College of Arts and Sciences

Ellison Hall
Norman, OK 73019-3109
Phone: (405) 325-2077 
FAX: (405) 325-7709
Internet: http://www.ou.edu/cas 

Inquiries should be directed to:
Academic Services
124 Ellison Hall
Norman, OK 73019-3109
Phone: (405) 325-4411
FAX: (405) 325-7429 

One Who Teaches sculpture

PDF iconDownload Printable PDF Version of this chapter 		Dean Paul Bell

Academic Units

Winona sculpture west of Ellison Hall

General Information 

Administrative Officers 

Paul B. Bell, Jr., Ph.D., Dean
Kelly R. Damphouse, Ph.D., Associate Dean
Edward Sankowski, Ph.D., Associate Dean 
Joyce Allman, Ph.D., Assistant Dean 

History and Purpose 

The College of Arts and Sciences is the oldest and largest of the degree-recommending colleges at the University of Oklahoma. Established in 1892 as the College of Liberal Arts, the College granted its first degree in 1898. Today, as then, the liberal arts and sciences provide the foundation for the OU educational experience, through which we prepare our students to live productive and successful lives as citizens of a democracy. 

The College of Arts and Sciences is responsible for providing all of OU’s undergraduate students with a core curriculum that exposes them to both the natural and social environments in which they live and helps them view and analyze the world from different perspectives and to arrive at their own opinions. Students majoring in one of the College’s degree programs receive additional education in foreign language and the humanities. Our goal is to graduate students who can communicate clearly, both in writing and orally; think creatively; reason and act ethically; serve as leaders of their professions and their local and global communities; and continue to learn after they leave OU. By providing a broad-based education, the College of Arts and Sciences seeks to enrich the lives of our students, both as individuals and as active, productive members of society. To accomplish these goals, we bring together talented students and dedicated teacher-scholars in an environment that supports learning and personal development and is, in turn, supported by the donations of our alumni and friends to produce the best educational experience possible, anywhere. 

More than 7,400 undergraduates and almost 3,000 graduate students are pursuing degrees in one of the 46 undergraduate majors, 50 minors, 28 master’s degrees and 20 doctoral degrees offered through the College’s 19 departments, three schools, seven interdisciplinary programs and several special programs. The College employs half of all OU full-time instructors, teaches 61 percent of the undergraduate credit hours, awards 45 percent of all undergraduate degrees and 58 percent of all graduate degrees. The degrees offered by the College provide a strong foundation for further professional or graduate studies and for pursuing employment in a wide variety of endeavors. 

The College Today 

Degree Programs Offered 

BACHELOR OF ARTS 

Degree Programs 

African and African-American Studies, Anthropology, Chinese, Classics (Classical Culture, Latin, or Greek), Communication, Economics, English (Literary and Cultural Studies or Writing), Ethics and Religion, Film and Video Studies, French, German, History, Human Relations, Information Studies, International and Area Studies (students may focus in Europe,  Asia, Latin America, Russia and East Europe, or a more global emphasis in International Studies), Letters, Linguistics, Mathematics, Native American Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Public Affairs and Administration, Religious Studies, Russian, Social Work, Sociology (General or Criminology), Spanish, and Women’s Studies. 

Please refer to the sections on Combined Curricula and Planned Program for additional information on Bachelor of Arts degree programs within the College of Arts and Sciences. 

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE 

Degree Programs 

Astronomy, Astrophysics, Biochemistry, Botany, Chemistry, Health and Exercise Science, Mathematics, Microbiology, Physics, Psychology, Zoology. 

Please refer to the sections on Combined Curricula and Planned Program for additional information on Bachelor of Science degree programs within the College of Arts and Sciences. 

Teacher Certification Programs 

Students in the College of Arts and Sciences may also work toward completion of an Oklahoma teaching certificate for secondary education. For more information concerning teaching certificate programs, consult an academic counselor in the Academic Services office. 

Types of Degrees Offered 

Standard Degree 

The standard degrees of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science do not include the name of the curriculum in which the major work was completed. 

Professional Degree 

The professional degrees of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science include the name of the curriculum in which the major work was completed, e.g., the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry degree or the Bachelor of Arts in Information Studies degree. 

