The College of Arts and Sciences, encompassing the traditional academic areas of the humanities and fine arts, the mathematical sciences, the natural sciences, and the social sciences, serves several functions within the university community. First, it offers formal programs of study leading to baccalaureate degrees in 25 disciplines and to advanced degrees in 19 major subject areas. These programs provide a foundation of knowledge and experience suited to form the basis for a lifetime of learning. They also prepare students for careers in a variety of fields or for continued education in graduate or professional schools. Second, the college provides support in fundamental subjects for all university students in all colleges. Finally, the college contributes to the overall development of the university through the research and scholarship of its faculty members, as well as to its cultural and intellectual life, by frequent sponsorship of theatrical, musical, and artistic presentations and colloquia open to all members of the university and local communities.
Students in the college may major in the following disciplines:
| Art and Art History | International Studies |
| Biochemistry | Interdisciplinary |
| Biology | Studies |
| Chemistry | Mathematics |
| Communication Studies | Music |
| Computer Science | Philosophy |
| Economics | Physics |
| English | Political Science |
| French | Psychology |
| Geography | Sociology |
| Geological Sciences | Spanish |
| German | Statistics |
| History | Theatre Arts |
Introductory and some advanced courses are also offered in Chinese, classical Greek, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, aerospace studies (Air Force ROTC), military science (Army ROTC), naval science (Naval ROTC), black studies, Appalachian studies, women's studies, Judaic studies, American Indian studies, and religious studies.
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree is awarded in art, chemistry, communication studies, economics, English, French, geography, German, history, international studies, music, philosophy, physics, political science, Spanish, and theatre arts. The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree is awarded in biochemistry, biology, chemistry, computer science, geological sciences, mathematics, physics, psychology, sociology, and statistics.
A bachelor of fine arts (B.F.A.) degree is available in studio art.
The college also offers the B.A. in interdisciplinary studies (IDST). Instead of majoring in a single discipline, the student completes a minimum of 18 semester hours in each of two disciplines, plus a 12-hour concentration in courses taken in the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies (BLST, HST, HUM, IDST, REL, and WS). The program is particularly well suited to interdisciplinary and preprofessional education. For more information, see the Interdisciplinary Studies section in the departmental listings in this chapter of the catalog.
The college offers minors in all of the majors listed above except interdisciplinary studies, plus a minor in Latin and in Russian. A leadership minor is available to members of the Corps of Cadets. Students are encouraged to include a minor in their program. A student may acquire a double major.
A student in Arts and Sciences must complete at least 120 hours for an undergraduate degree with a minimum overall Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 for all hours attempted and in all work applied to the major. To earn a degree in a specific discipline, the student must complete no fewer than 30 hours in that discipline. In addition, students must complete all other requirements established for their degree by the major department, by the university core curriculum, and by the college core curriculum. 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 P/F only.
The University Honors Program is available to students in most departments in the College of Arts and Sciences. These programs provide an enriched environment for qualified students who are highly motivated and possess outstanding scholastic ability. Specific requirements for "in honors" degrees are available from the participating departments.
A student enrolled in the College of Arts and 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. Students do not qualify for Dean's List for any term in which the Course Withdrawal Policy (formerly "Freshman Rule") is used.
Because all students in the college should receive a broad exposure to the arts and sciences, a core curriculum has been established that must be met by every student receiving an undergraduate degree in the College of Arts and Sciences. A student who satisfies the college core will also satisfy the university core. Unless specifically prohibited by a department, courses counted toward the college core curriculum may be applied to the major. No course used in meeting the core curriculum requirements may be taken on a pass/fail basis, nor may any single course be used to fulfill two college core areas (with the exception of Area 7).
Credit for University Honors can be applied in an appropriate curriculum division with the approval of the college dean and the head of the major department in which the course substitutes.
| Humanities: | Mathematical Sciences: |
| Black Studies | Computer Science |
| Chinese | Mathematics |
| Classics | Statistics |
| Communication Studies | |
| English | Natural Sciences: |
| French | Biochemistry |
| German | Biology |
| Greek | Chemistry |
| Humanities | Geological Sciences |
| Humanities, Science, and Technology | Physics |
| Italian | Social Sciences: |
| Japanese | Economics |
| Judaic Studies | Geography |
| Latin | History |
| Philosophy | International Studies |
| Portuguese | Political Science |
| Religion | Psychology |
| Russian | Sociology |
| Spanish | |
| Women's Studies | |
| School of the Arts: | |
| Art and Art History | |
| Music | |
| Theatre Arts |
Foreign Languages: The requirement may be fulfilled by successful completion of one of the following:
Area 1 · Writing and Discourse
The requirement may be fulfilled by successful completion of the following:
Virginia Tech accepts ETS Advanced Placement credit for one or both semesters of Freshman English, depending on the exam score.
For students entering by Spring 1999:3 credit hours (one course) selected from writing intensive courses (in major).For students entering after Spring 1999:6 credit hours (two courses selected from writing intensive courses, at least one course in major.
