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College of Liberal Arts

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Susan E. Krantz, Dean

By providing a wide range of courses and curricula, the College of Liberal Arts enables students to develop a broad intellectual and cultural perspective. Such a perspective both enriches their lives and prepares them for leadership in whatever profession or vocation they choose. Even more important, it gives them an accurate view of themselves as individuals in the context of their civilization. The College of Liberal Arts includes 12 departments, the School of Urban Planning and Regional Studies, and four interdisciplinary programs.

Major Programs

The College of Liberal Arts offers major programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree in:

Anthropology Music
Film, Theatre and Communication Arts Philosophy
English Political Science
Fine Arts Romance Languages
History Sociology
 International Studies  

The College of Liberal Arts offers the Bachelor of Science degree in Urban Studies and Planning.

Minor and Certificate Programs

Minor programs are offered in most of the above areas. Interdisciplinary minors in Africana Studies, Asian Studies, Disaster Resilience Studies, European Studies, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Environmental Studies, and Women’s and Gender Studies are also available. Certificate programs are available in American Humanics and Historic Preservation.

Requirements for Bachelor of Arts Degree

The following course requirements must be completed by all students working toward a Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Liberal Arts. Some curricula may demand more than the minimums designated below or may call for specific courses where the general requirements allow a choice. Each student should check his or her major curriculum on the following pages to determine the additional requirements and restrictions which apply in that particular major.

General Course Requirements

  1. Math - Six hours. Any combination of 1031, 1032, 1115, 1116, 1125, 1126, or higher can be used to meet this requirement except where otherwise specified in the curriculum. Limitations: No credits allowed toward graduation for Mathematics 1021, 1023 or for more than nine hours of math below the 2000 level.
  2. Science - Nine hours. Six hours of one science and three hours of a different science. One of the sciences must be biology and the other must be earth and environmental sciences, chemistry, or physics. NOTE: Credit toward graduation is not allowed for both Biology 1083 and 1053, or for Biology 1073 and 1063.
  3. English Composition - Six hours. ENGL 1157 and ENGL 1158/1159 or their equivalent. Completion of 1158 or 1159 with a grade of C or better.
  4. Literature - Six hours of literature from any department. Limitations: Writing and linguistics courses do not fulfill this requirement. NOTE: Some Liberal Arts majors require specific literature courses. See your individual curriculum.
  5. Arts - Three hours to be taken from the departments of Fine Arts, Music, or theatre/dance/film-related courses in Film, Theater, and Communication Arts.
  6. Humanities – Nine hours. To include at least one subject different from that used for the arts requirement (above), and at least six hours at or above the 2000 level. (If the Arts requirement is fulfilled with a 2000 or higher-level course, reduce these six hours to three.) To be taken from the departments of film, theatre and communication arts; English; fine arts; foreign languages; history; music; and/or philosophy. NOTE: Any literature course in English or foreign languages used to fulfill the College requirement of six hours of literature may not count toward the Humanities requirement.
  7. Foreign Languages - Three to twelve hours. Completion of course 2001 in one foreign language or completion of course 1002 in two foreign languages offered through the Department of Foreign Languages. Unless a student is placed (by placement test and/or transfer credit) above the first course, either three semesters of one language in course sequence or two semesters each of two different languages are required. (Exceptions: BA in International Studies and BA in Fine Arts: Art History.  See individual curricula.)

NOTES: 1) Students whose native language is Spanish should confer with the foreign languages department about Spanish 2003 and 2004, which are especially designed to meet their needs and which also meet this requirement. Languages other than Spanish or French that are offered through the Department of Foreign Languages and extend through the 2001 or 2011 level may be used to meet this requirement. 2) Some 2001- and 2002-level courses in languages other than Spanish and French may not be available each semester.