Distinction and Special Distinction Degrees 

Students who complete their undergraduate degree in the College of Arts and Sciences may be graduated with distinction if they have completed a minimum of 60 credit hours in residence at the University of Oklahoma and achieve the required grade point averages. The degree with Distinction will be conferred on students who achieve at least a 3.60 combined retention grade point average and a 3.60 grade point average in all OU coursework. The degree with Special Distinction requires at least a 3.90 retention grade point average in all combined and OU coursework. The final semester’s grades will be included in the grade point average that determines the Distinction or Special Distinction degree. 

Honors Degrees 

All of the bachelor’s degree programs offered by the College of Arts and Sciences are available to qualified students as honors degree programs. Students may be graduated with honors (cum Laude, Magna cum Laude, Summa cum Laude) if they successfully complete all requirements of the Honors College in addition to their regular degree program requirements. Please refer to the Honors College section of this catalog for specific information concerning admission and completion of honors degrees. 

College Facilities and Programs 

ARCHEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Robert L. Brooks, Director and State Archaeologist 

Established in 1970, the Oklahoma Archeological Survey is a state agency with regulatory authority, as well as a unit of the College of Arts and Sciences. The Survey’s enabling legislation charges the Survey with three basic mandates: 1) to conduct research on Oklahoma’s prehistoric and early historic archaeological record, 2) to work with the citizens of Oklahoma to preserve significant archaeological resources, and 3) to disseminate information on our activities through publications, public presentations and other means of outreach. The Archeological Survey has two divisions: Organized Research and the Community Assistance Program. The Survey also serves as the centralized repository for records on archaeological sites in the state (currently holding information on some 20,000 locations). Personnel of the Archeological Survey consists of seven research faculty, along with graduate and undergraduate students, and volunteers who perform a wide range of research, managerial, and educational activities. The Survey faculty also teach classes through the Department of Anthropology. 

BIOLOGICAL STATION, LAKE TEXOMA 

Lawrence J. Weider, Director and Professor of Zoology 

The University of Oklahoma Biological Station is a permanent field station located on the north shore of Lake Texoma, approximately 125 miles from Norman, and is subject to all rules and regulations that govern the University of Oklahoma. The station’s primary mission is to promote research and education in ecology and field biology. Our facilities are open to students and scientists world-wide for research and study, and the Biological Station participates significantly in ecological and evolutionary research at national and international levels. 

Primary academic goals include biological instruction, experimentation, and exploration as it relates to the University of Oklahoma student. However, the scientific and study programs have been enlarged to incorporate four main operational endeavors. They are: (1) the constant updating of curriculum necessary for quantitative and experimental courses for graduate and undergraduate students; (2) year-round ecological research by resident faculty and/or collaborating investigators from other institutions; (3) providing a base for sabbatical/short-term study by the international research community and; (4) providing an ideal meeting site for academic and/or other educational non-profit institutions. 

The Biological Station does not offer a degree program, although credit obtained is directly applicable toward the requirements of the degree-recommending colleges of the University. Scholarships, graduate assistantships, work-study assistance, and independent study are also available. Inquiries should be sent to the director. 

The Biological Station’s major instructional emphasis is on two-week courses offered in May and August at the Station. Field-research participation is also available for undergraduate and graduate students, including grade school, high school, and college teachers. 

BIOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Caryn Vaughn, Director and Associate Professor of Zoology 

The Oklahoma Biological Survey, established in 1927, is both a research unit of the College of Arts and Sciences and a state agency recognized through 1987 legislation. The mission of the Survey is to scientifically investigate the diversity of plants and animals in Oklahoma and associated regions and to contribute to conservation and education concerning these important resources. The Survey includes: (1) the General Biological Survey program; (2) the Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory; (3) the Bebb Herbarium jointly operated with the Department of Botany and Microbiology; (4) the Oklahoma Natural Areas Registry;  (5) the Sutton Avian Research Center, a bird conservation center located in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and (6) a cooperative graduate training program with the Oklahoma Fishery Research Laboratory of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Personnel in the Survey include faculty, staff, graduate students and undergraduates who engage in a wide range of research, teaching and service activities. 

