College of Arts and Science

Administration

A. Cooper Drury, Dean
Jamie Arndt, Senior Associate Dean of Faculty
Tim Glass, Associate Dean for Research
Sheri-Marie Harrison, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Faculty Success
Chris Josey, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies

Arts and Science Dean’s Office
317 Lowry Hall
(573) 882-4421

Arts and Science Office of Academic Operations and Advising Support

Lowry Hall
(573) 882-6411
umcasadvising@missouri.edu

Established in 1841, the College of Arts and Science is the oldest and largest academic unit in the university. The College offers over 60 undergraduate and graduate degrees in humanities, the fine and performing arts, social and behavioral sciences, and the biological, physical, and mathematical sciences. A&S also provides general education and foundational courses for students across all of MU’s schools, colleges, and divisions, as well as support for professional and specialized programs in other academic units.

A liberal arts education is the foundation for lifelong career readiness, preparing students to pursue careers across the private and public sectors; it also prepares students for advanced academic and professional degrees. In support of these goals, the college encourages excellence in teaching and scholarship among its faculty and provides both traditional and innovative undergraduate curricula. All of our degree programs allow some flexibility for individualized courses of study. Students work closely with their academic advisors as well as the A&S Career Development Office and the MU Career Center while deciding on their primary program of study, as well as exploring additional majors, minors and certificates within and outside of the College. Thanks to the 40+ A&S undergraduate degree programs, including two individualized baccalaureate degrees (Interdisciplinary Studies and General Studies), and 70+ A&S minors and certificates, our students can build personalized academic pathways to take them where they want to go after college.

• College of Arts and Science Requirements: Overview
• College Foundation Requirements
  • Basic Skills
  • Breadth of Study
  • Depth of Study
• Requirements for Major
• Requirements for Optional Minor
• Requirements for Optional Certificate
• Double Majors
• Dual Degrees
• Second Degrees
• Graduate Dual Enrollment
• Credit Restrictions
  • Maximum Credits Enrolled
  • Other Maximum Credit Policies
  • Courses Forming a Sequence
  • Enrolling at Other Institutions
  • Time Limit on Credits Earned
• Advising
• Dean's List and College Honors
• Academic Standing and Dismissal
• Career Readiness
• Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC)
• Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (AROTC)

College of Arts and Science Requirements: Overview

To earn a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music, or Bachelor of Science degree from the College of Arts and Science*, a candidate must meet all the relevant university requirements (specified elsewhere in the Catalog) together with the following College requirements:

• Complete all course work required for the Arts and Science Foundation Requirements (Basic Skills, Breadth of Study, Depth of Study).
• Complete requirements for a major in the College with grades of C- or higher.
• Earn sufficient elective credits to bring the total number of earned credits to 120.
• Earn a minimum of 30 credits in courses numbered 3000 or above, which may include courses in the major. These courses must be regularly accepted for credit in the College of Arts and Science. A few specifically identified math, science, and music courses numbered at the 2000-level may be used to meet this requirement; please consult an advisor.
• Completion of a course that meets the college’s diversity (DI) requirement.
• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in courses taken at MU.
• Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in courses taken at MU to meet requirements for the major.

*Please note: the requirements for the Bachelor of General Studies degree are listed here.

College Foundation Requirements

The A&S Foundation Requirements are comprised of the university general education requirements together with additional College and degree-specific requirements and/or courses.

Additional College requirements by degree:

• Diversity Intensive requirement (3 hours): all A&S undergraduate degrees*
• An additional 3 hours of coursework at the 2000+ (depth of study): all BA degrees
• Second language requirement (12 hours) for all BA degrees; for BS degrees, there is a second language alternative track (12 hours)**
• Additional 3 hours of humanities in a third disciplinary area (breadth of study): all BA degrees
• Additional 6 hours of social and behavioral sciences (breadth of study): all BA degrees
  • Separation of social science (9 hours) and behavioral sciences (6 hours)

Note: Courses in the primary major may not be used in fulfillment of A&S Foundation Requirements.*** However, courses from a second A&S major or any minor may be used. All A&S-specific additional distribution requirements beyond the University's general education requirements must be met with A&S coursework or GN_HON courses.