  1. Social Sciences - Twelve hours to include two different subject areas with six hours at or above the 2000 level from the following subjects: anthropology, economics, geography, political science, psychology, sociology, urban studies and women's and gender studies. NOTE: In some curricula, most or all of this requirement is met within other requirements.
  2. Computer Literacy- Each student should develop a reasonable competence in those computing techniques most relevant to his/her major program. There should be experience with several different software systems and their applications. Each student should also develop a basic understanding of the nature and function of computers as symbol manipulators and of the general techniques of problem analysis needed for programming solutions to problems. This requirement may be fulfilled by one of the following:
    1. Successful completion of Computer Science 1000 or another computer science.
    2. Advanced standing credit for Computer Science 1000, earned by successful completion of an examination administered by the Department of Computer Science.
    3. Successful completion of a course or series of courses within the student’s major department which has been approved as fulfilling the computer literacy requirement.
  3. Oral Competency- Each student should demonstrate competence in the techniques of oral communication relevant to his/her major program. Students should be able to discuss with clarity ideas and factual material in formal small group class settings and in conferences with their professors. This requirement may be fulfilled by one of the following:
    1. Successful completion of an approved course in the student’s major department or college that requires a demonstration of oral competence as a condition of receiving a passing grade in the course.
    2. Demonstration of oral competence in an approved course in the student’s major department or college that does not require oral competence as a condition of receiving a passing grade. If a student demonstrates oral competency in such a course, an entry shall be made on his/her transcript that oral competency has been demonstrated regardless of the final grade in the course. If a student fails to demonstrate oral competency in the approved course(s) offered by a student’s major department or college, the student may take a course outside his/her major department as a means of meeting the general degree requirement for oral competency, upon approval of the student’s major department.
  4. Electives - Number of hours varies by major. See curriculum outline in General Catalog. Limitations: Courses must be from the list of approved Liberal Arts electives; however, nine hours of credit in subjects not on the approved list are allowed. (Within those nine hours a maximum of three hours of human performance and/or health-safety are permitted.)

NOTES: At least six hours must be in courses numbered 3000 or above in a subject or subjects other than the major and from the approved list of electives. (EDHS/EDHP/EDPE courses may not be used to fulfill this requirement.) Liberal Arts students are encouraged to plan their choice of electives with the assistance of a departmental faculty advisor in the context of their overall educational goals.

Approved Electives

Most of the curricula provide considerable flexibility for devising a program adapted to the particular interests and educational goals of the individual student. To assure the construction of a cohesive program, all students are expected to consult with a major advisor regarding electives as well as the courses specified for the major. The flexibility of the elective system is not intended to permit formlessness or aimless sampling. Many combinations are possible, but logical planning should be the basis of all programs.

Within the limitations noted above students in the College of Liberal Arts may elect, for degree credit, any course for which they have the prerequisites from the following subjects:

Accounting English Mathematics
Anthropology Film, Theatre and Communication Arts Music
Arts and Sciences Finance Philosophy
Bacteriology Fine Arts Physics
Biology Foreign Languages Political Science
Botany Geography Psychology
Business Administration History Social Sciences
Chemistry Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Administration Sociology
Computer Science Humanities Urban Studies
Economics Journalism Women's and Gender Studies
Education* Management Zoology
Earth and Environmental Sciences  Marketing  

*Only courses in Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Foundations and Research, Library Science, and Special Education.

Other Subjects

Courses in subjects not listed above normally will be accepted to the extent of nine credit hours total. This limit may be waived, if the student presents to the dean a logical plan clearly showing the relevance of such courses to the major program and to the educational goals of the student. Such permission must be secured before the nine-hour limit is exceeded. A maximum of three hours of any Health/ Safety and/or Human Performance course, regardless of level, may be included in the nine credit hours total.

Pass/Fail

Students in the College of Liberal Arts who have achieved junior standing and who have an average of 2.75 or better on all of their university work and on all work taken at UNO may, if they choose, take one course each semester on a pass/fail basis. Credits thus earned will be counted toward the total number of hours required for the degree, but they will be disregarded in determining the student’s grade point average. A maximum of 12 credits toward graduation may be earned in this way, and all courses so taken must fall into the elective category.

