College of Arts and Sciences

Return to: Academic Majors and Degrees

Dr. Nancy J. Curtin, Dean • (217) 424-6205

What are the Arts & Sciences?

Millikin University defines it as the academic study and performance to develop and apply new knowledge to improve the human condition.

In the College of Arts and Sciences students become seekers and creators of new knowledge and put their new knowledge to work to transform themselves, their communities, and their professions. We ask students to perform their knowledge, to develop habits of life-long learning, to start contributing to a better personal life, a better community, and a better world. There are plenty of problems in the world. Our students are the perfect ones to develop the arts and sciences that the world needs now to solve those problems.

Performance Learning in the College of Arts & Sciences

The College offers distinctive programs of excellence that feature the integration of theory and practice through performance learning. These programs are characterized by the following:

• Doing work in the discipline with a professional public performance required of all students before graduation.
• Extra-curricular academic engagement and professional growth experiences beyond the classroom.
• Opportunities for interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary studies.
• A strong commitment to quality learning experiences for majors and students in other academic programs. The seven programs of excellence are:

There are multiple areas of performance learning in the College of Arts & Sciences, such as the following examples:

• Students in Chemistry and Biology learn to be effective laboratory researchers and are encouraged to share the results of that research with others through poster exhibits, conference presentations, and community outreach events.
• Criminal Justice students can learn and serve in an innovative restorative justice program called Teen Justice.
• Political Science students can research and recommend initiatives to address human trafficking.
• The Psychology major prepares students in experimental research methods and invites students to join ongoing research projects in clinical, social, and cognitive psychology.
• English students can write and publish the student newspaper, the Decaturian.
• Students interested in literary editing publish Collage, the Millikin University literary magazine.
• Students perform and compete in Moot Court and Model Illinois Government, and Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl.

Exploratory Studies

The Exploratory Studies program is designed for students who are not ready to declare an academic major. Exploratory Studies is a temporary program that provides the benefits of a declared major, including faculty advising, access to introductory major courses, and the opportunity to gain broad exposure to academic disciplines across the University. Most Exploratory Studies students will declare a major during their first year. However, all students must declare a major prior to completing 60 credits

During their first full semester in the program, all Exploratory Studies students will complete a one pass/fail practicum supervised by the Student Success Center in consultation with the Dean of Arts & Sciences. This practicum experience will include assessment of interest and abilities, exploration of career options, education relating to professional success, and interaction with faculty across disciplines.

Degree Requirements

Academic Minors

Students may complete an academic minor in addition to a major. The minor consists of a minimum of 21 credits in the minor program. A minimum of 9 credits must be earned in courses numbered 300 or above in the minor program. Students wishing to complete a minor should consult the chair of the department in which they wish to minor. In addition to the minors available within the College, minors in the areas of business administration, finance and information technology, dance, economics, music and theatre are available to students majoring in the College of Arts  and Sciences.

Graduation Requirements

College of Arts and Sciences

Students in the College of Arts and Sciences are responsible for meeting all University-wide requirements and the requirements for a major within the College or one of the special baccalaureate programs. In addition, Arts and Sciences students must complete at least 39 credits in courses numbered 300 or above.

College of Arts and Sciences Distribution Requirement. In addition to completing courses described under the University Studies program, students with a major sponsored by a department in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete one course in Historical Studies and one course in Literature according to the following directions:

1. Historical Studies.
   Learning Goals:
   Students will be able to express in oral and written form their understanding of major issues and intellectual theories within the discipline of history.
   Students will demonstrate their ability to research and analyze objectively any historical or social and cultural topic and generate an independent and original point of view.
   
   Any one course offered by the history department (prefix: HI), an approved course in philosophy (PH 310 - Political Philosophy ); MA 320 - History of Mathematics ; an approved course offered within the University Studies curriculum (designated sections of IN 250 , IN 251 , IN 350 , or from within the ICS distribution requirement), or another course approved by the College.
2. Literature.
   Learning Goals:
   Students will examine literary genres and historical/cultural contexts of literature. Students will analyze literary texts using a variety of analytical methods and develop their own analysis of those texts.
   
   Any one course in literature from among EN 120 , EN 220 , EN 222 , EN 231 , EN 232 , EN 233 , EN 234 , EN 241 , 242, EN 250 , EN 321 , EN 322 , EN 325 , EN 331 , EN 340 , EN 350 , EN 360 , EN 366 , EN 420 ; SP 320 , SP 321 , SP 323 , SP 324 , SP 481 , SP 482 ; an approved course offered within the University Studies curriculum (designated sections of HN 203 , IN 250 , IN 251 , IN 350 , or from within the ICS distribution requirement), or another course approved by the College.

A current list of approved liberal arts distribution requirement courses will be maintained in the office of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Either the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree is offered for each major program in the College as indicated above. Some majors allow the student to choose which degree they prefer. Please see the Graduation Requirements for specific Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree requirements.

Academic Organization, Majors, and Areas of Study in the College of Arts & Sciences

The College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) is comprised of five schools which include the specific majors and other academic studies listed below. CAS offers a variety of majors leading to the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree or the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. Additional degree programs are outlined in the Honors Programs section of this Bulletin and several Pre-Professional and Interdisciplinary programs are noted in the section on Special Academic Programs.

Return to: Academic Majors and Degrees