CAREER SERVICES 

The College works cooperatively with the University of Oklahoma’s Office of Career Services to help students to prepare for and find jobs after graduation. To ease the transition from college to career, Career Services offers an opportunity to explore career alternatives, both through library resources and through internship and co-op opportunities. In addition, services are available to assist students to conduct a job search and to contact employers. Programs include a class on career planning for Arts and Sciences students, on-campus interviewing, resume/job matching, career fairs, job listings, and workshops on job search strategy. Professional counselors are available during scheduled walk-in hours, and the career information center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The office complex is located in the Oklahoma Memorial Union, Suite 323. 

CARL ALBERT CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH AND STUDIES CENTER 

Cindy Simon Rosenthal, Director and Curator, and Professor of Political Science 

The Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center has as its mission advancing scholarship, learning, and service to strengthen representative democracy. The Congressional Archives at the Carl Albert Center contain the papers of Carl Albert, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives as well as the papers of over 50 members of Congress and some congressional staff, scholars and journalists. The archives serve researchers on the OU campus and throughout the world. The Center offers a unique five-year graduate program leading to a degree in political science with special emphasis on Congress and representative government. The Center also offers research fellowships to undergraduate and graduate students who participate with political science faculty members in collaborative research projects. The Center’s civic engagement and leadership programs provide undergraduate students with unique opportunities to develop their public leadership capabilities. The Center sponsors Capitol and Community Scholars, which are intensive academic and internship experiences at the State Capitol and in the local government and non-profit community. Students and researchers interested in learning more about the opportunities available may contact the center through their web site: http://www.ou.edu/special/albertctr/cachome.html. 

COMPUTING RESOURCES 

In order to meet the challenges of the 21st century, graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences must be able to research problems, gather, evaluate, and analyze information and present the results in a logical coherent manner. The College of Arts and Sciences provides a number of technology resources and computing facilities to help students develop these skills. 

Streaming Media. To meet the need for timely, thought provoking information, the College of Arts and Sciences tapes and video streams many distinguished guest lecturers and authors that visit the Campus each year. These presentations are then made available on the College’s streaming media web site to provide all students with an opportunity to see and hear the presentations at a time that is convenient for them. The streaming video presentations can be viewed on the college web site at: http://ou.edu/cas. 

Open Access Labs. College of Arts and Sciences students have access to the finest computing facilities at the University of Oklahoma. These staffed computer lab facilities provide students the opportunity to conduct research, write papers, create web sites and conduct email correspondence. The facilities include: 

Computerized Classrooms. Each year an increasing number of classes are taught in a computerized setting. Each of these classrooms have been configured with the latest hardware and software needed to support instruction. 

Departmental Computing Facilities. Many departments and schools also have computer lab facilities to support the specialized needs of their students. These include: 

FILM & VIDEO STUDIES VIDEO AND DVD LIBRARY AND VIEWING ROOM 

The Video and DVD Library of Film and Video Studies, located in Old Science Hall, houses over a thousand titles including not only American fiction and documentary films but hundreds of Russian, French, German, East European and other foreign films as well. A large selection of screenplays and reference books on film, television and new media are also part of the collection. 

INTERDISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVES ON THE ENVIRONMENT RESOURCE CENTER 

The IPE Resource Center, located in 555 Monnet Hall, contains course readings, plus a collection of books, videos, and other materials related to  environmental issues in general. 

INTEGRATIVE STUDIES 

Foreign Service 

Edward J. Perkins, Executive Director of International Programs Center, Adviser 

Students seeking entry into the Foreign Service should obtain a good general education including courses in history, political science, economics, international relations, business, public administration, and foreign languages. 

No specific major is required. In recent years, those entering the Foreign Service have had bachelor’s degrees or advanced degrees in international relations, economics, business administration, law, journalism, and many other fields. Keep in mind that competition for entry into the Foreign Service is extremely high, and the student should pursue an educational program which will lead to an alternative career. 

