< College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

About the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

702 South Wright Street
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-1705
http://www.las.uiuc.edu

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) has four missions: scholarly inquiry and the generation of knowledge, preparation of individuals for an array of careers and professions, service to the public, and the provision of the intellectual core of the University. The college shares the first three missions with professional schools and other colleges on this campus, but the last mission is uniquely the responsibility of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. By fulfilling this responsibility, the college helps develop broadly educated individuals who are committed to or characterized by open inquiry, critical thinking, effective communication, and responsiveness to the needs of individuals and society.

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is the largest individual college within a university setting in the state of Illinois. The college enrolls more than 40 percent of the undergraduates on the Urbana-Champaign campus. The college serves the entire campus by providing a full range of required general education and service courses in basic disciplines.

Students in the college are expected to understand the content of and to develop skills in areas that reflect the overall purpose of the college: fluency and facility in English; literacy in at least one foreign language; broad exposure to a number of different disciplines; and intensive study in one discipline (or an interdisciplinary program). The student has a wide choice of courses to satisfy these requirements; however, ultimately he or she must plan a diverse and intensive program of study, prepare for an occupational, professional and intellectual future, and develop that clarity and range of mind that is the goal of educated people.

Admission

The general admission requirements and procedures of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are outlined in the Admission chapter. These requirements were established to enable students admitted here to make the most effective use of the facilities of the University. The requirements should ensure that entering students have the capability of completing a degree program successfully.

The high school subjects required for admission provide a reasonably rigorous preparation for most students. The college nonetheless urges prospective students to build on the minimum requirements whenever possible. In the study of foreign language, for example, successful completion of four years of a single language in secondary school will satisfy the College graduation requirement in foreign language so students should include as much foreign language as possible in their secondary school program.

Advising

Academic advising is a critical resource for students in developing a program of study. Especially on a large campus, a continuing, committed association with a faculty member can be a valuable and rewarding part of the student's educational experience. Advisers are available to aid students in choosing majors, planning for career choices, and selecting courses for each semester. All students in degree programs in the college have academic advisers available in their major departments except for interdisciplinary work such as International Studies which is advised at the college level. In addition, the assistant and associate deans in the college assist students in handling a variety of problems and questions.

In order to simplify minor changes in course selections, a student who has successfully completed at least 30 semester hours of course work and who understands the requirements of the college and the University may choose courses without obtaining approval from an academic adviser unless informed otherwise by the college. See the Web site http://www.las.uiuc.edu/students/programs/academic_ programs.shtml for the most current available course offerings.

A student does need to obtain approval from an adviser for a number of arrangements, including a formal plan of study for the major and the election of the credit-no credit grading option. A student may be requested by the college office to obtain approval from an adviser and/or the dean for all course changes under certain circumstances. It is very important for advanced students to confer with advisers on a regular basis; therefore, the college encourages all students to consult with their academic advisers at least once each semester.

One particular resource for a student in the college who has not decided on a plan of study is the General Curriculum. The General Curriculum is an advising center for students who want to investigate a variety of subjects before selecting their majors or who have decided on programs that require transfer at the sophomore or junior level. The General Curriculum is not a degree program and does not serve as a formal program of study. Entering freshmen and continuing students with less than 45 semester hours of credit may elect to enter the General Curriculum and may remain in the program until they complete 56 academic semester hours. The office provides individual advising; group orientation sessions; and printed materials describing majors, curricula, and many career opportunities. Students in the General Curriculum are LAS students and must follow LAS policies and regulations. The General Curriculum Office serves as the college office for students in the program.

Another special resource in the college is qualified advising for students who are interested in law school. An assistant dean in the LAS Student Affairs Office (270 Lincoln Hall) counsels students who have declared a prelaw interest. All such students are encouraged to consult the prelaw adviser. Students preparing for law school may elect any major. To obtain a handbook on prelaw advising, contact the Prelaw Adviser at 270 Lincoln Hall.

Graduation Requirements

Degrees Granted

A degree can be earned by completing the requirements for either a Sciences and Letters Curriculum or one of the Specialized Curricula. A student completing the Sciences and Letters Curriculum receives the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences, depending on the student's major. A student electing one of the majors in the physical sciences, life sciences, psychology, mathematics, or statistics will receive the Bachelor of Science degree. A student in any of the other majors will receive the Bachelor of Arts degree.

COMPONENTS OF THE SCIENCES AND LETTERS CURRICULUM

English Composition Requirement

The ability to write effectively is a cornerstone of a liberal education. All students in the Sciences and Letters Curriculum must satisfy the campus rhetoric requirement. Students are strongly encouraged to include additional writing courses in their programs whenever possible.

