The College of Science at the University of Utah is an academic college of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah. The college offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in atmospheric science, biology, chemistry, geology and geophysics, mathematics, metallurgical engineering, mining engineering and physics and astronomy.
History
Science has been a part for the University of Utah curriculum since the beginning of the school's history in 1850 as the University of Deseret. Dr. Cyrus Collins was initially the only professor and taught mainly in the sciences. During the second quarter, W. W. Phelps was hired as a second professor and the school was opened to women. New scientific instruments were acquired from local donors or sent for from the eastern United States. The third professor hired at the university was Orson Pratt, who taught astronomy, mathematics, and algebra. The university then closed during a period of scarcity due to crop failures and drought, and reopened in 1867. A science curriculum culminating in a BS degree was offered in 1870, becoming a 4-year degree in 1884-85. This curriculum focused on mathematics, natural, and physical sciences, as well as classes in history, political economy, theology and moral philosophy.
In 1878, Joseph T. Kingsbury joined the chemistry faculty and became chair of chemistry and physics. By this period a regular series of public science lectures were offered and there was a chemical laboratory located in the basement of the University Hall building. By the 1890s, 400 students were enrolled and the university offered BA and BS degrees in classical, scientific, and normal programs. The University of Deseret was renamed as the University of Utah in 1892 and degree programs in the traditional academic departments of letters, arts, and sciences were organized under the University College. In 1957, the University College became the College of Letters and Science under dean and philosophy professor Sterling M. McMurrin. In 1970 under Dean Milton Voight, the College of Letters and Science was divided into three separate colleges: the College of Humanities, the College of Science, and the College of Social and Behavioral Science.
In 2021, the College of Science merged with the College of Mines and Earth Sciences and includes eight academic units: the Department of Atmospheric Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Department of Mathematics, Department of Metallurgical Engineering, Department of Mining Engineering and the Department of Physics and Astronomy.
Buildings
LeRoy Cowles Building
The LeRoy Cowles Building was designed by Richard Kletting and completed in 1901. As one of the first three buildings on campus it first served as the University of Utah library. Since 1951 it has housed the Department of Mathematics. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and officially named for LeRoy Cowles in 1980. The building was significantly renovated in 2002 to add the T. Benny Rushing Mathematics Student Center and a plaza connecting the Cowles Building to the Widtsoe Building.
John Widtsoe Building
This building was designed by Richard Kletting and completed in 1901. That same year, the building was nearly destroyed by fire. Only the foundation and walls were left standing. Fortunately, these were in good condition and the building contents had been restored or replaced by the time the university opened in 1902. Uses of the building have been primarily for the sciences, with chemistry, physics and mathematics taught there through several generations. In 1976 the building was named the John A. Widtsoe Building, after the former president of the University of Utah who served from 1916 to 1921.
James Talmage Building
Built in 1901 and designed by Richard Kletting, this building originally served as the campus museum of natural history, and was later changed to the Biology building in 1959. In 1976 the name of the building was changed from North Biology Building to James E. Talmage building, named after former president James E. Talmage, who served from 1894–1897. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.