College of Arts and Sciences

217 VARNER HALL
(248) 370-2140
Fax: (248) 370-4280

Website

Dean:  Kevin J. Corcoran, Ph.D.

Office of the Dean:

Amy Banes-Berceli, associate dean; Joseph Shively, associate dean; Laura Culbert, assistant dean; Beth Dawson, assistant dean; Gerard Jozwiak, director of computing resources; Kelly A. Conway, senior director of philanthropy; Lori J. Posey, development associate; Angela Robinson, director of philanthropy; Shannon A. Esselink, director of Advising Services; Jason Taylor, assistant director of Advising Services; Matthew Prentice, senior academic adviser; Annie Hegedus, senior academic advisor; Jim Bilinski, academic adviser; Blake Bonkowski, academic advisor; Andreea Bordeianu, academic adviser; Terria Crank, academic adviser; Andreea Duarte, academic adviser; Nancy Gursin, academic adviser; Chris Mocny, academic advisor; Meagan Richard, academic adviser.

Ambassadors

The College of Arts and Sciences Ambassadors are a volunteer body comprised of community leaders committed to the vision and mission of the college. Ambassadors serve as advocates, taking an active part in furthering the college’s objectives.

Members of the College of Arts and Sciences Ambassadors include:

Barbara Anness, Rochester Community Schools

David Bricker (retired) Oakland University

Mary Fisher Follmer, D.D.S.

Robert Gebbie, partner, Natural Bridge Technologies

Grant Gerhart, Ph.D., retired senior research scientist, TARDEC

Michael Glass, D.D.S., Endodontic Associates PC

Gail Haines, former state representative, Michigan State House of Representatives, 43rd District

William Horton, president and partner, Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton, P.C.

Thomas E. Kimble, state president, AARP of Michigan

Adam Kochenderfer, attorney, Wolfson Bolton, PLLC

Jonathan Parks, director, GEAR UP, Wayne State University

Vito Pianello, first vice president commercial banker, First State Bank

Richard Rassel, chairman, Butzel Long

George Seifert, president, George & Betty Seifert Foundation Inc.

Lois Shaevsky

Tobye Stein (retired), CO-OP Financial Services

John Stoll, business columnist, Wall Street Journal

Kevin Wilson, teacher, Walled Lake Western High School

Role and Mission of the College

The intellectual and creative capacity of the College of Arts and Sciences provides students with multiple opportunities to develop distinctive individualized academic and cultural experiences, which serve as a foundation for civic engagement, creative problem solving, entrepreneurial endeavors, and professional goals.

The college is home to a wide range of disciplines representing the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and fine and performing arts, as well as several interdisciplinary programs. Students share experiences that enhance written and oral communication, problem-solving and analytic skills. The college offers many opportunities to develop these skills beyond the classroom through internships, field placements and research experiences. Students learn to think creatively about the problems they confront and be adaptive in a rapidly changing world. The college faculty inspires students to become engaged citizens and professionals and individuals with an inclination toward lifelong learning.

Programs Offered

The college offers instruction leading to the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Social Work, Master of Arts, Master of Arts in Liberal Studies, Master of Music, Master of Public Administration, Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. In conjunction with the School of Education and Human Services, it offers instruction leading to secondary teaching certification in biology, chemistry, economics, English, teaching English as a second language, history, mathematics, modern languages and literatures, music, physics, political science and studio art, and secondary teaching endorsements in integrated science and integrated social studies.

Admission

Departmental rather than college-wide regulations govern admission to the college’s majors. Students should maintain close contact with faculty advisers in the department in which they wish to major and with the college advising office.

Academic Advising

In order to help students develop and achieve their academic goals, the college offers an advising program staffed by faculty advisers in each academic department and by professional advisers in the College of Arts and Sciences Advising Office, 130 O’Dowd Hall, (248) 370-4567. All students are expected to meet with an adviser on a regular basis. Students who need assistance with course selection, registration, major and career choice, or who have questions about college and degree requirements, academic standing, transfer credit and petitions of exception should meet with an adviser in the College of Arts and Sciences Advising Office.

Undecided students interested in programs offered by the college should meet with an adviser in the College of Arts and Sciences Advising Office each semester until they declare a major. Once a major in the college has been declared, students should meet initially with a departmental adviser to establish a program plan and periodically thereafter to ensure that they are completing major requirements. Frequent adviser contact will help ensure that the student has current academic information and is making good progress toward a degree.

Seniors are urged to meet with a professional adviser for a graduation check prior to final registration. It is the responsibility of each student to know and meet graduation requirements and to make every effort to obtain adequate academic advising.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees

General requirements

Each student must:

1. Complete at least 124 credits. Some degrees may require a greater number of total credits. 
2. Complete the requirements for a major offered by the College of Arts and Sciences with a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.00.
3. Complete at least 45 of these credits at Oakland University, of which at least 16 credits must be in the student’s elected major.
4. Complete at least 32 credits in courses at the 3000 level or above.
5. Earn a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.00 in courses taken at Oakland University and in the major(s), any elective minor(s), and any elective concentration(s).
6. Complete the University’s general education requirements (see Undergraduate degree requirements).
7. Complete the college exploratory requirement described below.