Students may not take courses on the pass/fail basis (a) in their major subject, (b) in their minor field, (c) to satisfy departmental degree requirements, or (d) to fulfill those college degree requirements that are listed as Course Requirements. A student who wishes to schedule a course on the pass/fail basis must file an application in the office of the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts within the first week of classes in the semester in which the course is to be taken. If the student meets the requirements outlined above, an approved copy of the application form will be forwarded to the instructor of the course with a request that the grade of P or F be submitted at the completion of the course. (Work that would ordinarily be of A, B, C, or D quality will be given the grade of P.)

Business Administration Component

For students who wish to obtain a foundation in business, the following courses are recommended: Accounting 2100 and 2130; Quantitative Methods—Business and Economics 2785; Finance 3300; Management 3401; and Marketing 3501. Students who plan to take a substantial number of business courses should seek the advice of the appropriate persons in the College of Business Administration.

Requirements for Bachelor of Science Degree

The following course requirements must be completed by all students working toward a Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Liberal Arts.  Each student should check the major curriculum in urban studies and planning (currently the only B.S. degree offered in the College of Liberal Arts) to determine the additional requirements and restrictions which apply in that major.

General Course Requirements

  1. Math – Six hours.
  2. Science – Nine hours. Six hours of one science and three hours of a different science. One of the sciences must be biology and the other must be earth and environmental sciences, chemistry , or physics. NOTE: Credit toward graduation is not allowed for both Biology 1083 and 1053 or for Biology 1073 and 1063.
  3. English Composition –Six  hours. ENGL 1157 and ENGL 1158/1159 or their equivalent. Completion of 1158 or 1159 with a grade of C or better. 
  4. Literature – Six hours of literature from any department.  Limitations:  Writing and linguistics courses do not fulfill this requirement.
  5. Arts1 – Three hours. To be taken from the departments of Fine Arts, Music, or film/theatre/dance – related courses in Film, Theatre and Communication Arts. .
  6. Humanities1 – Three hours. To be taken from any of the humanities disciplines.
  7. Social Sciences1,2 – Six hours to be taken from the social sciences.
  8. Computer Literacy –Each student should develop a reasonable competence in those computing techniques most relevant to his/her program.  There should be experience with several different software systems and their applications.  Each student should also develop a basic understanding of the nature and function of computers as symbol manipulators and of the general techniques of problem analysis needed for programming solutions to problems.  This requirement may be fulfilled by one of the following:
    1. Successful completion of Computer Science 1000 or another computer science course.
    2. Advanced standing credit for Computer Science 1000, earned by successful completion of an examination administered by the Department of Computer Science.
    3. Successful completion of Business Administration 2780.
  9. Oral Competency – Each student should demonstrate competence in the techniques of oral communication relevant to his/her major program.  Students should be able to discuss with clarity ideas and factual material in formal small group class settings and in conferences with their professors.  This requirement is satisfied by successful completion of Film, Theatre, and Communication Arts 2650.

  1. Six of the twelve hours in humanities, arts, and/or social sciences must be at the 2000 level or above.
  2. See departmental list of acceptable courses.

Transfer Credit

Transfer credits acceptable for admission purposes will be valid for degree credit in the College only to the extent to which they represent courses acceptable in the curricula of the College. The College may decline to accept transfer credits in any course in which a grade lower than a C has been received. Validation may be required for credits earned more than 10 years before admission to the College.

University and Major Residence Requirements

Transfer students should note that the last 25% of coursework must be taken in residence while enrolled in the college from which the degree is to be earned. In the College of Liberal Arts, transfer students must take at least 12 hours in the major subject (with a minimum of nine hours in courses numbered 3000 or above) at UNO. Candidates for a degree must earn a C average in all courses in their major subject taken while they are registered in the College.

Program Planning

All students should plan their programs in advance in order to receive maximum benefit from their college years. Besides examining their own goals, students should consult with advisors to take advantage of alternatives in general degree requirements and electives.

Students are responsible for knowing degree requirements and for enrolling in courses that fit into their degree programs. They are strongly encouraged to complete the requirements in English, foreign language, mathematics, and science at the earliest possible time in their college career.

Each student is also responsible for notifying the college office of graduation plans at the beginning of the semester preceding the student’s final semester. At that point, a graduation checkout sheet is prepared which outlines the student’s current scholastic position and indicates the course requirements remaining for the degree.

