McMaster Arts and Science
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The Arts and Science Programme is an exclusive program at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. It is the smallest direct-entry programme in the university, admitting only 60 first years per year, with a total size of about 250.
Arts & Science stresses the development of skills in writing, speaking, and critical and quantitative reasoning. The program's small size facilitaties its strong sense of community and interdisciplinary learning, with students taking a diverse range of courses (both core and elective) through their four years. Many of the students specialize in a field and do a combined honours along with their B. Arts Sc.
Almost all graduates go on to pursue higher learning through either graduate or professional school.
The program was founded in 1981 and has a reputation for innovation. The Health Sciences undergraduate program, which began in 1999, was based on the Arts & Science program's inquiry and multidisciplinary-style learning.
Students are part of the Society of Arts and Science Students (SASS). SASS is responsible for running social and community events, facilitating inter-programme communication, and making educational recommendations to the director of the program. SASS also runs a student website (SASSweb), which can be used to chat with Arts and Science students and find out about the programme.
Recently, the University administration began putting pressure on the programme to increase its size from 60 to 100 students per year. This campaign is part of a University-wide expansion of all smaller programs such as Medicine and Health Sciences. The idea has been met with opposition from some students and all professors in the program. Arguments against program expansion include concerns that the current sense of community would be lost; that larger classes would reduce the quality of education; and that it would put added pressure onto professors.
Among students, including Artscis themselves, the program is referred to as a "cult" for its small size and insular nature.
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