Course Information Suite

Liberal Arts and Sciences

www.las.illinois.edu
LAS Program Advisor: Mercedes Ramirez Fernandez
Program Office: 106 English Building, 608 S. Wright St.,, Urbana

Interdisciplinary Studies Majors

Departments in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, in addition to their own disciplinary majors, have developed and sponsor an interdisciplinary program of study, which encompasses several distinct programs designed to acquaint students in a coherent manner with topics that cross disciplinary boundaries. Administered by the LAS Student Academic Affairs Office, the interdisciplinary studies major includes program concentrations in American Civilization, Medieval Civilization, and Renaissance Studies. Although it is not possible to offer concentrations in all specialties or topics of humanistic study, students whose interests do not coincide with one of the specific concentrations are encouraged to consider developing their own programs through the Individual Plans of Study (IPS) major. Enrollment in the major in interdisciplinary studies requires election of one of the concentrations. The LAS Student Academic Affairs Office also sponsors an Interdisciplinary Minor in Science and Technology in Society.

Each concentration of the major in interdisciplinary studies is supervised by faculty members whose own scholarship and educational interests have involved them in interdisciplinary teaching and research. An advisor for students is available in each concentration and is responsible for approving students' plans of study.

Major in Sciences and Letters Curriculum

E-mail: ips@illinois.edu

Degree title: Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences

Minimum required major and supporting course work equates to 45-51 hours.

General education: The LAS General Education requirements are set up so students automatically complete the Campus General Education requirements.

Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours

Departmental distinction. To be eligible for graduation with distinction, a student must have a college grade point average of 3.5, a major concentration grade point average of 3.5, completion of HUM 498 with a grade of A, and completion of a semester paper in 498 that is judged to be deserving of "distinction" by a committee of at least two faculty members.

High distinction. To be eligible for graduation with high distinction, a student must have a college grade point average of 3.5, a major concentration grade point average of 3.7, and must have completed HUM 492 (instead of HUM 498) with a grade of A and a thesis in 492 that is judged to be deserving of "high distinction" by a committee of at least two faculty members.

Requirements for the Major

1. Elect one of the concentrations offered within the major and file a concentration declaration with the LAS Student Academic Affairs Office no later than the end of the first semester of the junior year. Students who do not begin work on concentration requirements by the junior year will be at a disadvantage.

2. Select specific courses counted toward completion of an concentration with the advice and approval of the concentration advisor, subject to specific concentration requirements. Students are strongly encouraged also to enroll in 6-7 hours of Western civilization (HIST 140 or 141 and 142 or 143, or CWL 241 and 242).

3. For the elected concentration, complete the stated minimum number of hours in courses applicable toward the major and in accord with the distribution requirements listed below; at least 25 hours must be at the 200,300 or 400 level.

4. All campus General Education and foreign language requirements must be satisfied.

American Civilization Concentration

Concentration suspended. Program is under revision.

This concentration offers a comprehensive introduction to the study of American civilization primarily through the study of art, history, literature, philosophy, and the social sciences.

Hours Requirements
6 Two introductory courses chosen with the approval of the concentration advisor; the introductory courses should provide a broad overview of the development of American culture; for example, HUM 141 and 142.
9 Selected from following:
 
ENGL 250 - The American Novel to 1914
 
ENGL 251 - The American Novel Since 1914
 
ENGL 255 - Survey of American Lit I
 
ENGL 259 - Afro-American Literature I
 
ENGL 260 - Afro-American Literature II
 
ENGL 449 - American Lit 1820 - 1865
 
ENGL 450 - American Lit 1865 - 1914
 
ENGL 451 - American Lit 1914 - 1945
 
ENGL 462 - Topics in Modern Fiction (when the topic is within American literature)
9 Select from the following:
 
HIST 270 - United States History to 1815
 
HIST 271 - Nineteenth Century America
 
HIST 272 - Twentieth Century America
 
HIST 370 - US Colonial History
 
HIST 371 - The American Revolution
 
HIST 373 - Federalists & Jeffersonians
 
HIST 374 - Civil War and Reconstruction
 
HIST 472 - Immigrant America
 
HIST 377 - United States Since 1932
 
HIST 376 - Soc History Indus Am From 1918
 
HIST 479 - US Intel & Cultr Hist to 1865
 
HIST 481 - US Intel & Cultr Hist From 1859
6 Selected from the following:
 
