Return to: College of Arts & Sciences

Jeff W. Coker, Dean
Henkel Hall, Room 205
(540) 665-4587, jcoker2@su.edu

Explore the College of Arts and Sciences on our university website.

Statement of Purpose

The College of Arts & Sciences supports the university’s mission to prepare individuals to be critical, reflective thinkers; lifelong learners; and ethical, compassionate citizens who are committed to making responsible contributions within a community, a nation and the world. In order to accomplish this mission, the college has adopted the following learning objectives.

1. Knowledge: Students will acquire in-depth knowledge in a major field of study and knowledge in one field outside their major area of study.
2. Critical Thinking: Students will be able to pose, assess, and solve complex and diverse problems using a variety of approaches and methods.
3. Information Literacy: Students will be able to obtain, and assess the veracity of, information pertaining to any topic of interest. Furthermore, students will have the ability to synthesize information from multiple sources and perspectives.
4. Communication Skills: Students will be able to communicate in writing and orally in a manner and at a level commensurate with their field of study and undergraduate education. Students will be able to communicate in a second language.
5. Technology: Students will be able to work effectively with current technology as it pertains to their particular field of study.

Degree Requirements

1. The minimum number of credit hours required for an Arts & Sciences baccalaureate degree is 120, with 30 of those hours at or above the 300 level. No more than 8 one-hour activities credits or 52 hours in a single prefix may count toward the 120-hour graduation requirement.
2. A student must complete at least 12 credit hours of 300-400 level major course requirements while in residence at Shenandoah University.
3. A student must demonstrate competency in a second language. This competency is defined as completion through the fourth semester of a second language or higher. The following exemptions apply:
   1. native speakers of languages other than English,
   2. completion of four years of a single second language in high school,
   3. completion of at least one semester of study abroad in a non-English speaking country,
   4. a score in the 80th percentile (based on the SU norm) and above on the foreign language placement exam.
4. A student must complete the requirements for a major. Students must also complete a second major, a minor or the Teacher Education Professional Studies Certificate program. A grade of “C-” or better is required of each course counted toward a major, minor or certificate.

Attendance

It is the policy of the College of Arts & Sciences that if a student misses more than 20 percent of the contact hours in a course, for any reason, the student will have to withdraw from the course before the withdrawal deadline or receive an “F” as a final grade. The instructor may modify this policy according to the nature of the course.

Academic Programs

Core Studies Program

Students are not required to declare a major but may choose to enter the Core Studies Program. This program has three main thrusts: to help students identify 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 College of Arts & Sciences degree requirements.

Core Studies students will remain in close contact with an academic advisor who is familiar with the range of academic programs and support services available at Shenandoah University. These students will be encouraged to take courses from a wide range of disciplines. They will be encouraged to take advantage of the help provided by Career Services and the Academic Enrichment Center. Core Studies students are invited to special events designed to stimulate exploration of various areas of study and work and to create a sense of community among those weighing their options.

Students in the Core Studies Program may declare a major at any time but must do so by the end of the sophomore year.

Honors Courses

The College of Arts & Sciences seeks to address the individual academic needs of students with a wide range of skills and interests. In keeping with this goal, the College of Arts & Sciences provides enhanced course offerings for those students with above average ability or special interests in a particular course or discipline. This might be in the form of specifically designated honors sections of courses but may also take the form of an individually directed program within the context of a regular course offering. Subject to the approval of the instructor, all College of Arts & Sciences courses are eligible for honors designation. A student desiring to undertake the honors curriculum in a particular course will, with the approval of and in cooperation with the faculty member for that course, complete an honors contract spelling out the specific requirements. These requirements must be both quantitatively (representing approximately one credit hour additional effort) and qualitatively more rigorous than the normal requirements for the course. The completed contract will be reviewed and approved by the appropriate department chair.

Copies of all honors contracts (whether approved or not) will be forwarded to the dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. The contract must be completed before the conclusion of the university’s course addition deadline to ensure proper registration. In the event that either the faculty member or student believes that the terms of the contract are not being or cannot be met, the honors contract can be broken and the student returned to regular enrollment status for the course. Successful completion of the honors course requires that the student fulfill all terms of the honors contract and earn either an “A” or “B” for the course. Courses for which a student earns honors designation will be so indicated on the student’s transcript.

Pre-Health Professions Programs

Students wishing to qualify for admissions to health professions such as medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, physician assistant, etc., generally complete an undergraduate major that includes strong preparation in the basic sciences or psychology. Typical majors for such fields are biology, chemistry, kinesiology and psychology.

Students planning on applying for admission to professional-level programs should work closely with the appropriate academic advisor to plan a sequence of courses that will meet the prerequisites of the institutions in which they are interested. Information concerning alternatives is available in the dean’s office, College of Arts & Sciences.

Pre-Law Study

The College of Arts & Sciences offers a pre-law program for students considering law school admissions and a career in the law. No separate curriculum is prescribed, but pre-law students major in the field of their choice and take electives in those areas that develop communication skills, reasoning ability and an understanding of the social context of American law and legal practice. As its philosophy, the Shenandoah University pre-law program holds that the best preparation for the study and practice of law lies in mastering the skills of writing, critical thinking and cultural understanding inherent in a liberal arts education.

The pre-law program is administered through a pre-law advisor, who counsels students on appropriate courses, law school admissions procedures and preparation for law school admissions tests.

Degree Programs in the College of Arts & Sciences

Through the College of Arts & Sciences, Shenandoah offers 20 baccalaureate majors, 21 minors and 8 certificates. In addition, courses leading to Virginia teacher certification in elementary and secondary education are offered. The majors and minors in the degree programs have been developed to 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. Those students who wish to design their own multidisciplinary major may do so through the University Interdisciplinary Studies (B.A.) program.

Students planning to continue their education after graduation should consult graduate or professional school catalogs to determine admissions requirements at those institutions. They should also discuss these requirements with their advisors at Shenandoah University.

Degree programs available within the College of Arts & Sciences are listed under their appropriate divisions.

Programs

• University Interdisciplinary Studies (B.A.)

• University Studies, Elementary and Middle School Education Track PreK-6, 6-8 (B.S.)
• University Studies, Elementary Education Track PreK-6 (B.S.)

• Professional Studies, Elementary Education PreK-6 Certificate
• Professional Studies, Elementary/Middle School Education PreK-6,6-8 Certificate
• Professional Studies, Secondary Teacher Education 6-12 Certificate

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