Applied Quantitative Reasoning Requirement & Quantitative Reasoning Placement
The Applied Quantitative Reasoning (AQR) requirement of the General Education curriculum requires students to successfully complete an AQR designated course by the end of
their third year. These courses, which are offered by a variety of departments, emphasize using quantitative skills in our lives and to understand our world. Accordingly,
AQR courses center quantitative reasoning to make informed decisions; to understand,
model, and make predictions about our world based on empirical quantitative data;
and to know how to interpret and communicate quantitative data and results.
To enroll in an AQR course requires fulfilling a QR prerequisite(s) based on your
quantitative reasoning placement. Students can meet the prerequisite to enroll in
an AQR course in one of four ways (Figure 1):
- Achieving a score of at least 650 on the Math seciton of the SAT or a score of at least 28 on the Mathematics ACT examination to place directly into an AQR course. ACT or SAT scores must be officially submitted to the College. Please note, listing your scores on your Common Application without having them officially sent to Skidmore does not count. If you have the relevant standardized test score, but did not offically submit your scores to Skidmore, please go to your College Board or ACT account, take a screenshot of the summary page (or print page to PDF) that shows your full name, date of birth, and all of your scores including test dates, and then email that screenshot (or PDF) to registrar@skidmore.edu.
- Taking the online QR Placement Diagnostic and placing directly into an AQR course. Incoming students who do not submit ACT or SAT scores or whose scores do not place them into an AQR course must take the online QR Placement Diagnostic.
- Taking the online QR Placement Diagnostic and placing into a Foundational QR course (FQR course). Students who place into an FQR course must successfully complete it by the end of their second year. These courses, which are offered by a variety of departments, emphasize the application of mathematical calculations and concepts to daily life.
- Taking the online QR Placement Diagnostic and placing into MA 100 (Quantitative Reasoning). This course, which emphasizes basic quantitative reasoning skills in mathematics and statistics, is required for all students who do not place into an FQR or AQR course and must be successfully completed by the end of their first year. Students must then take and successfully complete an FQR course (as described above) by the end of their second year. Students who place into MA 100 will be given only one opportunity during Orientation to take an in-person test to revise their placement to FQR (students in the London FYE should speak with the QR Director to make alternative arrangements).
For incoming students, quantitative reasoning placement should be completed prior
to talking with your advisor and before class registration, either through standardized test scores or the online QR Placement Diagnostic. You need to take the QR Placement Diagnostic seriously as underplacement means taking
up to two additional QR courses.
Note - The QR Placement Diagnostic may only be taken once.
Prerequisites for QR courses*
You may be interested in taking a specific AQR course during your first semester at Skidmore. If you are interested in enrolling in an AQR course your first semester, we encourage you to do so, but be aware of pre-requisites. You will need to place at the AQR level in order to enroll in an AQR course your first semester at Skidmore or complete an FQR course before matriculating and transfer it to Skidmore. Placement is done either by submitting the required SAT or ACT scores (as described above) or taking the online QR Placement Diagnostic (as described above) and earning a score on the placement diagnostic that places them into an AQR course.
Students who place into MA 100 must take and successfully complete MA 100 before enrolling in any FQR courses and
then must take an FQR course before enrolling in an AQR course. The QR Director will
provide students placed into MA 100 one opportunity to revise their QR Placement to
FQR by taking an in person QR test. The one chance to take the QR in person test
will be during Orientation. The QR Director will make arrangements with students in
London regarding the opportunity to take the QR in person test.
Please be aware that certain AQR courses may be required or expected for particular
majors or tracks within your first two years at Skidmore. Please discuss with your
advisor and plan accordingly. It is your responsibility to be informed of such requirements
and register for courses accordingly.
Learning Goals for the AQR Requirement
Upon successfully completing the AQR requirement, a student will be able to do the following:
- Use statistical and/or mathematical models to characterize empirical data;
- Understand, model, and predict the behavior of populations or systems;
- Interpret and communicate results orally and/or in writing; and
- Use quantitative reasoning for informed decision-making.
Note - If you entered Skidmore prior to the Fall of 2020, please see the old QR requirements page.