History

Science and mathematics were part of Auburn’s academic identity long before COSAM became a college. Early faculty leaders helped establish programs, laboratories and facilities that shaped the university’s growth and expanded Auburn’s role in scientific education and research.

Before COSAM

Auburn’s roots in science and mathematics date back to its founding as East Alabama Male College in 1856. As the institution grew, faculty in chemistry, physics, astronomy and mathematics helped build the academic foundation that would later support Auburn’s emergence as a major research university.

Among these early leaders was William Leroy Broun, who taught chemistry, physics and astronomy and served as university president. Broun strongly advocated for laboratory and vocational instruction, helping establish science as a central part of Auburn’s curriculum.

Other influential figures included Bennet Battle Ross, a chemist and longtime Auburn faculty member who served in several leadership roles; Cliff Hare, a chemistry professor, dean and state chemist whose legacy is also reflected in the name Jordan-Hare Stadium; Fred Allison, founder of Auburn’s Department of Physics; Vann Parker, a leader in mathematics and graduate education; and Charles Saunders, a chemistry alumnus and faculty member who later served as dean of the School of Chemistry.

Their work helped advance science and mathematics at Auburn through periods of major change, including two world wars and the Great Depression. A major milestone came in 1963 with the opening of the Science Center, then the largest construction project in Auburn’s history. The complex included Allison Physics Laboratory, Parker Hall and Saunders Hall, honoring leaders whose contributions helped shape Auburn’s scientific foundation.

In 1986, Auburn University created the College of Sciences and Mathematics, bringing the physical, biological and mathematical sciences together in one academic college. The new college reflected Auburn’s growing commitment to research, scientific discovery and high-quality instruction in the core disciplines that support many of the university’s academic and professional pathways.

Since its founding, COSAM has grown into one of Auburn’s largest colleges, with five departments: Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Geosciences, Mathematics and Statistics, and Physics. The college continues to support Auburn’s land-grant mission through teaching, research, outreach and service.