Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences

Welcome to Elon College: A Learning Community

The purpose of a liberal arts and sciences education is to educate for life. By embracing the distinct intellectual heritages of mathematics and the natural sciences, the social and behavioral sciences, the humanities, and the arts, Elon has formed a vibrant learning community. This is the foundation of Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences.

At Elon, we believe the single most important aspect of a quality education is the direct, personal interaction between a professor and a student. When combined with Elon's strong commitment to research, leadership, service learning, internships and study abroad, these encounters open the minds of students and professors, and transform the way they view the world. The relationships that develop among students and faculty -- in exchanging ideas, testing hypotheses, conducting research and constructing knowledge -- are the cornerstone of Elon's collaborative learning community.

The liberal arts and sciences experience at Elon fosters intellectual curiosity, helps students learn to think critically and analytically, improves students' ability to communicate, awakens a joy of and passion for learning, and teaches students to be informed and responsible citizens. This experience prepares students for vocations that go beyond careers. Elon's liberal arts and sciences education prepares students for a life of service -- constructing knowledge, building community, transforming society, and creating justice and peace.

Before you set off to learn more about Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences, through these Web pages, I invite you to read a letter from a faculty member to his class. The letter, Don't Be Afraid to Write Stories, captures much of what the faculty, administrators and staff try to convey to our students over their time at Elon.

Welcome to Elon. It is a special place.

Steven D. House
Dean, Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences

Elon Mission Statement

Rooted in the historic tradition of the United Church of Christ, Elon University embraces its founders' vision of an academic community that transforms mind, body, and spirit and encourages freedom of thought and liberty of conscience.

To fulfill this vision, Elon University acts upon these commitments:

a. We nurture a rich intellectual community characterized by active student engagement with a faculty dedicated to excellent teaching and scholarly accomplishment.

b. We provide a dynamic and challenging undergraduate curriculum grounded in the traditional liberal arts and sciences and complemented by distinctive professional and graduate programs.

c. We integrate learning across the disciplines and put knowledge into practice, thus preparing students to be global citizens and informed leaders motivated by concern for the common good.

d. We foster respect for human differences, passion for a life of learning, personal integrity, and an ethic of work and service.