College of Arts and Sciences

• Introduction
• Administration
• Degree Requirements
• General Education Requirements
  • Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements
  • Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements
  • Bachelor of Music Degree Requirements
• Physical Education Courses
• Teacher Licensure (Certification)
• Minors
• Study Abroad
• Departments
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Communication
  • Economics
  • English
  • Geography and Earth Science
  • History and Art History
  • Mathematical Sciences
  • Modern and Classical Languages
  • Music
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies
  • Physics and Astronomy
  • Psychology
  • Public and International Affairs
  • Sociology and Anthropology
• Interdisciplinary Programs and Minors
  • Administration of Justice, B.S.
  • African American Studies*
  • Ancient Mediterranean Art and Archaeology*
  • Contemporary Europe*
  • Cultural Studies, Ph.D.
  • Environmental Science and Public Policy, Ph.D.
  • Film and Media Studies*
  • Folklore and Mythology*
  • Global Systems*
  • Honors Program in General Education
  • Interdisciplinary Studies, M.A.I.S.
  • Linguistics (see English Department)*
  • Russian Studies, B.A.
  • Social and Organizational Learning, M.S.
  • Study of the Americas, B.A.
  • Telecommunications, M.A.
  • Urban and Suburban Studies*
  • Women's Studies*

* Interdisciplinary minors are described in the University Programs chapter.

The disciplines taught in the college's 15 departments represent the core curricula of a modern university. In addition, the college offers 17 interdisciplinary degrees and minors. Through its programs, the college exposes students to principles of sound reasoning and judgment, while providing the skills for understanding and using information and technology.

Faculty members in Arts and Sciences are committed to teaching that is grounded in scholarship and research. They strive to make their students rigorous thinkers and clear communicators, while encouraging in them an attitude of experimentation with new approaches and ideas. Students are thus prepared for their role as informed citizens in a complex, global society. Students in Arts and Sciences go on to graduate and professional schools in medicine, law, and the ministry and pursue careers in public service, not-for-profit organizations, and the private sector.

Administration

Daniele C. Struppa, Dean

Zita E.Tyer, Senior Associate Dean

Doris A. Bitler, Associate Dean for Student Academic Affairs

Dee Ann Holisky, Associate Dean for Academic Programs

Richard Klimoski, Associate Dean for Outreach and Enrollment

Yehuda Lukacs, Associate Dean for International Programs

Walter Rankin, Assistant Dean for Student Academic Affairs

Degree Requirements

Students should consult the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements section of Academic Policies for information concerning the literacy requirement, English composition requirement, writing-intensive requirement, core requirements, catalog requirements, residence requirements, and academic requirements.

General Education Requirements

The general education portions of the bachelor's degree programs offer insights into a broad range of human thought and activity. General education prepares students to fulfill various roles in society by providing a foundation for continued learning and personal development.

Through general education, students gain knowledge of the basic disciplines, skill in relating materials within the disciplines, and some understanding of human civilization as a whole. All courses fulfilling general education requirements are intended to combine these elements. Thus, in a single course, students should gain basic knowledge of a particular discipline, skill in the methods that produced that knowledge, and an understanding of the discipline's common attitudes and its place within human thought and activity.

Students at George Mason meet their general education requirements either by completing the number of credits in the courses listed below or by completing the interdisciplinary courses of the Honors Program in General Education. The Linked Courses program enables students to register for two or more complementary general education courses with professors who have coordinated readings and assignments.

The courses are grouped below to allow the student to exercise certain options among disciplines using similar modes of thought.