Requirements for a Minor

A Liberal Arts minor requires a minimum of 18 hours and a 2.0 average in the minor field. See minor in individual curricula for specific courses required.

At least nine hours of coursework must be taken at UNO, and for a minor requiring six or more hours at the 3000 level or above, at least six of those hours must be taken at UNO. For minors requiring fewer than six hours of 3000- or 4000-level courses all of these hours must be taken at UNO. No pass/fail courses will apply toward a minor.

Minor in Africana Studies

The College of Liberal Arts administers the interdisciplinary Minor in Africana Studies. The purpose of this minor is to acquaint the student with current and historical knowledge of the black experience in Africa, the Americas, and other parts of the world drawing from courses in the College of Liberal Arts as well as approved courses offered by the other Colleges. The minor signifies that the student has a basic, general understanding of the significant contributions made by African people in Africa and in the African Diaspora.

The requirements of the minor are as follows:

  1. Completion of the requirements of a degree in one of the colleges at UNO.
  2. Completion of History 1010, either English 2071 or 2072, and either History 3551 or 3552.
  3. Completion of nine credit hours to be taken from a list of approved courses. To complete 18 credit hours, the student must choose courses from a minimum of three disciplines. At least six credit hours must consist of courses at the 3000 level or above.
  4. The Coordinator may permit substitution of as many as six of these 18 hours with UNO Special Topic or Independent Study courses. Appropriate courses offered at UNO or other universities may be suggested as substitutes. The Coordinator may assign each student to a faculty advisor who will help the student design the minor program. Courses on Africana Studies in the major field that are counted as credit hours for that major may not also be counted toward this minor.

Interested students should contact the Coordinator of Area Studies Minors through the College of Liberal Arts office.

Minor in Asian Studies

The College of Liberal Arts administers the interdisciplinary Minor in Asian Studies. The purpose of this minor is to acquaint students with current and historical knowledge of the Asian region, peoples, and cultures. The minor signifies that students have a basic and general understanding of this part of the world. The requirements of this minor are as follows:

  1. Completion of the requirements of a degree in one of the colleges at UNO.
  2. Completion of four semesters (a minimum of 12 credit hours) of Chinese, Japanese, or other relevant language through 2002 or its equivalent.
  3. Completion of History 2201 and 2202 (the survey of Asian civilizations).
  4. Credit in courses on Asia to be approved by the Coordinator, for a total of 12 credit hours in addition to the language and history requirement. At least six credit hours must be at the 3000 level or above. In addition, six of the 12 credit hours must be chosen from at least two disciplines outside of history and language, with no more than nine credit hours from any one discipline. Courses on Asia in the major field that are counted as credit hours for that major may not also be counted toward this minor.
  5. A minimum 2.0 grade-point average must be attained in all courses in the minor program.

Interested students should contact the Coordinator of Area Studies Minors through the College of Liberal Arts office.

Minor of Disaster Resilience Studies

The Minor in Disaster Resilience Studies draws its required and optional courses from disciplines in the College of Liberal Arts, College of Sciences, and College of Business. This interdisciplinary minor capitalizes on the unique expertise resident in UNO’s faculty to provide students with an understanding of how hazards affect communities, government and non-profit agencies, businesses and social systems.
The requirements of the minor are as follows:

  1. Completion of the requirements of a degree in one of the colleges at UNO>
  2. Completion of four core courses: URBN 4150, SOC 4871, GEOG 4805, and HIST 2050.
  3. Completion of three courses from an approved list * (in addition to the core courses).
  4. A 2.0 grade-point average in all courses used to fulfill this minor.

*Approved courses for this minor: SOC 4098 (when hazard-related topic); ANTH 4721; GEOG 4150, 4523; URBN 3140, 4165, 4810; MURP 4140, 4145, 4160; PADM 4800 (when hazard-related topic), 4810, 4170; FIN 4311; MANG 4473.

To meet the prerequisite requirements for some of the approved courses, students may need to complete more than the minimum 21 hours required for this minor.


