McMaster Arts and Science
Encyclopedia
The Arts and Science Program (also known as: ArtSci, Mac Arts Sci, or Arts & Sci) is a highly exclusive interdisciplinary undergraduate programme at McMaster University
in Hamilton
, Ontario
. It is one of the smallest and most prestigious direct-entry programmes in the university, and within Canada, admitting only 60 students per year, with a total size of about 250 students.
Due to the small size, reputation and popularity of this programme, it has for many years been one of the most selective undergraduate programs in Canada, requiring a competitive high-school GPA in addition to a detailed supplementary application.
In the mid-1970s, there was a growing sense at McMaster that although 4 year honours degrees were exceeding expectations, the 3 year bachelor degrees did not. In 1977, a university report recommended that McMaster explore the formation of an interdisciplinary program. In the spring of 1979, an ad hoc committee formed to investigate the recommendations, chaired by Dr. Dugal Campbell, reported to the university Senate. The Campbell Committee report was then endorsed by the university Senate in late June, 1979.
In the late summer of 1979, the Vice President (Academic) at the time, Leslie J. King, asked Dr. Herb Jenkins, a professor in McMaster's psychology department, to form a council to discuss, and serve as the director of a new baccalaureate programme in general studies. The Planning Council presented the "Outline of a New Baccalaureate Degree Programme in Arts and Science" in mid-March 1980. After criticisms were heard at the general faculty meeting on March 27 of that year, the Council revised the outline and presented it to the university Senate in May 1980. In September 1981, the Arts & Science Programme welcomed its first year of students.
The Arts & Science Programme awards its students with a B. Arts Sc.
Students may earn the degree in 3 years, although most students complete the degree in 4 years and earn the "Honours" appellation. At the general faculty meeting of March 1980, the professors from the faculty of Health Sciences were particularly enthusiastic about the outline presented. This led to the formation of the small, inquiry and interdisciplinary-based Health Sciences undergraduate program
in 1999. After Dr. Herb Jenkins retired as the first director of the Arts & Science Programme, he, along with Dr. Bob Hudspith went on to found the Engineering and Society program at the Faculty of Engineering. McMaster's Integrated Sciences Program has also been modeled after the Arts & Science Program
or professional school.
s in the program. Arguments against programme expansion include concerns that the sense of tight-knit community would be lost; that larger classes would reduce the quality of education; and that it would place added pressure on professors. The last increase in class size was in 1996, with an increase in intake from 50 students to 60. This increase was met with similar resistance, and many students and faculty regarded this as the beginning of the end of the intimate learning environment that had gained the Arts and Science Programme its strong reputation. Although the issue has not been resolved with finality, measures have been taken to address the issue for the coming few years with the ultimate aim of bringing enrolment back to a maximum of 60 students per year.
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
in Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. It is one of the smallest and most prestigious direct-entry programmes in the university, and within Canada, admitting only 60 students per year, with a total size of about 250 students.
Due to the small size, reputation and popularity of this programme, it has for many years been one of the most selective undergraduate programs in Canada, requiring a competitive high-school GPA in addition to a detailed supplementary application.
History
After the Second World War, McMaster University, like many other universities around the world, saw dramatic increases in student enrollment and degrees granted in the newly developing sciences. Initiatives to revive the liberal arts in the university were proposed in the ensuing years but did not leave the drawing board.In the mid-1970s, there was a growing sense at McMaster that although 4 year honours degrees were exceeding expectations, the 3 year bachelor degrees did not. In 1977, a university report recommended that McMaster explore the formation of an interdisciplinary program. In the spring of 1979, an ad hoc committee formed to investigate the recommendations, chaired by Dr. Dugal Campbell, reported to the university Senate. The Campbell Committee report was then endorsed by the university Senate in late June, 1979.
In the late summer of 1979, the Vice President (Academic) at the time, Leslie J. King, asked Dr. Herb Jenkins, a professor in McMaster's psychology department, to form a council to discuss, and serve as the director of a new baccalaureate programme in general studies. The Planning Council presented the "Outline of a New Baccalaureate Degree Programme in Arts and Science" in mid-March 1980. After criticisms were heard at the general faculty meeting on March 27 of that year, the Council revised the outline and presented it to the university Senate in May 1980. In September 1981, the Arts & Science Programme welcomed its first year of students.
The Arts & Science Programme awards its students with a B. Arts Sc.
Bachelor of Arts and Science
Bachelor of Arts and Science is an undergraduate bachelor's degree given by a small number of American universities and a fair number of universities in other English-speaking countries . Generally, to receive a B.A.S...
