Do Mathematics and Natural Sciences Belong in The College of Liberal Arts?

1. Do Mathematics and Natural Sciences Belong in The College of Liberal Arts? Linda Maxson University of Iowa

3. Frank H. T. Rhodes • “..science is an essential component of liberal education… • science introduces us to ourselves & the world/universe we inhabit … • science complements & enriches insights into our nature & society that the humanities provide..” 1996

4. THE Liberal Arts Trivium • Language (grammar) • Rhetoric (oratory) • Dialectic (logic) Quadrivium • Geometry • Arithmetic • Music • Astronomy

5. Iowa’s Eleven Colleges CLAS*, Business*,Engineering* Education, Graduate College, Law Medicine, Public Health, Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy * Where most undergraduates earn degrees

6. CLAS • ~ 60 undergraduate degree programs • + Professional degrees – Journalism, Social Work, Clinical certification (Psychology, Speech Pathology, Audiology, Music Therapy) • MFA in writing, theatre arts, studio arts, performing arts

7. CLAS Teaching and Degrees • Teaches over 90% of all undergraduates • Awards ~3/4 of all undergraduate degrees • Awards ~ 1/2 of all graduate degrees

8. TILE Constellation Courses • Origins of Life in the Universe • Anthropology, Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, and Geosciences

9. Tile Constellation Courses • Writing, Visualizing and Performing Jazz • American Studies, Art & Art History, English, History, Music • The (In)visible Universe: Imaging and imagining Artscience • Art & Art History, Chemistry, Physics & Astronomy

10. Tile Constellation Courses • The Bio-Sociology of Gender • Sociology, Women’s Studies, Gender & Sexuality Studies., Biology, and Psychology • The Physical Body • Dance, Theatre Arts, Health & Human Physiology, Biology, Physics& Astronomy, and Anatomy

11. Initiatives • Optimal Aging • Digital Humanities • Digital Arts

12. Benefits to Faculty • Provides more(and more diverse) colleagues • Facilitates interdisciplinary interactions • Encourages broader view of the academy • Provides interesting service opportunities • Consolidated Divisions • Permits retention of small units with tenured faculty • Allows faculty to train graduate students in their areas of expertise

13. Benefits to Students • Comprehensive advising throughout • Facilitates changing of majors; common core • Facilitates double majors and honors • Undergraduate writing center and certificate • Tailor-made math tutoring program • Facilitates interdisciplinary studies

14. Benefits to Institution • Financially Sustainable • Attractive Leadership Opportunity as Dean • Permits diverse curricula without requiring costly administrative overhead • CLAS as the heart of the university

15. Michael S. Roth • “The key to our success in the future will be an integrative education that doesn’t isolate the sciences from other parts of the curriculum, and that doesn’t shield the so-called creative and interpretive fields from a vigorous understanding of the problems addressed by scientists.” 2011