Chair’s Welcome

A warm welcome to the Department of Science & Mathematics at The American University of Rome.

Departmental Goals
We aim that all students taking our courses should attain three important goals:
• Scientific Literacy
• Mathematical Literacy
• Computer Literacy.

Science
Students will possess a demonstrable knowledge of Scientific Methodologies, as well as possessing factual knowledge of important scientific discoveries and their impact on modern society.

Math Goal
Students will be numerate, will have developed analytical, cognitive and problem solving skills; will be confident and competent users of mathematical and/or statistical tools and packages and will be able to interpret Mathematical or Statistical results in the context of addressing real-world problems

Computer Science Goal
Students will have highly developed computer literacy skills both in the Office suite of applications and using the emerging internet technologies. Skills developed include delivering written presentations in Word, and Oral presentations using Power Point. They will have web designing skills and be able to develop and maintain web pages as well appreciate web page usability.

Development of the Department
During 2003-2004 Learning goals were drafted for the Mathematical courses and assessment rubrics were written. During the Summer of 2004 a Science Laboratory was set up and equipped to allow both computer interaction with scientific experimentation and innovative methods of delivery of Exploratory Physics. A new laboratory-based Science course, Explorations in Physics, was written during 2004 and is now offered as part of our General Education Program satisfying the Quantitative & Scientific Reasoning Goal. During the Fall of 2004 the Department consists of 2 full-time faculty, one of whom is the Provost (teaching 1 course) and the Acting Chair, together with 4 adjunct Faculty, and during the Spring of 2005 our Adjunct number rises to 7 members.

During 2004/2005 we re-visited our course offerings and modifying them to better meet the needs and desires of our students. In particular we designed new courses : Mathematics for the Liberal Arts, Concilience : Biology of the Human mind.

One of our key developments in Mathematical testing has been the implementation of a new placement test and guidance to advisors on which Mathematics courses best meet the students needs, abilities and potential. See the Sample Placement test.

New Trends in Evolutionary Biology extended our science course offering to students during Spring 2007.

During the Summer 2007 Course Learning Objectives were refined to allow a more quantitative measurement of student performance throughout all courses in the department.

A second lab science course Explorations in Earth and Environmental Sciences was first offered during the Fall 07 semester.

Most of our courses are 3 credit courses except for Science laboratory courses: Explorations ion Physics (4 credits), Explorations in Earth and Environmental Sciences (1 credit). All students must take 10 credit hours of Math and Science courses.

Presently, Fall 2007, the department consists of nine members, seven of which are adjunct.
Challenge yourself by taking our Sample Mathematics Placement Test.

Placement Test
Test Solutions