Foreign Language Requirement

Each student in the Sciences and Letters Curriculum is expected to learn a foreign language in the undergraduate program. A minimum expectation is that the student obtain a knowledge equivalent to the completion of the fourth semester of college study in a language. Some programs may require additional study or the study of a specific language. A student planning on graduate study may wish to consult the department of intended graduate study about language requirements for the graduate program. This may dictate the student's choice of language study during undergraduate work. The foreign language requirement may be met in any of the following ways:

1. Satisfactory completion of four years of the same foreign language in high school;
2. Satisfactory completion of the fourth-semester level of a language in college;
3. Satisfactory completion of the third-semester level in each of two languages by any combination of high school and college work;
4. Satisfactory performance at the fourth-semester level in a language proficiency examination approved by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the appropriate department.

General Education Requirement

Through required General Education courses, each student in the college is expected to obtain an understanding of the ways in which knowledge is acquired and used in the diverse disciplines represented by the University's curricula. The graduate must have some acquaintance with literature and the arts, historical and philosophical inquiry, and the insights and techniques of the social and behavioral sciences, the aims and methods of the natural sciences, and quantitative reasoning.

Students enrolled in the Sciences and Letters Curriculum (the exceptions are the Teaching Options) are therefore required to complete broadly distributed course work from the approved LAS General Education course lists. Specific LAS General Education requirements and current lists of courses approved for each of the general education categories may be obtained in the LAS Student Affairs Office, 270 Lincoln Hall or may be viewed at the following Web site: http://www.las.uiuc.edu/students/programs/gen_ed_ requirements.shtml.

Students enrolled in Sciences and Letters Curriculum Teaching Options and Teacher Education majors in Computer Science and Foreign Languages should contact their adviser to be sure of General Education, degree, and certification requirements in their particular areas.

Students enrolled in Specialized Curricula must fulfill the Campus General education requirements.

Students are urged to consult with their advisers regarding the choice of General Education courses. Some of the approved courses have prerequisites.

Major/Minor

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences requires in-depth study in one discipline as well as substantial experience in a number of other areas. The in-depth study portion of the student's program of study is called the major. Students might also pursue a minor in many subject areas across the campus. A minor constitutes a coherent program of study requiring some depth in the subject but is not as extensive a program as the major. Minors are optional.

Advanced Hours Requirement

Each student is expected to complete a minimum portion of the undergraduate program in courses that presume some prior knowledge of the discipline. A course is considered advanced if it presumes such prior knowledge as indicated by the faculty, by the course number, by the prerequisites necessary for enrollment in the course, or by the quality and depth of work expected of students in the course. All students in the Sciences and Letters Curriculum are expected to complete at least 21 hours of courses designated as advanced by the college in order to graduate. All such courses must be taken at baccalaureate-granting institutions. At least 12 advanced hours in the major must be taken on this campus. Courses designated as advanced are those courses numbered 300 or above and those 200-level courses that are specially designated as advanced. A list of 200-level courses that are designated as advanced may be found in the LAS Student Handbook.

Electives

Most liberal arts majors allow time in the student's program for a number of courses chosen freely from among the University's offerings. These courses, called electives, may be used to prepare for professional study, to prepare for business and career opportunities, or simply to explore additional interests. In addition to all courses used in fulfilling the minimum graduation requirements of the college (rhetoric, foreign language, general education, and major), a student following a major may use as electives:

- Courses offered by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences;

- Courses offered by departments and schools in other colleges of the University that sponsor majors in LAS [art (excluding applied art courses), computer science, economics, finance, music (excluding applied music courses), or physics];

- A maximum of 24 hours (to be counted toward graduation) of courses not included in either of the above, that is, courses offered by departments and schools in other colleges on campus. Exam- ples of courses in this category are accounting, aviation, business administration, engineering, applied art courses, and applied music courses.

Undergraduate students of high academic standing (i.e., a 3.0 grade point average or higher in courses taken beyond the sophomore level) within 10 semester hours of earning their bachelor's degrees may elect courses in the Graduate College for graduate credit with the consent of the dean of that college. Also, students with senior standing may petition the Graduate College for permission to elect graduate courses for undergraduate credit. Interested students should first consult the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, 270 Lincoln Hall.

Residence

Students must satisfy the University residence requirement for graduation. They must complete on this campus, uninterrupted by work elsewhere, either the first three years (at least 90 hours of course work) or the last year (at least 30 hours). The hours must be applicable toward the degree sought. In addition, all students must earn 60 hours of course work at four-year (baccalaureate-granting) institutions after any work at community colleges.

Total Hours

A total of 120 semester hours acceptable toward the degree is required for graduation in the Sciences and Letters Curriculum.

