College of Arts and Sciences

Academic Offerings
Faculty
Courses
About the College
Academic Departments
Undergraduate Studies

Special Degree Offerings
Other Special Offerings
Special Degree Offerings
Graduate Studies

Karin Ruhlandt, Dean
300 Hall of Languages
thecollege.syr.edu/

About the College

The College of Arts and Sciences at Syracuse University prepares students for the global workplace and for study in post- graduate and professional programs by providing a contemporary liberal arts curriculum emphasizing interdisciplinary learning, research, service, and enterprise. Students are exposed to a curriculum that is based on the principles of critical thinking, effective communication, and the analysis and understanding of data, geared to educate the leaders of tomorrow.

Rigorous programs of study across our three academic divisions-the sciences and mathematics, the humanities, and the social sciences-as well as our interdepartmental and interdivisional programs, provide students with critical skills to effectively launch successful careers in a vast array of fields.

Our graduate students - mentored by nationally and internationally renowned scholars, writers, and scientists - are immersed in an environment of academic rigor, research, and creativity where they develop the tools and skills needed to effect change and generate new knowledge and ideas in their chosen fields.

The College’s three academic divisions house 22 departments that offer more than 50 majors, 40 minors, and 30 master’s and Ph.D. programs. The College also offers a number of selected studies, independent study, dual and combined degree programs, as well as interdisciplinary degree options with SU’s professional schools and colleges at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

More Information:
On the Web:
The College of Arts and Sciences

Dean’s Office
300 Hall of Languages
Phone: 315-443-2201
E-mail: casdean@syr.edu

Academic Departments

The College of Arts and Sciences is a place of discovery, creativity, and imagination that forms the core of a liberal arts education at Syracuse University. Through its three academic divisions-the Sciences and Mathematics, the Humanities, and the Social Sciences (offered in collaboration with the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs)-The College offers an eclectic array of traditional degree options as well as a number of interdisciplinary, dual, and combined-degree programs.

African American Studies
Anthropology
Art and Music Histories
Biology
Chemistry
Communication Sciences and Disorders
Earth Sciences
Economics
English
Geography
History
International Relations
Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Mathematics
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science
Psychology
Religion
Science Teaching
Sociology
Women’s and Gender Studies
The Writing Program

Undergraduate Studies

The College of Arts and Sciences offers undergraduate students an opportunity to explore major and minor programs in each of the academic divisions: Humanities, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and Social Sciences. Undergraduate Social Sciences courses are taught by faculty who also hold appointments in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

Interdisciplinary and Special Programs: The College offers a number of interdepartmental and interdivisional majors and minors.

For a list of the majors and minors offered, refer to Academic Offerings to the left.

Special Degree Offerings

For additional information on the following options, contact: Advising and Academic Support
Office:
323 Hall of Languages
Call: 315-443-3150
E-mail: casadvising@syr.edu

Options for Study in the College of Arts and Sciences

There are two general options for study leading to the B.A. or B.S. degree for undergraduates in the College of Arts and Sciences: the Standard Program and the Selected Studies Program.

The Standard Program involves the Liberal Arts Core, a major, electives and, perhaps, a minor or an additional major. The first two years are devoted largely to work that satisfies requirements of the Liberal Arts Core. The major is chosen by the end of the second year.

The selected studies program offers the student an opportunity to develop a highly individualized curricular plan. This program, which can lead to the B.A. or the B.S. degree, is intended to meet individual needs. It provides considerable freedom in curricular planning, but also requires greatly increased responsibility on the part of the student. Each student in the selected studies program develops a four-year program of study based on academic goals. He or she is assisted by a faculty advisor who helps to formulate an academically sound curriculum. For additional information please see Selected Studies under Undergraduate Program Offerings.

Combined Programs

The College of Arts and Sciences offers combined programs of study with certain professional schools and colleges within the University. These programs lead to two degrees and require at least 30 credits beyond the minimal requirement for one degree and a total of at least 150 credits. This means that it generally takes five years (10 semesters) to complete a combined program. Specific requirements vary from program to program and are described under individual program headings. Students pursuing a combined program in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete all college requirements relevant to the chosen program of study. A minimum of 96 credits in the College of Arts and Sciences is required. For a general definition and requirements of a combined program and comparison with other kinds of programs, refer to the appropriate chart in the Academic Rules section of this catalog.

A combined program in the College of Arts and Sciences is offered with the College of Engineering and Computer Science and results in the Arts and Sciences/Art, BA or B.S. in Arts and Sciences and the B.S. in Engineering.

Dual Enrollments

The College of Arts and Sciences offers dual enrollments in cooperation with certain professional schools and colleges within the University. These lead to a single degree jointly authorized and certified by the cooperating schools. The standards and procedures for admission vary and are described under individual headings. With careful course selection and planning, students are able to finish within four years (eight semesters) and within the 120-126 credits required for a degree. (For a general definition and requirements of a dual program and comparison with other kinds of programs, refer to the appropriate chart in the Academic Rules section of this catalog.)

Dual enrollments in Arts and Sciences are offered only with the School of Education and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications .

