College of Arts and Sciences
College Requirements
College and School Information
About the College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) offers 57 majors and 64 minors, through 38 academic departments and interdisciplinary programs, leading to the following undergraduate degrees: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.). Classes are offered at both the Water Tower Campus and the Lake Shore Campus.
Contact Us
Lake Shore Campus
Sullivan Center 235
1032 W. Sheridan Road
Chicago, IL 60660
Phone: 773.508.3500
Fax: 773.508.3514
Water Tower Campus
Lewis Towers 930
820 N. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 312.915.6520
Fax: 312.915.8593
Website: www.luc.edu/cas
Office of the Dean
Dean: Reinhard Andress, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Resources and Planning: Richard Holz, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs: Arthur Lurigio, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs: Jacqueline Long, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean for Student Academic Affairs: Lester Manzano, M.Ed.
Assistant Dean for Advising: Joyce Knight, M.Div.
Academic Advising
All students are encouraged to seek academic advising for general program planning and specific academic matters.
First-year students and sophomores are advised by academic advisors in the University’s central office for First and Second Year Advising (FSYA) and by faculty advisors in their majors. Juniors and seniors are advised by academic advisors the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office and by faculty advisors in their majors.
Academic Advisors: Each freshman and sophomore is assigned to an academic advisor in the office of First and Second Year Advising. Academic advisors in FSYA assist freshmen and sophomores with planning courses of study, explaining university policies, connecting students with other university offices and resources, assisting with academic success strategies, and making referrals to tutoring and services for students with disabilities. Students who have been placed on academic probation are monitored by their academic advisors.
Each junior and senior is assigned to an academic advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Office. Dean's Office academic advisors make decisions on administrative advising issues such as transfer credit, part-time and overload course registration, and pass-fail requests, in addition to providing guidance on overall degree completion. Dean's Office academic advisors provide comprehensive advising for juniors and seniors. Students who have been placed on academic probation are monitored by their academic advisors.
Faculty Advisors: Students who have declared a major are assigned to a faculty advisor in the appropriate academic department. Students are encouraged to meet with their faculty advisor once per term to discuss progress in the major, career goals and special research or internship opportunities available through the department or program.
Degree Programs
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.): This degree may be earned in the following areas: art history, Black world studies, chemistry, classical civilization, economics, English, environmental studies, French, German, Greek, history, international studies, Italian, Latin, music, philosophy, political science, religious studies, sociology, sociology and anthropology, Spanish, studio art, theatre, theology, visual communication, and women's studies and gender studies.
Bachelor of Science (B.S.): This degree may be earned in the following areas: anthropology, bioinformatics, biochemistry, biology, biophysics, chemistry, communication networks and security, computer science, criminal justice and criminology, environmental science, forensic science, human services, information technology, mathematics, mathematics and computer science, mathematics education, physics, physics and computer science, psychology, software development, statistics, and theoretical physics and applied mathematics.
Bachelor of Arts, Classics (B.A., Classics) or Bachelor of Science, Classics (B.S., Classics): Classics is not a major, but a degree distinction. Students major in any department or program in the College; please see academic advisors for those requirements. The unique distinction of the Classics degree is that the degree also comprises four courses above the 100-series in Greek or Latin (LATN 271 or LATN 272 may count, but not both of them); Classics graduates must also demonstrate elementary-level competence in a second foreign language (potentially though not necessarily the other classical language), amounting to two semesters' credit for college-level work or the equivalent expertise. A student completes a total of 120 course-hours (minimum) to graduate with the B.A. Classics or B.S. Classics degree.
Honors: Students who successfully complete their degree requirements in the Interdisciplinary Honors Program receive one of the following degrees:
- Bachelor of Arts, Classics, Honors
- Bachelor of Arts, Honors
- Bachelor of Science, Classics, Honors
- Bachelor of Science, Honors
Five-Year Degree Programs: The College of Arts and Sciences, in cooperation with other schools at Loyola, offers several five-year programs granting the following degrees:
- B.S. in Statistics/M.S. in Applied Statistics
- B.S. in Biology/M.B.A.
- B.S. Biology/M.Ed. in Secondary Education
- B.S. in Computer Science/M.S. in Information Technology
- B.S. in Computer Science/M.S. in Software Engineering
- B.S. Chemistry/M.Ed. in Secondary Education
- B.S./M.A. in Criminal Justice and Criminology
- B.A./M.A. in English
- B.S. in Environmental Sciences/M.B.A.
- B.A. in Environmental Studies/M.B.A.
- B.A./M.A. in History
- B.S./M.S. in Mathematics
- B.S. in Physics/M.Ed. in Secondary Education
- B.A./M.A. in Political Science
- B.S. in Psychology/M.A. in Applied Social Psychology
- B.A./M.A. in Sociology
Students must apply for admission to each five-year program. Information about each program, including admission criteria, is contained in this catalog in the sections for participating undergraduate departments. Interested students should consult with the appropriate departmental faculty advisors regarding applications and course scheduling.
In addition, the College of Arts and Sciences, in collaboration with affiliated universities, offers a five-year degree program leading to multiple degrees: B.S. in Physics (granted by Loyola), B.S. in Engineering (granted by an affiliated University). For information, see the Department of Physics at: http://www.luc.edu/physics/engineering.
College Requirements
All students in the College of Arts and Sciences must take two Writing Intensive courses and complete the foreign language requirement. Students also must complete elective courses to reach the minimum 120 hours required for graduation.
