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College of Arts & Sciences

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College of Arts & Sciences

Dean Marcus Davis

Associate Dean Jonathan Beagle

Associate Dean Jason Seacat

Assistant Dean Karl Martini

Programs of Study

The College of Arts and Sciences has three primary objectives:

  1. To provide academic major and minor programs within the College as career preparation and as concentrations in the various fields of the liberal arts.

  2. To provide the courses that satisfy General University requirements in keeping with the founding purpose of the College and consistent with the ongoing role of Arts and Sciences and the academic expertise of the faculty.

  3. To provide required courses for its own majors and minors, foundation courses for majors in the Business and Engineering Colleges, and elective courses for the enrichment of students across the University.

In this way the College of Arts and Sciences fulfills its educational purpose in accordance with the mission statement of Western New England University. This Mission Statement calls for integrated professional and liberal education. Arts and Sciences contribute to that mission through providing major programs, General University courses, and service and elective offerings.

The College of Arts and Sciences offers courses and programs leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree with majors in American studies, communication, creative writing, economics, elementary education, English, history, integrated liberal studies, international studies, liberal studies, law and society, political science, psychology, and secondary education in the fields of English and history. The College also offers programs leading to a Bachelor of Science degree with majors in actuarial science, biology, chemistry, criminal justice, computer science, forensic biology, chemistry, health sciences (including a pre-physician's assistant concentration), health studies (including a pre-OTD concentration), information technology, mathematical sciences, neuroscience, psychology, and secondary education in the fields of biology, chemistry and mathematics. Majors in elementary and secondary education are approved by the Massachusetts Board of Education and lead to teacher certifications. Also offered is an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Studies.

To graduate with a bachelor's degree, students must complete a minimum of 120 semester hours in academic courses, although some programs have additional credit requirements. Students must complete the requirements of a major program, the General University requirements, and certain area requirements. The balance of the academic program is composed of electives, which are courses chosen entirely by the student with guidance from an advisor.

Most students attempt to complete the General University requirements during their first two years in college. Such planning provides added flexibility during the junior and senior years, enabling students to concentrate on major programs or to participate in internships or off-campus programs such as the Washington Semester, the New England Center for Children internship program, or study abroad.

College of Arts & Sciences Requirements

Students in the College of Arts and Sciences are required to satisfy the General University Requirements. All students majoring within the College of Arts and Sciences must also fulfill the following requirements:

  1. Complete at least 120 credit hours of courses in order to graduate. Note: No more than 15 credit hours of ROTC courses may be counted within this 120;

  2. Complete the requirements for a major;

  3. Complete at least seven Perspectives of Understanding courses, including two natural science courses and one course from each of the remaining five Perspectives of Understanding;

  4. Writing Intensive Requirement (WIC). Complete at least six additional credit hours in courses designated as “Writing Intensive,” one at the 200- or 300-level and one at the 300- or 400-level. Courses designated as Writing Intensive can also fulfill other requirements, including General University Requirements and requirements for specific majors. All Writing Intensive courses are approved by the Department of English; and

  5. Complete at least 30 credit hours in advanced courses (numbered 300-400) that may include those in the major and other areas, or complete the requirements for a major and a minor. No ROTC courses may count as advanced courses.

Please note that non-business majors can apply no more than 25% of business coursework to their graduation requirement.

Minors

The course work for a degree may include one or more of the minors offered by the University. A minor may not be completed in the same discipline as the major. See the descriptions of the requirements for minors listed in this catalog. Students wishing to take a minor must complete a form in the Office of the Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, no later than the beginning of the final semester.