The College of Arts and Sciences Celebrates 10 Years of Excellence with Florida Gulf Coast University!
The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) was founded in 1995 with a strong liberal arts perspective. Faculty were hired who embraced a vision of quality educational programs and emphasized the integration of knowledge across disciplines. Programs were developed to offer students the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for success in their professional careers along with the philosophical, scientific, and artistic habits of mind indispensable for a democratic society and a rewarding personal life.
Founding faculty included six professors in English, mathematics, history and psychology from the University of South Florida-Fort Myers campus and five professors hired to develop the new curriculum for the college in biology, social science, environmental science, and computer science. An additional 27 inaugural faculty were recruited and hired for the opening of the main campus in August 1997. Upon opening, CAS offered 12 academic programs including: Art, Biology, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Earth Systems Science, Mathematics, Psychology, English, History, Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, Spanish, and Theatre.
Since 1997, CAS has grown to 160 faculty, with 25 new faculty hired in spring 2007. CAS faculty members continue to teach a majority of the General Education Program serving first and second year students. In any given semester, over 50% of the students at FGCU are enrolled in CAS courses. With 20 academic programs at the undergraduate level, CAS has expanded to meet the needs of the growing student population. In keeping with the FGCU mission, CAS has also inaugurated three graduate programs. A Masters of Science degree in Environmental Science was the first graduate program developed in the college, with first students admitted in fall 2002. Graduate programs expanded with an M.A. in English in 2005 and an M.A. in History in 2007.
Along with academic program expansion, the scholarly activity of the faculty has grown over time. In 2006-07 academic year CAS faculty published 5 books, 68 scholarly and creative publications and presented scholarly papers at 58 conferences. External funding for research and sponsored programs in the College has grown $4 million in 2007. Scientific research strengths are in marine and environmental sciences and in biotechnology. Faculty also translate research experience directly to students through undergraduate research and internship experiences, which are included in all science program requirements. In the near future, CAS will add new research facilities in collaboration with the Naples Botanical Garden, Babcock Ranch and Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.
Civic Engagement remains a strong endeavor with faculty serving the university and southwest Florida communities through outreach and service on community boards at the state, national, international levels. CAS students are required to enroll in a core course, Foundations of Civic Engagement, which includes a required community service project. Major projects that serve the southwest Florida Community include: Oyster Reef Restoration, Bower School of Music performances, Art Gallery Shows, Theatre performances, Dominican Republic Service Learning Project and Egan Observatory astronomical events.
On the horizon, CAS will continue to develop new programs, including at the bachelor’s level: Journalism, Dance, Interdisciplinary Humanities, and Media Graphics and at the master’s level: Environmental Studies, Mathematics, Biological Sciences, Communication, and Psychology. On the ten year horizon, CAS will also be exploring the launch of its first doctoral program in environmental science.
