Mathletes Get Ready: University Of Sydney Is Making Mid-Level Maths Compulsory For 62 Degrees (With More Unis To Follow)

The University of Sydney will make 2-unit HSC mathematics a prerequisite for 62 degrees. (So, maybe don’t hurl that calculator at the wall once Year 10 comes to a close.)

I don’t know what those of you outside of Sydney are giggling about. This is just the first step in making maths a compulsory prerequisite for STEM courses at all Aussie unis, the SMH reports.

Last week, Education Minister Simon Birmingham launched the government’s decade-long plan to make mid-level maths (which includes a dash of calculus) necessary for any student hoping to study a science, technology, engineering or mathematics course at university.

The move is an attempt to stem the decline of STEM studies in Australia. (That kind of expert punnery is what you can expect from someone who did not take on a STEM degree. That, and little else.)

The decline in STEM studies is a real problem, with two-thirds of young Aussies now studying for jobs that robots will be doing in a decade. (Basically, we need a bigger embrace of STEM subjects, so that Australian graduates can build those robots, rather than become replaced by them.)

As it stands, only 14 per cent of science degrees ask students to have taken intermediate maths in Year 12, with many of those subjects optional in years 11 and 12.

The University of Sydney’s 2-unit maths prerequisite was given up in the early 2000s, but will be reinstated in 2019.

You can find the list of affected courses – including degrees in science, pharmacy, veterinary science, engineering, and, uniquely, music – here.

What are your thoughts on the move towards more maths?

Photo: Paramount.