Using Problem-Based and Active Learning in an Interdisciplinary Science Course for Non-Science Majors

Because the United States is an international leader in scientific research, the public has long assumed that undergraduate education in science serves all. Yet many national concerns have attended this status as world leader, as many citizens have lagged behind in awareness, knowledge, and attitudes toward science. David Goodstein has pointed out that the United States is a world leader both in science training and scientifically illiterate students (1993). Furthermore, the population of women and minorities has been underrepresented traditionally in the scientific disciplines.