College of Arts and Sciences records

The College of Arts and Sciences was established in 1882, the same year that St. Mary's Institue was conferred by State of Ohio to issue collegiate degrees. However, at this time, the college was not referred to as the College of Arts and Sciences as it was the only collegiate department within St. Mary’s Institute until the School of Engineering was established in 1910. When the School of Engineering was established the college was named the College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences. It provided three degree opportunities: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Letters, and Bachelor of Sciences. The College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences’ original programs included Philosophy, Latin, Greek, English, German, French, History, Art, Music, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.

Today the College of Arts and Sciences is one of the four academic units within the University of Dayton. Undergraduate degree-seeking students can achieve either a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or a Bachelor of Science (B.S.). Within the college there are eighteen departments, including the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Communication, Computer Science, English, Geology, History, Languages, Mathematics, Military Science (ROTC), Music, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Religious Studies, Sociology/Anthropology/Social Work, and Visual Arts. The College of Arts and Sciences also offers several pre-professional and interdisciplinary programs, including American Studies, Core, Criminal Justice Studies, Human Rights Studies, International Studies, Prelaw, Premedical, Predental, Theatre, and Woman/Gender Studies. The curriculum is devoted to combining theory and practice to produce well-rounded and employable graduates.

The College of Arts and Sciences also offers several graduate programs, including Applied Mathematics (M.S.), Biology (M.S., Ph.D.), Chemistry (M.S.), Communication (M.A.), Computer Science (M.C.S.), English (M.A.), Financial Mathematics (M.F.M.), Interdisciplinary Studies (M.A., M.S.), Mathematics Education (M.S.E.), Music Education (M.S.E.), Pastoral Ministry (M.A.), Psychology (M.A.), Public Administration (M.P.A.), Theological Studies (M.A.), and Theology (Ph. D.).

1918

Pre-Medical Course offered as part of the College of Arts and Sciences

1919

The ROTC military science program implemented by the War Department; first military training course instituted.

1924

The age requirement for admission to the college (sixteen years of age) ends, and requirements are primarily determined by high school marks.

1928

The name of the college changes from College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences to the College of Arts and Sciences, as it no longer offers a Bachelor of Letters (B. L.).

1935

First year on record that the College of Arts and Sciences employs a dean.

1939

Graduate programs implemented

1948

Orville Wright receives an honorary doctorate of science.

1971

Theatre program added

1981

Women & Gender Studies program added

1987

A fire destroys St. Joseph’s Hall, initially built in 1884. Although it is restored without harming its historical and architectural integrity, the departments of communication, sociology and anthropology, political science and social work all suffered extensive losses, including class notes, research, equipment and personal belongings. Among the hardest hit was the communication department which lost its departmental office and nearly all faculty offices and suffered major loss of equipment.

1990

First year of the Stander Symposium. Honoring the late Bro. Joseph W. Stander, S.M., professor of mathematics and provost (1974-1989), the Stander Symposium celebrates academic excellence, rich collaborations and many forms of intellectual, artistic and spiritual growth.

1993

UD dedicates Jesse Philips Humanities Center, named for philanthropist Jesse Philips, who donated $5 million toward its construction.

1994

First year of the Humanities Symposium in the Sears Recital Hall. The theme of the symposium, "Faith, Reason, and the Life of the Mind," addressed one of the four themes in the Humanities Base, a university-wide program designed to enhance interdisciplinary connections among required humanities courses.

1998

The first student-produced televised news program on campus, Flyer TV News, is launched after the communications department purchases $100,000 in new studio equipment.

2000

First year of the Kenneth C. Schraut Memorial Lecture, an annual event at the University of Dayton. This lecture, which brings noted mathematicians to campus, is made possible by the generous support of alumni donations in memory of Dr. Kenneth C. Schraut, who taught mathematics at the University of Dayton for many years.

2003

UD spends $16.8 million on significant renovations in both Sherman and Wollheben halls, connecting them into a new science center facility.

2006

The Artist in Residence Program (AIR) begins: Made possible through a partnership between ArtStreet, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Office of Student Development, students create original works of art for permanent installation in campus buildings.