2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

The Curricular Complexity project, a collaborative effort between the University of Washington Tacoma (UWT) and Virginia Tech and funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), investigates how quantitative curricular models correspond to STEM student success measures across different programs. Additionally, this project uses directed graphs known as “complexity maps” to model prerequisite structures within STEM majors, identifying critical gateway courses, blocking sequences, and structural delays that influence student progression and degree completion.

Our goal is to assess curricular complexity across different majors at the institution both quantitatively with complexity measures, and qualitatively with curricular map visualizations. The maps help visualize major options, identify hidden barriers such as critical gateway courses and restrictive prerequisite chains, and explore meaningful academic routes. Long term this data will be paired with student GPA and program completion rates to better understand the relationship with student pathways.

In this paper we share the results of curricular mappings for several STEM majors at the institution. Faculty and advisors have also used complexity maps not only to support students in making confident, informed major choices and improve advising conversations, but to identify areas where curricula can be restructured to reduce delays in degree progress, simplify prerequisite sequences, and make STEM pathways more accessible.