Students may earn the degree in 3 years, although most students complete the degree in 4 years and earn the "Honours" appellation. At the general faculty meeting of March 1980, the professors from the faculty of Health Sciences were particularly enthusiastic about the outline presented. This led to the formation of the small, inquiry and interdisciplinary-based Health Sciences undergraduate program
McMaster Faculty of Health Sciences
The McMaster Faculty of Health Sciences is one of six faculties at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The faculty was established in 1974 to oversee the School of Nursing, the School of Medicine, and Graduate programs in health sciences...
in 1999. After Dr. Herb Jenkins retired as the first director of the Arts & Science Programme, he, along with Dr. Bob Hudspith went on to found the Engineering and Society program at the Faculty of Engineering. McMaster's Integrated Sciences Program has also been modeled after the Arts & Science Program
Curriculum/Structure
Arts & Science stresses the development of skills in writing, speaking, research, and critical and quantitative reasoning. Its curriculum also aims to provide a foundational university-level knowledge base in the natural sciences and the social thought of the Western world. The program's small size facilitates its strong sense of community and interdisciplinary learning, with students taking a diverse range of courses through their four years. Many of the students specialize in a field by completing a combined honours in addition to the Arts and Science programme requirements (effectively a double major). Some combined honours require a fifth year of study, unless the student takes courses during summer school or an "overload" course complement. A large proportion of graduates go on to pursue higher learning through either graduateGraduate school
A graduate school is a school that awards advanced academic degrees with the general requirement that students must have earned a previous undergraduate degree...
or professional school.
| Humanities & Social Sciences | Mathematics & Physical Sciences | Interdisciplinary | Electives |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Civilization | Biology/Chemistry/Environmental Science | Inquiry (3rd World Development Issues & elective(s)) | |
| Modern Western Civilization | Calculus | Writing & Informal Logic | |
| Literature | Physics | Technology & Society | |
| Eastern Studies | Statistics | Individual Study/Thesis | |
| Economics | |||
| 5 courses | 4 courses | 5 or 6 courses | 6 or 7 Elective courses |
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Civilization | Modern Western Civilization | Literature | Eastern Studies (East & South Asian philosophy and religion) |
| Writing & Informal Logic | Physics | Technology & Society | Thesis/Individual Study |
| Inquiry of 3rd World Development Issues | Statistics | Upper-year Inquiry (topics variable, see course listings | Upper-year Inquiry or elective |
| Calculus | Economics | Elective | Elective |
| Biology/Chemistry/Environmental Science | Elective/Science requirement (if not done in Year 1) | Elective | Elective |
Expansion
During the mid-'00s, the McMaster administration began putting pressure on the programme to increase its size from 60 to 100 students per year. This campaign is part of a University-wide expansion of all smaller programs such as Medicine and Health Sciences. The idea was met with opposition from most students and professorProfessor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
s in the program. Arguments against programme expansion include concerns that the sense of tight-knit community would be lost; that larger classes would reduce the quality of education; and that it would place added pressure on professors. The last increase in class size was in 1996, with an increase in intake from 50 students to 60. This increase was met with similar resistance, and many students and faculty regarded this as the beginning of the end of the intimate learning environment that had gained the Arts and Science Programme its strong reputation. Although the issue has not been resolved with finality, measures have been taken to address the issue for the coming few years with the ultimate aim of bringing enrolment back to a maximum of 60 students per year.
Community
Students are part of the Society of Arts and Science Students (SASS). SASS is responsible for running social and community events, facilitating inter-programme communication, and making educational recommendations to the director of the program. SASS also runs a student website (SASSweb), which can be used to chat with Arts and Science students and find out about the programme. Arts & Science students have consistently identified the sense of community in the program as one of its main strengths.Directors
| Director | Term |
|---|---|
| Prof. Jean Wilson | 2011- |
| Prof. Gary Warner (interim) | 2010–2011 |
| Prof. Peter Sutherland | 2005–2010 |
| Prof. Gary Warner | 2000–2005 |
| Prof. Barbara Ferrier | 1990–2000 |
| Prof. Herb Jenkins | 1981–1990 |
Noted alumni
- Dan MilisavljevicDan MilisavljevicDan Milisavljevic is a Canadian astronomer known for aiding in the discovery of Uranus's moons Ferdinand, Trinculo, and Francisco; and Neptune's moons Halimede, Sao, Laomedeia and Neso....
- Samantha NuttSamantha NuttSamantha Joan Nutt, , C.M., O.Ont., LL.D., FRCPC, CCFP, is a co-founder and Executive Director of War Child Canada. She is a physician with more than thirteen years of experience working in war zones. Since the beginning of her career, Nutt has focused on providing assistance to war-affected women...
- Evan JonesEvan Jones (Stitch Media)Evan Jones is an experienced Alternate Reality Game puppetmaster and the owner of with offices in Halifax and Toronto.- Education :Jones studied at McMaster University with a combined Honours Arts & Science degree specializing in Computer Science and Film Studies...