College of Arts and Sciences

Degrees and Curricula

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

The B.A. degree and the B.S. degree are differentiated not by the major chosen, but by specific College requirements. For the standard and comprehensive majors listed below, students may elect either the B.A. or B.S. degree.

College of Arts and Sciences Standard Majors (Liberal Arts):
  • American Indian Studies
  • Art
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Communication
  • Computer Science
  • Economics
  • English
  • French
  • Geography
  • Geology
  • History
  • Integrated Strategic Communication
  • Journalism
  • Latin American and Latinx Studies
  • Mathematics
  • Music
  • Philosophy
  • Physics
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Public Health
  • Religious Studies
  • Sociology
  • Spanish
  • Theatre Arts
  • Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
College of Arts and Sciences Comprehensive Majors:
  • Actuarial Science- Liberal Arts (Department of Mathematics)
  • Art-Liberal Arts
  • Biochemistry/Molecular Biology-Liberal Arts (Interdisciplinary)
  • Bioinformatics-Liberal Arts (Interdisciplinary)
  • Biology-Liberal Arts
  • Chemistry-A.C.S.
  • Chemistry with Business Emphasis (Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry)
  • Computer Science-Liberal Arts
  • Criminal Justice-Liberal Arts (Interdisciplinary)
  • Geography-Liberal Arts
  • Geology-Liberal Arts
  • Geospatial Analysis and Technology-Liberal Arts (Department of Geography and Anthropology)
  • Materials Science-Liberal Arts
  • Mathematics-Liberal Arts
  • Music-Liberal Arts
  • Neuroscience-Liberal Arts (Interdisciplinary)
  • Political Science-Liberal Arts
  • Theatre Arts-Liberal Arts

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Comprehensive Major: Biomedical Engineering
Comprehensive Major: Materials Science and Engineering

Bachelor of Liberal Studies (B.L.S.)

Comprehensive Major: Liberal Studies-Liberal Arts (Interdisciplinary)

Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)

Comprehensive Major: Art

Bachelor of Music (B.M.)

Comprehensive Major: Music

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Public Health (B.S.E.P.H.)

Comprehensive Major: Environmental Public Health (Public Health and Environmental Studies)


College of Arts and Sciences Minors

A standard Liberal Arts minor is offered in each discipline in which a standard Liberal Arts major is available. In addition, a number of other minors are offered by the College of Arts and Sciences. Program descriptions are found in the College of Arts and Sciences Interdisciplinary Programs section or in the noted academic department/program section. 

  • Ancient Studies (Interdisciplinary)
  • Art History (Department of Art & Design)
  • Criminal Justice Equity and Inclusivity (Interdisciplinary)
  • Environment, Society, and Culture (Department of Public Health and Environmental Studies)
  • Environmental Science (Department of Public Health and Environmental Studies)
  • European Studies (Interdisciplinary)
  • Family Studies (Interdisciplinary)
  • German (Department of Languages)
  • Global Studies (Interdisciplinary)
  • Japanese (Department of Languages)
  • Interdisciplinary Linguistics (Interdisciplinary)
  • Marine Science (Interdisciplinary)
  • Mathematical Problem Solving (Department of Mathematics)
  • Middle East Studies (Interdisciplinary)
  • Multimedia Communication (Interdisciplinary)
  • Neuroscience (Interdisciplinary)
  • Pre-Professional Health Science (Interdisciplinary)
  • Spanish for Health Professions (Department of Languages)
  • Topical Minor (Interdisciplinary)

College of Arts and Sciences Certificates

The College of Arts and Sciences offers a number of certificate programs. Program descriptions are found in the College of Arts and Sciences Interdisciplinary Programs section or in the noted academic department/program section. 

