casarez, director of international public affairs at UT, said study abroad programs help students understand different cultures, thus helping the country remain competitive in the global marketplace.
“Study abroad is becoming an important element in a student’s academic preparation, especially in fields where employers value international experience and language skills such as business, communications, engineering and public policy,” Casarez said.
Psychology senior Sophie Foreman, the UT international opportunities director who studied abroad in Australia last fall, said students should take advantage of the technological opportunities offered and delve into foreign cultures.
“It is our responsibility as a generation to keep up this new wave of global citizenship, and in order to do so, we must experience other cultures on a personal level,” Foreman said.
“You can Google or Wikipedia as many countries as you like, but in order to get a true understanding of another culture, you must spend a significant amount of time within it.”
Recent trend suggests less interest in math, sciences
Published: Thursday, October 29, 2009
Updated: Thursday, October 29, 2009
 "Photo: Shelley Neuman/The Daily Texan")
Shelley Neuman/The Daily Texan
Taft Mashburn, a studio art senior, works on a piece in the advanced painting studio of the art building on Wednesday. A new study shows that students are less inclined than their predecessors to pursue degrees in technology, math and science fields.
4 comments
Mike B
After the value of the dollar slips to nothing, then we won't really need science anymore. We will just become an American China or Mexico and be another country that assembles products.
R Stefancik, M.D. BA 78 MD 82
And I guess I should throw in the personal computer to boot.
R Stefancik, M.D. BA 78 MD 82
Educate me as to what was multidisciplinary about the invention of the cell phone and the microwave oven, the 2 devices that have most changed my everyday life over my 53 years?
Your name
Brett Rambo is wrong to say, “If we are ever going to improve the world or make an impact on the world, math and sciences are the way to go about it.” It's obviously biased, coming from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.Today's advancements are clearly multidisciplinary efforts. All disciplines will be valuable in our development, not just math and science
