The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (CLAS) is an academic community engaged in advancing the discovery, dissemination, and application of knowledge in the traditional areas of liberal arts and sciences and in emerging areas of study. As a community focused on learning and teaching, the College is guided by an unshakeable commitment to humanistic values and ethical conduct, by a creative and entrepreneurial frame of mind, and by an awareness of the global context in which the University exists.

The liberal arts are the core of the University’s educational program, both for students majoring in liberal arts and sciences and for students majoring in professional degree programs. As a result, courses offered within the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences are frequently those designated to satisfy University General Education requirements (see the General Education Program ). 

Departments

The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences consists of these departments:

• Department of Africana Studies  
• Department of Anthropology  
• Department of Biological Sciences  
• Department of Chemistry  
• Department of Communication Studies  
• Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology  
• Department of English  
• Department of Geography and Earth Sciences  
• Department of Global Studies  
• Department of History  
• Department of Languages and Culture Studies  
• Department of Mathematics and Statistics  
• Department of Philosophy  
• Department of Physics and Optical Science  
• Department of Political Science and Public Administration  
• Department of Psychological Science  
• Department of Religious Studies  
• Department of Sociology  
• Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Studies  
• ROTC: Air Force / Department of Aerospace Studies  
• ROTC: Army / Department of Military Science  

Interdisciplinary Programs

Although faculty within the College are committed to departmentally based programs, increased emphasis is being placed on providing strong interdisciplinary programs. The College also strives to promote intercultural understanding through its curriculum, as well as through student exchanges and travel opportunities.  The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences houses the following undergraduate interdisciplinary programs:

• American Studies  
• Biotechnology  
• Capitalism Studies  
• Children’s Literature and Childhood Studies  
• Film Studies  
• Gerontology  
• Health/Medical Humanities  
• Humanities, Technology, and Science  
• Latin American Studies  
• Legal Studies  
• Southern Studies   
• Urban Studies  
• Women’s and Gender Studies  

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Degree Programs

Majors

Africana Studies, B.A.   Africana Studies, Health and Environment Concentration, B.A.   Anthropology, B.A.   Anthropology, Applied Anthropology Concentration, B.A.   Biology, B.A.   Biology, B.S.   Biology, Cell Biology/Physiology Concentration, B.S.   Biology, Ecology/Environmental Biology Concentration, B.S.   Biology, Microbiology Concentration, B.S.   Chemistry, B.A.   Chemistry, Teacher Licensure, B.A.   Chemistry, B.S.   Chemistry, Biochemistry Concentration, B.S.   Communication Studies, B.A. Communication Studies, Communication and Public Advocacy Concentration, B.A.   Communication Studies, Health Communication Concentration, B.A.    Communication Studies, Mass Media Concentration, B.A.   Communication Studies, Organizational Communication Concentration, B.A.   Communication Studies, Public Relations Concentration, B.A.   Criminal Justice, B.A.   Criminal Justice, Crime Analytics Concentration, B.A.    Earth and Environmental Sciences, B.S.   Earth and Environmental Sciences, Atmospheric Sciences Concentration, B.S.   Earth and Environmental Sciences, Environmental Sciences Concentration, B.S.   Earth and Environmental Sciences, Hydrological Sciences Concentration, B.S.   English, B.A.   English, Creative Writing Concentration, B.A.   English, Language and Digital Technology Concentration, B.A.   English, Literature and Culture Concentration, B.A.   English, Pedagogy Concentration, B.A.    Environmental Studies, B.A.   Environmental Studies, Secondary Teaching Option, B.A.   French, B.A.   Geography, B.A.   Geography, Comprehensive Social Studies Teacher Licensure, B.A.   Geography, B.S. Geography, GIScience and Technology Concentration, B.S.   Geography, Urban and Regional Planning Concentration, B.S.   Geography, Urban, Social, and Economic (USE) Geography Concentration, B.S.