For the Dual program offered with S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications:
Contact Rosanna Grassi, Associate Dean, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, 315 Newhouse 3, 315-443-1908 or

For the College of Arts and Sciences, contact Advising and Academic Support, 323 Hall of Languages, 315-443-3150, casadvising@syr.edu

Students in the College of Arts and Sciences who are dually enrolled in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications receive the bachelor’s degree jointly awarded by both colleges.

Students complete the requirements for the B.A. degree or the B.S. degree from the College of Arts and Sciences, including at least 90 credits in Arts and Sciences coursework and an Arts and Sciences major, or a selected studies program approved by the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Students also satisfy requirements for a major in the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, chosen from the professional fields of advertising; broadcast and digital journalism; graphic design; magazine; newspaper and online journalism; photography; public relations; or television, radio, and film. At least 122 credits, including electives, are required to graduate.

Students who wish to enroll in this program should request dual enrollment at the time of admission to the University, or they may consult the School of Public Communications about an intra-University transfer to the dual program during the first or sophomore year.

First-year students entering the dual program

Students entering the Arts and Sciences/Public Communications Dual Degree in their first year will be required to satisfy the core requirements for the dual degree by completing the requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences Liberal Arts Core.

Students entering the dual program after the first year and who are either singly enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences or the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications satisfy the core requirements for the dual degree by completing the requirements of the school or college in which they were originally singly enrolled. In either case, the College of Arts and Sciences is the home college.

Other Special Options

Arts and Sciences/Art

The special options degree program in arts and sciences/art is designed for students who wish to include studio arts in conjunction with studies in humanities and/or sciences. The option permits any major in the College of Arts and Sciences to be joined with studio arts work. The degree awarded at the completion of undergraduate study is a B.A. in the arts and sciences major with the supplementary designation “and art.” The degree is singly awarded by the College of Arts and Sciences.

Arts and Sciences/Music

This special options degree program provides the opportunity to combine any degree in the College of Arts and Sciences with advanced studies in music performance or music composition-studies that will be taken primarily in the Setnor School of Music. To be admitted to the special options degree program, students in the College of Arts and Sciences apply through the Department of Art and Music Histories before the beginning of the sophomore year. Prospective students for the music performance and music composition degree options must meet admissions requirements administered by the Setnor School of Music .

The degree awarded after completing undergraduate studies is a B.A. in the arts and sciences major with the supplementary designation, “with advanced studies in music performance/composition” (depending on the particular degree option). The degree is singly awarded by the College of Arts and Sciences. Completion of the major does not result in any professional or artistic certification by the Setnor School of Music or the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

Combined Bachelor’s/Master’s Degrees - Secondary Teacher Preparation Programs

School of Education contact: Marie Sarno, Teaching and Leadership Programs, 173 Huntington Hall. mrsarno@syr.edu

This combined degree option, offered by the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Education meets the academic requirements for a New York Teaching certification for grades 7-12 in English, mathematics, a science area, or social studies. It is an alternative to the existing undergraduate Arts and Sciences/Education dual programs in these areas, and an option that often takes less time and fewer credits than earning the entire master’s degree in education after completion of a general Arts and Sciences degree.

The combined bachelor’s/master’s teacher preparation programs were designed to meet the needs of Arts and Sciences undergraduates who, because of a later decision to become a teacher, would need to add a semester or more to their undergraduate study to complete the existing undergraduate Arts and Sciences/Education program. It also serves those who want or need more flexibility in their undergraduate program than the dual undergraduate degree allows.

Both the Arts and Sciences undergraduate degree with a major related to the subject to be taught, and the School of Education master’s degree are conferred at the same time, after all requirements are met - typically at the end of 5 years. Students begin taking education courses as undergraduates, including some in the fourth year that are taken for graduate credit, and apply to become graduate students for their last two semesters. Some summer study (not necessarily at SU) may be required.

The combined program has a two-stage admission process. The first stage involves meeting with the School of Education contact as early as possible to develop a plan, and, if a decision to pursue the program is made, completing a form signed by Education and a new declaration of program of study form in Arts and Science to declare the Arts and Sciences program with “Teacher Preparation/5 year” appended to the title (e.g., “History(TchrPrep/5yr)” instead of “History”). The second admission stage involves an application to graduate school. Each admission stage requires a 3.0 cumulative GPA and a 3.0 GPA in the courses from the subject to be taught. The second stage also requires successful performance in the undergraduate education courses.

The choices of Arts and Sciences majors, and the course requirements for the Arts and Sciences major, the Liberal Arts Core, and other requirements related to the major are the same for these combined programs as those for students completing the dual enrollment undergraduate Arts and Sciences/Education program. These details about specific adjustments necessary to the Liberal Arts Core and to Arts and Sciences major may be found in the section describing Dual Arts and Sciences/ Education Programs.

Because of the specific course requirements and sequencing of courses, it is important that students interested in one of these programs meet with the Education contact as soon as possible to develop a plan. EDU 204, the first education course, must be taken no later than spring of the junior year.

Graduate Studies

The College of Arts and Sciences offers a number of graduate degree programs in the Humanities and in the Natural Sciences and Mathematics. Graduate programs in the Social Sciences are offered by the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Graduate applications are submitted through Syracuse University’s Graduate School.

For a list of Graduate Programs please refer to the Academic Offerings .

Programs

Master’s

Doctorate

Combined Degree

Certificate of Advanced Study