Update on the School of Science and Engineering

[jym626]

<p>Intersting update from the Dean:

Message from the Dean
Nicholas J. Altiero, Dean
In the next three newsletters, I will be addressing the main elements of the School of Science and Engineering’s mission: undergraduate education, research and graduate education, and community engagement. In this issue, the topic is undergraduate education. </p>

<p>In the fall of 2006, the School of Science and Engineering’s first academic year, the number of entering freshmen who declared a major offered by the School was 306. This has increased each academic year (to 369 in the fall of 2007, 412 in the fall of 2008, 462 in the fall of 2009, and 544 in the fall of 2010). This past year, the total number of undergraduates enrolled in majors offered by the School had grown to nearly 1650. While we don’t yet know the final numbers for the fall of 2011, it is clear that the freshman enrollment in School of Science and Engineering majors will again well exceed 500. At the current pace, the School is projected to have a steady-state undergraduate enrollment on the order of 2000 students. There can be no doubt that the School is a resounding success!</p>

<p>The School of Science and Engineering currently offers Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees in biology (cell and molecular biology and ecology and evolutionary biology), chemistry, geology, mathematics, physics, psychology, biological chemistry, environmental biology and environmental science, and neuroscience and Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.S.E.) degrees in biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, and engineering physics. New undergraduate degree programs are envisioned and these include computer science, geological engineering, and human factors engineering. In addition to degree offerings, the School is also the largest provider of courses that can be applied to the “scientific inquiry” requirement of the Tulane University undergraduate core curriculum. This requirement involves at least one course in quantitative reasoning and two courses in the sciences, one of which must have a laboratory component, for all students regardless of major.</p>

<p>But the undergraduate experience involves much more than course requirements. The School of Science and Engineering works closely with a number of offices on campus to facilitate both curricular and extra-curricular enhancements to the undergraduate experience. These include research and design projects, summer internships, study abroad, professional and honor societies, and public service. Tulane University places a strong emphasis on the undergraduate experience and the School of Science and Engineering is proud to feature undergraduate education as a main element of its mission.

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