Catalog Home College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Dean

Chaden Djalali

Associate dean for undergraduate programs and curriculum

Helena Dettmer

Associate dean for research and development

Joseph K. Kearney

Executive associate dean

Raúl Curto

Web site: http://www.clas.uiowa.edu/

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) is the oldest and largest of the 11 colleges that make up The University of Iowa. Students from all over the United States and more than 50 other nations study together in the college. Every University of Iowa undergraduate takes courses offered by the college, and more than 75 percent of undergraduates earn their degrees from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

The college provides a comprehensive liberal arts education, offering more than 70 majors and certificates as well as a wide variety of minors and opportunities for interdisciplinary work. Students also may design their own majors through the college's Interdepartmental Studies Program.

In addition to their academic pursuits, students participate in the college in a variety of ways. They serve on the Dean's Student Advisory Committee and as members of the Educational Policy Committee and the General Education Curriculum Committee—collegiate committees that advise the deans on important educational issues. Students are invited to serve on ad hoc committees within the college as well, and many departments have an undergraduate student group or association. CLAS students also serve in the University of Iowa Student Government. Interested students should contact the appropriate committee or office.

CLAS Web Site

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences web site contains a wealth of information for students and faculty members.

Students find information on academic policies and procedures on the For Students pages, including requirements of the CLAS General Education Program (see Academic Policies Handbook). Information about scholarships, service opportunities, and upcoming deadlines also is available on the For Students pages.

The CLAS Departments and Divisions link provides a list of the college's departments, programs, and schools as well as its undergraduate majors, certificates, and minors.

Faculty members turn to the CLAS web site for information on teaching and curriculum, resources to use when advising and instructing students, and updates on important CLAS committees.

The CLAS web site also includes a home page for the Dean's Office and for CLAS Academic Programs & Student Development as well as links to other helpful pages.

CLAS Academic Programs & Student Development

Located in Schaeffer Hall, at the center of campus, CLAS Academic Programs & Student Development is an integral part of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The office, which is led by the associate dean for undergraduate programs and curriculum, welcomes students wishing to declare or change majors, file second-grade-only options, request permission to register late, add or drop a course late, or withdraw an entire registration after the established deadlines.

The office's staff members answer students' questions concerning academic requirements or programs, and they meet with students concerning General Education Program requirements, graduation requirements, collegiate policies that affect students, and a range of other issues, including strategies for successful completion of a degree.

Students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences may request exceptions to CLAS rules and requirements in the office of Academic Programs & Student Development. All students should discuss their questions and need for an exception first with a staff member in the office.

The office's directors work closely with students on academic probation and counsel them on strategies for success. They also conduct semiannual reviews of students on academic probation and consider requests for reinstatement.

CLAS Academic Programs & Student Development recommends appropriate disciplinary action for academic fraud, such as acts of plagiarism, cheating, and forgery, and for other academic misconduct. It also handles dismissals from the college.

General Education Program

All students entering the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences who wish to earn a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), Bachelor of Liberal Studies (B.L.S.), or Bachelor of Music (B.M.) degree must complete the CLAS General Education Program in addition to the requirements of their major and other requirements for graduation.

For General Education requirements, related academic policies, and lists of approved courses, see General Education Program under "Index: Academic Programs" on this page.

CLAS Units and Academic Programs

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences includes nearly 40 administrative units ranging across the fine and performing arts, humanities and letters, social sciences, and natural and mathematical sciences. These units offer nearly 70 undergraduate majors and certificates as well as a wide variety of minors. They also offer more than 50 graduate programs (with degrees granted by the Graduate College).

Undergraduate Majors, Certificates, and Minors

The college offers undergraduate majors in a broad range of disciplines. In addition, several majors are offered to CLAS students by other colleges at the University, with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences granting the degrees. The Tippie College of Business offers a major in economics (B.A. and B.S.); the Carver College of Medicine offers majors in biochemistry (B.A. and B.S.) and in microbiology (B.S.); and the College of Education offers majors in elementary education (B.A. and B.S.) and in science education (B.S.). For descriptions of the majors and their requirements, see the links under "Index: Academic Programs" on this page.

The College of Education also offers a Teacher Education Program leading to licensure at the secondary level for students who have completed certain CLAS majors, such as English, mathematics, and art, and who wish to work with students in middle school or high school. Students must apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program; contact the College of Education's Office of Education Services.

Students who begin their study in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences may earn undergraduate degrees in clinical laboratory sciences, nuclear medicine technology, and radiation sciences; see the Carver College of Medicine section of the Catalog for information about those majors.

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers a broad array of certificates and minors for undergraduate students. In addition, it partners with the Tippie College of Business to offer the Certificate in International Business. Link to information about CLAS certificates and minors under "Index: Academic Programs" on this page.