Students should be aware that there are several specific limitations on the amount of particular kinds of credit that may be used in the 120 hours: no repeated courses; no more than 24 elective hours outside the college, as discussed above; no more than 4 hours of credit in basic kinesiology courses; no more than 12 hours of credit in calculus and analytic geometry; no more than 12 hours of credit in basic physics; no more than 18 hours of credit in 100-level life science courses toward a School of Life Sciences major; no more than 9 hours of credit in basic rhetoric courses; no more than 10 hours of first- and second-year foreign language proficiency; no more than 24 hours of credit in aviation courses (must be from the pilot training curriculum); no more than 6 hours (200 and 300 level) of credit in ROTC courses; no more than 4 hours of credit in religious foundation courses; no more than 12 hours of credit in undergraduate open seminar (199 course); and no more than 18 hours of credit in independent study and 199 courses. See the LAS Student Handbook for details about the credit limitations in each of these areas.

Students matriculating at some college or university in June 1989 or later may not use credit in algebra (MATH 112 or equivalent) toward a baccalaureate degree in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. In addition, students in the programs requiring trigonometry for admission (e.g., the specialized curricula in chemical engineering, chemistry, and physics) may not use credit in trigonometry (MATH 114 or equivalent) toward an LAS degree. See the LAS Student Handbook for further details.

Areas of Study

Majors in the Science and Letters Curriculum

The major consists of course work designated by the department and approved by the faculty of the college. The major should be chosen no later than the junior year. Since most majors require that the student choose courses in consultation with a faculty adviser, students should plan to discuss the major with a faculty adviser early in the junior year. In most cases, a student will be expected to submit to the LAS Student Affairs Office (270 Lincoln Hall) a Major Plan of Study Form (available at Departmental Offices) before the end of their fifth semester.

Students must take all course work for the minimum requirements of the major for a traditional letter grade (or on the satisfactory-unsatisfactory basis). The credit-no credit grading option may not be used for courses in the major.

The satisfactory completion of a major requires not only the completion of a stated amount of course work, but also that the student earn at least a 2.0 average in courses for the major. In order to graduate, a student should earn at least a 2.0 grade point average in all courses that are included in the major average and taken on this campus and at least a 2.0 average in all courses that are included in the major average and taken here and elsewhere. Consult the department or the college office for a list of courses included for a specific major's average.

Bachelor degree programs are offered in the following areas:

Actuarial Science

Anthropology

Art History

Astronomy

Chemistry

Chemistry Option

Chemistry Teaching Option

Environmental Chemistry Option

Classics

Classical Archaeology Option

Classical Civilization Option

Classics Option

Greek Option

Latin Option

Comparative Literature

Computer Science Teaching Option

East Asian Languages and Cultures

Economics

English

English Option

English Teaching Option

Finance

French

French Studies Option

French Commercial Studies Option

Geography

General Geography Option

Human Geography Option

Physical Geography Option

Environmental Geography Option

Geology

Geology Option

Earth and Environmental Science Option

Earth Science Teaching Option

Germanic Languages and Literatures

German and Commercial Studies Option

Language and Literature Option

Language Studies Option

Modern German Studies Option

Scandinavian Studies Option

History

History Option

Social Studies Teaching Option

Humanities

American Civilization Option

Cinema Studies Option

Medieval Civilization Option

Renaissance Studies Option

Individual Plans of Study

Integrative Biology

International Studies

Italian

Latin American Studies

Life Sciences

Biology General

Biology Honors

Biology Teaching

Linguistics

General Linguistics Option

Hebrew Language and Linguistics Option

Mathematics

Mathematics Option

Graduate Preparatory Option

Applied Mathematics Option

Operations Research Option

Mathematics Teaching Option

Mathematics and Computer Science

Molecular and Cellular Biology

Biochemistry

Bioengineering

Biophysics

Music

Ethnomusicology Option

Music History Option

Music Theory/Composition Option

Philosophy

Physics

Physics Option

Physics Teaching Option

Political Science

Portuguese

Psychology

Religious Studies

Asian Religions Option

Biblical Studies Option

Christianity Option

Islam Option

Judaica Option

Philosophy of Religion Option

Religion and Culture Option

Rhetoric

Creative Writing Option

Professional Writing Option

Russian and East European Studies

Russian Language and Literature

Sociology

Spanish

Speech Communication

Interpretation Option

Rhetorical and Communication Theory Option

Speech Teaching Option

Statistics

Statistics and Computer Science

Specialized Curricula

Specialized curricula are designed for specific educational purposes which cannot be accommodated within the majors of the Sciences and Letters Curriculum. Specialized curricula are prescriptive programs that are offered as preprofessional study, preparation for graduate pursuits, or designed to meet the demands of an outside accrediting agency.

Each specialized curriculum consists of a more rigidly structured course of study than that generally described for the sciences and letters majors.

