College of Liberal Arts

Departments and Programs

MARK DAVIS, DEAN

General Information

Purposes

The role of the College of Liberal Arts in fulfilling the overall purposes of UWA encompasses the following objectives:

To offer bachelor's degrees in areas of liberal education, including interdisciplinary areas, wherever student need and resources of the University make such degree programs feasible. At present, majors are offered in English with teacher certification options in English language arts, history with teacher certification options in history and social sciences, interdisciplinary arts, interdisciplinary studies, psychology, and sociology. Minors are offered in anthropology, art, English, history, journalism, music, political science, psychology, social work, sociology, and theatre. Through cooperation with the Colleges of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Business, and Education, students in Liberal Arts may also minor in accounting, biology, business administration, chemistry, computer information systems, environmental sciences, geology, management, marketing, mathematics, physical education, and special education.
To prepare students to pursue successful graduate work and professional training in appropriate areas of study. Holders of degrees from the College of Liberal Arts are prepared to begin post-baccalaureate work in English, history, psychology, and sociology, and in many professional areas, such as business, education (Master of Arts in Teaching, etc.), law, library science, public service, social work, and theology.
To provide superior undergraduate students with a more stimulating and challenging curriculum, closer contacts with outstanding faculty, and enriched non-traditional classes, as well as to allow the individual to follow his/her own intellectual interests more independently.
To provide undergraduate courses in academic major and minor areas and elective liberal arts courses for students in the College of Business, the College of Education, the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and the Division of Nursing.
To provide, for all undergraduate students in the University, general education courses in the following liberal arts areas: languages and literature, speech, history and social sciences, and fine arts.
To provide beginning undergraduate students with programs designed to assist in their adjustment to college and to help students develop the necessary proficiency in the basic skill areas needed to meet the requirements of the regular college curriculum.
To provide two or more years of liberal education for students who have not yet reached a decision about their ultimate academic goals and for students who intend to transfer to more specialized institutions for technical training.
To provide graduate-level courses in areas of the liberal arts as needed to support the programs in the School of Graduate Studies. At present, the College of Liberal Arts provides such advanced courses in English, history, and psychology, as well as general courses in several other areas.
To enrich the total educational experience of all students and the overall cultural life of the entire University community by providing opportunities for the enjoyment of, and participation in, intellectual and cultural activities featuring students and faculty, as well as visitors to the campus. Such opportunities include concerts, recitals, dramatic activities, special lectures, symposia, films, workshops, and art exhibits, as well as academic organizations.

Organization

The College of Liberal Arts is organized under the Dean into departments, as follows:

The Department of Behavioral Sciences offers courses in criminal justice, psychology, social work, and sociology. It provides majors in psychology and sociology (traditional and criminal justice tracks) and minors in psychology, sports psychology, sociology, and social work.
The Department of Fine Arts offers courses in art, music, and theatre with a major in interdisciplinary arts and minors in all three areas.
The Department of History and Social Sciences offers courses in anthropology, geography, history, philosophy, and political science. It provides majors in history (with a teacher certification option) and minors in anthropology, history, political science and public history. It also houses offerings in Air Force Studies.
The Department of Languages and Literature offers courses in English (with a teacher certification option in English language arts), journalism, French, Spanish, and speech, with majors in English and Integrated Marketing Communications as well as minors in English and journalism.
The College of Liberal Arts also offers a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.
The Livingston Press annually publishes four or more volumes of distinguished fiction and/or folklore.

Policies

Students in the College of Liberal Arts should be familiar with the following policies of this College:

Academic Advising
1. Upon entering the College of Liberal Arts, each student is assigned to an advisor who counsels with him/her regarding the course of study each semester. Advisor assignments are changed as necessary to ensure that each student is advised by a faculty member with a particular responsibility in the student's area of interest. Students who have not yet declared a major are also assigned to the College of Liberal Arts and are advised by a faculty member designated to work with undeclared majors.
2. Since students are expected generally to complete the forty-eight semester hours in the basic curriculum within the freshman and sophomore years, each student during this period must take most of his/her work in basic courses.
3. Advisors are responsible for providing general guidance as students plan their work toward graduation. They may on occasion refer students to the Dean or to others for approval of unusual programs. The assigned advisor or the Dean of the College must sign each registration form and any change forms. Each student, however, has full responsibility for determining his/her own status in regard to the acceptability of his/her schedule and progress toward meeting graduation requirements.
Residence Requirement

A candidate for a degree in the College of Liberal Arts must be officially registered in the College for at least two full semesters after the freshman year, one of which must be the semester immediately preceding completion of the requirements for the degree. To comply with this latter stipulation, a student must complete the transfer to the College of Liberal Arts prior to registration for the last semester in residence.

Special Programs

Click here to view the Freshman Studies Program
Click here to view the Pre-Law Program
Click here to view the Accelerated Curriculum Engagement Program (5 Year BS/BA to Master's Degree)

Course Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts

For non-teaching students:

All courses required in the basic curriculum with a 2.0 quality-point ratio (overall and in basic curriculum courses at UWA).

A total of at least one hundred and twenty semester hours with twice as many grade points as hours on record.

At least twelve semester hours, or the equivalent, of a foreign language with a 2.0 quality-point ratio.

One major and one minor or two majors with a 2.0 overall quality-point ratio in each and a 2.0 quality-point ratio in courses at UWA in each. At least twelve semester hours in the major(s), at least eighteen semester hours in the comprehensive major, and at least six semester hours in the minor must be earned at UWA.

For teaching certification students:

All courses required in the basic curriculum with a 2.5 quality-point ratio (overall and in basic curriculum courses taken at UWA).

A total of at least one hundred and twenty-six semester hours with a 2.5 quality-point ratio.