CLAS undergraduates may earn certificates and minors offered by other colleges as well. The Tippie College of Business offers the Certificate in Entrepreneurial Management, the Certificate in Risk Management and Insurance, and the minor in business administration. The College of Public Health offers the Certificate in Public Health. University College offers the Certificate in Leadership Studies, the Certificate in Nonprofit Management, and the Certificate in Sustainability. The College of Education offers minors in educational psychology and in human relations. For lists of all undergraduate certificates and minors offered by the University, see Certificates and Minors in the Academics at Iowa/Undergraduate Study section of the Catalog.

Undergraduates also may take courses in book arts from the Center for the Book, a Graduate College program.

Graduate Degrees and Certificates

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers graduate programs in most of its disciplines, with degrees conferred by the Graduate College. Students may earn degrees at the master's and doctoral levels; graduate certificates are available in some areas of study. See the Graduate College section of the Catalog for a complete list of graduate degrees offered by the University.

For information about CLAS graduate programs, see the links under "Index: Academic Programs" on this page.

Nondepartmental Courses

Most College of Liberal Arts and Sciences courses are offered by the college's departments, programs, and schools. They are listed and described in the corresponding General Catalog sections; see the links under "Index: Academic Programs" on this page.

The college also offers the following nondepartmental courses.

610:020 (CLAS:1500) Writing Commons: A Community of Writers	1-3 s.h.
Exploration of the art and craft of writing, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, scientific and technical writing, and other genres of professional writing (i.e., grants, proposals, scripts, treatments); readings and discussion of work by published writers; readings by visiting authors; workshop format.

610:029 (CLAS:1000) First-Year Seminar	1 s.h.
Small discussion class taught by a faculty member; topics chosen by instructor; may include outside activities (e.g., films, lectures, performances, readings, visits to research facilities). Requirements: first‑ or second‑semester standing.

610:030 (CLAS:1200) Explorations in Computing, Mathematics, and Science	1 s.h.
Presentations by science and math faculty members, discussions with visiting scientists, visits to campus labs, off‑campus science field trips; for students in Explorations in Computing, Mathematics, and Science Living‑Learning Community. Requirements: first‑year standing in CMS Learning Community.

610:040 (CLAS:1300) Citizenship, Leadership, and Service I	1 s.h.
Presentations by faculty members, scholars, activists; guided discussions with visiting scholars and activists, other varied activities; for students in Citizenship, Leadership & Service Living‑Learning Community. Requirements: enrollment in CLS Learning Community.

610:050 (CLAS:1400) Citizenship, Leadership & Service II	1 s.h.
Continuation of 610:040 (CLAS:1300); individual volunteer opportunities, participation in service learning projects; presentations by faculty and community members, visits to University and community resources. Prerequisites: 610:040 (CLAS:1300). Requirements: member of Citizenship, Leadership & Service Living‑Learning Community.

610:060 (CLAS:1600) Life Design: Building Your Future	1 s.h.
How interests and talents can be paired up to achieve a fulfilling life; what students are passionate about; address questions (i.e., How can you identify what you're good at? How can you build a life of purpose and meaning? How can you cultivate mentors? What is the relationship between ambition, drive, and success? What major might be the best fit and how can University resources help your academic and personal success?); portfolio of reflective exercises, activities, journal assignments.

610:099 (CLAS:4100) Peer Mentoring	1-2 s.h.
Opportunities to participate in classroom and course activities as mentors for other students.

610:111 (CLAS:3111) Reimagining Downtown	3 s.h.
Interdisciplinary perspective; assist upper‑level undergraduates apply their education and creativity toward a specific initiative, the Downtown Project, located in the Fremont East and Arts District areas of Las Vegas, Nevada. Requirements: junior or senior standing and admission by application.

610:120 (CLAS:3100) Writing with Purpose: Arts Outreach and Reflection with the Iowa Youth Writing Project	arr.
Creation of lesson plans, direct activities, and production of a group publication for an after‑school creative writing program at a local Iowa City elementary school; experiential learning techniques, service opportunities, and written reflection; on‑site service with after‑school program, service experience reflected through workshops; readings about writing, teaching, outreach, empathy, and relationships between life of the mind and communal life draw from interdisciplinary perspectives.

610:175 (CLAS:4200) Undergraduate Internship	arr.
Professional and/or creative experience for writing certificate students; students must arrange an on‑ or off‑campus internship with faculty advisor approval. Requirements: undergraduate standing and a minimum of 24 s.h. of course work with at least 12 s.h. in University of Iowa courses.

610:180 (CLAS:4000) Writing: Independent Project	1-3 s.h.
Independent writing project; for students pursuing the Certificate in Writing or wishing to pursue a writing project independently.