Biochemistry

Chemical Engineering

Chemistry

Geology and Geophysics

Geology Option

Geophysics Option

Environmental Geology Option

Physics

Minors and Interdisciplinary Minors

A minor is a coherent program of study (generally 16-21 hours) requiring some depth in the subject, but is not as extensive as the major. Students must take the specified courses listed for each minor. Course substitutions are permitted with the approval of the adviser in the department offering the minor and the College office. Minors are optional but must be completed in conjunction with a major in a different discipline. Some majors may allow use of a minor in place of other supporting course work.

While the minor does not replace other degree requirements, courses may be used both for the minor and to meet other degree requirements as appropriate. Students must see their records officer during the first semester of their senior year if they want to declare a minor. Students are advised to consult with the department offering the minor for information on the courses that will fulfill the requirements.

Minors

Anthropology

Astronomy

Chemistry

Cinema Studies

Classical Archaeology

Classical Civilization

Comparative Literature

Computer Science

East Asian Languages and Cultures

English

English as a Second Language

French

Geology

German

Greek

History

Italian

Latin

Linguistics

Mathematics

Philosophy

Portuguese

Religious Studies

Russian and East European Studies

Russian Language and Literature

Sociology

Spanish

Interdisciplinary Minors

There are several interdisciplinary areas in which scholarly needs or employment demands require recognition. In these areas, the college offers an interdisciplinary minor.

The interdisciplinary minor differs from the standard minor in that it may require attainment of a predetermined and approved grade point average in the courses for the program. Students are required to consult with an adviser regarding selection of course work.

African Studies

Afro-American Studies

Gerontology

International Studies

Jewish Culture and Society

Latin American and Caribbean Studies

Latina/Latino Studies

Science and Technology in Society

Women's Studies

Teacher Education Majors for Foreign Languages

See also teaching options in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Science, English, Mathematics, Physics, Social Studies, and Speech listed above under majors.

Curriculum Preparatory to the Teaching of French

Curriculum Preparatory to the Teaching of German

Curriculum Preparatory to the Teaching of Latin

Curriculum Preparatory to the Teaching of Russian

Curriculum Preparatory to the Teaching of Spanish

Teacher Education Minors

Teacher education minors are available only to students seeking to add additional teaching fields to their teaching majors.

Biology

Chemistry

Cinema Studies

Computer Science

Earth Science

English

English as a Second Language

French

General Science

German

History

Italian

Latin

Mathematics

Physical Science

Physics

Portuguese

Psychology

Rhetoric

Russian

Social Studies

Spanish

Speech

Women's Studies

Combined Degree Programs

LAS/Engineering

For a number of years, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering have jointly sponsored a five-year program leading to a B.A. or B.S. degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences and a B.S. degree in a field of engineering. The program allows motivated students to combine a professional engineering education with a broad liberal arts background. Students are required to complete all the degree requirements of both colleges.

Freshmen normally apply for entrance through the College of Engineering, but students who have applied to and been accepted by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences may be able to enter the program. All students must meet the entrance requirements of both colleges. In addition, they may be required to meet the intercollegiate transfer requirements of both colleges. For further information about the program, students should consult their college office.

LAS/Commerce

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences together with the College of Commerce and Business Administration offer two joint-degree programs that lead to the degrees of B.A. or B.S. in Liberal Arts and Sciences and M.A.S. or M.B.A. Each program takes five years to complete. These programs allow students to complete master's programs in accounting or business administration while they provide students with the broad opportunities unique to a liberal arts program. Students interested in these opportunities should contact the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, 270 Lincoln Hall for additional information and advising.

BACCALAUREATE-MASTER OF ACCOUNTING SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAM

(This program is currently under revision. Please see the College Office for up-to-date information.)

The B.A./B.S.-M.A.S. program is designed to enable the qualified student to earn both a bachelor's degree in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Master of Accounting Science degree in five years rather than the normal six years. The program integrates an undergraduate education with a professional education without diluting the quality or purpose of either. Program objectives will be met primarily by the completion of courses during the student's fourth year that are simultaneously electives in the baccalaureate program and requirements for the M.A.S. degree. A student who is interested in the joint degree should contact a program adviser (in 270 Lincoln Hall) early in the initial year.

The program is open to all students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences who meet the requirements below. In most cases, participants in the B.A./B.S.-M.A.S. program will complete their undergraduate majors by the end of the third year. As a consequence, some students will have to plan their course work carefully to meet their undergraduate educational objectives and to participate in the program; this will be particularly true for undergraduates whose majors require extensive sequential course work.

Because the B.A./B.S.-M.A.S. program is based on careful course selection and program planning, an interested student should consult with a B.A./B.S.-M.A.S. adviser during the first year at the University. The program's objectives and requirements will be explained so that the student, in consultation with his or her baccalaureate degree program adviser, may plan course work to meet both objectives.