ARCH 415 - Neoclass & Nineteen Cent Arch
 
ARCH 416 - Modern American Architecture
 
ARTH 446 - Art Since 1940
 
ARTH 350 - American Art 1750-1900
 
ARTH 351 - Early American Modernism
 
PHIL 413 - American Philosophy
 
PHIL 416 - Recent Anglo-American Phil
 
PHIL 423 - Philosophy of Art
12 Select in consultation with the concentration advisor from courses offered in the departments of anthropology, economics, geography, political science, and sociology.
3 HUM 397 - Special Topics Junior. An advanced-level course with an American focus may be substituted with the approval of the advisor.
3 HUM 498 - Special Topics Senior

Substitutions for any of the above specific courses may be permitted with the approval of the concentration advisor only in exceptional cases.

Medieval Civilization Concentration

This concentration is intended to introduce students to medieval culture, provide them with a sense of periods and movements, names, ideas, and values, and thus give them a synoptic view of the field. A student whose interests are primarily literary should consult with an advisor in comparative literature or in one of the language and literature departments. The required courses are designed to encourage students to read medieval texts, insofar as practical, in the manner in which medieval university students would have read them. In addition, a certain amount of training in the reading of medieval documents, the interpretation of art, and the study of Latin and the medieval vernacular languages will bring students closer to the thought of the period.

Hours Requirements
variable NOTE: Students must acquire a reading knowledge of a foreign language relevant to their interests in medieval civilization. In most instances, this requirement will coincide with the college foreign language requirement. The language should be selected in consultation with the concentration advisor. These hours will not count towards the minimum of 45 hours required for this concentration.
6 Minimum of 6 hours to include two introductory courses selected in consultation with the concentration advisor.
6 Minimum of 6 hours to include two advanced-level topically oriented courses selected in consultation with the concentration advisor. Selected courses should focus on a topic central to medieval civilization and should emphasize the international cultural and social unity of medieval civilization; sample topics include medieval vernacular literatures, mythology, the Bible and medieval exegesis, iconography, paleography and the medieval book, cosmography, geography in the Middle Ages, and the influence of Islam. Departmental courses, such as HIST 359 or 444 and CLCV 415/CMN 415/MDVL 415, or special topics courses, such as HUM 395, may be used to complete this requirement; but courses must be selected with the advisor’s approval.
27 Medieval-related course work selected in consultation with the concentration advisor from the departments of art history, history, literature, music, philosophy, and religious studies.
3 HUM 397 - Special Topics Junior. An advanced-level course with a medieval focus may be substituted with the approval of the advisor. The medieval civilization topic of HUM 397 or the substitute course should require an ability to read primary and secondary sources in a foreign language.
3 HUM 492 - Senior Thesis. The thesis should ordinarily be in one of the following areas: art, medieval Latin literature, vernacular literature, liturgy and worship, philosophy and theology, history, science.

Substitution for specific courses listed above will be approved by the concentration advisor only in exceptional cases.

Renaissance Studies Concentration

This concentration incorporates course work in the Renaissance and related periods and places an emphasis on independent study and the completion of research papers in the junior and senior years.

Hours Requirements
variable NOTE: Students must acquire a reading knowledge of a foreign language relevant to their interests in Renaissance study, selected in consultation with the concentration advisor. These hours will not count towards the minimum of 45 hours required for this concentration.
15 Renaissance-related course work in a single discipline at the 200 to 400 level from among the following: art, history, literature, or music.
24 Renaissance-related course work in the following areas with at least one course in each: art, history, music, philosophy, and literature. At least one of these courses must be in classical literature or culture.
3 HUM 397 - Special Topics Junior. An advanced-level course with a Renaissance focus may be substituted with the approval of the advisor.
3 HUM 498 - Special Topics Senior, which will lead to the completion of a significant research paper.

For All Concentrations

Substitution for specific courses listed above will be approved by the concentration advisor only in exceptional cases.

Twelve hours of 300- and 400-level courses in the major must be taken on this campus.

All foreign language requirements must be satisfied.

A Major Plan of Study Form must be completed and submitted to the LAS Student Academic Affairs Office before the end of the fifth semester (60-75 hours). Please see your advisor.