About the College of Science and Mathematics

The College of Science and Mathematics has a deeply rooted commitment to our student's success and is working diligently to keep pace with a rapidly changing world and students with academically changing needs. In a short time, we have developed an array of new programs that bridge departments and disciplines. Among these are the new B.S. in Science Informatics, the first of it's kind in the state. A combined B.S. and M.S. degree in Aquatic and Coastal Sciences as well as a B.S. in Information Technology both with inaugural classes in Fall 2006. And, a unique combined M.S. in Chemistry with an M.B.A. program admitted its first students in Fall 2005 and will bring remarkably educated and trained individuals into the pharmaceutical, biotechnical, and other industries in need of cutting edge employees bridging science and business. In 2004 CSAM awarded its first Ed.D. in Pedagogy with a focus in Mathematics Education. Add to these our doctoral program in Environmental Management, new programs in Financial Mathematics, Astrophysics, and planned doctoral degrees in Applied Mathematics and Computational Sciences, and the spectrum in academic programs is evident.

Corresponding with creative new programs, our students continue to represent exceptional quality with average SAT (old version) scores of 1118 and a constant average GPA of 3.2. Enrollment numbers have climbed by 24% in five years. In Fall 2005 we saw a 25% increase in physics majors and over 31% in Chemistry and Biochemistry from the previous year. We now have over 700 biology majors! Largest increase, at the graduate level, is seen in our strong master's program in Teaching Middle Grade Mathematics.

Our faculty and students are pursuing more and more research and publishing at unprecedented rates for our College. Similarly, grants and other external funds are being awarded to our faculty members from the National Science Foundation, Environmental Protection Agency, Sea Grant, the Victoria Foundation, and many other agencies. Research opportunities for students are more abundant than ever and more students are choosing a research master's thesis route. Faculty and students share research in areas as diverse as global warming and Antarctic ice melt, exploring ways to reduce computer "phishing", environmental and territorial needs for bears, development of drug products to help control diabetes and other threatening diseases, and methods to remotely identify and differentiate earthbound structures. A veritable spectrum of research opportunities.

CSAM also continues to uphold our philosophy of a "small college" by providing high quality and highly personalized education. Relatively small class sizes (a constant average of 26 students per class across all departments) are complemented by a growing number of faculty with ever-improving in-class resources.

CSAM offers a wide choice of other programs and activities ranging from the Margaret and Herman Sokol Science Lectures, CSAM Seminars, Science Professional Series, PharmFest, Science and Mathematics Day, and a CSAM Residence Hall floor. Strong programs in pedagogy such as those found in the Bristol-Myers Squibb Science Teaching and Learning Center or research, as supported by the Passaic River Institute, and evolving programs in China or Thailand or Russia, all broaden our student's perspectives and insure a spectrum of possibilities.