College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences

www.clahs.vt.edu/ Jerome A. Niles, Dean Associate Dean for Outreach and External Relations: Valerie Hardcastle Associate Dean for Undergraduate Academic Affairs: Mary Ann Lewis Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies: William Snizek Assistant Dean for Administration and Finance: Brian Shabanowitz

Overview General Requirements for Graduation College Core Curriculum The Honors Program Dean's List Pre-Professional Training Scholarships Undergraduate Research Internships, Co-op Opportunities and Study Abroad Career Advising Graduate Programs Undergraduate Courses (LAHS) Course Descriptions and Programs of Study Air Force ROTC Apparel, Housing & Resource Management Army ROTC Communication English Foreign Languages and Literatures History Human Development Interdisciplinary Studies International Studies Philosophy Political Science Music Naval ROTC School of Education Science and Technology in Society Sociology Theatre Arts

The college offers minors in many of the departments listed. Students are encouraged to include a minor in their program and should consult an advisor for help in choosing one that will advance their career goals.

Overview

The College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences offers baccalaureate degrees encompassing the humanities, performing arts, and human and social sciences. The College emphasizes the importance of mastering the intellectual skills a liberal arts education develops as well as job skills by encouraging students to apply knowledge from one field to another and to think creatively.

Outstanding faculty members conduct research and teach courses in 15 departments leading to baccalaureate and advanced degrees. Coursework from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences also provides a foundation of knowledge of a number of fundamental subjects for students in all colleges.

General Requirements for Graduation

A student in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences must complete at least 120 hours for an undergraduate degree as well as satisfy the following requirements:

• achieve a minimum overall Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 for all hours attempted
• achieve a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 for all hours attempted in all work applied to the major
• complete all other requirements established for their degree by the major department
• complete all college core curriculum and Curriculum for Liberal Education (a.k.a. University Core Curriculum) requirements

No course required for graduation or in the major/minor may be elected to be taken on a pass/fail basis (i.e., pass/fail may be used for free electives only). This excludes courses that are offered pass/fail only.

College Core Curriculum

A description of the Curriculum for Liberal Education (a.k.a. University Core Curriculum) may be found in the Academics chapter of this catalog. For requirements specific to departments in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, please contact the individual department.

The Honors Program

The University Honors Program is available to students in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. These programs provide an enriched environment for qualified students who are highly motivated and possess outstanding scholastic ability. Specific requirements for the three possible honors degrees are available from the University Honors Program and participating departments.

Dean's List

A student enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences for 12 hours or more for grade (A-F) who earns a GPA of 3.4 or higher during the fall or spring semesters is awarded a Dean's List certificate.

Pre-Professional Advising

The University provides pre-professional career advisors for all disciplines. Pre-law, pre-dentistry, pre-medicine, and pre-veterinary medicine advisors are available. In addition, several majors in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences offer pre-law concentrations which students may take if they are interested in pursing a graduate program in law.

The College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences's School of Education provides preparation of educational professionals through programs at the graduate level. These graduate programs meet state and national accreditation standards and are designed to promote teaching, research, and service.

Scholarships

A number of scholarships are available for outstanding students enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. Descriptions and deadlines are available on the college website.

Students who are interested in applying for financial merit-based aid should contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.

Undergraduate Research

Undergraduate research is a commitment of the college. The Institute for Undergraduate Research aims to expose undergraduates to investigation, inquiry, and creative expression in the liberal arts and human and social sciences, enhancing the opportunities for advanced research initiatives, elevating the visibility of that research, and providing access to a variety of resources for student development and faculty mentorship. Departments within the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences have a variety of research opportunities in which students may choose to participate. Students interested in undergraduate research should contact the Institute for Undergraduate Research, the department where they wish to conduct research or the Undergraduate Academic Affairs office for assistance.

Internships, Co-Op Opportunities and Study Abroad

Students are encouraged to participate in Internship and Co-op opportunities to gain relevant work experience prior to graduation. Department career advisors can help students identify opportunities. In some cases students can receive credit for qualifying work experience. Study abroad experiences are highly encouraged for students in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences and students should meet with their academic advisor or contact the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs for information.

Career Advising

Career advising is available from a number of sources. The university offers centralized career services and on-campus interviewing. The College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences works with employers interested in hiring students with degrees from the college and organizes employer panels and information sessions. The college also co-hosts two career fairs each year, one in the fall semester and one in the spring semester. Every major has a departmental career advisor who specializes in guiding students from their field towards career success.

Graduate Programs in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences

College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences departments all offer graduate degrees at both the Master's and Ph.D. levels. Complete information on these programs including descriptions of graduate courses can be found in the Graduate Catalog.

Courses (LAHS)