4 Things You Need to Know About the College of Arts and Sciences
Vanderbilt’s College of Arts and Science exemplifies academic rigor and a participatory style of learning in an environment small enough to foster excellent teaching yet large enough to provide world-class research opportunities. Today we’ll take a look at some of the factors that set Vanderbilt’s liberal arts education apart.
- 28% of recent graduates participated in faculty research. Undergraduates in the College of Arts and Science coauthor research papers published by faculty as well as author and publish their own scholarly work – 38% of recent graduates participated in independent study or research. Erica Graff, a current senior (and Inside ‘Dores student blogger), says of her research experience:
“I work in a gastrointestinal lab in the Vanderbilt University Medical Center that studies H. pylori, the bacteria that causes most GI cancers. I got involved by visiting the Medical Center’s website and emailing the researchers in the department in which I was interested.” - 91% of classes have less than 50 students. With an 8:1 student to faculty ratio, mostclasses in the College of Arts and Science are kept small, allowing students ample opportunity to work closely with faculty members. Through experiences like the First Year Writing Seminars, students can expect small classes from their very first semester on campus.
- 35% of students in A&S graduate with a double major, 50% with a minor. The College of Arts and Science offers a wide range of majors, from Art to Chemistry to Economics to Psychology to Theatre, the list goes on . . . and sometimes it’s hard to choose just one. It’s a good thing that A&S offers the academic flexibility for students to double major or add a minor. Did we mention that A&S offers a wealth of interdisciplinary programs as well? (Answer: yes, Carolyn mentioned it on the blog last September.)
- A&S offers five-year combined BA+MA programs in 10 disciplines. Through these programs students can earn both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in five years. Students work with their advisor to plan the course of study for the combined program. This option is currently available for English; French; German; History; Latin American Studies; Mathematics; Medicine, Health and Society; Philosophy; Political Science; and Psychology.