*The Diversity Intensive course requirement may also be met with coursework in the major, minor, certificate, elective, etc.

**Exception: BM Music Ed, BFA, and the BS majors in Architectural Studies, Data Science, and Textile & Apparel Management 

***Exception: courses within the BM major and the BS majors in Architectural Studies, Data Science, and Textile & Apparel Management are allowed in the A&S Foundations

The purpose of the Arts and Science Foundation Requirements is to assure that students fulfill the common educational objectives of the College of Arts and Science. Courses satisfying these requirements impart specialized knowledge and help students fulfill the broader objectives of a liberal education. Thus, these courses help students develop the following abilities:

• To communicate clearly and effectively in both writing and speech
• To generate and test hypotheses
• To locate and develop information needed to solve problems
• To think critically and use analytic skills effectively
• To examine their lives critically and objectively
• To enrich their lives through appreciation of present and past cultural achievements

Foundation requirements include three categories:

• Basic Skills requirements ensure competency in composition and communication, mathematics and analytic reasoning, and where applicable, a second language.
• Breadth of Study requirements are met by completing course work from a wide array of disciplines to ensure that graduates are broadly educated.
• Depth of Study requirements are met by completing advanced coursework that allows for fuller understanding of a discipline than can be gained in introductory course work alone.

All students must complete Arts and Science Foundation Requirements in order to earn a degree, regardless of prior baccalaureate degrees earned. Previous course work will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis. For students who earn an Associates of Arts degree from a regionally accredited Missouri or border state institution, all Breadth of Study requirements will be considered to be met. Students will be required to complete at least one Depth of Study class with MU course work. In all cases, completion of the basic English and Mathematics requirements will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis.

Basic Skills

MATH 1100, MATH 1160, MATH 1050, STAT 1200 or transferable equivalent with grade of C- or higher

• Majors may require specific course(s) to meet this requirement.

ENGLSH 1000 or transferable equivalent with grade of C- or higher

Second language other than English

Students earning BA, BS (except for Architectural Studies, Data Science, and Textile & Apparel Management), and BM degrees (except Music Education) are required to attain the degree of proficiency equivalent to the completion of at least 12 hours of college-level work in a single language other than English. All MU second language programs require a grade of C- or higher in levels I of a language and level II of a language as prerequisites for level II and III, respectively.

• Courses used towards fulfillment of the A&S second language requirement may not also be used towards MU general education or A&S Foundation distribution requirements.
• Alternative for selected BS degrees: 12 credits numbered 2000 or above in an area approved by the major department substituted with the concurrence of the dean’s office. 

There are three categories of students who may meet the A&S language requirement by demonstrating proficiency in a language other than English outside of college coursework:

1. Students who have completed four years of second language instruction in a single language in high school. This must be officially recorded on the student's high school transcript. College credit earned over the course of these four years of single language study may not be applied towards A&S Foundation humanities requirements. 

2. International students whose native language is other than English. Note: International students may not receive credit for elementary sequence courses in that native language.

3. Non-international students who can demonstrate proficiency at the mid-intermediate level or higher in a language other than English. 

• If the student is proficient in a language offered at MU: the student may be evaluated by that language program. The evaluation must test the student’s ability in all the modalities appropriate for that language (reading, writing, listening, and/or speaking) at the mid-intermediate or higher as defined by ACTFL proficiency guidelines. Upon verification of proficiency level, the language program will notify the A&S academic advising office. 
• If the student is proficient in a language not offered at MU: the student is responsible for finding a qualified examiner in that language, who must then be approved by the A&S undergraduate dean. The evaluation must test the student’s ability in all the modalities appropriate for that language (reading, writing, listening, and/or speaking) at the mid-intermediate level or higher as defined by ACTFL proficiency guidelines.

Note: students who meet the A&S language requirement under one of these three conditions will not receive advanced standing credit. Advanced standing credit may be available for students who complete language coursework at MU beyond the elementary sequence. For more information, please contact the appropriate MU language program.

Breadth of Study

Breadth of Study requirements include course work distributed among the following categories: biological, physical and mathematical sciences; behavioral and social sciences; humanities and fine arts.