  • Africana Studies (Interdisciplinary)
  • American Indian Studies (American Indian Studies Program)
  • Analytical Reasoning (Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies)
  • Ancient Studies (Interdisciplinary)
  • Anthropology (Department of Geography and Anthropology)
  • Arts Administration (Department of Music and Theatre Arts)
  • Campaign Consulting (Department of Political Science)
  • Cartography and Geovisualization (Department of Geography and Anthropology)
  • Chinese (Department of Languages)
  • Creative Writing (Department of English)
  • Critical Hmong Studies (Interdisciplinary)
  • Critical Studies in Literatures, Cultures, and Film (Department of English)
  • Computer Programmer (Department of Computer Science)
  • Dance Activities (Department of Music and Theatre Arts)
  • Earth Resources (Interdisciplinary)
  • Economics of Global Issues (Department of Economics)
  • Ethics (Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies)
  • French Proficiency (Department of Languages)
  • Geospatial (Department of Geography and Anthropology)
  • Geospatial, Geographic Information Systems (Department of Geography and Anthropology)
  • Geospatial, Mapping (Department of Geography and Anthropology)
  • Geospatial, Remote Sensing (Department of Geography and Anthropology)
  • German Proficiency (Department of Languages)
  • Global and Comparative History (Department of History)
  • Health Humanities (Interdisciplinary)
  • History of Race, Gender, and Society (Department of History)
  • Integrated Strategic Communication (Department of Communication and Journalism)
  • Interdisciplinary Linguistics (Interdisciplinary)
  • International Affairs (Department of Political Science)
  • Journalism (Department of Communication and Journalism)
  • LabVIEW (Department of Physics and Astronomy)
  • Latin American and Latinx Studies (Latin American and Latinx Studies Program)
  • Legal Studies (Department of Political Science)
  • LGBTQ Studies (Department of Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Sexuality Studies)
  • Materials Science (Department of Materials Science and Biomedical Engineering)
  • Middle East Studies (Interdisciplinary)
  • Ojibwe Language (Department of Languages)
  • Organizational Communication (Department of Communication and Journalism)
  • Recording Arts (Department of Music and Theatre Arts)
  • Responsible Mining (Interdisciplinary)
  • Rhetorics of Science, Technology, and Culture (Department of English)
  • Social Advocacy and Change (Department of Communication and Journalism)
  • Social Diversity (Department of Sociology)
  • Songwriting (Department of Music and Theatre Arts)
  • Sustainability and Climate Action (Department of Public Health and Environmental Studies)
  • Teaching English as a Foreign Language (Interdisciplinary)
  • Theatre Arts (Department of Music and Theatre Arts)
  • Transnational Asian Studies (Interdisciplinary)
  • Urban and Regional Planning (Department of Geography and Anthropology)
  • Water Resources (Interdisciplinary)
  • Women of Color Feminisms (Department of Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Sexuality Studies)
  • Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (Department of Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Sexuality Studies)
  • World History and Society: Past, Present, Future (Interdisciplinary)
  • World Religions (Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies)

Programs from other colleges accepted for Arts and Sciences degrees:

College of Business Majors:
All College of Business majors are accepted for Arts and Sciences degrees as second majors with the exception of Health Care Administration majors.

College of Business Minors:
Accounting
Business Administration
Business Finance
Entrepreneurship
Information Systems
International Business
Management
Marketing
Military Leadership

College of Education and Human Sciences Minors:
Gerontology-Liberal Arts
Kinesiology-Liberal Arts
Science of Coaching-Liberal Arts


Major/Minor, Major/Certificate and Major/Major Combinations in a Single Department or Program

A major and a minor, or a major and certificate, or two majors (if available), may be elected within a single department or program only in the following approved combinations:

Department/Program:

Art & Design
Art Major, Studio Emphasis (Code 020-208) and Art History Minor (Code 030-401)

English
Creative Writing Major (Code 540-204) and Critical Studies in Literatures, Cultures, and Film Minor (Code 540-409)
Creative Writing Major (Code 540-204) and Critical Studies in Literatures, Cultures, and Film Certificate (Code 540-601)
Creative Writing Major (Code 540-204) and Rhetorics of Science, Technology, and Culture Minor (Code 540-414)
Creative Writing Major (Code 540-204) and Rhetorics of Science, Technology, and Culture Certificate (Code 540-602)
Critical Studies in Literatures, Cultures, and Film Major (Code 540-212) and Creative Writing Minor (Code 540-412)
Critical Studies in Literatures, Cultures, and Film Major (Code 540-212) and Rhetorics of Science, Technology, and Culture Minor (Code 540-414)
Critical Studies in Literatures, Cultures, and Film Major (Code 540-212) and Rhetorics of Science, Technology, and Culture Certificate (Code 540-602)
Linguistics Major (Code 540-205) and Creative Writing Minor (Code 540-412)
Linguistics Major (Code 540-205) and Critical Studies in Literatures, Cultures, and Film Minor (Code 540-409)
Linguistics Major (Code 540-205) and Critical Studies in Literatures, Cultures, and Film Certificate (Code 540-601)
Linguistics Major (Code 540-205) and Rhetorics of Science, Technology, and Culture Minor (Code 540-414)
Linguistics Major (Code 540-205) and Rhetorics of Science, Technology, and Culture Certificate (Code 540-602)
Rhetorics of Science, Technology, and Culture Major (Code 540-211) and Creative Writing Minor (Code 540-412)
Rhetorics of Science, Technology, and Culture Major (Code 540-211) and Critical Studies in Literatures, Cultures, and Film Minor (Code 540-409)
Rhetorics of Science, Technology, and Culture Major (Code 540-211) and Critical Studies in Literatures, Cultures, and Film Certificate (Code 540-601)

