Analysis of low student interest in pure mathematics majors at universities

Authors

  • Dwi Kharisma Rahma Program Studi Matematika, Universitas Islam Negeri Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang

Keywords:

Pure mathematics, student interests, higher education, student perceptions, job prospects

Abstract

Pure mathematics is a branch of fundamental science that plays an important role in the advancement of technology and scientific development. However, students’ interest in choosing pure mathematics as a major in higher education has tended to decline in recent years. This study aims to examine the factors causing the low level of student interest in this major. The research employed a qualitative descriptive method with a literature study approach. The results indicate that the low level of student interest is influenced by the perception that mathematics is a difficult, abstract field with limited career prospects. In addition, the lack of public understanding regarding the application of mathematics in the modern workplace is also a major factor. In fact, mathematics graduates have broad career opportunities in fields such as data science, actuarial science, statistics, artificial intelligence, and information technology. Therefore, innovations in the learning process, improvement of career literacy, and the development of technology-based learning media are needed to increase students’ interest in pure mathematics majors. Thus, increasing interest in pure mathematics requires a synergy of innovative instruction, enhanced information regarding career prospects, and the use of technology, enabling students to view mathematics as a relevant and adaptive discipline that offers extensive opportunities in the digital era.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abdussakir, A. (2014). Matematika dalam Al-Qur’an. UIN-Maliki Press. https://repository.uin-malang.ac.id/1749/

Gultom, G. A., Simatupang, D. A., Purba, S. G. A., Rumapea, M. S., & Sinaga, C. V. R. (2025). Resistensi Mahasiswa Dalam Mengatasi Kesulitan Belajar Struktur Aljabar di Universitas HKBP Nommensen Pematangsiantar. As-Salam: Journal Islamic Social Sciences and Humanities, 3(1), 44–54.

Ibrahim, M., Waya, N. I., Aslam, A. H., Muhammad, R. R., & Anggoro, B. S. (2025). Fenomena Salah Jurusan Terhadap Studi Mahasiswa pada Prodi Pendidikan Matematika Universitas Islam Negeri Raden Intan Lampung. Didactical Mathematics, 7(2), 224–240.

Irawan, W. H., Hijriyah, N., & Habibi, A. R. (2013). Pengantar Teori Bilangan. UIN Maliki Press. http://repository.uin-malang.ac.id/1291/

Masitoh, L. F., & Aeni, W. G. (2025). Literasi Matematika Perguruan Tinggi: Fondasi Konseptual dan Aplikasi Interdisipliner. CV Eureka Media Aksara.

Purba, R. A., Tamrin, A. F., Bachtiar, E., Makbul, R., Rofiki, I., Metanfanuan, T., Masrul, M., Simarmata, J., Juliana, J., & Irawan, E. (2020). Teknologi pendidikan. http://repository.uin-malang.ac.id/7035/

Siregar, R. N. (2017). Analisis faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi mahasiswa memilih Jurusan Tadris/Pendidikan Matematika Fakultas Tarbiyah dan Ilmu Keguruan IAIN Padangsimpuan. IAIN Padangsidimpuan.

Tristanti, L. B., Qomarijah, O. N., Judijanto, L., Sudarman, S., & Amalia, R. (2025). Media & teknologi pembelajaran matematika. PT. Sonpedia Publishing Indonesia.

Downloads

Published

2026-11-02

How to Cite

Rahma, D. K. (2026). Analysis of low student interest in pure mathematics majors at universities. Maliki Interdisciplinary Journal, 4(11), 111–117. Retrieved from https://urj.uin-malang.ac.id/index.php/mij/article/view/27632

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 11 (2026): NOVEMBER

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Dwi Kharisma Rahma

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

  • Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work’s authorship and initial publication in this journal.
  • Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal’s published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
  • Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.