College of Arts and Sciences

• Introduction
• Administration
• Graduate Degree Programs
• Undergraduate Degree Programs
• General Education Program
• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Science
• Physical Education Courses
• Teacher Licensure
• Minors
  
  

• Departments and Colleges

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Communication
  • Economics
  • English
  • Geography and Earth Science
  • History and Art History
  • Mathematical Sciences
  • Modern and Classical Languages
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies
  • Physics and Astronomy
  • Psychology
  • Public and International Affairs
  • Sociology and Anthropology
  • New Century College
    
    

• Interdisciplinary Programs

  • Cultural Studies, Ph.D.
  • Environmental Science and Public Policy, Ph.D.
  • Honors Program in General Education
  • Interdisciplinary Studies, M.A.I.S.
  • Russian Studies, B.A.
  • Telecommunications, M.A.
    
    

• Interdisciplinary Minors

  • African American Studies
  • Ancient Mediterranean Art and Archaeology
  • Asia-Pacific Studies
  • Contemporary Europe
  • Film and Media Studies
  • Folklore and Mythology
  • Global Systems
  • Latin American Studies
  • Linguistics
  • Multimedia
  • North American Studies
  • Urban and Suburban Studies
  • Women's Studies
    
    

• Minors

  • American Government
  • Anthropology
  • Art History
  • Astronomy
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Classical Studies
  • Earth Science
  • Economics
  • Electronic Journalism
  • English
  • French
  • Geographic Information Systems
  • Geography
  • Geology
  • German
  • History
  • International/Comparative Studies
  • Latin
  • Legal Studies
  • Math for Business Students
  • Mathematics
  • Philosophy
  • Physics
  • Psychology
  • Public Policy and Management
  • Religious Studies
  • Russian
  • Social Work
  • Sociology
  • Spanish
  • Telecommunications

The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) is the largest and most diverse academic unit within the university. Its teaching and research activities encompass the liberal arts—the humanities, the sciences, and the social sciences. In addition to the degree programs within its 14 departments and New Century College, the college also offers many innovative interdisciplinary minors, majors, and graduate degrees. Undergraduate students in the college attain both breadth, through a broad distribution of courses in general education, and depth, through a major field of study. Special opportunities for students include the Honors Program in General Education, honors programs within selected majors, internships and co-ops, travel abroad, and research experiences. Many undergraduates go on to graduate school and professional schools in medicine, law, and the ministry, and to pursue careers in public service, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector. Graduate students in the college engage in more specialized study at the master's and doctoral levels, which prepares them for first or second careers or job advancement, and provides personal enrichment. Through its programs, the college exposes students to principles of sound reasoning and judgment, while providing the skills for understanding and using information and technology.

Faculty members in the college are committed to teaching that is grounded in scholarship and research. They strive to make their students rigorous thinkers and clear communicators, while encouraging experimentation with new approaches and ideas. Students are thus prepared for their role as informed citizens in a complex, global society; they will be able to learn and, therefore, adapt to an ever-changing world.

Administration

Daniele C. Struppa, Dean
Doris A. Bitler, Associate Dean for Student Academic Affairs
Vikas Chandhoke, Associate Dean for Research
James K. Conant, Associate Dean for Finance
Dee Ann Holisky, Associate Dean for Academic Programs
Richard Klimoski, Associate Dean for Outreach
Janette Muir, Associate Dean for New Century College
Donna Fox, Assistant Dean for Student Academic Affairs
Walter Rankin, Assistant Dean for Student Academic Affairs
Kristin F. Samuelian, Assistant Dean for the Undergraduate Student Experience
Tere Linehan, Director of Development
Susan Swett, Director of Graduate Admissions

Graduate Degree Programs

The college offers 16 master's degrees, including a Master of Public Administration and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, and 5 doctoral degrees. The requirements for each degree are described in the sections that follow.

Undergraduate Degree Programs

The undergraduate degree consists of course work in general education, course work in a major area of study, and electives. The college offers 19 bachelor of arts (B.A.) degrees, 13 bachelor of science (B.S.) degrees, and a bachelor's of individualized study (B.I.S.). To earn a bachelor's degree, students must complete 120 credits, of which at least 45 must be in upper-level courses (numbered 300 and above). At least one course at the 300 or 400 level must be designated "writing intensive." All entering students who have not yet satisfied the university-wide requirement in quantitative reasoning are required to take the math placement test prior to enrollment.

Students are strongly advised to consult the "Academic Policies" chapter for information concerning university-wide requirements for undergraduate degrees.

General Education Program

The baccalaureate degree begins with general education, a range of courses designed to

• provide students with a broad knowledge of the world,
  
  
• develop in students the ability to think both conceptually and critically,
  
  
• acquaint students with many different methods of inquiry, and
  
  
• provide students with the skills to continue intellectual growth throughout their lives.

