The University’s plan from the beginning was to move some subjects into separate schools as the institution grew. Some disciplines, like art—which was initially part of the music school—and political science—previously taught in the business school—became part of the college. These changes resulted in today’s cohesive academic unit, which houses 21 departments and 12 interdisciplinary programs spanning the sciences, arts, social sciences, and humanities.
The College of Arts and Sciences has often been at the vanguard of social movements. In the 1920s, at a time when male university professors far outnumbered their female counterparts, Mary B. Merritt was among the first female faculty at the University. She was hired in 1926 as an English instructor and promoted to associate professor of English and dean of women three years later.
A Latin American history professor, Víctor Andrés Belaúnde, helped found the Hispanic American Institute in the 1920s, a precursor to today’s interdisciplinary programs. In the 1960s, Nancy Clasby, a faculty member in the Department of English, developed the University’s first Black Studies program. In 1970 Whittington B. Johnson joined the Department of History as the University’s first Black faculty member. He went on to serve as department chair and director of what was then known as the African American Center.
Other faculty members, notably beloved biology professor Oscar T. Owre, B.A. ’41, M.S. ’49, contributed to environmental conservation efforts. As a faculty member from the 1950s to the 1980s, Owre, who was known as Bud, became a leading expert on South Florida’s birds, including endangered species.
Read the full issue of Miami magazine's Centennial Edition online.
The college’s newest addition is the Department of Writing Studies, which teaches written communication skills. New undergraduate majors in data science and artificial intelligence (AI), along with more than two dozen faculty members conducting research using AI tools, have made the college a hub of AI innovation at the University.
Today the college remains a locus of academic excellence, continually adapting to prepare students for the careers of the future. In addition to its numerous departments and interdisciplinary programs, the college comprises renowned centers, institutes, and arts venues, including the Lowe Art Museum, Center for the Humanities, Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas, and Jerry Herman Theatre, as well as the John C. Gifford Arboretum. The college is home to more than 4,000 students and 440 full-time faculty members.
