Scripps College Logo

Close

About Scripps
At a Glance
  • Assessment and Institutional Research
  • Annual Financial Reports
  • WASC Reaffirmation Process
History
  • College Timeline
  • History of the Presidency
  • Scripps College Traditions
Initiatives
  • Centennial (Strategic) Plan
  • Diversity
  • Sustainability
  • Centennial Celebration
Our Campus
  • Scripps Merchandise
Administration
  • President
  • Board of Trustees
  • Senior Leadership
Claremont Colleges
Admission & Aid
Apply
  • First-Year Applicants
  • Transfer Applicants
  • QuestBridge Applicants
  • International Applicants
  • Homeschool Applicants
  • Veteran Applicants
Dates and Deadlines
Financial Aid
Visit
Why Scripps College
  • Scripps College Facts
  • FAQs
Contact Us
Academic Experience
Faculty
Majors & Minors
Academic Resources
  • Clark Humanities Museum
  • Department of Natural Sciences
  • European Union Center
  • Humanities Institute
  • Intercollegiate Feminist Center
  • Library
  • Registrar
  • Scripps College Press
  • Williamson Gallery
Post-Bacc Program
Research
Study Abroad
Life & Community
New Students
Creating Community
Leadership Center
Residential Vibrancy
Student Services
Contact Us
CARE@SCRIPPS
Career Planning & Resources
Title IX
  • Inside Scripps
  • Alums
  • Families
  • Careers
  • Giving
  • Events
  • Directory
Scripps Logo
  • Inside Scripps
  • Alums
  • Families
  • Careers
  • |
  • Giving
  • Events
  • Directory
  • About Scripps
    • At a Glance
      • Assessment and Institutional Research
      • Annual Financial Reports
      • WASC Reaffirmation Process
    • History
      • College Timeline
      • History of the Presidency
      • Scripps College Traditions
    • Initiatives
      • Centennial (Strategic) Plan
      • Diversity
      • Sustainability
      • Centennial Celebration
    • Our Campus
      • Scripps Merchandise
    • Administration
      • President
      • Board of Trustees
      • Senior Leadership
    • Claremont Colleges
  • Admission & Aid
    • Apply
      • First-Year Applicants
      • Transfer Applicants
      • QuestBridge Applicants
      • International Applicants
      • Homeschool Applicants
      • Veteran Applicants
    • Dates and Deadlines
    • Financial Aid
    • Visit
    • Why Scripps College
      • Scripps College Facts
      • FAQs
    • Contact Us
  • Academic Experience
    • Faculty
    • Majors & Minors
    • Academic Resources
      • Clark Humanities Museum
      • Department of Natural Sciences
      • European Union Center
      • Humanities Institute
      • Intercollegiate Feminist Center
      • Library
      • Registrar
      • Scripps College Press
      • Williamson Gallery
    • Post-Bacc Program
    • Research
    • Study Abroad
  • Life & Community
    • New Students
    • Creating Community
    • Leadership Center
    • Residential Vibrancy
  • Student Services
    • Contact Us
    • CARE@SCRIPPS
    • Career Planning & Resources
    • Title IX
Close
Search Scripps College
Scripps College News Feature Stories Innovative Joint Science Department Course Tackles the Complexities of Modern Science

Close

Section Menu

  • Home
  • Student Life
  • Faculty Scholarship
  • Alum Newsmakers
  • Scripps In the News
  • Campus Updates

March 6, 2007

Innovative Joint Science Department Course Tackles the Complexities of Modern Science

  • Feature Stories

The Joint Science Department of The Claremont Colleges has developed an interdisciplinary first-year course that will help students address scientific questions, such as global warming, nanotechnology, computer-brain interfaces, robotics, and modern medicine.

Funded by the National Science Foundation, the course asks the question, “How do we understand nature?” from the perspectives of biologists, chemists, and physicists.

Newt Copp, the Sidney J. Weinberg, Jr. Chair in Natural Sciences, says faculty were concerned that without a new approach students may not gain the kind of nimbleness they need to prepare for the big scientific questions to come. This course is thought to be the first of its kind in U.S. higher education.

“Many of the scientific questions on the horizon will require an interdisciplinary approach…an integrated knowledge of physics, chemistry, and biology,” says Copp. “This yearlong course will provide students with the knowledge and flexibility they will need to work across boundaries.”

Copp notes most college science students take introductory courses in each of these disciplines, typically over three years. This is too slow, and students don’t always see the connections between the disciplines. The new course will replace the three distinct courses, beginning next fall. Those students who complete both semesters of the course will be given preference for summer interdisciplinary research fellowships.

The faculty in the Joint Science Department developed the course through a grant from the NSF Science, Technology, Engineering, Math Talent Expansion (STEP) Program—created by Congress five years ago to improve American economic competitiveness in science and technology fields by encouraging undergraduates to major in natural sciences.

“This course not only will better prepare our students, but it also will enable them to accelerate their progress into advanced science study, and will provide them with more flexibility in sophomore and junior years to consider study abroad,” says Copp.

Tags

  • Newsroom
About Scripps Visit Campus Request Info
Scripps college logo
1030 Columbia Avenue
Claremont, CA 91711
(909) 621-8000
  • Campus Map
  • Virtual Tour
  • Diversity
  • Centennial Plan
  • Employment
  • Scripps Merchandise
  • Emergency
  • Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA)
  • Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF)

The Claremont Colleges.

© Scripps College | Accessibility | Nondiscrimination Statement | Privacy