Minor in Environmental Studies

The Minor in Environmental Studies draws its required and optional courses from seven disciplines in the College of Liberal Arts. This interdisciplinary approach introduces students to the complexity of human-environmental relationships and problems. The Department of Sociology administers the minor.

The requirements of the minor are as follows:

  1. Completion of the requirements of a degree in one of the colleges at UNO.
  2. Completion of two core courses: Geography 1600 and Sociology 2871.
  3. Completion of 15 credit hours from an approved list* (in addition to the core courses) including courses from at least three Liberal Arts disciplines but no more than six credit hours from any one discipline.
  4. Students must maintain at least a 2.0 grade-point average in all courses used to fulfill this minor.

* Approved courses for the minor: Anthropology 2051, 2052, 4721, 4761; Fine Arts 4263; Geography 1600, 2158, 4158, 4220; History 2080, 4543, 4582; Philosophy 3430, 4205; Political Science 4170; Sociology 2871, 4871, 4881, 4903.

Students wishing to take a course not on the approved list must get permission from the Director of Environmental Studies in the Sociology Department. To meet the prerequisite requirements for some of the approved courses, students may need to complete more than the minimum 21 hours required for this minor.

Minor in European Studies

The College of Liberal Arts administers the interdisciplinary minor in European Studies. The purpose of this minor is to acquaint the student with historical and current knowledge of the European region, peoples, societies, economies, and cultures. The minor signifies that students have a basic and general understanding of this part of the world. The requirements of this minor are as follows:

  1. Completion of the requirements of a degree in one of the colleges at UNO.
  2. Completion of courses in French, Italian, Spanish, German, Russian, or other relevant languages through 2002 or its equivalent.
  3. Completion of six credit hours in one of two core curricula:
    1. Core I: Social Sciences (Anthropology 2052; Geography 3190, Geography of Western Europe; History 1001, 1002; Political Science 2600).
    2. Core II: Arts and Letters (English 2371, 2372; Fine Arts 2201, 2202; Music 2201, 2202; Philosophy 2311, 2312).
  4. Credit courses in European Studies to be approved by the Coordinator, for a total of 12 credit hours with a minimum 2.0 grade-point average, to include at least six credit hours at the 3000 level or above. These 12 credit hours must be chosen from a minimum of three disciplines and must cover different time periods. Courses on Europe in the major field that are counted as credits for that major may not also be counted toward this minor.
  5. A minimum 2.0 grade-point average must be attained in all courses in the minor program.

Interested students should contact the Coordinator of Area Studies Minors through the College of Liberal Arts office.

Minor in Latin American and Caribbean Studies

The College of Liberal Arts administers the interdisciplinary Minor in Latin American and Caribbean Studies. The purpose of this minor is to acquaint the student with current and historical knowledge of the region known as Latin America and the Caribbean. The minor signifies that the student has a basic and general understanding of the peoples and cultures of this part of the New World. The requirements of the minor are as follows:

  1. Completion of the requirements of a degree in one of the colleges at UNO.
  2. Completion of 12 semester hours of Spanish language course work.
  3. Credit in courses on Latin America and the Caribbean, to be approved by the Coordinator of Area Studies Minors, for a total of 18 credit hours with a minimum 2.0 grade-point average and at least six credit hours at the 3000 level or above. These 18 credit hours must be chosen from a minimum of three disciplines, with no more than six credit hours from any one discipline. Courses on Latin America and the Caribbean in the major field that are counted as credit hours for that major may not also be counted toward this minor.

Interested students should contact the Coordinator of Area Studies Minors through the College of Liberal Arts office.

Minor in Women’s and Gender Studies

The College of Liberal Arts administers the interdisciplinary Minor in Women’s and Gender Studies. The purpose of this minor is to acquaint the student with current and historical knowledge of the fields of Women’s and Gender Studies. The minor signifies that the student has a basic and general understanding of existing scholarship on women and gender. The requirements of the minor are as follows:

  1. Completion of the requirements of a degree in one of the colleges at UNO.
  2. Completion of WGS 2010, Introduction to Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies.
  3. Credit in courses on Women’s and Gender Studies, to be approved by the Director of Women’s and Gender Studies, for a total of 18 credit hours with a 2.0 grade point average, to include at least six credit hours at the 3000 level or above.
  4. To complete the 18 credit hours, the student must choose from a minimum of three disciplines, with no more than six credit hours from any one discipline.