1. Biological, physical and mathematical sciences
   9 credits required for BA, BFA, BM, BS, and BGS degrees.
   • Must include course work from at least two of three areas.
   • Must include at least one biological or physical science laboratory course.
2. Behavioral and social sciences
   9 credits required for BFA, BM, BS, and BGS degrees.
   • Must include course work from both the behavioral and social sciences.
   • 15 credits required for all BA degrees.
     • Must include 6 credits of behavioral science.
     • Must include 9 credits of social science, including course work from at least two different areas.
     • Must include 6 credits of coursework in an A&S discipline or GN_HON courses.
3. Humanities and fine arts
   9 credits required for the BFA, BM, BS, and BGS degrees.

• Must include course work from at least two different areas.
• 12 credits required for the BA degree.
  • Must include course work from at least three different areas.
  • Must include 3 credits of coursework in an A&S discipline or GN_HON courses.

Parameters for meeting Breadth of Study requirements

• Courses from the major department may not be used for breadth requirements in the BA, BFA and BS (except for Architectural Studies, Data Science, and Textile & Apparel Management).
• Courses from the major department may be used for breadth requirements in the BM and for the BS majors in Architectural Studies, Data Science, and Textile & Apparel Management.
• Students earning degrees in special degree programs (where the courses in the major represent multiple departments) may use courses from their major departments to meet breadth requirements, but not the specific courses used in the major.
• Courses must be chosen from the Distribution of Content List on the web site of the General Education Program.
• Courses used to meet breadth requirements may also be used to meet depth requirements (see below).
• Problems, research, readings, and internship courses may not be used for breadth requirements.

Depth of Study

Depth of Study requirements include at least 6 hours of course work numbered 2000 or above, distributed as follows:

All BFA degrees

• 6 credits required (minimum of 2 courses).
• Must include course work from at least two of the following four breadth categories: biological, physical, mathematical sciences; behavioral sciences; social sciences; humanities and fine arts.

All BA degrees

• 9 credits required (minimum of 3 courses).
• Must include course work from at least two of the following four breadth categories: biological, physical and mathematical sciences; behavioral sciences; social sciences; humanities and fine arts.
• Three hours (one course) of Arts and Science or GN_HON coursework must be used towards partial fulfillment of the depth of study requirement.

All BS degrees

• 6 credits required (minimum of 2 courses).
• Must include course work from at least two of the following three breadth categories: biological, physical, mathematical science; behavioral and social science; humanities and fine arts. 

BM with a major in Music

• 6 credits required (minimum of 2 courses).
• Must include course work from at least one of the following three breadth categories: biological, physical and mathematical sciences; behavioral sciences; social sciences.
• 3 credit hours in Music (see below).

Parameters for meeting Depth of Study requirements

• All courses must be numbered 2000 or above.
• At least 3 credits must be completed with MU course work.
• A student who elects 1-credit topics courses must complete a minimum of three courses in that breadth category as partial fulfillment of the depth of study requirement.
• Courses from the major department may not be used, except for the BM with a major in Music and for the BS majors in Architectural Studies, Data Science, and Textile & Apparel Management.
• Students earning degrees in special degree programs (where the courses in the major represent multiple departments) may use courses from their major departments to meet depth requirements, but not the specific courses used in the major.
• Courses must be chosen from the Distribution of Content List on the website of the General Education Program.
• Courses used to meet depth requirements may also be used to meet breadth requirements.
• Problems, research, readings, and internship courses may not be used.

Requirements for Major

A major consists of at least 21 credits, including at least 15 credits in courses numbered 2000 or above, 12 of which must be taken in MU course work. See detailed departmental information for additional requirements for specific majors.

All Arts and Science majors require an MU Writing Intensive course numbered 3000 or above and an MU capstone course with grades of C- or higher. In addition, some majors require course work outside the major department.

