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Student in the chemistry lab.

Knox Expands Options With Bachelor of Science Degree

Physics professor Tom Moses adjusts a device used to analyze light -- Fabry-Perot interferometer -- that he and two students built in a physics department research lab.

"Adding a bachelor of science degree program underscores that you can do serious science here."—Thomas R. Moses, professor and chair of physics

Knox College will now offer science students a choice between two degree programs. Beginning in fall 2018, students will be able to pursue either a bachelor of arts degree (B.A.) or a bachelor of science degree (B.S.) in biochemistry, biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, neuroscience, physics, and psychology.

"The bachelor of science degree is a great option for students who are considering a professional career or planning to attend graduate school in the sciences," said Michael Schneider, interim vice president for academic affairs and dean of the College. "We are confident that the addition of the B.S. will provide our science students with more robust preparation for life after Knox and will be of great interest to prospective students who plan to pursue careers in the sciences but still want the benefits of a residential liberal arts college."

Programs offering a B.S. degree will require at least four credits beyond the requirements for the B.A. degree, with at least one of the credits in the sciences, mathematics, or computer science taken from a department outside the primary major. Both current students and incoming students will be given the opportunity to pursue the bachelor of science degree program.

"Adding a bachelor of science degree program underscores that you can do serious science here," said Thomas R. Moses, professor and chair of physics. "Knox is a liberal arts college, and we also have a serious science program with strong outcomes for our graduates."

Knox is ranked by the National Science Foundation in the top 10 percent for graduates who have earned doctorates in mathematics, computer science, and the natural and physical sciences. Dean Schneider noted that, of the top 50 schools in terms of percentage of science students going on for the Ph.D., liberal arts colleges occupy half of those spots. Recent science majors are pursuing graduate degrees at some of the nation's leading universities including Yale University, the University of Michigan, and the University of Illinois. Knox science graduates are also working at the nation's leading companies, including Epic Systems, IHS Markit, and Sigma Aldrich.

Published on March 12, 2018