Welcome to the Arts & Sciences Program

Common university-level course work for all students at PI are taught by the faculty of the Arts & Sciences Program organized in six departments as shown in the flow chart. Elective courses required by all Engineering Degree Programs are also offered in the Program. Students enter the Program of Arts & Sciences after the Advanced University Placement Department (AUP) and before their engineering studies. The AUP has the task of preparing students adequately in language and scientific background ability in Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Computing for their subsequent university studies all conducted in English. After the Program of Arts & Sciences, students enter one of the six engineering departments to pursue an engineering degree program.

A&S Courses: The courses are shown in the course flow chart. A&S courses all PI students must take include Chemistry, Communication, Humanities & Social Sciences, Mathematics, Physics and General Studies. Students must take required course sequences in Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics Departments. Examples are the three course calculus sequence, two courses each of Chemistry and Physics sequences. Electives are also offered by the Departments of Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics. Courses in Humanities and Social Sciences include required courses in Economics and Islamic Studies as well as elective courses that students may take to broaden their studies beyond science and technology. These electives are designed to help our students develop a current and global perspective to build successful professional lives. These courses include History, Leadership, Political Science and foreign languages such as German. The A&S Program also requires all students to take the Freshman Success Seminar, where students learn time management and study skills, and learn more about the specifics of the Engineering Programs. The General Studies Department in the Arts & Sciences Program teaches a sequence of two Freshmen design courses called STEPS, which stand for Strategies for Team-based Engineering Problem Solving. In STEPS courses students integrate what they are learning in science, mathematics and communications, couple it with teamwork and project management tools and build a working prototype of a useful machine. Examples range from trebuchets, a type of medieval siege weapon, to solar-powered model racing cars. The General Studies Department is also in charge of teaching a sequence of two HFIT (Health and Fitness) courses required of all students attending PI.

A&S Faculty & Staff: The faculty and staff of A&S, about sixty exceptionally well educated, skilled and caring educators, are truly committed to excellence. Almost all faculty have the highest degree, usually a Ph.D., in their field. Most were educated in American Universities but some have degrees from European, Australian and South African universities. Laboratory technical staff have at least university bachelor degrees and often masters degrees. A&S classes are usually limited to no more than 25 students per class and each professor maintains several office hours each week where students are welcome to ask for additional help in understanding concepts or applying these concepts to practical problems. Office hours are in addition to an “open-door” policy about student access to faculty for help and advice.

A&S Facilities: The classrooms and the laboratories are fully equipped with the latest state-of-the-art teaching tools including computers, projectors, internet connections, smart boards and the latest experimental equipment in the Chemistry and Physics laboratories.