Solid Foundations
Making sure every student who arrives at Berkeley has the mathematical foundations to thrive in STEM.
Why it matters
Around 80% of Berkeley undergraduates take a mathematics course, and for many majors it's a requirement. A large number of students arrive with gaps in their preparation, often through no fault of their own, and early math courses are where many decide to leave STEM.
Solid Foundations works to close those gaps. It revisits foundational topics that earlier schooling may not have covered, builds a community of peer support, and gives students a support system that lasts through their first year. I have directed the initiative since 2021.
Math 1
Foundations of Lower Division Mathematics began in Fall 2023. It prepares students from a wide range of mathematical backgrounds for courses such as Math 51 and 52, 16A and 16B, and 10A and 10B. Even familiar topics are approached from a university perspective, with a strong emphasis on conceptual understanding and systematic problem solving.
The course is built around active learning lab rather than lectures, moving between short videos and carefully chosen problems worked on in groups. Math 1, Fall 2026.
Beyond Berkeley
High schools
Math 1 has been adapted for high school students through the University of California's partnership with the National Education Opportunity Network (NEON), which brings credit-bearing university courses into Title 1 high schools. Students earn both high school credit and transferable UC credit. The first run, in Fall 2025, was in four schools, with students working through the material three hours a week.
Berkeley Extension
Math 1 is being adapted as an online course for UC Berkeley Extension, built around short instructional videos with exercises in between, so anyone can work through it at their own pace.
An interactive online platform
We are building an interactive online platform for foundational mathematics. It will bring together video lectures, notes and practice in one place, organized as learning paths so students can see what to study and in what order, and work through it at their own pace. It's still early days, and I'll share more here as it takes shape.
How it started
- Precalculus EssentialsAn online summer course for incoming students, created with Kelli Talaska. It grew into Math 1, and the online course materials are still available.2020 to 2022
- Math 1Foundations of Lower Division Mathematics, taught at Berkeley every semester.2023 to present
- Math 1 in high schoolsOffered in Title 1 high schools through UC's partnership with NEON.2025 to present
- Math 1 for Berkeley ExtensionAn online version for UC Berkeley Extension.In development
- Online platformInteractive learning paths for foundational mathematics.In development
Support
Solid Foundations is made possible by the generous support of the Eustace-Kwan Family Foundation. To read more, see the department's page and How UC Berkeley is closing the math readiness gap from the College of Letters and Science.