Geography and Anthropology
Geography Major (Code 140-214) and Anthropology Certificate (Code 470-601)

Languages
Any two languages

Music and Theatre Arts
Music Major (Code 060-201) and Theatre Arts Minor (Code 601-422)
Music Major (Code 060-201) and Theatre Arts Major (Code 601-223)
Music Major (Code 060-201) and Theatre Arts Certificate (Code 601-601)
Music Major (Code 060-201) and Arts Administration Certificate (Code 060-602)
Music Major (Code 060-201) and Dance Activities Certificate (Code 605-601)
Music Major (Code 060-201) and Recording Arts Certificate (Code 061-601)
Theatre Arts Major (Code 601-223) and Music Minor (Code 060-401)
Theatre Arts Major (Code 601-223) and Arts Administration Certificate(Code 060-602)
Theatre Arts Major (Code 601-223) and Dance Activities Certificate (Code 605-601)
Theatre Arts Major (Code 601-223) and Recording Arts Certificate (Code 061-601)
Theatre Arts Major (Code 601-223) and Songwriting Certificate (Code 061-602)

Philosophy and Religious Studies
Philosophy Major (Code 400-200) and Religious Studies Minor (Code 411-401)
Philosophy Major (Code 400-200) and Religious Studies Major (Code 411-201)
Philosophy Major (Code 400-200) and World Religions Certificate (Code 411-601)
Religious Studies Major (Code 411-201) and Philosophy Minor (Code 400-400)
Religious Studies Major (Code 411-201) and Ethics Certificate (Code 400-601)
Religious Studies Major (Code 411-201) and Analytical Reasoning Certificate (Code 400-602)

Public Health and Environmental Studies
Environmental Public Health Comprehensive Major (Code 640-001) and Environment, Society, and Culture Minor (Code 489-401)
Environmental Public Health Comprehensive Major (Code 640-001) and Environmental Science Minor (Code 155-400)
Environmental Public Health Comprehensive Major (Code 640-001) and Public Health Major (Code 488-201)
Environmental Public Health Comprehensive Major (Code 640-001) and Public Health Minor (Code 488-401)
Environmental Public Health Comprehensive Major (Code 640-001) and Sustainability and Climate Action Certificate (Code 488-601)
Public Health Major (Code 488-201) and Sustainability and Climate Action Certificate (Code 488-601)

Major/Minor, Major/Certificate and Major/Major Combinations Not Allowed
Program combinations with too much overlapping disciplinary content (though found in different academic departments or programs) also are not allowed:

English Major, Linguistics (540-205) and Interdisciplinary Linguistics Minor (Code 570-402)
English Major, Linguistics (540-205) and Interdisciplinary Linguistics Certificate (Code 570-601)
Spanish Major, Linguistics (320-206) and Interdisciplinary Linguistics Certificate (Code 570-601)

Degree Requirements

Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science Degree (B.A./B.S.)

Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science Degree (B.A./B.S.)

University Graduation Requirements. All candidates for degrees must fulfill the requirements for credits, curriculum, GPA, and University residency as specified in the section of this catalog titled University Graduation Requirements.

College Graduation Requirements: Grade Point Averages. All candidates for degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences must earn minimum resident and total GPAs of 2.00 in the major, the minor, and the certificate. The resident and total GPAs for the major are computed using all attempted credits applicable to the major including those offered by departments other than the major department. The resident and total GPAs for the minor and the certificate are computed similarly.

Major-Minor and Major-Certificate Requirements. A standard major (a minimum of 36 credits) must be supplemented by a minor (a minimum of 24 credits) or by a certificate (12 to 18 credits) to meet graduation requirements for completing a first and second degree program. No minor or certificate is required with a Comprehensive Major (60 or more credits) or with two majors of 36 or more credits each.

