Oregon State University College of Science

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Oregon State University
College of Science
Oregon State University College of Science logo.svg
Type Public
Established1932
Parent institution
Oregon State University
Dean Eleanor Feingold
Location, ,
US
Colors Orange and black [1]
   
Website science.oregonstate.edu
An OSU biology student researches disease-fighting molecules known as morpholinos Biology laboratory, Oregon State University.jpg
An OSU biology student researches disease-fighting molecules known as morpholinos

Oregon State University's College of Science is a public academic institution operating as a member of Oregon State University, a public research university. The college of science consists of seven schools, offering nine undergraduate programs and supporting seven doctoral-granting programs and eight master's degree-granting programs. The college also supports the science discipline colleges and bachelor of science students by offering key undergraduate science courses required by their own curriculums. [2] The college of science claims more than 3,400 students and a faculty of 184. Sixteen faculty members are elected American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) fellows. [3]

Contents

Since its inception, the college has received more than $55 million in grant funding, developed more than 48 new technologies, and has been awarded 18 US patents since 2011. [4] [5]

History

The college was founded in 1932 as the Oregon State University School of Science. The creation of the college came as a result of a statewide reorganization of the Oregon State System of Higher Education in the same year. [6] OSU paleontologist Earl L. Packard became the first dean that year. However, science coursework dates back much earlier to when the university first offered college-level courses. OSU's first college-level science classes were offered in 1868 and provided instruction in general science, chemistry, and the geology of Oregon. [7]

Early chemistry lab at OSU. Known as the "Chem Shack" (1904). Annual catalogue of the Agricultural College of the State of Oregon for and announcements for (1904) (14598232397).jpg
Early chemistry lab at OSU. Known as the "Chem Shack" (1904).

In 1935 OSU awarded its first doctorates. Three of the four Ph.D. recipients were College of Science students: Herbert L. Jones in physics, Alfred Taylor in zoology, and Karl Klemm in chemistry. [8] The first woman to receive a PhD from OSU was Chung Kwai Lui. She received her degree from OSU in physics in 1941. An immigrant from China, Lui was later recruited into the top-secret Manhattan Project to help develop the first atomic bomb. During World War II, her expertise in purifying microscopic quantities of uranium was sought out by the Manhattan Project to purify larger, kilogram quantities. Her legacy lives on at OSU through the Wei Family Foundation Scholarships. [9]

The school was later renamed to the Oregon State University College of Science in 1974. [10]

Departments

Medical science programs (pre-med)

The college of science is closely aligned with top medical schools throughout the nation. On average, 60-to-70 percent of graduate applicants are accepted by their medical school of choice. This is an exceptionally high acceptance rate when compared to the 33-to-40 percent national average. [11] Top majors at OSU for the pre-med program include: biochemistry and biophysics, biochemistry and molecular biology, biohealth sciences (Ecampus), biology, chemistry and microbiology. [12] A range of special programs in health-related fields are also offered through the college to help students meet entrance requirements for professional schools in: clinical laboratory science, dentistry, medicine, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant, podiatry and veterinary medicine. [13]

Budget cuts

In 1990, Oregon voters passed the historic property-tax reducing Ballot Measure 5. Passage of the new law dramatically changed Oregon’s property taxes, greatly reduced funding for many K-12 schools, and helped to eliminate a popular program at the Oregon State University College of Science. Following passage of the measure, the college of science was asked by university administrators to find one program to close to help meet the projected budget cuts. Reluctantly, college administrators chose to eliminate the general science department in 1991 and 1992 due to the department's broad curriculum. [14] The university's general fund appropriations fell from $117 million in fiscal 1992/93 to $101.2 million for the 1993/94 fiscal year. [15]

General science classes are still offered through the college curriculum, but only as a series of optional courses or discipline electives. [16]

Notable alumni

Notable faculty

Deans

  1. Earl L. Packard (1932–1938)
  2. Francois A. Gilfillan (1938–1962)
  3. Vernon Cheldelin (1962–1965)
  4. John Ward (1966–1970)
  5. Robert W. Krauss (1973–1980)
  6. Thomas Sugihara (1981–1986)
  7. Frederick M. Horne (1986–1999)
  8. Sherman H. Bloomer (1999–2013)
  9. Vincent T. Remcho (2013–2014) [21]
  10. Sastry Pantula (2014–2017) [22]
  11. Roy Haggerty (2017–2022) [23]
  12. Vrushali Bokil, interim, (2022–2023)
  13. Eleanor Feingold (2023-present) [24]

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References

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  2. "College of Science". Oregon State University. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  3. "Leading scholars and researchers". oregonstate.edu. OSU. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  4. "College of Science – Discover". OSU. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
  5. "College of Science – Facts and Figures". OSU. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
  6. http://osulibrary.oregonstate.edu/archives/chronology/chron_1930.html Retrieved on April 3, 2007.
  7. "Oregon State Science: The many "firsts" in 150 years". OSU. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  8. "Oregon State Science: The many "firsts" in 150 years". OSU. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  9. "A Chinese pioneer's legacy helps students succeed". OSU. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  10. http://digitalcollections.library.oregonstate.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/EAD&CISOPTR=451&REC=2 Retrieved on April 3, 2007.
  11. "Our students are well-regarded and well-prepared". OSU. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  12. "Explore our programs – pre-health". OSU. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  13. "College of Science – Pre-Professional Programs". OSU. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
  14. "Measure 5". Oregon Encyclopedia. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  15. "OSU Fact Book 1991–1992". oregondigital.org. State of Oregon/OSU. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  16. "General Science – Courses". OSU. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
  17. "Corinne A. Manogue's research while affiliated with Oregon State University and other places". researchgate.net/. researchgate.net. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  18. Brezov, Danail. "BOOK REVIEW: The Geometry of the Octonions" (PDF). emis.de. Journal of Geometry and Symmetry in Physics. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
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  20. Gormley, Shannon. "the First New Pigment of Blue in Over 200 Years. Now It's for Sale". wweek.com. Willamette Week. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
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  22. http://spantula.academic.csusb.edu/sastry-pantula.html
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44°34′N123°17′W / 44.56°N 123.28°W / 44.56; -123.28