Pre-law 

No particular course of study is a prerequisite for admission to law school, although history or political science is the choice of many pre-law students. Law schools encourage prospective students to pursue their own interests in obtaining a broad background in their undergraduate programs. The student should develop precision and clarity in written and oral expression; obtain a critical understanding of human institutions and values; and develop the ability to think clearly, carefully, and independently. All of these skills and qualities can be obtained through a variety of educational programs at the undergraduate level. 

Advice to pre-law students is available at www.ou.edu/cas/psc/pre-law.htm or in the Political Science department, 205 Dale Hall Tower. 

Premedical Professions 

James N. Thompson, Jr., David Ross Boyd Professor of Zoology 

William Ortiz-Leduc, Associate Professor of Botany/Microbiology 

The Premedical Professions Office assists those students planning to enter one of the medical professions (primarily allopathic medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, optometry, podiatry, and physician’s associate). Students interested in veterinary medicine are advised through the Zoology Advising Office. It is important that prospective premedical professions students confer with a premedical adviser as soon as possible after entering the University, since decisions made during the first enrollment can have a very significant effect on their progression through their preprofessional curriculum. 

A point which must be emphasized is that a premedical professions curriculum does not constitute a major and does not lead to a bachelor’s degree. It is simply a combination of courses that provides the minimum preparation needed for admission to medical school. Acquisition of the bachelor’s degree will require selection of a major. Selection of a major should be made with the same degree of seriousness that would be given to selection of a primary career. Advising for premedical professions students is done cooperatively with the Premedical Professions Office and the major department. 

Students who do not plan to earn a bachelor’s degree are likely to be limited in options available in professional training and opportunities at a later time. 

LANGUAGE LEARNING CENTER 

The Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Linguistics is home to the computerized Language Learning Center, located in Kaufman Hall. Here students can utilize audio, video, and interactive computer tutorials for Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish languages and literatures. Placement exams are administered in the lab for French, German, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish. The language center’s Web site is mllab.ou.edu. 

LIBRARY RESOURCES 

In addition to the extensive collections housed in the Bizzell Memorial Library, Arts and Sciences students have access to two notable special collections, the History of Science and Western History collections, as well as two branch libraries and two special collections housed within departments. 

The History of Science Collection documents the influence of pure and applied science on the course of western civilization. In the collection of more than 90,000 volumes are the first published editions of works important in the history of science, supplemented by later editions, initial secondary works, translations, journals and working copies. 

The Western History Collections acquire materials on Oklahoma and Western history, North American Indians, the settlement of the West and related topics. The Western History Collections has extensive holdings of photographic materials, manuscript collections, oral histories, cartographic records and the University archives. Holdings include 75,000 books, over 12,000 cubic feet of manuscripts and 2,000,000 photographs. 

There are two branch libraries in addition to the larger collections that house materials of importance to Arts and Sciences students. The Chemistry-Math Library, located in the Physical Sciences Center, contains a collection of approximately 80,000 books (including reference materials, periodicals, and monographs) and subscribes to more than 500 journals and continuing serials. The Physics Library, housed in Nielsen Hall, contains 28,000 books and subscribes to 170 journals for physics and astronomy majors. They also have full text access to additional journals. 

The Department of Communication’s Kanter Political Communication Archives, housed in Burton Hall, holds the world’s largest library of videotaped political commercials with approximately 80,000 archived political commercials. 

The Women’s Studies Library, housed in the Physical Sciences Center, includes over 1,400 books and numerous journals and articles that focus on women’s subjects. 

NATIVE AMERICAN LANGUAGES PROGRAM 

The College of Arts and Sciences, through the Department of Anthropology and the Native American Studies Program, promotes the teaching and preservation of Native American languages. Classes are taught in several languages by native speakers with training in linguistics. These languages satisfy both the College’s and the University’s language requirements. 

OU OBSERVATORY 

The observatory, operated by the Homer L. Dodge Department of Physics and Astronomy, offers free public lectures on astronomy as well as observatory viewing sessions using a 16-inch LX-200 telescope permanently mounted in a dome on campus. 

SOCIETY FOR CINEMA AND MEDIA STUDIES 

The Society for Cinema and Media Studies, an international professional organization composed of college and university faculty and graduate students, filmmakers, historians, critics, scholars, and others concerned with the study of the moving image, is hosted in the Film and Video Studies Program, located in Old Science Hall. 