Geology, B.S.   German, B.A.   History, B.A.   History, History and Social Studies Teacher Licensure, B.A.   International Studies, B.A. International Studies, Asian Studies Concentration, B.A.   International Studies, Development and Sustainability Concentration, B.A.   International Studies, European Studies Concentration, B.A.   International Studies, Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Concentration, B.A.   International Studies, Peace, Conflict, and Identity Concentration, B.A.   Japanese Studies, B.A.   Latin American Studies, B.A.   Mathematics, B.A.   Mathematics, Actuarial Science Concentration, B.A.   Mathematics, Statistics Concentration, B.A.   Mathematics, Teacher Licensure, B.A.   Mathematics, B.S.   Mathematics, Actuarial Science Concentration, B.S.   Mathematics, Statistics Concentration, B.S.   Mathematics, Teacher Licensure, B.S.   Mathematics for Business, B.A.   Mathematics for Business, B.S.   Meteorology, B.S.   Philosophy, B.A.   Physics, B.A.   Physics, B.S.   Physics and Computer Engineering, B.S. Dual Degree   Physics and Electrical Engineering, B.S. Dual Degree   Physics and Mechanical Engineering, B.S. Dual Degree   Political Science, B.A.   Political Science, Security and Intelligence Studies Concentration, B.A.   Political Science, Comprehensive Social Studies Teacher Licensure, B.A.    Psychology, B.S.   Religious Studies, B.A.   Sociology, B.A.   Sociology, Organizations, Occupations, and Work Concentration, B.A.   Sociology, Social Problems and Policy Concentration, B.A.   Sociology, Sociological Social Psychology Concentration, B.A.   Spanish, B.A. Spanish, Applied Language Concentration, B.A.    Spanish, Hispanic Studies Concentration, B.A.   Spanish, Literature and Culture Concentration, B.A.   Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Studies, B.A.

Minors

Actuarial Mathematics, Minor   Aerospace Studies, Minor   Africana Studies, Minor   American Studies, Minor   Anthropology, Minor    Arabic Studies, Minor   Biology, Minor   Biotechnology, Minor   Capitalism Studies, Minor   Chemistry, Minor   Children’s Literature and Childhood Studies, Minor   Chinese, Minor   Classical Studies, Minor   Cognitive Science, Minor   Communication Studies, Minor   Criminal Justice, Minor   Diverse Literatures and Cultural Studies, Minor   Earth Sciences, Minor   English, Minor   Environmental Sciences, Minor   Film Studies, Minor   Film Studies, Minor; and Video Production, Undergraduate Certificate   Francophone Studies, Minor   French, Minor   Geography, Minor   Geology, Minor   German, B.A.   Gerontology, Minor

Health/Medical Humanities, Minor   History, Minor   Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Studies, Minor   Humanities, Technology, and Science, Minor   International Studies, Minor   Italian, Minor   Japanese, Minor   Journalism, Minor   Latin American Studies, Minor   Legal Studies, Minor   Linguistics, Minor   Mathematics, Minor   Military Science, Minor   Philosophy, Minor   Physics, Minor   Political Science, Minor   Psychology, Minor   Religious Studies, Minor   Russian, Minor   Security and Intelligence Studies, Minor   Sociology, Minor   Southern Studies, Minor   Spanish, Minor   Statistics, Minor   Technical/Professional Writing, Minor   Urban Studies, Minor   Women’s and Gender Studies, Minor   Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Studies, Minor

Honors Programs

Africana Studies, Honors Program   Anthropology, Honors Program   Biology, Honors Program   Chemistry, Honors Program   Communication Studies, Honors Program   Criminal Justice, Honors Program   English, Honors Program   Geography, Geology, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Environmental Studies, or Meteorology, Honors Program    Global Studies, Honors Program

History, Honors Program   Latin American Studies, Honors Program   Mathematics, Honors Program   Philosophy, Honors Program   Physics, Honors Program   Political Science, Honors Program   Psychology, Honors Program   Religious Studies, Honors Program   Sociology, Honors Program   Languages and Culture Studies, Honors Program

Undergraduate Certificates

Actuarial Studies, Undergraduate Certificate   International Public Relations, Undergraduate Certificate   Languages and Culture Studies: Business French, Undergraduate Certificate   Languages and Culture Studies: Business German, Undergraduate Certificate   Languages and Culture Studies: Business Japanese, Undergraduate Certificate   Languages and Culture Studies: Business Spanish, Undergraduate Certificate   Languages and Culture Studies: German for Engineering, Undergraduate Certificate   Languages and Culture Studies: Hispanic Literary Studies, Undergraduate Certificate   Languages and Culture Studies: Translating French-English, Undergraduate Certificate

