Programs

The College of Arts & Sciences offers 18 baccalaureate majors and 20 minors. In addition, students can also take courses leading to Virginia teacher certification in elementary and secondary education. Majors and minors in the degree programs serve the needs of students with immediate career objectives as well as those who plan to go on to professional and graduate schools. Unless a specific degree program is highly structured, students are given considerable latitude to select specific elective courses. Dual programs are also available within the college.

Each major has general and specific requirements to which the student can add as many electives as academically and financially possible. While not required, a minor is strongly recommended. Through careful planning, the capable student can take up to 144 credit hours of work during four years of college without an increase in tuition or fees.

Students are not required to declare a major upon admission to the College of Arts and Sciences but may choose to enter the Core Studies Program. This program has three main thrusts: to help students indentify their academic strengths and interests through coursework in different disciplines; to help students identify the careers for which their strengths and interests best suit them; and to guide them toward completion of the General Education and Core Curriculum requirments underlying all majors in the College of Arts & Sciences.