A student who wishes to participate in the B.A./B.S.-M.A.S. program must make formal application by March 31 in the second semester of the junior year. To be eligible for consideration, the student must have at least a 3.25 cumulative grade point average, with at least 96 hours of course work completed, and at least a score of 550 on the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT).

BACCALAUREATE-MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION DEGREE PROGRAM

The B.A./B.S.-M.B.A. program is designed to enable the qualified student to earn both a bachelor's degree in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Master of Business Administration degree in five years rather than the normal six years. The program integrates an undergraduate education in a field such as English, political science, or economics with a professional business education without diluting the quality or purpose of either. Program objectives will be met primarily by the completion of courses during the student's fourth year that are simultaneously electives in the baccalaureate program and requirements for the M.B.A. degree. A student who is interested in the joint degree should contact the program adviser (in 270 Lincoln Hall) early in the first year.

The program is open to all students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences who meet the requirements below. In all cases, participants in the B.A./B.S.-M.B.A. program must complete their undergraduate majors by the end of the third year. As a consequence, some students will have to plan their course work carefully to meet their undergraduate educational objectives and to participate in the program; this will be particularly true for undergraduates whose majors require extensive sequential course work.

Since the B.A./B.S.-M.B.A. program is based on careful course selection and program planning, an interested student should consult with a B.A./B.S.-M.B.A. program adviser during the first year. The program's objectives and requirements will be explained so that the student, in consultation with his or her baccalaureate degree program adviser, may plan the course work to meet both objectives. A student who wishes to participate in the B.A./B.S.-M.B.A. program must make formal application by March 31 in the second semester of the junior year. To be eligible for consideration, the student must have at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average on the last 45 hours of course work completed, with at least 96 hours of course work completed by the beginning of the student's fourth year, and at least a score of 600 on the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT).

Multidisciplinary Programs

Three multidisciplinary majors are offered in the College. They are International Studies, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, and Russian and East European Studies.

The following units do not have formal undergraduate degree programs; however, a major may be created through the Individual Plans of Studies program and faculty advisers from one of the units. The units assist students interested in their subjects and coordinate research efforts in these areas.

Afro-American Studies And Research Program

The Afro-American Studies and Research Program coordinates campus-wide curricular, research, and programming activities that concentrate on the population of African descent in North America, and to a lesser extent on the rest of the hemisphere. The program integrates multidisciplinary curricular offerings from the social sciences and the humanities. Five core faculty work with forty faculty affiliates in departments in the Colleges of Liberal Arts and Sciences; Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences; Communications; Education; Fine and Applied Arts; and Law. The Afro-American Studies office is located at 1201 West Nevada, Urbana, IL 61801.

Asian American Studies Program

The Asian American Studies Program is committed to expanding the tradition of knowledge within Asian American studies and to integrating scholarly intellectual achievements with the interests of the campus constituiency, as well as the larger Illinois and national Asian American community. An interdisciplinary minor in Asian American studies is currently under development. This minor will provide an excellent opportunity for interested students to acquire a multicultural understanding of the U.S. and provide a context for students who want to continue their studies in a professional school graduate program, work in the fields of education, politics, or community relations, or broaden their horizons beyond a specific discipline for personal enhancement and development. The minor will offer students an opportunity to study a coherent multidisciplinary program in Asian American Studies. The Asian American Studies Program is housed on campus at 1003 West Nevada, Urbana, IL 61801; (217) 244-9530; aasc@uiuc.edu.

Atmospheric Sciences

Atmospheric Sciences involves the application of physics, chemistry, and mathematics to the study of problems ranging from the very small scale (formation of small aerosols and cloud particles, reactions between atmospheric gases) to regional scales (variations in local to regional weather, local air pollution) to global scales (changes in climate, changes in global chemistry and physics affecting the ozone layer). The broad spectrum of activities in the atmospheric sciences, including environmentally related studies, are represented by the education and research opportunities within the department.

Undergraduate course offerings include topics such as severe and unusual weather, climate and global change, atmospheric physics and chemistry, satellite and radar meteorology, weather analysis and forecasting, and several multidisciplinary courses intended for nonspecialists including one which examines the role of interacting physical, biological, and human processes of the global Earth System in shaping the past, present, and future environments in Illinois. A minor is currently under development. For more information, please contact the Department of Atmospheric Sciences, 101 Atmospheric Sciences Building, 105 South Gregory, Urbana, IL 61801.

Center For African Studies

The Center for African Studies is concerned with all aspects of African affairs and cultures. The center sponsors instruction in African languages and cultures, offering a number of African studies courses each semester. Support for graduate students and arrangements for field experiences in Africa are also concerns of the center. The Center for African Studies is located at 210 International Studies Building, 910 South Fifth Street, Champaign, IL 61820.