Writing Intensive Courses: Students should expect that virtually all of their courses will include a writing component. In addition, the college requirement for writing intensive sections is a means of strengthening the writing of all students throughout their years at Loyola.
In order to graduate with a degree from the College of Arts and Sciences, students ordinarily must complete three writing courses. These include:
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UCWR 110 (3 credit hours)
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Two writing-intensive sections
Writing-intensive sections are designated sections of courses that are taught with a special emphasis on writing. They are easily identified by a "W" in the section number. Students in these course sections will have a variety of writing assignments that will be integrated closely with the learning objectives of the course. Often, students will be able to complete a writing-intensive course within their chosen major(s) and minor(s). Note: UCWR 110 is a prerequisite for writing-intensive course sections.
In order to ensure that training in writing is spread throughout the undergraduate years, the program specifies that no more than one writing-intensive course per semester may be applied to this requirement. Students must earn a C- or better in each writing intensive class in order for the requirement to be fulfilled. Freshmen and transfer students with 59 or fewer transfer credit hours must take two writing-intensive courses during their undergraduate career at Loyola; transfer students with 60-89 transfer credit hours must take one writing-intensive course during their undergraduate career at Loyola; transfer students with 90 or more transfer credit hours are exempt from taking writing-intensive courses. For further information, transfer students should consult their academic advisor.
Language: Competency at the 102-level in a language other than English is required. Students may complete this requirement in one of three ways:
- Earn a C- or better in any 102-level foreign language at Loyola (or the equivalent in transfer from another college); or
- Pass a competency test in a foreign language. For information about language competency testing, students should consult their academic advisor.
- Students can also satisfy their foreign language requirement by earning a grade of 3 or higher on an AP exam in any foreign language.
Grade Requirements
Minimum GPA: A student in CAS must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 in order to be certified at graduation.
No course in which a student earned a D+ or below may count toward fulfillment of major, minor, or College requirements.
A course in which a student earned a D+ or below does not count toward the major, minor, or College requirements. If the specific course in which the student earned a D+ or below is required for the major or minor, then the course may be retaken.
A student may be dismissed from a major or minor if he or she exceeds the department or program’s limit on the number of major or minor courses with grades of D+ or below.
University Core Curriculum
For specific information, please refer to the University Core Curriculum section in Academic Rules and Regulations or visit the University Core Curriculum Website at www.luc.edu/core.
| Knowledge Areas | School Recommended Courses |
|---|---|
| College Writing Seminar (3 credit hours) | UCWR 110 (Required as a prerequisite for writing-intensive courses) |
| Artistic Knowledge (3 credit hours) | |
| Ethics (3 credit hours) | |
| Historical Knowledge (6 credit hours) | |
| Quantitative Analysis (3 credit hours) | |
| Literary Knowledge and Experience (6 credit hours) | |
| Philosophical Knowledge (6 credit hours) | |
| Scientific Literacy (6 credit hours) | |
| Societal and Cultural Knowledge (6 credit hours) | |
| Theological and Religious Studies Knowledge (6 credit hours) |
Major Field of Study
Each student must select a department or program of instruction in which he/she will take extensive and specialized study. The student should make this selection no later than the fourth semester of attendance or at the end of the sophomore year. In selecting a major, the student is encouraged to consult the appropriate chairperson, program director, or undergraduate program director. The dean, in consultation with the chairperson of a department or program director, may refuse the application of a student for or the continuation of a student in a given major if the student has not shown sufficient progress in that particular subject.
The major field of study is ordinarily a group of 10 or more courses in a single department or program of instruction. The total number of courses and credit hours required for the major, the specifically prescribed courses, and the order in which they are to be taken may vary among departments and programs. The specific information and requirements for the major are provided in each of the department sections.
A student who earns a D+ or lower grade in a course in his/her major must seek the advice of the department and/or academic dean, regarding a decision either to repeat the course or replace it with another course. In either event, the original grade remains on the record. Earned hours for a repeated course will not count toward the graduation requirements. In some departments, students may be dropped from the major if they receive more than one grade below a "C-." See General Academic Standards and Regulations on "repetition of courses."
Minor Field of Study
A minor field of study ordinarily consists of five or more courses selected from a department or interdisciplinary program. Consult individual departments for specific information and requirements. Grades of D+ or lower are not counted toward fulfillment of minor requirements. In those departments within the College of Arts and Sciences that offer more than one major field of study (e.g., classical studies, mathematics, computer science, modern languages and literatures), students may choose to major and minor within the same department with approval of the department chairperson. Students do not need to complete a minor in order to graduate.
Transfer Credit in the Major or Minor
At the discretion of the department chairperson or program director, courses in the student's major or minor field, which are transferred into Loyola, may or may not fulfill the major requirements or the minor requirements. Most departments limit the transfer credit given for the major or minor and/or have specified a minimum number of Loyola hours in the major or minor. Students should consult the department chairperson or program director or seek guidance from their academic advisor.
Elective Courses
In all degree programs, in order to complete the minimum number of required credit hours, students must choose elective courses in addition to the courses specifically required for the Core, other college requirements and their major. Electives should be chosen with a definite purpose: to support one's major field of study; to complete a second major or a minor, to assist in preparing for a planned future profession, to bring more liberal arts courses into the program, to attain a balance in courses in the three general areas of knowledge (humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences).
