SCHC 311 H01 20687

Analysis, ARP

Notes:

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2020 will be the 59th presidential election in the United States.  This will be a closely watched election and affects every resident of the U.S. This course on voting and elections will capitalize on the ubiquity of this election in the media. No high-level mathematical prerequisites are required.  The course will be taught using an inquiry-based approach to keep students engaged and guide them through the major topics in voting theory - majority rule, the plurality method, the Condorcet method, and weighted voting as well as the relevant theorems pertaining to these topics. The fact that mathematics is the central subject will give students a “neutral” ground allowing them to engage in constructive discussions that will not be predetermined by political views. A course on voting theory would be incomplete without incorporating the justice aspect of voting and elections - gerrymandering, voter suppression, and the 19th, 24th, and 26th amendments to the U.S. Constitution, which would be addressed throughout the semester as well as being topics for in-depth research as part of the students’ final projects. Course Prerequisites: C or better in any 100-level mathematics course, or placement through the Mathematics Placement Test into either MATH 115 or MATH 122 or higher. (Equivalently, B or better in high school precalculus mathematics or higher.)