College exploratory requirement

College of Arts and Sciences College exploratory requirement  provides students with a depth and breadth in the multi- and interdisciplinary knowledge needed in today’s complex world. Through concentrated intellectual engagement in disciplines outside a student’s major, this requirement offers expanded horizons and progressive challenges to more fully develop the scope of a student’s understanding, abilities and accomplishments.

In addition to satisfying the University-wide general education requirements, all students with majors in the College of Arts and Sciences* are required to complete at least three courses outside of their major rubric for a minimum of 12 credits. A student may select these courses from either of the following:

1. A single rubric of their choosing (e.g., HST) within the College of Arts and Sciences.**
2. A pre-defined thematic set of courses identified on the College of Arts and Sciences website.

Notes

• Courses taken to fulfill the college exploratory requirement must be at the 1000 level or above and must be in a subject taught within the College of Arts and Sciences, with the exception of non-College courses that are part of pre-approved thematic sets.
• Pre- or corequisite courses with a rubric other than the major (e.g., CHM for biology majors) required for any major may be applied toward the exploratory requirement.
• Courses used to satisfy the general education requirements for knowledge applications, U.S. diversity, writing intensive, and capstone may be applied to the exploratory requirement as long as they are outside of the major rubric. Courses used to satisfy a student’s general education requirements in all other categories will not apply.
• Completion of a semester of study abroad with at least 12 credits satisfies the exploratory requirement.
• Students transferring courses from another institution may apply appropriate credits toward the exploratory requirement and must meet the 12-credit minimum requirement.
• Students who have completed the MACRAO agreement or MTA at a community college must complete the exploratory requirement at Oakland University or another four-year institution.
• Completion of a double major or degree or completion of a College of Arts and Sciences minor or concentration satisfies the exploratory requirement.

*K-12 Music Education, K-12 Studio Art Education, Dance Education, B.M., and B.F.A. majors, Honors College, Liberal Studies, and second degree students are exempt from the exploratory requirement.

**For the purposes of the exploratory requirement, Department of Mathematics and Statistics rubrics MTH, APM, MOR, and STA are regarded as a single rubric. Department of Linguistics rubrics LIN and ALS are regarded as a single rubric. WRT 1000, 1020 and 1050 may not be used toward the exploratory requirement. Students majoring in creative writing may not use the ENG rubric toward fulfillment of the exploratory requirement. Students majoring in English may not use the CW rubric toward fulfillment of the exploratory requirement. Students majoring in linguistics may not use the ALS rubric toward fulfillment of the exploratory requirement.

NOTE: As a general rule, no more than eight credits of coursework used to satisfy one major, minor or concentration may be applied toward another, but exceptions to this rule may be allowed with the written approval of the program coordinators.

Departmental Honors

Requirements for awarding departmental honors to students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement are determined by each department. Please consult the appropriate department or program home page in this catalog or the chief academic adviser in each department for the specific details of these requirements. Normally, not more than one-third of a department’s graduates may be awarded departmental honors.

Major Programs

Students must fulfill all requirements of their elected majors as described in the departmental entries. A minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.00 in the major is required for graduation. As a general rule, no more than eight credits of coursework used to satisfy one major, minor or concentration may be applied toward another, but exceptions to this rule may be allowed with the written approval of the program coordinators.

Majors offered by the College of Arts and Sciences are listed below. There are no college-wide regulations governing admission to major standing or retention in the majors. Each department controls its own procedures in these areas. Therefore, students are urged to maintain close contact with faculty advisers in the department in which they wish to major and with the College of Arts and Sciences Advising Office. The majors are:

Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP)

In cooperation with the School of Education and Human Services, the College of Arts and Sciences offers an extended program of study leading to secondary teaching certification. Generally, eligibility for admission to the STEP requires a minimum GPA of 3.00 in both the major and minor, and an overall GPA of at least 2.80. No single major, minor, or concentration course grade may be below (C), and a minimum grade of (B) is required in WRT 1060 - Composition II or its equivalent. Second undergraduate degree candidates completing a major and/or minor or concentration for STEP may be required to complete coursework at Oakland University beyond the stated minimums. Majors in music education and studio art education, and modern language education (French, German, Japanese, and Spanish) complete the requirements for K-12 certification.  For more information on program and admission requirements and procedures, please consult with advisers in the appropriate College of Arts and Sciences department and the School of Education and Human Services. The majors in this program include:

International Studies Programs

The International Studies Program offers majors and minors in international studies; it also sponsors study abroad programs for students and the general public. For information about majors and study abroad programs see the International Studies Program section of the catalog and consult with the program director, Paul J. Kubicek at (248) 370-2363.

