Arts and Sciences at Washington University
Encyclopedia
The Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis
are composed of three divisions: the College of Arts & Sciences, the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, and University College in Arts & Sciences. The current Dean of the Faculty is Gary S. Wihl, Hortense and Tobias Lewin Distinguished Profossor in the Humanities, who began his tenure in the 2009-10 Academic year. For the 2008-09 academic year, Ralph S. Quatrano was Interim Dean of Arts & Sciences, replacing Executive Vice Chancellor Ed Macias who has taken the role of Provost.
faculty along with over 100 research scientists, lecturers, artists in residence, and visitors serving about 3,000 undergraduates in 40 academic departments divided into divisions of Humanities
, Social Sciences
, and Natural Sciences and Mathematics
. The College of Arts and Sciences is the largest undergraduate Unit at Washington University, which is ranked 13th among national Universities by US News and World Report.
Undergraduates in the other schools meet general education requirements by taking courses in the College of Arts & Sciences. Many of these students have double majors or minors in an Arts & Sciences discipline as well as in their professional field.
Beginning with the freshmen of 2001, Arts & Sciences students are required to satisfy the new Discovery Curriculum requirements. Based on the Bowen Commission Report approved by the faculty in 1999, the Discovery Curriculum requires students to demonstrate breadth and depth of knowledge across four discipline areas (Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Social Sciences, Textual and Historical Studies, and Language and the Arts), as well as satisfy requirements in Quantitative Analysis, Social Differentiation, Cultural Diversity, and writing.
Undergraduates at the University are encouraged to participate in faculty research
. Research is available in all areas of study in Arts & Sciences, and is available to students as early as their freshman year. An Undergraduate Research Journal is published semesterly, featuring the most outstanding projects from undergraduates. The Office of Undergraduate Research helps students find research opportunities that match their interests. Undergraduates can also apply for grants and awards from the University, which may be used towards their research endeavors.
Leading the College of Arts & Sciences from 1992 to 2011 was Dean James E. McLeod, who died Sept 7, 2011, of cancer. McLeod (b. 1944) had also served the University as Vice Chancellor for Students since 1995.
and PhD
degrees. It is ranked highly in terms of time to degree and the rate at which it places its graduates. Some of its many notable programs include Germanic Languages and Literatures, Creative Writing, Political Science, Anthropology and the interdisciplinary degree in Philosophy-Neurosciences-Psychology. Richard J. Smith
is the Dean of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.
and Cambridge
universities in England
. Robert E. Wiltenburg is the Dean of University College at Washington University in St. Louis.
When the first classes began at Washington University in St. Louis on October 22, 1854, all courses were offered in the evening. As the University grew and added new departments, identical evening courses were offered for the education and training of adult students. The Division of University Extension was created in 1915 to manage part-time programs, and by 1923, had more students than the University's full-time enrollment. University College was created in 1931, and had the power to confer baccalaureate degrees and enroll students in full-time programs. Post-WWII
expansion in 1948 saw a University College enrollment of 8,000 students, with enrollment peaking at 17,000 in the 1970s.
Graduate degrees conferred by University College include Master of Arts in Human Resources Management, Master of Arts in Nonprofit Management, Master of Liberal Arts, Master of Arts in Education, Master of Arts in International Affairs, Master of Arts in American Culture Studies, Master of Arts in Biology, and Master of Health Science in Health Care Services. Undergraduate degrees offered by University College include Global Leadership and Management, Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Managerial Economics, and Political Science.
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
are composed of three divisions: the College of Arts & Sciences, the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, and University College in Arts & Sciences. The current Dean of the Faculty is Gary S. Wihl, Hortense and Tobias Lewin Distinguished Profossor in the Humanities, who began his tenure in the 2009-10 Academic year. For the 2008-09 academic year, Ralph S. Quatrano was Interim Dean of Arts & Sciences, replacing Executive Vice Chancellor Ed Macias who has taken the role of Provost.
College of Arts & Sciences
The College of Arts & Sciences is the central undergraduate unit of the University with 330 tenured and tenure-trackTenure
Tenure commonly refers to life tenure in a job and specifically to a senior academic's contractual right not to have his or her position terminated without just cause.-19th century:...
faculty along with over 100 research scientists, lecturers, artists in residence, and visitors serving about 3,000 undergraduates in 40 academic departments divided into divisions of Humanities
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
, Social Sciences
Social sciences
Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
, and Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
. The College of Arts and Sciences is the largest undergraduate Unit at Washington University, which is ranked 13th among national Universities by US News and World Report.
Undergraduates in the other schools meet general education requirements by taking courses in the College of Arts & Sciences. Many of these students have double majors or minors in an Arts & Sciences discipline as well as in their professional field.
Beginning with the freshmen of 2001, Arts & Sciences students are required to satisfy the new Discovery Curriculum requirements. Based on the Bowen Commission Report approved by the faculty in 1999, the Discovery Curriculum requires students to demonstrate breadth and depth of knowledge across four discipline areas (Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Social Sciences, Textual and Historical Studies, and Language and the Arts), as well as satisfy requirements in Quantitative Analysis, Social Differentiation, Cultural Diversity, and writing.
Undergraduates at the University are encouraged to participate in faculty research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
. Research is available in all areas of study in Arts & Sciences, and is available to students as early as their freshman year. An Undergraduate Research Journal is published semesterly, featuring the most outstanding projects from undergraduates. The Office of Undergraduate Research helps students find research opportunities that match their interests. Undergraduates can also apply for grants and awards from the University, which may be used towards their research endeavors.
Leading the College of Arts & Sciences from 1992 to 2011 was Dean James E. McLeod, who died Sept 7, 2011, of cancer. McLeod (b. 1944) had also served the University as Vice Chancellor for Students since 1995.
Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
The Graduate School serves over 1,500 students pursuing MastersMaster's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
and PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
degrees. It is ranked highly in terms of time to degree and the rate at which it places its graduates. Some of its many notable programs include Germanic Languages and Literatures, Creative Writing, Political Science, Anthropology and the interdisciplinary degree in Philosophy-Neurosciences-Psychology. Richard J. Smith
Richard J. Smith (anthropologist)
Richard Jay Smith, an American anthropologist, is Ralph E. Morrow Distinguished Professor of Physical Anthropology at Washington University in St. Louis. He is now Dean of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.-Education:...
is the Dean of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.
University College in Arts & Sciences
University College at Washington University in St. Louis grants both graduate and undergraduate degrees, offering courses primarily in the evenings for adult and continuing education. It also oversees the primary summer school program for the University. "University College" is named after the urban adult-education centers founded in the 19th century by OxfordUniversity of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
and Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
universities in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Robert E. Wiltenburg is the Dean of University College at Washington University in St. Louis.
When the first classes began at Washington University in St. Louis on October 22, 1854, all courses were offered in the evening. As the University grew and added new departments, identical evening courses were offered for the education and training of adult students. The Division of University Extension was created in 1915 to manage part-time programs, and by 1923, had more students than the University's full-time enrollment. University College was created in 1931, and had the power to confer baccalaureate degrees and enroll students in full-time programs. Post-WWII
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
expansion in 1948 saw a University College enrollment of 8,000 students, with enrollment peaking at 17,000 in the 1970s.
Graduate degrees conferred by University College include Master of Arts in Human Resources Management, Master of Arts in Nonprofit Management, Master of Liberal Arts, Master of Arts in Education, Master of Arts in International Affairs, Master of Arts in American Culture Studies, Master of Arts in Biology, and Master of Health Science in Health Care Services. Undergraduate degrees offered by University College include Global Leadership and Management, Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Managerial Economics, and Political Science.