About Us

Dean’s Message

The disciplines that comprise the College of Arts and Sciences at Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne are, collectively, the center of academic life on campus.  With programs of study that range throughout the natural sciences, the social sciences, and the humanities, the College of Arts and Sciences traces its roots to the very genesis of the modern university itself.  The medieval university—with a curriculum based in the trivium (rhetoric, grammar, and logic) and the quadrivium (arithmetic, astronomy, music, and geometry)—set forth a model for modern education built around the liberal arts.  An education based in the liberal arts combines broad knowledge across a spectrum of disciplines with intensive study in a primary field in order to provide students with the skills needed not only to become life-long learners and knowledgeable citizens, but also to compete and succeed in the information-rich economy of the twenty-first century. 

Increasingly, the job marketplace in the U.S. is shifting toward a workforce that has advanced communication and problem-solving skills. Jobs require a changing and increasingly complex set of skills, and students who have the ability to solve problems, be creative, make decisions, and show leadership in this environment have the ability to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century.  The College of Arts and Sciences at IPFW prepares students to meet these challenges.

Degree programs in the College of Arts and Sciences prepare students to deal with complex systems, to be able to adapt and innovate in a dynamic twenty-first century workplace, and to engage thoughtfully with a diverse range of experiences.  Students in the College of Arts and Sciences gain both broad scientific and cultural knowledge of the world, as well as in-depth knowledge of a specific field of inquiry (represented by the student’s chosen major).  In the College of Arts and Sciences, we discover how things work, why they work, and what they mean.  Students in the College of Arts and Sciences work side by side with faculty members to discover new knowledge, solve problems, develop communication stills and strategies, and cultivate the analytical skills prized by top employers across the nation and around the globe.

Our commitment to our students is to provide them with high quality programs, to prepare them for life-long success, and to support them through excellent advising and personalized mentoring from nationally and internationally recognized faculty members.  In the College of Arts and Sciences, we measure our success through the growth and success of our students, and we strive to provide all students with opportunities and encouragement at every stage of their undergraduate and graduate experience. 

Eric Carl Link
Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
Professor of American Literature

Overview

The College of Arts and Sciences offers programs and courses in the traditional liberal arts disciplines. In addition to providing students with opportunities to develop skills required for the workplace or for advanced study, it seeks to foster well-rounded development of the individual. The school recognizes the role of nontraditional students at IPFW and makes special efforts to meet their needs.

Graduates of the school's baccalaureate programs should have knowledge and awareness enabling them to be effective citizens and lifelong learners. They are expected to have a working understanding of the knowledge and methodology appropriate for their discipline and should be aware of the major issues in their field and able to communicate field content effectively.

The service and research missions of the school are those appropriate to a comprehensive regional university. The school is responsible for basic-skills courses in mathematics and oral and written communication, as well as the majority of the courses fulfilling school and IPFW general-education requirements. Faculty engage in research or creative endeavor linked to their teaching as well as IPFW's role as the regional center for higher education. Through research, faculty maintain their qualifications as teachers and, in their contribution to knowledge in their disciplines, enhance the reputation of the campus. Through research and service, the school seeks to make itself a vital resource for business, industry, public and private education, the arts, and government in northeastern Indiana.

Mission

The College of Arts and Sciences is committed to offering its students a rich and diverse liberal education. The largest academic unit of the university, the college provides students with a breadth of knowledge about the global environment and fosters an appreciation and respect for diversity. The College of Arts and Sciences equips students to think critically, communicate effectively, and develop creative solutions to future challenges. The college cultivates the intellectual growth of its faculty, who dedicate themselves through excellence in teaching, research and creative endeavor, and service to the university and to the larger communities of which they are a part.

Our Faculty

The following are IPFW College of Arts and Sciences departments and programs to which the faculty are affiliated. Information about COAS faculty can be found via the links below.

• Anthropology
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Communication
• Communication Sciences and Disorders
• English and Linguistics
• Gerontology
• History
• International Language & Culture Studies
• Mathematical Sciences
• Peace and Conflict Studies
• Physics
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Women’s Studies

College of Arts and Sciences Community Advisory Board

Howard Chapman
President, Waterfield Foundation and Administrator of the Chapman Fund
Of Counsel to Barrett and McNagny

Nathaniel O. Hubley, Esq.
Attorney
Theisen & Associates

Deborah McMahan, MD
Health Commissioner
Fort Wayne-Allen County Dept. of Health

Dar Richardson
Grief and Loss Counselor

Daryl R. Yost, Ed.D.
Director of Community Relations
Northeast Indiana Innovation Center