New curriculum helps push University to a new level

By Jessica N. Roberts

March 30, 2001



In his inaugural address, Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton said, "The resolve of Washington University to move to the next level of achievement among universities will require that special attention be directed toward enhancing Arts & Sciences."

Now, more than five years later, many of Wrighton's expectations for Arts & Sciences are being realized with the development of the new curriculum.

"The new curriculum will allow Arts & Sciences to build on a long history of successful programs that reach across departmental and school boundaries," Wrighton said. "It genuinely reflects Washington University's ongoing commitment to offering superior learning and research opportunities to its students and faculty."

Arts & Sciences is home to nearly two-thirds of the University's undergraduate majors and directs the University's Ph.D. programs. Students enrolled in the University's other schools --art, architecture, business, and engineering and applied science --also take courses in Arts & Sciences as part of their undergraduate degree requirements.

Arts & Sciences provides the basic material, the knowledge that everything else is built upon and embraces subjects that are central to all areas of human endeavor. Both graduate and professional study have natural links to Arts & Sciences --the law depends upon the knowledge of political science and history, medicine upon the life sciences and business upon economics. All graduate level programs depend upon the analytic, writing, speaking and problem-solving skills that are fundamental to Arts & Sciences courses.

"Excellence in Arts & Sciences is essential to success for Washington University in the 21st century," Wrighton said. "By emphasizing Arts & Sciences, we strive to enhance what is at the core of our University, and success will bring greater distinction to all of our schools --allowing us to attract and retain the best faculty and improving our opportunities to continue to attract an even stronger student body."

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