Because these goals can be achieved in many ways, students may select from a range of courses for completing the general education requirements. But general education involves more than fulfilling requirements. Students' selection of courses should not only deepen their knowledge of things that interest them, but also expand the range of those interests. The general education courses enable students to link the present to the past, their culture to other cultures, and what is, to what could be. Learning to make these connections increases their ability to understand and enjoy the world in ways they may not yet imagine.

Students in the College of Arts and Sciences may complete their general education program either by completing the number of credits in the courses listed below or by completing the interdisciplinary courses of the two-year Honors Program in General Education or the New Century College. The Mason Topics Program provides a way for students to register for two or more complementary general education courses at the same time for four semesters. The professors who teach in this program have coordinated readings and assignments.

Bachelor of Arts

The bachelor of arts degree is designed to provide students with a breadth of knowledge as well as the necessary skills to make the in-depth study of a major truly meaningful. In addition to the university-wide general education program, students pursuing a bachelor of arts degree must complete the coursework below. Except where expressly prohibited, a course used to fulfill a CAS general education requirement may also be used simultaneously to satisfy other requirements (university-wide requirements, CAS requirements, or requirements for the major).

1. Literature: 3 credits (in addition to the university-wide requirement, for a total of 6 credits of literature)
   
   This may be fulfilled by any course in literature at the 200 level in English, by designated courses at the 300 level or above in foreign languages, or by PHIL 253.
   
   
2. Philosophy or religious studies: 3 credits
   
   This may be fulfilled by any course in philosophy or religious studies (PHIL, RELI).
   
   
3. Social science:
   1. for majors in mathematics and science: 3 credits (in addition to the university-wide requirement for a total of 6 credits of social science)
      
      
   2. for majors in humanities and social science: 6 credits (in addition to the university-wide requirement for a total of 9 credits of social science, of which not more than 6 may be in a single discipline)
      
      This may be fulfilled by any course in ADJ, ANTH, ECON, GEOG (except GEOG 102 or 309), GOVT, PSYC, or SOCI.
      
      
4. Natural science: 1 credit (in addition to the university-wide requirement for a total of 8 credits, which must be fulfilled by an approved two-semester laboratory science sequence in a single science). (This may not be fulfilled by BIOL 124 and 125 or by EVSC 205 and 206.)
   
   
5. Foreign language: 0-12 credits
   
   Students must demonstrate intermediate-level proficiency in one foreign language. The foreign language requirement is fulfilled by completion of one foreign language course at the 202 level or above or by a satisfactory score on an approved proficiency test. International students should consult the CAS Student Academic Affairs Office about a possible waiver of this requirement.
   
   
6. Non-Western culture: 3 credits
   A course used to fulfill the university-wide global understanding requirement may not simultaneously be used to satisfy this CAS requirement. A course used to fulfill this requirement may be used simultaneously to fulfill any other requirements (university-wide requirements, CAS requirements, or requirements for the major).

This may be fulfilled by any of following courses.

• ANTH 114, 300, 301, 302, 304, 305, 306, 311, 313, 332
• ARTH 203, 319, 320, 380, 381, 382, 383, 384, 385, 482
• DANC 118
• ECON 361
• FREN 451
• GEOG 101, 316, 325, 330
• GOVT 332, 333, 432
• HIST 125, 130, 251, 252, 261, 262, 271, 281, 282, 328, 329, 353, 354, 356, 387, 426, 459, 460, 461, 465, 466
• MUSI 103
• RELI 211, 212, 313, 314, 315, 337, 490
• RUSS 353, 354
• STAM 303, 304

Students who can document having attended a native school in a non-Western country for at least four years may request a waiver from this requirement through the CAS Student Academic Affairs Office.

Requirements for each major are listed in the departmental sections that follow.

Bachelor of Science

The bachelor of science degree is designed to provide students with a more intensive approach to the core technical questions of their majors. This curriculum therefore has a reduced number of courses in humanities and social sciences in comparison with the bachelor of arts degree to allow students to achieve greater depth in their majors. Students pursuing a bachelor of science degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete the university-wide general education program plus one additional credit of natural science (for a total of 8 credits), which must be fulfilled by an approved two-semester laboratory science sequence in a single science. (This may not be fulfilled by BIOL 124 and 125 or by EVSC 205 and 206.)

Requirements for each major are listed in the departmental sections that follow.

Physical Education Courses

Activity courses offered by the Health, Fitness, and Recreation Resources Department cannot be counted toward the credits required for a degree in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Teacher Licensure

Students who wish to become teachers should consult the section, "Professional Licensure" in the Graduate School of Education chapter and attend an Information Session during the sophomore year. Information Sessions for teacher licensure are offered every month. Call (703) 993-2892/4648, email gseinfo@gmu.edu, or consult the web site at gse.gmu.edu for more information.

Minors

A student may elect to take a minor in addition to his or her major field of study. Minors require between 15 and 21 credits, at least six credits of which must be completed at George Mason. No more than three credits with a grade of D may be applied to a minor. Students interested in earning a minor should complete the appropriate section of the Change/Declaration of Academic Program form.