Latina/Latino Studies Program

The Latina/Latino Studies Program provides support for interdisciplinary teaching, outreach, and research in Latina/Latino Studies. The Program coordinates a range of course offerings in various disciplines. It also coordinates the activities that enhance curricular offerings through conferences, lectures, and colloquia that reach out to the campus at large and to the Illinois community. The Latina/Latino Studies Program is located at 510 E. Chalmers, Champaign, IL 61820.

Women's Studies Program

The Women's Studies Program is an interdisciplinary academic unit designed to teach, coordinate, and develop women's studies courses and advise undergraduate students. With over 40 affiliated faculty members, the program also initiates activities and programs to maintain and expand scholarship on women and gender issues. The Women's Studies Program is located at 911 South Sixth Street, Champaign, IL 61820.

Prelaw Advising

Are you interested in attending law school or pursuing a career in the legal profession? The prelaw advising service in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, 270 Lincoln Hall, has information at all stages of an undergraduate career for students enrolled in any college on campus.

Since "prelaw" is more a "state of mind" than a specific curriculum, students have great flexibility in pursing an undergraduate degree program and in selecting courses to prepare themselves for law school. Admission is based primarily on the undergraduate grade point average and the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), which students should plan on taking in the summer between their junior and senior years. Law schools admit students from almost every undergraduate background; for instance, among the students applying to law school from the University in a recent year, no less than forty-nine separate undergraduate majors were represented, and students were accepted from every college.

On the other hand, if law schools could advise students as to what they should do, they would emphasize that students take a good, broad liberal education, and they would urge students to challenge themselves by moving to advanced-level courses as soon as they find a subject in which they have significant interest. Since law study places a high emphasis on verbal and analytic skills, course work in areas that develop such skills is often chosen; specifically classes in the humanities and social sciences that emphasize writing and reading comprehension are helpful. The LAS Student Affairs Office has a one-page handout which suggests some courses that students interested in a career in law might find helpful. Also, students in the general curriculum and in sciences and letters majors in LAS can request a prelaw coding. Although this coding has no curriculum implications, it enables students to be placed on a mailing list which permits them to receive information mailed from the prelaw adviser. Students from other colleges without access to the prelaw coding can be placed on the mailing list by providing the prelaw secretary in 270 Lincoln Hall with their current addresses each semester.

The prelaw secretary also oversees a "Letter of Recommendation Service" that students planning to apply to law school can use from the beginning of their undergraduate program. Letters of recommendation can be solicited from faculty and be placed on file until the individual is ready to send off applications. Details can be obtained in 270 Lincoln Hall.

When the student is ready to apply to law school, the prelaw adviser can help in overseeing the application process and in answering questions about specific schools and their programs, about forms and procedures, and about where and when to apply. The adviser also can review with a student the personal statement and make students aware of special programs and opportunities, such as visits to campus from representatives of the law schools.

The prelaw adviser also keeps a library of material from law schools and from Law Services, which oversees the administration of the LSAT. LSAT booklets also are available in 270 Lincoln Hall. Additionally, admission statistics at all of the nearly 180 American Bar Association-approved law schools are available not only in The Guide to U.S. Law Schools published by Law Services, but also from the data compiled by the prelaw adviser. The Prelaw Handbook, which answers the most asked questions, and a pamphlet on the application process also can be obtained from the prelaw adviser. Some information on careers in law and on alternative directions with a law school education also can be found in the prelaw advising service.

An informational meeting for freshmen prelaw students takes place in the fall of every year, and a similar meeting for third year students who will be in the process of applying to law school in the fall of their senior year is conducted each spring. Students can make an appointment with the prelaw adviser at any stage of their undergraduate programs to discuss these or other concerns.

Teacher Education Curricula (Secondary)

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the College of Education have developed a coherent set of experiences on campus, in schools, and in communities that will prepare our students to become skilled, knowledgeable, and committed teachers. There are two ways that students may obtain teacher certification through the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Students preparing for teacher certification in biology, chemistry, computer science, earth science, English, mathematics, physics, social studies, and speech: These students complete a teaching option offered through an LAS major and the Teacher Education Minor in Secondary School Teaching. Upon completion of the option and the Teacher Education Minor in Secondary School Teaching, students will earn a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences as well as teaching certification. Conferral of the degree of Bachelor of Science or Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences prior to completion of the minor requires approval by petition to the LAS Student Affairs Office.

Students preparing for teacher certification in any of five foreign languages (French, German, Latin, Russian, and Spanish): Students following these programs complete the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in the Teaching of French (or German, etc.) Education courses and other courses required for teacher certification are integrated within each curriculum.