Bachelor of Arts
Degree Requirements

Credits
A. General Education	50-62
1. Communication	9-21
a. Written ENGL 101, 302. Non-native speakers of Englishwith limited proficiency in the language may substitute ENGL 100 for ENGL 101. Studentsmust attain a minimum grade of C to have ENGL 100, 101, 302 fulfill degree requirements.	6
b. Oral COMM 100, 101, or 102.	3
c. Foreign Language A student must demonstrate intermediate-level proficiency in one foreign language. The requirement is fulfilled by completion of one foreign language course at the 202 level or higher or by a satisfactory score on an approved proficiency test. International students should consult with the CAS Student Academic Affairs Office about a possible waiver of this requirement.	0-12
2. Analytical Reasoning Logic (PHIL 173 or 376) or mathematics (except MATH 105, 271, and 272), STAT 250, or DESC 200.	3
3. Humanities	12
a. Literature Any course in literature at the 200 level in English, the 300 level or above in modern and classical languages, or PHIL 253.	6
b. Fine Arts Art, dance, film (ENGL 332), music, or theater (lecture, studio, ensemble, or private lessons).	3
c. Philosophy or religious studies A logic course does not satisfy this requirement.	3
4. Social Science	12
a. Economics, geography (except GEOG 102, 309), government, history	6
b. Anthropology, psychology, sociology	6
5. Natural Science A two-semester laboratory science sequence in astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, or physics. BIOL 124, 125 does not satisfy this requirement.	8
6. Non-Western Culture Six credits must be earned in courses devoted to non-Western culture. This requirement is waived for a student who has attended, for four or more years, a native school in a non-Western country. Requests for a waiver should be made through the Student Academic Affairs Office. The following courses, which are designated as meeting this requirement, may also be presented in partial fulfillment of requirements stated in sections 1, 3, and 4: ANTH 114, 300, 301, 302, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 311, 313, 332 ARTH 319, 320, 380, 381 FREN 451 GEOG 101, 316, 325, 330 GOVT 332, 333, 432 HIST 130, 251, 252, 261, 262, 271, 281, 282, 328, 329, 353, 354, 356, 387, 463, 464, 465, 466 MUSI 103 RELI 211, 212, 313, 314, 315, 337, 490 RUSS 353, 354 STAM 303, 304	6
B. Major See appropriate departmental sections of the catalog for required credits.	30-42
C. Electives	16-40
Total minimum credits (45 of these must be upper-division credits)	120

Bachelor of Science
Degree Requirements

Credits
A. General Education	40-63
1. English and Literature	12
a. English Composition ENGL 101, 302. Nonnative speakers of English with limited proficiency in the language may substitute ENGL 100 for 101. Students must attain a minimum grade of C to have ENGL 100, 101, 302 fulfill degree requirements.	6
b. Literature Any courses in literature at the 200 level in English, the 300 level or above in modern and classical languages, or PHIL 253.	6
2. Course Work Outside the Area of Concentration	12
a. 12 credits outside the fields of economics, geography, government, or history if the degree is in one of these fields; six of these credits must be chosen from these fields: astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, geology, mathematics, and physics.
b. 12 credits outside the natural sciences or mathematics fields if the degree is in those fields; six of these credits must be chosen from these fields: anthropology, economics, geography, government, history, linguistics, psychology, and sociology.
c. 12 credits outside the fields of psychology or public administration if the degree is in one of these fields; six of these credits must be chosen from these fields: astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, geology, mathematics, and physics.
3. Additional Required Courses See departmental sections of the catalog for specifics	16-39
B. Major Fulfillment of requirements for the major as listed under the respective departments: Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Geography and Earth Science, Mathematical Sciences, Physics and Astronomy, Psychology, and Public and International Affairs.	38-74
C. Electives	17-42
Total minimum credits (45 of these must be upper-division credits)	120

Bachelor of Music
Degree Requirements

Credits
A. General Education	30
B. Major	85-90
C. Electives	0-5
Total minimum credits (45 of these must be upper-division credits) See the Music section of this catalog for details.	120

Physical Education Courses

Activity courses offered by the Health, Fitness, and Recreation Resources Department cannot be counted toward the credits required for a degree in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Teacher Licensure (Certification)

Students who wish to become elementary, middle, or secondary school teachers should consult the sections on licensure (certification) found in the catalog under the Graduate School of Education.

Minors

Students may elect minor programs in addition to their major field of study. Minors require no fewer than 15 credits and no more than 21 credits of study. At least six credits of the minor must be completed at George Mason. No more than three credits of D grade in the minor is accepted. Not all departments in the College of Arts and Sciences offer minor programs. In addition to the interdisciplinary minors listed on the first page of the CAS chapter, the following minors are also available:

• American Government
• Anthropology
• Art History
• Astronomy
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Classical Studies
• French
• Geography
• Geology
• German
• History
• International/Comparative Studies
• Latin
• Legal Studies
• Math for Business Students
• Music
• Philosophy
• Physics
• Public Policy and Management
• Religious Studies
• Russian
• Sociology
• Spanish
• Study of the Americas

Students may elect a minor by completing the appropriate section of the Change/Declaration of Academic Program form. Declaration of a minor must be made with, and approved by, the faculty advisor and the director of the program.

Study Abroad

Students are strongly encouraged to participate (for a summer, a semester, or a year) in a study abroad program related to their regional concentration and to their chosen language. Interested students must work out their plan of study with their faculty advisor and the director of the program. With approval of the faculty advisor and program director, language study abroad may count toward the language requirement for the major.