Certain degree programs, which include Comprehensive Majors, may require more than the minimum of 120 credits for graduation.

Acceptable academic program combinations are determined at the college level. A major and a minor or a major and certificate or two majors (if available) may not be elected in the same department or program, except in the approved combinations listed here.

College Credits. Earn at least 90 credits in courses offered by the College of Arts and Sciences.

Bachelor of Arts Degree in the College of Arts and Sciences (B.A.)

Fulfillment of all University Graduation Requirements (which includes the Liberal Education Core); all College-level degree requirements (major and minor/certificate emphases, GPAs, earning at least 90 credits in Arts and Sciences course work); foreign language competency at the 102 level.  Foreign language competency may be met in one of two ways:  (1) Achieve a score on the foreign language placement test that qualifies the student to enter the 201-level course in a foreign language.  (2) Earn a grade of at least C (not C-) or a mark of S in a 102-level foreign language course (or AIS 112 or AIS 122 / LANG 122 or CSD 103).

Bachelor of Science Degree in the College of Arts and Sciences (B.S.)

Fulfillment of all University Graduation Requirements (which includes the Liberal Education Core); all College-level degree requirements (major and minor/certificate emphases, GPAs, earning at least 90 credits in Arts and Sciences course work); mathematics competency at the MATH 111, MATH 112 or MATH 113 level.  Mathematics competency can be met in one of three ways:  (1) Achieve a score on the mathematics placement test that qualifies the student to enter MATH 114.  (2) Earn a grade of at least C (not C-) or a mark of S in MATH 111, MATH 112, or MATH 113.  (3) Achieve a satisfactory score on the MATH 112 competency test.  This test may be attempted no more than two times.

Bachelor of Liberal Studies Degree (B.L.S.)

Bachelor of Liberal Studies

University Graduation Requirements. All candidates for degrees must fulfill the requirements for credits, curriculum, GPA, and University residency as specified in the section of this catalog titled University Graduation Requirements.

College Graduation Requirements: Grade Point Averages. All candidates for degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences must earn minimum resident and total GPAs of 2.00 in the major, the minor, and the certificate. The resident and total GPAs for the major are computed using all attempted credits applicable to the major including those offered by departments other than the major department. The resident and total GPAs for the minor and certificate are computed similarly.

Major-Minor and Major-Certificate Requirements. A standard major (a minimum of 36 credits) must be supplemented by a minor (a minimum of 24 credits) or by a certificate (12 to 18 credits) to meet graduation requirements for completing a first and second degree program. No minor or certificate is required with a Comprehensive Major (60 or more credits) or with two majors of 36 or more credits each.

Certain degree programs, which include Comprehensive Majors, may require more than the minimum of 120 credits for graduation.

Acceptable academic program combinations are determined at the college level. A major and a minor or a major and certificate or two majors (if available) may not be elected in the same department or program, except in the approved combinations listed here.

College Credits. Earn at least 90 credits in courses offered by the College of Arts and Sciences.

Bachelor of Liberal Studies Degree in the College of Arts and Sciences (B.L.S.)

Fulfillment of all University Graduation Requirements (which includes the Liberal Education Core); all College-level degree requirements (major and minor/certificate emphases, GPAs, earning at least 90 credits in Arts and Sciences course work).

Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree (B.F.A.)

Bachelor of Fine Arts

University Graduation Requirements. All candidates for degrees must fulfill the requirements for credits, curriculum, GPA, and University residency as specified in the section of this catalog titled University Graduation Requirements.

College Graduation Requirements: Grade Point Averages. All candidates for degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences must earn minimum resident and total GPAs of 2.00 in the major, the minor, and the certificate. The resident and total GPAs for the major are computed using all attempted credits applicable to the major including those offered by departments other than the major department. The resident and total GPAs for the minor and certificate are computed similarly.

Major-Minor and Major-Certificate Requirements. A standard major (a minimum of 36 credits) must be supplemented by a minor (a minimum of 24 credits) or by a certificate (12 to 18 credits) to meet graduation requirements for completing a first and second degree program. No minor or certificate is required with a Comprehensive Major (60 or more credits) or with two majors of 36 or more credits each.