More detailed information pertaining to specific course requirements for each of the programs in both groups is provided by academic advisers. Only through regular communication with the teacher education adviser may the student be assured of the appropriateness of his or her program. Students are advised that certification requirements may be altered at any time by the State Teacher Certification Board or by the legislature. In such cases, students may be compelled to satisfy the new requirements to qualify for the University's recommendation for certification. Also see the Council on Teacher Education section for information pertinent to all teacher education and specific areas of teacher education listed in the LAS Programs of Study section of this catalog.

Teaching of Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Science, English, Mathematics, Physics, Social Studies, and Speech

Students following any of the teaching options in the Sciences and Letters Curriculum must complete all the course requirements for that curriculum. When they select their major, they may also select a "Pre-Teaching professional indicator," which reflects their intent to complete the requirements for teacher certification as part of their undergraduate program.

Transfer into the Teaching Option within a major can be made only by students who have received approval to complete the Teacher Education Minor in Secondary School Teaching. Approval for the Teacher Education Minor in Secondary School Teaching is gained by successful application to the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education, upon recommendation by the subject area committees of the Council on Teacher Education.

Two prerequisite courses must be completed before transfer to the Teaching Option in any major: EDPSY 211 and E P S 201. Additionally, each major stipulates other prerequisite courses that must be completed before admission to the Teaching Option. Interested students should see the academic advisers in the major for information on prerequisite courses.

Some students will be able to complete all the prerequisite courses for transfer into the Teaching Option of their major by the spring of their sophomore year; those students may be able to complete the requirements for the Bachelor's degree in LAS, the Teacher Education Minor in Secondary School Teaching and all other requirements for teacher certification in four years.

Students who establish eligibility to transfer into the teaching option of their major in the spring of their junior year will need five years to satisfy the requirements for teacher certification. Those students, however, may be able to convert up to 15 hours of course credit in excess of the minimum required for the Liberal Arts and Sciences Bachelor's degree into graduate credit.

General Education Requirements

Students in LAS undergraduate programs leading to secondary certification will be expected to complete the LAS general education requirements as well as any program-specific course work. Students should contact their program coordinator for teaching options within their chosen major for general education advising.

Teaching of Foreign Languages

This section contains a description of the requirements for programs leading to the bachelor's degree in teacher education. More detailed information pertaining to specific course requirements for each area of specialization is provided by faculty advisers. It is essential that the student fulfill the specific course requirements of his or her program in order to be eligible for the bachelor's degree in teacher education. Only through regular communication with the teacher education adviser may the student be assured of the appropriateness of his or her semester program. Students are advised that certification requirements may be altered at any time by the State Teacher Certification Board or by the legislature. In such cases, students may be compelled to satisfy the new requirements to qualify for the University's recommendation for certification. Also see the Council on Teacher Education section for information pertinent to all teacher education curricula.

General education requirements of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences must be fulfilled by students pursuing teacher education curricula in that college (see General Education requirements listed above). If the requirements of the teaching major satisfy the general education requirements in an area, they will be noted in the curriculum statement. For more information, consult the certification officer (130 Education Building).

Transfer Between Programs

Students should be advised that they may have to satisfy specific grade point average requirements for transfer into most specialized curricula and some majors. Contact an adviser or the LAS Student Affairs Office (270 Lincoln Hall) for specific information.

Honors Programs

Dean's List

Each semester students are recognized by the college for placement on the Dean's List. Those students are eligible who meet the following criteria and are in the top 20 percent of their classes. To be eligible for Dean's List recognition, you must have completed at least 14 hours of course work, excluding military and religious foundation courses and graduate-level courses taken for unit credit. Of these 14 hours, at least 12 hours must be earned in courses taken for traditional letter grades, which excludes courses graded credit/no credit, satisfactory/unsatisfactory, and test-based credit, which is graded pass/fail. Course work completed through study abroad may be included in determining Dean's List eligibility, subject to these same limitations. Students with work graded excused or deferred are not considered for the Dean's List until grades have been submitted for that work. These students should notify the honors dean when such work has been completed if they expect to be placed on the Dean's List.

James Scholar Program

The official honors program in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is called the Edmund J. James Scholar Program. This program allows students with exceptional ability to pursue rigorous academic study and provides the opportunity for those students to meet with faculty

members on an individual basis. There are honors advisers available in some departments and an honors dean in the college office. James Scholars register in some special honors sections and they arrange individualized honors credit learning agreements for specific courses. James Scholars have open access to the University Library stacks (ordinarily open only to graduate students and the faculty); such access to library stacks is particularly helpful for students involved in independent study and/or undergraduate research projects. James Scholars also have their program requests processed early to minimize conflicts in scheduling honors courses.

Any qualified LAS student may become a James Scholar Nominee. Entering freshmen in the top 15 percent of the admitted class are invited immediately into the program as James Scholar Nominees. In order to remain a James Scholar, students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 and must complete two honors courses each academic year. Official certification of James Scholar standing on the University transcript is made at the end of the academic year (upon completion of these requirements).

