Abstract

The demand for STEM graduates has increased, but the number of incoming freshmen who declare a STEM major has remained stagnant. High school courses, such as calculus, can open or close the gate for students interested in careers in STEM. The purpose of this study was to determine if high school mathematics preparation was a significant prerequisite for success in the pre-engineering curriculum at the post-secondary level. The College Freshman Survey was administered to a sample of 2,328 incoming freshman students, then their survey responses were matched with the grades and standardized test scores provided by the university’s institutional research office. A multiple regression analysis was conducted to predict quantitative pre-engineering GPA. The most significant predictor of quantitative GPA was adjusted ACT math score. Other significant contributors to the models were calculus, algebra II, trigonometry, and algebra I grades. The results suggest that high school preparation in specific mathematics subjects does have a positive impact on success in pre-engineering education.

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