Interested students can contact the Director of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program through the College of Liberal Arts office.

Certificate Program in American Humanics

The UNO American Humanics Program (AH) is a certification program in non-profit leadership designed to prepare students for entry-level management positions. The program is a cooperative effort between American Humanics, Incorporated of Kansas City, Missouri; LSU-Shreveport; and UNO. AH is the first national organization devoted to the preparation of students for careers in youth and human service organizations. It is designed to meet the demand for qualified, mission-driven professional staff for employment in the expanding youth and human services non-profit sector. Interested students should contact the Department of Sociology for further information.

School of Urban Planning and Regional Studies

UNO’s School of Urban Planning and Regional Studies (SUPRS) faculty and students engage with and directly participate in research and service central to the recovery and restoration of the greater New Orleans area.  SUPRS offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in Anthropology and Urban Studies, as well as the Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP), the only accredited urban planning program within the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas.  SUPRS guides students to meet the challenge of simultaneously preserving cultural traditions and building workable twenty-first century communities.  The academic programs are supported by the Center for Urban And Public Affairs and the UNO Transportation Institute, both of which offer additional research opportunities to students.

CURRICULUM IN ANTHROPOLOGY
Department of Anthropology

Course Requirements Cr. Hrs.
Anthropology 2052, and 3301 6
Anthropology 4768, 4772, or 4775 3
Anthropology 4801 3
Anthropology 49951 3
Anthropology Electives2 18
Total 33

College of Liberal Arts

Course Requirements Cr. Hrs.
English 1157, 1158 (or 1159) 6
English Literature* 6
Foreign Language3 9
Geography 1001, 1002 or History 1001, 10024 6
Humanities (2000 level or above) 3
Arts* 3
Total 33

Non-College of Liberal Arts

Course Requirements Cr. Hrs.
Mathematics* 6
Sciences* 9
Computer Science 1000 or Sociology 27075 3-4
Total 18-19
Electives Cr. Hrs.
Non-Anthropology at 3000 level or above* 6
Approved electives 30
Total 36
Grand Total 120-121

* See General Course Requirements and Approved Electives in the Liberal Arts Section.

  1. Fulfills oral competency requirement.
  2. At least three hours from area studies courses in anthropology, and at least nine additional hours from topics/theory courses in anthropology at the 4000-level or higher (excluding 4990). No more than three credit hours at the 1000 level may count toward the major.
  3. The nine hours in foreign language must be in the same language. Alternatively, students may opt to take 12 hours in two foreign languages (six hours in each of two languages). If the 12-hour option is chosen, reduce approved electives by three hours; the remaining 27 hours of approved electives must then include three hours of 2000+ humanities.
  4. Other courses may be substituted with approval of department.
  5. Fulfills computer science requirement. Three additional hours of statistics or computer sciences are strongly recommended for all majors.

Minor in Anthropology

Students who wish to secure a significant background in anthropology while majoring in another area may do so by earning 18 credit hours in anthropology courses, including Anthropology 2052 and at least twelve hours at or above the 3000 level (exclusive of Anthropology 3896 and 4991). Successful completion of these requirements with an average of at least 2.0 in the minor will result in a minor in anthropology.

Honors in Anthropology

An honors program is available for qualified students who may be admitted by departmental action in the junior year. To secure admission a student must have an overall average of 3.25 and a 3.5 average in anthropology. The program requires successful completion of at least three hours of Arts and Sciences courses, completion of a 4000-level anthropology course on the honors level, the completion of an honors thesis, which involves earning six hours in Anthropology 3896, and the maintenance of an average of 3.6 in anthropology and 3.25 overall. The honors thesis is to be defended orally before a committee composed of the thesis director, another member of the anthropology faculty appointed by the department chair, and a representative of the honors program. Students planning to continue in graduate school are strongly advised to take the honors degree in anthropology.

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