The mission of Wells College is to educate students to think critically, reason wisely, and act humanely as they cultivate meaningful lives. Through Wells' academic program, residential atmosphere, and community activities, students learn and practice the ideals of the liberal arts. The Wells experience prepares students to appreciate complexity and difference, to embrace new ways of knowing, to be creative, and to respond ethically to the interdependent worlds to which they belong. Committed to excellence in all areas of its reach, Wells College equips students for lifelong learning and for sharing of privileges of education with others.
MPS supports the Wells mission of educating students through a rigorous academic program intended to provide a strong foundation in one of its constituent fields (mathematics, physics, and computer science), an understanding of the interconnections among them, and an appreciation for the field in the context of the liberal arts.

1. Provide an educational experience that supports students as unique individuals engaged in the study and practice of the liberal arts.
2. Maintain an excellent faculty that is skilled in teaching, dedicated to rigorous intellectual development, and actively committed to pursuing new knowledge and learning strategies.
3. Develop students' intellectual curiosity, analytical and critical capabilities, and aesthetic awareness and creativity.
4. Provide a rich community environment that fosters awareness and sensitivity to social diversity and encourages responsible action in an interdependent world.
5. Develop self-confident individuals who exercise sound judgment and have the knowledge and skills for thoughtful decision-making

A Wells College education enables students to:

1. examine enduring and contemporary questions that shape human understanding
2. use the scholarly and creative traditions of the liberal arts and contemporary technologies to locate and evaluate information
3. communicate reasoned points of view to inform and persuade a variety of audiences
4. incorporate an understanding of diversity in their academic work and as members of a learning community
5. develop an appreciation of languages and cultures in a global context
6. acquire knowledge based on scholarship and research about women
7. engage in collaborative practices in the classroom, in campus life, and in the community at large
8. develop thorough knowledge of basic principles, methods of inquiry, and current issues in an academic field of study

1. Students will study of one of the three disciplines in depth, developing associated problem-solving skills and related skills in the other MPS disciplines.
   
   Related to Wells goal:  1, 8.
   
   Accomplished by:  satisfying MPS discipline requirements and common requirements. The prerequisite structure and vertical integration of MPS courses ensures that a student must master foundation knowledge before successfully completing a 300-level course. Interdisciplinary courses such as Math 301 and CS 368 ensure that students can work in areas of disciplinary overlap.
   
   Assessed by:  MPS faculty verify that the student is able to complete 300 level work in the discipline and has completed core courses in the other two areas.
   
   
2. Students will be able to learn independently in areas related to their discipline.
   
   Related to Wells goal:  2.
   
   Accomplished by:  MPS 402/3
   
   Assessed by:  MPS faculty evaluate thesis proposals in MPS 402, and the associated learning and work in MPS 403.
   
   
3. Students will communicate effectively in various modes appropriate to the discipline.
   
   Related to Wells goal:  3.
   
   Accomplished by:  course work, MPS 402/3
   
   Assessed by:  MPS faculty verify that the student successfully has completed of the MPS 403 written component and Science Colloquium presentation.
   
   
4. Students will be prepared to pursue advanced study in graduate school and/or secure employment in the public and private sectors.
   
   Related to Wells goal:  8.
   
   Accomplished by:  Students meet program requirements and faculty guidence with respect to course selection and external programs
   
   Assessed by:  MPS annual student assessment.
   
   
5. Students will understand the relationships of their discipline with the rest of the world.
   
   Related to Wells goal:  1.
   
   Accomplished by:  course work, MPS 402/3, internships.
   
   Assessed by:  MPS faculty evaluate the senior thesis for appropriate application of disciplinary in the context of the larger world.
   
   
6. Students will be able to work collaboratively, learning from and sharing their knowledge with others.
   
   Related to Wells goal:   7.
   
   Accomplished by:  individual course experiences such as the CS 225 class project, sharing thesis progress in MPS 402, internships, using and helping in the Math Clinic.
   
   Assessed by:  MPS annual student assessment.