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LAS Student Handbook
- Admission to LAS
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- Degree Requirements
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Find the Right Major for You
With more than 70 majors and minors from which to choose, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has something for just about everyone. The college divides these fields of study into three categories — Sciences and Letters Curriculum, Specialized Curricula, and Secondary Teacher Education — each of which has general graduation requirements set by the college as well as requirements unique to each field of study. The descriptions here serve as a guide. Always talk to your advisor if you have questions.
Students are expected to choose a major, preferably no later than the end of the fourth semester, focusing on one academic discipline. You must consult with an advisor and submit a list of advisor-approved courses during your fifth semester. You may not act as your own advisor when completing the required major plan-of-study form.
Sciences and Letters Curriculum
The Sciences and Letters Curriculum encompasses the traditional majors and minors in the liberal arts and sciences as well as individual plans of study, interdisciplinary majors, and international studies.
The Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences is awarded to students completing a major in actuarial science, astronomy, chemistry, geology, integrative biology, mathematics, math and computer science, molecular and cellular biology, physics, psychology, statistics, and statistics and computer science. The Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences is awarded to students completing any of the other majors.
- Actuarial Science
An actuary is a combination of business executive, mathematician, financier, sociologist, and investment manager. - African American Studies
Provides students with a transdiciplinary perspective on the origin, role, and policy implications of race in the United States and world political economy, society, and culture, over time. - Anthropology
Combines scientific and humanistic interests in a modern social sciences framework. - Art History
Interpret art as a record of social and personal experience, assess complex arguments critically, and understand a diverse range of artistic traditions. - Astronomy
Based upon both a broad and an in-depth exploration into astronomy and allied disciplines. - Atmospheric Sciences
Prepares students for careers in meteorology, environmental science, climate, remote sensing, science education, atmospheric chemistry, computational science, and other related areas. - Biology
Also see majors in Integrative Biology and Molecular and Cellular Biology. - Chemistry
The study of the composition and properties of matter and the investigation of the laws that govern the combination of elements. - Classics
The study of the languages and cultures of ancient Greece and Rome. Options are currently available in the following areas: Classical Archaeology, Classical Civilization, Classics, Greek, and Latin. - Communication
The use and impact of communication messages in human interaction. - Comparative and World Literature
Develops not only reading, writing, and language skills, but also the awareness of cultural differences and interrelations. Options are currently available in the following areas: Comparative Literature and World Literature. - Earth Systems, Environment, and Society
Understanding and solving scientific, social, and environmental challenges by studying the Earth as a system—how physical processes, public policy, and social forces interact. - East Asian Languages and Cultures
Gain knowledge of the civilizations of East Asia, competence in an East Asian language, and a solid familiarity with East Asian cultures through multiple disciplines. - Economics
Studies the problems caused by scarcity and how individuals, institutions, and societies may deal with these problems. - English
Instructs in literature, literary theory and criticism, the English language, expository and creative writing, writing studies, film, cultural studies, and more. - Finance
Concerned with the acquisition of funds and the determination of the use of funds by a business or an individual. LAS Finance is no longer available as a major. Please see the College of Business. - French
Explore literary history and interpretation, contemporary critical theory, Francophone literature, the study of civilization, historical and applied linguistics, and more. - Geography
Geographers ask where things are located on the surface of the earth, why they are located there, how places differ, and how people interact with the environment. - Geology
A more liberal education for use in fields such as anthropology, business, mineral economics, regional planning, journalism, law, or library and information science. - Germanic Languages and Literatures
A traditional study of German providing students with a balanced knowledge of its language, literature, and civilization. - History
The study of the human experience in different cultures and time periods. - Individual Plans of Study
Customized majors that fulfill educational needs not served by existing fields of study. - Integrative Biology
Provides solid preparation in genetics and evolution, structure and function, ecology and behavior, and comparative physiology and molecular biology. - Interdisciplinary Studies
Select from several options that cross disciplinary boundaries: American civilization, cinema studies, gender and women's studies, Medieval civilization, or Renaissance studies. - International Studies
A flexible major that complements existing majors while imparting skills for analyzing and solving world problems. - Italian
Promotes the language, literature, linguistics, and culture. - Latin American Studies
Incorporates an integrated exploration of a major world area. - Linguistics
Prepares students for various careers in which the scientific study of language is of significance. - Mathematics
Provides fundamental background for mathematics. - Mathematics and Computer Science
Prepares students for professional or graduate work in mathematics and computer science. - Molecular and Cellular Biology
Offers a solid preparation in molecular biology, molecular genetics, microbiology, cellular biology, biochemistry, physiology, and structural biology. - Philosophy
The oldest, broadest, and most fundamental form of inquiry, philosophy improves one's ability to think clearly, and to construct, analyze, and criticize arguments of any kind. - Physics
Geared for those who plan to pursue technical or professional careers in areas requiring a sound grounding in physical science and mathematics. - Political Science
Encourages students to acquire a broad understanding of political science and to pursue selected subfields of the discipline in depth. - Portuguese
Promotes the language, literature, linguistics, and culture. - Psychology
The scientific study of human and animal behavior is designed to better understand behavior and help solve problems faced by individuals and communities. - Religious Studies
Designed for students seeking a broad liberal arts education with a focus on religious studies. - Rhetoric
Permits students to work in creative or professional writing. - Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies
Involves the study of a complex world area in a manner that draws together the approaches of different disciplines, while building knowledge in a single discipline. - Russian Language and Literature
The study of the language, literature, and culture of Russia. - Sociology
Studies the organization and construction of social relations, including stratification, social movements, institutional change, and intergroup relations. - Spanish
Promotes the language, literature, linguistics, and culture. - Statistics
The science of modeling, summarizing, and analyzing data uses mathematics and computing tools to make predictions and decisions in the face of uncertainty. - Statistics and Computer Science
For students with strong interests in both statistics and computer science.
Specialized Curricula
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers several specialized curricula that prepare students for professional study or graduate pursuits. In keeping with this prescribed goal, each curriculum consists of a more rigidly structured course of study than what is generally described for majors in the Sciences and Letters Curriculum.
The Bachelor of Science is awarded to students completing any of the specialized curricula.
Secondary Teacher Education
The Secondary Teacher Education Curriculum prepares students for rewarding careers in education. Students gain proficiency in their chosen specialty as well as in curricular development and instruction.
Foreign Languages
Students may earn a bachelor of arts in the teaching of degree in the following areas:
- French
- German
- Latin
- Russian
- Spanish
Arts and Sciences
Students may earn a bachelor of science or arts degree in the following areas:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Earth Science
- English (A.B.)
- History (A.B.)
- Mathematics
- Physics
Students in these teaching majors also apply to and complete the minor in Secondary Education in order to earn certification.