College of Arts and Sciences

College of Arts and Sciences Overview

The College of Arts and Sciences has three primary areas of emphasis: educating undergraduates, offering master’s level programs where the college can offer a program that is distinctive and of high quality and providing general education courses to all undergraduate students. The college, the largest in the university, occupies a central place in the education of all undergraduate students because of its general education mission. The college also has a public service role it fulfills through the activities of the Center for Land Use and the SU Fashion Archives and Museum.

In both its degree programs and in the general education curriculum, the college strives to enable students:

to read critically
to write and speak clearly and eloquently
to use numbers and scientific methodology effectively
to understand the fundamentals of the current state of scientific knowledge
to appreciate works of art and other cultural artifacts from their own and other societies
to understand the fundamentals of world history and geography, the importance of other cultures, and the increasing interdependence of cultures
to understand the structure of social, political and psychological processes
to function effectively as informed and active participants in a democratic society

For many students, participating in an internship connects classroom learning with real-world experience. The college offers internships in many programs, subject to approval. Check with the department chair for more information.

The ultimate aim of the college is to enhance the development of students so they may lead meaningful lives as private individuals, professionals, and citizens.

Providing students with opportunities to acquire the knowledge and habits of mind that lead to present and future accomplishment is the goal of a liberal arts education and of the programs that define Shippensburg University’s College of Arts and Sciences.

In the College of Arts and Sciences, students have available to them programs leading to the degree of Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Science in Education.

All students completing a Bachelor of Arts degree are required to attain proficiency in a foreign language. Proficiency may be satisfied by completing a language class at the 103 (intermediate) level or three years of any one foreign language in high school.

Students may also meet this requirement through AP testing or CLEP testing.

Bachelor of Science in Education Degree Programs

Earth-Space Science

Physics

Comprehensive Social Studies

(Geography Concentration)
(History Concentration)

The specific requirements for each of these fields are presented in the following pages under each department.

Transfer students should note the restrictions that apply to transfer admission into programs in the biology, chemistry, communication/journalism, and psychology programs.

Students interested in law school should consult with Dr. Steven Lichtman of the Political Science Department, who is the representative of the American Law School Committee of Admissions.

The graduate programs of the College of Arts and Sciences are presented in the Graduate Catalog.