Combining Two Cultures

Herb Jenkins was the founding Director of the Arts and Science Program and subsequently of the Engineering and Society Program at McMaster University. Now Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychology, he holds a doctorate in Psychology from Harvard University. Barbara Ferrier was the second Director of the Arts and Science Program and for many years led the first-year inquiry course. Now Professor Emeritus in the Department of Biochemistry at McMaster University, she holds a doctorate in Chemistry from the University of Edinburgh. Michael Ross was the first instructor of the course, Literature, in the Arts and Science Program. He is Professor Emeritus in the Department of English, McMaster University, and holds a doctorate in English from Harvard University.

• Chapter 1 PrefaceChapter 2 Quest for Meaning in Undergraduate EducationChapter 3 Planning and Approval of the Arts and Science ProgrammeChapter 4 The Programme in PracticeChapter 5 Western Civilization CoursesChapter 6 Writing and Informal LogicChapter 7 Inquiry CoursesChapter 8 Mathematics and Physics CoursesChapter 9 Literature, Technology, and SocietyChapter 10 The Human Face of the ProgrammeChapter 11 What Have We Achieved?Chapter 12 Future DirectionsChapter 13 ReflectionsChapter 14 Contributors

Since C.P. Snow coined a famous term for an old dichotomy?namely, the Two Cultures?attempts have been made to overcome the great divide between the humanities and the sciences in the modern university and in modern culture. Most attempts have failed topay anything more than lipservice?the divide remains enormous. But since 1981, McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, has put its money where its mouth is by offering the justifiably prestigious undergraduate degree programme (students selected from amongst some of the best in the country) combines a thorough liberal arts and humanities schooling intertwined witha comprehensive science education (including math, physics, and biology). Unique in its origins, the Arts and Science programme has becomea model for fully integrated science and liberal arts programmes across North America. 'Combining Two Cultures', collectively written to commemorate the 25th year of this exemplary programme, brings together past and present Arts and Sciencesfounders, instructors, directors and commentators to explore in detail the birth, history,. structure, meaning, place, and future of this uniquely integrated programme? its instructional philosophy, the structure of its instruction, and its place in the u