Students admitted to the eighteen month Administrative Sciences Curriculum
at the Naval Postgraduate School are automatically enrolled in a series of
three mathematics courses: differential calculus, integral calculus, and matrix
algebra. Students entering the program have diverse academic backgrounds,
some having had extensive training in mathematics and related subjects and
others having had very little previous work in mathematics. A student who already has the necessary background may attempt to validate the courses
through examination, but there is presently no effective transcript review
process to facilitate validation. Nor is there any formal process
for placing students in mathematics courses on the basis of their ability
and previous training.
This study analyzes the factors influencing student performance in
these three mathematics courses. Validation guidelines are presented for
two of the courses, and a procedure for establishing validation guidelines
which could easily be applied to other courses and to other curricula
is described. Recommendations for changes in the mathematics program for management students conclude the paper.The work reported herein was accomplished without the support of any outside agency.http://archive.org/details/factorsinfluenci00sonnN