Each student must declare and receive official approval for a major by submitting a graduation plan no later than the semester after completion of 60 credits. The purpose of the graduation plan is to acquaint students with all requirements that must be met prior to graduation and to plan for the timely completion of these requirements. Departments and programs approve the graduation plan only when the student has met the following criteria:

• Completion of any additional departmental requirements

Requirements for an Optional Minor

A minor consists of at least 15 credits, including at least 6 credits numbered 2000 or above, within a department or program that offers a minor; 9 of the required credits must be taken in MU course work. This requirement can be reduced from 9 to 6 at the discretion of an individual department. See detailed departmental information for additional requirements for specific minors. Courses outside the major department but required for the major may be used towards a minor. In addition, courses required in the minor may be used to meet Foundation requirements.

The College of Arts and Science awards minors only to undergraduate students who are simultaneous recipients of bachelor’s degrees. Students may not earn a major and a minor in the same field concurrently. However, students may return to complete a subsequent degree in a field for which they have earned a minor as part of an earlier undergraduate degree.

Students must meet the minimum GPA requirements for a minor, which in no case can be lower than 2.0. In addition, a student cannot receive a grade lower than a C- in any course applied towards a minor in the College.

Requirements for an Optional Certificate

A certificate consists of at least 12 credits; at least 12 credits must be taken in MU course work. See detailed information for additional requirements for specific certificates. Courses required for a certificate may be used to meet major, minor or Foundation requirements. 

Students must meet the minimum GPA requirements for a certificate, which in no case can be lower than 2.0. In addition, a student cannot receive a grade lower than a C- in any course applied towards a certificate in the College.

Students may not earn a certificate and a major or minor in the same field.

For more information, please see the following website: https://provost.missouri.edu/undergraduate-certificates/

Double Majors

A number of Arts and Science students choose to complete multiple majors while earning one degree. The requirements of each major, along with requirements for the degree, must be completed. Often, this does not result in the addition of hours to the degree program.

Dual Degrees

A dual degree is defined as either two different degrees from within a single academic unit (ex.: a bachelor of science in Statistics and a bachelor of arts in English from A&S) -or- degrees from two different academic units (ex.: a BSBA in Business Management from Trulaske College of Business and a BS in Economics from A&S). To receive two bachelor’s degrees, a student must complete all of the specific requirements for both degrees. See more information here: https://advising.missouri.edu/majors-minors/dual-degrees/.

The College of Arts and Science maintains dual-degree undergraduate + professional degree programs with the schools of Law, Medicine and Veterinary Medicine. To enroll in these programs, the student must have completed all of the specific course requirements for the bachelor’s degree prior to admission to the professional school and also must have completed the junior year in residence in the College of Arts and Science. Under certain circumstances, Arts and Science undergraduates may be assured admission to MU’s schools of Law or Medicine.

Second Degrees

The faculty of the college has approved the following guidelines for students wishing to obtain a second undergraduate degree after completion of a bachelor's degree, in addition to any university requirements that may apply:

• A student must complete any college, general education or department requirements that are unique to the new degree program. Requirements that are in effect at the time a student begins work toward the second degree are applicable.
• Students applying for second-degree status will be considered only if they have final term and cumulative GPAs no less than 2.0.
• The student must submit a graduation plan in consultation with an advisor in an appropriate department or program before the dean’s office will approve a request from the student to enroll as a candidate for a second degree.
• With the exception of Interdisciplinary Studies majors with an emphasis in Black Studies, Peace Studies, or Women's and Gender Studies, the college does not approve applications for a second undergraduate degree in General Studies or Interdisciplinary Studies.
• A student who has earned a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (excluding those with emphasis areas in Black Studies, Environmental Studies, Peace Studies, or Women's and Gender Studies) or General Studies may not pursue a second degree in a field that was used as a component of the first degree.
• Once enrolled for a second degree, a student is committed to enrolling in course work required for completion of that degree. A student will not be allowed to continue as a candidate for a second undergraduate degree if not enrolled in courses required for the second bachelor’s degree.

Graduate Dual Enrollment

Juniors and seniors may be able to dually enroll in the College of Arts and Science and the Office of Graduate Studies with permission of the deans of both divisions. This enables the student to complete some graduate course work prior to receiving the bachelor’s degree.

Application forms for dual enrollment in these two schools may be obtained from the Office of Graduate Studies in 210 Jesse Hall. For more information on requirements, please refer to the following website. 