Further information about the James Scholar Program is available from the LAS Student Affairs Office, 270 Lincoln Hall.

Rogers Merit Scholar Program

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has established the Robert W. Rogers Merit Scholarship program for highly qualified freshmen. A freshman chosen as a Robert W. Rogers Scholar enrolls in any curriculum in the college and is awarded $1,000 for the year; the award may be renewed for the sophomore year if the student maintains at least a 3.5 grade point average and continues in the college. Admitted freshmen with the highest qualifications are invited to apply. The selection of a Rogers Scholar is made by a faculty committee and based on exceptional scholastic achievement, high performance on either the ACT or SAT examination, and evidence of leadership in the school or community. No more than twelve new awards are made each year. Rogers Scholars participate in selected campus activities drawing on some of the University's academic and cultural resources.

Cohn Scholars Honors Program

The Cohn Scholars Program provides intellectual and financial support and special academic opportunities for a small group of highly qualified freshmen majoring in the humanities. Cohn Scholars enroll in a two-semester course sequence in Western civilization offered by the Department of History or the Program in Comparative Literature, with special discussion sections. Cohn Scholars participate in special campus activities designed to acquaint them with some of the University's many academic and cultural resources. Each Cohn Scholar may also participate in a yearlong independent study course in his or her field of interest (or in a closely related field) with a faculty mentor from one of the humanities disciplines. The independent study course offers each student the opportunity to interact with a faculty member on an individual basis through intensive study in a selected subject.

Applications to the program are invited in early spring from highly qualified high school students who have been admitted for the following year to one of the humanities departments or programs in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Potential students are selected by a faculty committee on the basis of an application, high school class rank, and performance in a competitive entrance examination (ACT or SAT).

Honors at Graduation

College honors at graduation are awarded on the basis of academic excellence and satisfaction of one of the following: (1) successful completion of 25 hours of honors courses (including work taken on honors credit learning agreements); (2) successful completion of 35 hours of advanced hours course work; or (3) earning departmental distinction. Provided that one of the requirements above is satisfied, the award of college honors is made according to the following ranges: cum laude, if the college grade point average places a student in the top 12 percent of the graduating class but not in the top 7 percent; magna cum laude, if the college grade point average places a student in the top 7 percent of the graduating class but not in the top 3 percent; and summa cum laude, if the college grade point average places a student in the top 3 percent of the graduating class.

Departmental Distinction

Students who have shown exceptional competence in one or more areas of study may earn distinction in their major(s) or curricula. Criteria for awarding distinction are established by the departments.

Students interested in working for distinction should consult their honors adviser early in the junior year.

Phi Beta Kappa

Invitations for membership into Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest honor society, are sent to outstanding students in Liberal Arts and Sciences each April. Eligibility requires rank in the top 7 percent of seniors in LAS, as well as a minimum number of graded hours and appropriate course distribution. Precise criteria and detailed information may be obtained from the chapter secretary, Office of the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Swanlund Building, University of Illinois, 601 East John Street, Champaign, IL 61820, (217) 333-2353.

Awards

There are a number of prizes and awards available to outstanding students in certain areas of the college. A department will generally notify the student of the possibility of such an award; however, an interested student may obtain information on the awards from the college office, 270 Lincoln Hall.

Study Abroad Programs

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences supports the Study Abroad Office to aid students who plan to study at approved foreign institutions or in programs of their choice other than those offered by departments within the college itself. The option is open not only to students in LAS, but also to students in other colleges within the University. A student's program for study abroad must have prior approval from the major department, the student's college, and the Study Abroad Office. Final determination of appropriate credit is made upon the student's completion of the work after returning to campus. LAS students are encouraged to consult with an Assistant Dean in the LAS Student Affairs Office (270 Lincoln Hall) before undertaking programs abroad to ensure their work overseas will be in conformity with University of Illinois courses.

Students register in LAS 299 and may earn a maximum of 18 hours in a semester, 8 hours in a summer session, 36 semester hours for the academic year, or 44 hours for the calendar year.

Four LAS language units sponsor programs abroad that are not restricted to language majors: the Department of French (one semester or academic year study in the Illinois Program in Paris); Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures (one semester or academic year in Vienna, Austria); Department of Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese (an academic year at the University of Barcelona); and the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures (an academic year at Konan University in Kobe, Japan). In addition, the LAS College sponsors a limited number of summer session I courses at overseas sites for advanced work in majors and languages each May.

Interested students should contact the appropriate department early in the fall semester prior to the year in which the overseas study is planned to receive details of course prerequisites, GPA requirements and costs.

< College of Liberal Arts and Sciences