Languages and Culture Studies: Translating German-English, Undergraduate Certificate   Languages and Culture Studies: Translating Japanese-English, Undergraduate Certificate   Languages and Culture Studies: Translating Russian-English, Undergraduate Certificate   Languages and Culture Studies: Translating Spanish-English, Undergraduate Certificate   Leadership, Innovation, Technology, and Diversity, Undergraduate Certificate   Leadership Studies, Undergraduate Certificate   Video Production, Undergraduate Certificate   Film Studies, Minor; and Video Production, Undergraduate Certificate

Graduate Early Entry Programs

Africana Studies, Graduate Certificate, Early Entry   Anthropology, M.A., Early Entry   Biology, M.S., Early Entry   Chemistry, M.S., Early Entry   Communication Studies, M.A., Early Entry   Criminal Justice, M.S., Early Entry   Earth Sciences, M.S., Early Entry   English, M.A., Early Entry   Ethics and Applied Philosophy, M.A., Early Entry   Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies, Graduate Certificate, Early Entry   Geography, M.A., Early Entry    Gerontology, Graduate Certificate, Early Entry

History, M.A., Early Entry   Languages and Culture Studies: Business Language, Graduate Certificate, Early Entry   Languages and Culture Studies: Translating, Graduate Certificate, Early Entry   Languages and Culture Studies: Translation and Interpreting Studies, Spanish-English, Graduate Certificate, Early Entry    Latin American Studies, M.A., Early Entry   Mathematical Finance, M.S., Early Entry   Mathematics, M.S., Early Entry   Optical Science and Engineering, M.S. or Ph.D., Early Entry    Physics, Applied, M.S., Early Entry   Public Administration, MPA, Early Entry   Religious Studies, M.A., Early Entry   Sociology, M.A., Early Entry   Spanish, M.A., Early Entry

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Degree Requirements

General Education Requirements

Since all students entering the University must meet the same General Education requirements regardless of major, it is appropriate to concentrate on the completion of those requirements before committing to a specific major.

Undeclared students have time to enroll in courses in several disciplines, which allows them to make a more informed judgment about future career decisions. Advisors have a broad working experience with the requirements for majors and offer assistance as students search for the education choice best suited to their individual needs.

Degree Programs/Majors and Minors Requirements

Students in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences must satisfy the requirements for the degree program(s) in which they are enrolled. Students should consult with their chosen department to make certain they fully understand all degree requirements. Some departments in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences require completion of a minor program of study in conjunction with their major degree program. Students should be familiar with the requirements of any minor program of study they attempt to complete.

Foreign Language Requirement

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All students who earn a degree within the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences* are required to demonstrate proficiency in the language of their choice through the 1202 level.  Proficiency can be demonstrated in one of the following ways:

• Completing the required coursework at UNC Charlotte
• Completing three years of the same foreign language in high school through level three
• Achieving a satisfactory score on the foreign languages placement test (in Spanish, French, or German)
• Through approved transfer or transient credit earned at a college or university accredited by an accepted accrediting body
• By transferring in with an A.A., A.S. or A.F.A. degree
• A combination of the above methods (e.g., placing out of or earning transfer or transient credit for 1201 and completing the 1202 course, completing 1201 and placing out of or earning transfer or transient credit for 1202)

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Advising

The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences administers the Office of Advising and Student Services, an advising center for freshmen and transfer students who have enrolled in a major or pre-major within the college.  Professional advisors are available to provide guidance on both first-year and/or pre-major requirements, as well as General Education requirements. The Student Services area of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences oversees all student services functions for the college, which includes the review of student appeals and requests, as well as academic-related issues that arise among students within CLAS.

The advising team is dedicated to establishing relationships with all CLAS freshmen and pre-major transfer students that help them achieve their academic, personal, and professional goals. The advisors are also dedicated to connecting students to enrichment opportunities in the departments as well as across campus and beyond.

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Experiential Learning and Service Opportunities

The college aims to inspire innovative thinking in undergraduate students and contribute to the  development of creative problem solvers, innovative leaders, and engaged citizens through an initiative called LEADS.  Students are also encouraged to participate in professional work experiences in support of their academic and career development through cooperative education, 49ership, departmental undergraduate research, community-engaged research and service, and internship programs offered to them. The partnership with the University Career Center expands experiential learning offerings so more students graduate with career-related experience. For more information about experiential learning opportunities, please see the University Career Center  section of this Catalog.