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Some practical suggestions for teaching science in the liberal arts
1Center for the Study of Science and Religion, Columbia University, 749 Fairchild Bldg., Mailcode 2419, New York, NY 10027, USA. pollack@columbia.edu
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|June 20, 2001
Summary
This study argues for dismantling the artificial divide between science and liberal arts education. It proposes practical strategies to integrate these fields, fostering a more holistic undergraduate learning experience.
Area of Science:
- Higher Education Pedagogy
- Interdisciplinary Studies
Background:
- A historical "wall" separates science and liberal arts at the undergraduate level.
- This separation, originating from the Enlightenment, lacks current intellectual justification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To challenge the existing academic segregation of science and liberal arts.
- To propose actionable methods for integrating these disciplines in undergraduate education.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the historical and current justifications for the science-liberal arts divide.
- Development of concrete proposals for curriculum and pedagogical reform.
Main Results:
- Identified the lack of intellectual basis for the current separation.
- Highlighted cultural, political, and fiscal factors sustaining the divide.
- Outlined specific, practical suggestions for integration.
Conclusions:
- The separation of science and liberal arts is an outdated construct.
- Integration is intellectually defensible and offers a more comprehensive education.
- Concrete steps can be taken to bridge this divide in higher education.