Transforming mathematics education for the next-generation workforce: building pathways to data science and AI through accessible innovations

CAL State LA University Auxiliary Services Inc. received a $499,867 Project Grant award effective January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2028, from the National Science Foundation's Division of Undergraduate Education under the STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076). This implementation and evaluation project aims to transform mathematics education by embedding computation, programming, and data science into undergraduate curricula across Pasadena City College (PCC) and California State University, Los Angeles (CAL State LA). The initiative will develop and deliver a comprehensive suite of computation-enriched courses, including lower-division offerings such as Calculus I and II with Programming, Linear Algebra with Python, and Statistical Programming at PCC, as well as upper-division courses at CAL State LA including Foundations of Mathematics for Data Science, a capstone course, and a revised Mathematical Statistics course. A new introductory Scientific Computing course will facilitate articulation between the two institutions.

The project delivers multiple integrated products and services designed to create a seamless transfer pathway for students pursuing data science and artificial intelligence careers. Key deliverables include the development of instructional materials emphasizing applied problem-solving, computational modeling, and ethical data analysis; faculty development outcomes; and comprehensive formative and summative evaluation assessments measuring curriculum effectiveness and student learning outcomes. By making computational skills accessible early in the academic journey, the project supports transfer preparation, enhances student engagement and retention in the data science workforce, and builds student-industry-faculty research collaborations. This work directly supports the National Science Foundation's priority of broadening participation in STEM among underrepresented populations at Hispanic-Serving Institutions while addressing critical workforce development needs in emerging technology fields.

Abstract

With support from the improving undergraduate stem education: hispanic-serving institutions (HSI) program, this implementation and evaluation project aims to transform mathematics education by embedding computation, programming, and data science into foundational and advanced undergraduate courses. The project will build a seamless pathway from pasadena city college (PCC) to california state university, LOS angeles (CAL state LA) for students pursuing careers in data science and AI-related fields. This work is important because students often lack access to courses that integrate modern computational tools into math curricula. By making these skills accessible early in the academic journey, the project will prepare students to thrive in high-demand, data-driven careers and help close achievement gaps in stem. The project expects to support transfer preparation, enhance student engagement and retention in the data science workforce by offering computation-enriched courses, creating a new data science option at CAL state LA, and building student-industry-faculty research collaborations. The project team will develop and implement a series of lower-division courses at PCC, such as calculus i and II with programming, linear algebra with python, and statistical programming?as well as upper-division courses at CAL state LA, including foundations of mathematics for data science, a capstone course, and a revised mathematical statistics course. A new introductory course in scientific computing will support articulation between the two institutions. The curriculum will emphasize applied problem-solving, computational modeling, and ethical data analysis. Evaluation will include both formative and summative assessments to measure curriculum effectiveness, faculty development outcomes, and student learning. All instructional materials will be made available as open educational resources (oers), and dissemination will include student research presentations and industry engagement. This project is funded by the HSI program, which aims to enhance undergraduate stem education and increase capacity to engage in the development and implementation of innovations to improve stem teaching and learning at hsis. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are planned for this award.