Do Mathematics and Natural Sciences Belong in The College of Liberal Arts? Linda Maxson University 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, Law Medicine, 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