Multiple Majors

Students who elect to major in more than one area in the College of Arts and Sciences must satisfy the specific requirements of each of the majors they choose. Such students are single degree candidates with more than one major and must satisfy the general and specific requirements applicable to the awarding of one degree, either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science. As a general rule, no more than eight credits of coursework used to satisfy one major, minor or concentration may be applied toward another, but exceptions to this rule may be allowed with the written approval of the program coordinators. Forms for students requesting an additional major are available in the advising office and should be completed by students wishing to graduate with more than one major. Under certain conditions, a student may earn more than one degree. Such students are double-degree candidates. For information on the restrictions that apply to the awarding of more than one degree and the requirements that double-degree candidates must satisfy, please see Additional Undergraduate Degrees and Majors in the Academic Policies and Procedures section of this catalog. Completion of a second major satisfies the College of Arts and Sciences exploratory requirement.

Independent Majors

Students interested in academic areas in which no suitable major program is available may petition the college Committee on Instruction for an individually tailored independent major in place of one of the departmental majors listed above. An independent major also may be taken as part of a double-major program in conjunction with a regular departmental major, provided that no course counted toward completion of the departmental major is also counted toward completion of the independent major. Students will be admitted to the independent major only after completing 32 credits but before completing 90 credits. For the specific requirements of an independent major, consult the College of Arts and Sciences Advising Office, 130 O’Dowd Hall, (248) 370-4567.

Minors for Liberal Arts Degree Programs

Minors are not required by the College of Arts and Sciences for baccalaureate programs, but the college offers a number of liberal arts minors that students may pursue in addition to the required major. A cumulative grade-point average of 2.00 is required in courses included in the minor. At least  eight of the credits offered for each minor must be taken at Oakland University. As a general rule, no more than eight credits of coursework used to satisfy one major, minor or concentration may be applied toward another, but exceptions to this rule may be allowed with the written approval of the program coordinators. The catalog chosen for the student’s major will also be used to determine degree requirements for any minor the student may be pursuing unless a written plan of study has been approved by the department or school offering that program. Forms for planning and approval of minors are available from departments or from the College of Arts and Sciences Advising Office (221 Varner Hall). If a department or program does not require an approved plan of study, a student is still entitled to negotiate in writing a minor or concentration with the program coordinator.

The college offers the following minors*:

Completion of a College of Arts and Sciences minor satisfies the College of Arts and Sciences College exploratory requirement .

Minors from other academic units are also accepted by the college for students graduating with a major from the College of Arts and Sciences. Requirements for these minors are described under departmental entries as indicated. These minors include: in the School of Business Administration, accounting, finance, business, human resources management, international management, management information systems, and marketing; in the School of Education and Human Services, human resource development, and employment systems and standards; in the School of Engineering and Computer Science, computer science, computing, and information technology; and in the School of Health Sciences, environmental health and safety, nutrition and health, and wellness and health promotion.

*These minors do not count toward an elementary or a secondary teaching credential. For further information on minors without section references, see the departmental chapter of the same name.

Secondary Teaching Minors and Concentrations

Completion of a secondary teaching minor or concentration is required as part of the secondary teacher education program (STEP) in preparation for teacher certification by the Michigan Department of Education. Only programs entitled “secondary teaching minors” are acceptable by the department.

Generally, a cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 is required in courses included in the minor or concentration, with no single course grade below (C). Second undergraduate degree candidates completing a major and/or minor for STEP may be required to complete coursework at Oakland University beyond the stated minimums. The College of Arts and Sciences offers the following secondary teaching minors or concentrations, which are described in detail under departmental entries in this catalog: biology, chemistry, economics, English, teaching English as a second language (TESL), history, integrated science, mathematics, modern languages (Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Spanish), physics, political science and social studies. As a general rule, no more than eight credits of coursework used to satisfy one major, minor or concentration may be applied toward another, but exceptions to this rule may be allowed with the written approval of the program coordinators.

Completion of a College of Arts and Sciences secondary teaching minor or concentration satisfies the College of Arts and Sciences exploratory requirement.

Concentrations

The College of Arts and Sciences offers a number of concentrations that students may pursue in addition to a departmental major. Concentrations are elective and are not required for graduation. No specific grade-point average is required for completion of any given concentration. At least 12 of the credits offered for each concentration must be taken at Oakland University. As a general rule, no more than eight credits of coursework used to satisfy one major, minor or concentration may be applied toward another, but exceptions to this rule may be allowed with the written approval of the program coordinators. The catalog chosen for the student’s major will also be used to determine degree requirements for any concentration the student may be pursuing. Students should file the University’s Minor and Concentration Authorization Form with the department or school offering that program.

Concentrations offered:

Concentrations from other academic units are also accepted by the college for students graduating with a major from the College of Arts and Sciences. Requirements for these concentrations are described under department entries as indicated.

Completion of a College of Arts and Sciences concentration satisfies the College of Arts and Sciences exploratory requirement.

Additional Information

Special provisions for transfer students

Students transferring from other institutions may use appropriate three-credit transfer course toward the college’s 12-credit exploratory requirement at a four-year institution.

Transfer students should consult the transfer student Information section of the catalog for additional information, including general education and residency requirements.