Certain degree programs, which include Comprehensive Majors, may require more than the minimum of 120 credits for graduation.

Acceptable academic program combinations are determined at the college level. A major and a minor or a major and certificate or two majors (if available) may not be elected in the same department or program, except in the approved combinations listed here.

College Credits. Earn at least 90 credits in courses offered by the College of Arts and Sciences.

Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in the College of Arts and Sciences (B.F.A.)

Fulfillment of all University Graduation Requirements (which includes the Liberal Education Core); all College-level degree requirements (major and minor/certificate emphases, GPAs, earning at least 90 credits in Arts and Sciences course work); foreign language competency at the 102 level.  Foreign language competency can be met in one of two ways:  (1) Achieve a score on the foreign language placement test that qualifies the student to enter the 201-level course in a foreign language.  (2) Earn a grade of at least C (not C-) or a mark of S in a 102-level foreign language course (or AIS 112 or AIS 122 / LANG 122 or CSD 103).

Bachelor of Music Degree (B.M.)

Bachelor of Music

University Graduation Requirements. All candidates for degrees must fulfill the requirements for credits, curriculum, GPA, and University residency as specified in the section of this catalog titled University Graduation Requirements.

College Graduation Requirements: Grade Point Averages. All candidates for degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences must earn minimum resident and total GPAs of 2.00 in the major, the minor, and the certificate. The resident and total GPAs for the major are computed using all attempted credits applicable to the major including those offered by departments other than the major department. The resident and total GPAs for the minor and certificate are computed similarly.

Major-Minor and Major-Certificate Requirements. A standard major (a minimum of 36 credits) must be supplemented by a minor (a minimum of 24 credits) or by a certificate (12 to 18 credits) to meet graduation requirements for completing a first and second degree program. No minor or certificate is required with a Comprehensive Major (60 or more credits) or with two majors of 36 or more credits each.

Certain degree programs, which include Comprehensive Majors, may require more than the minimum of 120 credits for graduation.

Acceptable academic program combinations are determined at the college level. A major and a minor or a major and certificate or two majors (if available) may not be elected in the same department or program, except in the approved combinations listed here.

College Credits. Earn at least 90 credits in courses offered by the College of Arts and Sciences.

Bachelor of Music Degree in the College of Arts and Sciences (B.M.)

Fulfillment of all University Graduation Requirements (which includes the Liberal Education Core); all College-level degree requirements (major and minor/certificate emphases, GPAs, earning at least 90 credits in Arts and Sciences course work); foreign language competency at the 102 level.  Foreign language competency can be met in one of two ways:  (1) Achieve a score on the foreign language placement test that qualifies the student to enter the 201-level course in a foreign language.  (2) Earn a grade of at least C (not C-) or a mark of S in a 102-level foreign language course (or AIS 112 or AIS 122 / LANG 122 or CSD 103). 

Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Public Health (B.S.E.P.H.)

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Public Health

University Graduation Requirements. All candidates for degrees must fulfill the requirements for credits, curriculum, GPA, and University residency as specified in the section of this catalog titled University Graduation Requirements.

College Graduation Requirements: Grade Point Averages. All candidates for degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences must earn minimum resident and total GPAs of 2.00 in the major, the minor, and the certificate. The resident and total GPAs for the major are computed using all attempted credits applicable to the major including those offered by departments other than the major department. The resident and total GPAs for the minor and certificate are computed similarly.

Major-Minor and Major-Certificate Requirements. A standard major (a minimum of 36 credits) must be supplemented by a minor (a minimum of 24 credits) or by a certificate (12 to 18 credits) to meet graduation requirements for completing a first and second degree program. No minor or certificate is required with a Comprehensive Major (60 or more credits) or with two majors of 36 or more credits each.

Certain degree programs, which include Comprehensive Majors, may require more than the minimum of 120 credits for graduation.

Acceptable academic program combinations are determined at the college level. A major and a minor or a major and certificate or two majors (if available) may not be elected in the same department or program, except in the approved combinations listed here.

College Credits. Earn at least 90 credits in courses offered by the College of Arts and Sciences.

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Public Health Degree in the College of Arts and Sciences (B.S.E.P.H.)

Fulfillment of all University Graduation Requirements (which includes the Liberal Education Core); all College-level degree requirements (major and minor/certificate emphases, GPAs, earning at least 90 credits in Arts and Sciences course work).