Area 2 · Ideas, Cultural Traditions, and Values
The requirement may be fulfilled by successful completion of 6 hours approved for the university core curriculum from the humanities, (AREA 2). The foreign language used to satisfy the foreign language requirement may not be used to satisfy the Humanities requirement.
Area 3 · Society and Human Behavior
The requirement may be fulfilled by successful completion of 6 hours approved for the university core curriculum from the social science disciplines, (AREA 3).
Area 4 · Scientific Reasoning and Discovery
The 8-hour requirement may be fulfilled by successful completion of an 8-hour sequence or cluster approved for the university core curriculum (6 hours lecture, 2 hours linked lab), in the Natural Sciences, (AREA 4).
Area 5 · Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning
The requirement may be fulfilled by successful completion of 6 hours from the courses listed below:
CS 1014: Numerical Computational Techniques
CS 1024: Computing for Business
CS 1044: Introduction to Programming in C
MASC 1024: Mathematics: A Liberal Arts Approach
MASC 1034: Statistics: A liberal Arts Approach
MASC 1044: Computer Science: A Liberal Arts Approach
MATH 1015-1016: Elementary Calculus with Trig. I
MATH 2015-2016: Elementary Calculus with Trig. II (Pre: Math 1016)
MATH 1205-1206: Calculus I and II
MATH 1525-1526: Elementary Calculus with Matrices I, II
MATH 2524: Matrices, Modeling and Linear Programming (Pre: MATH 1016 or 1205 or 1526)
PHIL 1504: Language and Logic
PHIL 3505-3506: Modern Logic and Its Development
STAT 2004: Introduction to Statistics (Pre: MATH 1015)
STAT 2404: Introduction to Probability (Pre: MATH 1015)
STAT 3005: Statistical Methods (Pre: MATH 1206)
STAT 3604: Stat. for the Soc. Sciences (Pre: MATH 1015)
STAT 3615: Biological Statistics
Area 6 · Creativity and Aesthetic Experience
The requirement may be fulfilled by the successful completion of a 3-hour course in architecture, art, music, or theatre arts approved for the university core curriculum. (The one-credit courses for the University Core will not fulfill this requirement.)
Area 7 · Critical Issues in a Global Context
Please see chapter on Academics, or consult the Core Curriculum Guidefor further information on this requirement.
In addition to the university and to the departmental criteria (see specific departments in this chapter), all students in Arts and Sciences are evaluated for continued enrollment at Virginia Tech. The two College of Arts and Sciences criteria for satisfying progress toward degree state that: (1) Students who have attempted 72 semester hours must have completed the foreign language requirement for Arts and Sciences by the close of the academic year (Spring Semester); and (2) Students must have completed all credits for the University Core Curriculum by the time 96 semester hours have been attempted.
The College of Arts and Sciences provides pre-professional career advisors for all disciplines. Pre-dentistry, medicine, and veterinary medicine advisors are available in the biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and psychology departments. Pre-Law advisors are available in the political science department.
Dentistry, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine: Students preparing for these fields customarily complete the biochemistry, biology, or chemistry curriculum.
Law: Students preparing for the study of law should seek a broad education in the liberal arts. Suitable majors for pre-law students include communication studies, economics, English, geography, history, international studies, interdisciplinary studies, philosophy, political science, psychology, and sociology.
Pharmacy: Students preparing for pharmacy customarily enter the biochemistry, biology, or chemistry curriculum.
Students in the College of Arts and Sciences who have exhibited outstanding academic ability in liberal courses are eligible for election to Phi Beta Kappa.
The School of the Arts (an administrative/programmatic unit within the College of Arts and Sciences) brings together the talents and expertise of the faculty, staff, and students of the Departments of Art and Art History, Music, and Theatre Arts. For further information on the school and these three departments, please see the School of the Arts section of this Arts and Sciences chapter of the catalog.
The Service-Learning Center was founded in January 1995 with the goal of promoting students' learning through hands-on, face-to-face, interactive experiences in the communities and schools of Southwest Virginia. The center facilitates the integration of community service objectives in traditional course work and research. Students enrolled in service-learning classes can earn academic credit when they participate in community service projects that address important local needs, as well as build upon the strengths and capacities unique to the region. A typical service-learning project entails a 20-hour commitment over the term of the semester and the completion of a service agreement in partial fulfillment of course requirements.
The service-learning option has been incorporated into a variety of courses in black studies, communication studies, computer science, English, humanities, landscape architecture, management, physical education, religious studies, sociology teaching and learning, urban studies, and women's studies.
For additional information on service-learning, contact Michele C. James-Deramo, Director, 202 Major Williams Hall 540/231-6947.
Virginia Tech -- Undergraduate Catalog, 2002-2004
Last update: August 2002
URL: http://www.vt.edu/academics/ugcat/ucCAS.html