Credit Restrictions

Maximum Credits Enrolled 

Time Limit on Credits Earned

Credit that is applied toward a degree is considered valid for eight years. After that time, the validity of credit already on the transcript will be reevaluated. Departments of the college have the right to accept or to reject credit earned after eight years have passed.

Advising

Students who have declared a major are assigned an advisor in that department or program. Students who have not yet decided on a major are assigned to a professional advisor in the Discovery Center.

Dean's List, Latin Honors, Departmental Honors, and Phi Beta Kappa

Deans list: A&S students who have earned a minimum 3.5 term GPA in twelve or more graded (A-F) hours in a single semester and who have a cumulative MU GPA of 3.0+ are placed on the A&S Dean's List for that semester.

Latin honors: Please see Latin Honors for requirements. 

Departmental honors: Many, but not all, departments have established criteria for earning honors in the major. Those requirements are listed under the major page.  Students must have a minimum cumulative MU GPA of a 3.25 to be eligible for honors in the major.

Phi Beta Kappa: Arts and Science students may be recognized for membership in Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest academic honor society. The local chapter of Phi Beta Kappa requires completion of a minimum of 60 credits of course work on the MU campus, usually during the last two years of study. Exceptions to this latter expectation may be made for students who study abroad in an approved program during their final semesters of study.

Academic Standing and Dismissal

A&S follows University definitions and standards for academic standing, including dismissal and appeal. These are defined in the MU Faculty Handbook and can be found in the Academic Standing section of this catalog.

Career Readiness

Employment opportunities in the various disciplines of the liberal arts are varied and many, and the College strongly supports career readiness and preparation across all of its departments and program. Students are encouraged to explore internships early and often through the A&S Career Development Office on the first floor of Lowry Hall; additionally, many A&S programs support degree-specific internship courses as part of their curriculum. A&S works closely with the MU Career Center in the Student Success Center, which offers a number of general career exploration and preparation services for all students, as well as Arts & Science-specific resources, including an A&S career coach. In collaboration with CAFNR, A&S hosts a job and internships fair every fall and spring semester. Finally, the College promotes the integration of National Association of Colleges and Employees (NACE) competencies into curriculum across our schools and departments. 

Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC)

The AFROTC provides the opportunity to become a United States Air Force officer while completing a college degree. The program combines traditional undergraduate education with military instruction in preparation for Air Force leadership challenges. Scholarships are available. Visit https://www.afrotc.com/ for the most current information. After graduating from college and successfully completing all AFROTC requirements, cadets receive a commission as as second lieutenant with an obligation of four years of service in the active duty Air Force. 

MU also offers a Minor in Aerospace Studies.

For additional information contact:

Department of Aerospace Studies
217 Crowder Hall
(573) 882-7621
https://www.afrotc.com/

Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (AROTC)

Army ROTC is a college elective program that teaches the skills needed to succeed in the Army or the corporate world. Students combine classroom time with hands-on experience and learn leadership and management skills. The experience of Army ROTC provides the confidence needed to excel in college and beyond. The Army ROTC program can be completed through a two- to four-year program designed to develop undergraduate students into junior commissioned officers in the Active Army, Army Reserve, or Army National Guard. In addition to traditional combat roles, Army officers serve in such professional fields as aviation, medical service, finance, personnel management, communications and engineering. MU also offers a Minor in Military Science.

For additional information contact:

Department of Military Science and Leadership
202 Crowder Hall
(573)-882-7721
https://armyrotc.missouri.edu/

The College of Arts and Science is home to a broad spectrum of disciplines that prepare graduate students for challenging and rewarding careers. Our faculty mentors are known for both research and teaching excellence and many have received national acclaim for discoveries, disciplinary leadership, creative works and music or theater performance.

The School of Music, housed within the College, offers master's degrees, a doctoral degrees and a graduate certificate in jazz studies. Music education degrees are offered in conjunction with the College of Education, Department of Learning, Teaching and Curriculum.

Note: Prospective graduate students must apply to both the degree program of interest and to the Graduate School. In most cases, the entire application process may be completed online.