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

Linda MaxsonUniversity of Iowa

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

THE Liberal Arts

Trivium– Language (grammar)– Rhetoric (oratory)– Dialectic (logic)

Quadrivium– Geometry– Arithmetic– Music– Astronomy

Iowa’s Eleven Colleges

CLAS*, Business*,Engineering*Education, Graduate College, LawMedicine, Public Health, Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy

* Where most undergraduates earn degrees

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

CLAS Teaching and Degrees

• Teaches over 90% of all undergraduates• Awards ~3/4 of all undergraduate

degrees• Awards ~ 1/2 of all graduate degrees

TILE Constellation Courses

• Origins of Life in the Universe

–Anthropology, Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, and Geosciences

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

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

Initiatives

• Optimal Aging

• Digital Humanities

• Digital Arts

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

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

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

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