EDUCATION ABROAD 

Success in today’s global community will depend on a student’s ability to share and use knowledge about culture, history, foreign languages, and world geography. An important and exciting way to bring this international dimension into studies and career planning is through the University of Oklahoma’s Study Abroad Program. 

Arts and Sciences students in all majors have the opportunity to study abroad for a summer session, semester, or year while still earning credit toward their degree program. The University has 170 agreements of exchange with universities in 60 countries. Under these programs, students maintain their enrollment at OU and pay OU tuition and fees while studying at an accredited university overseas. 

In general, students need a 2.50 grade point average to apply for an OU exchange program. Two letters of recommendation from OU faculty, an essay, and a personal interview are also required. Deadlines are usually March 5 for summer and fall programs, and October 15 for spring programs. 

Students may receive individual counseling for study abroad through the International Exchange Programs office. A browsing library, containing information on general travel abroad of interest to students as well as specific catalogs and fliers, is located there for student use. Should there be programs through other institutions that students are interested in, this office will also assist in coordination of enrollment. 

Arts and Sciences students must consult with their academic counselor in the Academic Services office for determination of specific application of study abroad credits toward graduation. This should be done before enrollment. 

For additional information on the current Study Abroad programs, contact the Education Abroad office, 211 Old Science Hall, (405) 325-1693, or refer to the “International Programs Center” chapter of this catalog. 

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH 

The college encourages its students to become active participants in research and scholarship. Some departments require a senior thesis, and all offer opportunities for research through independent study courses arranged with individual faculty or through the Honors College. Experience in research provides students with direct exposure to scholarly investigation in their disciplines, and often culminates in presentation of their results at regional and national meetings, or publication in scholarly journals. 

Recognition of Academic Achievement 

DEAN’S HONOR ROLL 

The College of Arts and Sciences Honor Roll is compiled at the close of each fall and spring semester. It includes students who have completed at least 12 grade point hours and have earned an average of 3.50 or higher for the semester. 

Students enrolled part-time for both the fall and spring semesters of an academic year will be included on the spring semester honor roll, provided that a 3.50 or better is earned for each semester on a minimum of six semester grade point hours with no withdrawals for either semester. 

SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS 

Scholarships and awards are given annually to students who have achieved academic excellence. Among the many scholarships available only to Arts and Sciences majors are the College of Arts and Sciences Leadership Scholars scholarships, awarded to sophomores, juniors and seniors, and Phi Beta Kappa scholarships awarded to juniors and seniors. 

The prestigious Carl Albert Award is given annually to the Arts and Sciences senior who best demonstrates superior academic achievement, moral force of character, and the promise of future service to the state and nation. Each year, the college also awards four outstanding students, each student representing one of the college’s four divisions: natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, and professional programs. 

The College of Arts and Sciences offers approximately 150 scholarships annually through the dean's office and many other scholarships through its various departments and schools. Students should consult the college's web site (www.ou.edu/cas) or the University's publication A Guide to Scholarships and Financial Aid for further information. The Guide is available on the Financial Aid office’s website (www.financialaid.ou.edu). 

PHI BETA KAPPA 

Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest college honor society, was founded at the College of William and Mary in 1776. Alpha Chapter of the University of Oklahoma was chartered in 1920. Membership in Phi Beta Kappa is open by invitation only to juniors and seniors in the College of Arts and Sciences, the Gaylord College of Journalism, and a limited number of other programs. 

Juniors and seniors with distinguished academic records are elected in March/April of each year. Students who graduate at the end of the summer session or fall semester are eligible for election the following spring. For additional information about the University's Phi Beta Kappa chapter, contact the College of Arts and Sciences Academic Services office, or visit the Phi Beta Kappa website at www.ou.edu/pbk. 

COLLEGE HONORARY ORGANIZATIONS 

Several of the departments and schools within the College of Arts and Sciences participate in national honorary societies, and others have established University of Oklahoma honorary organizations. Students should check with their major department for this information. 

Undergraduate Study 

Student Responsibilities 

It is the student’s responsibility to make decisions during undergraduate study that ensure academic success and timely graduation. To make such important decisions, it is crucial that students know and understand the following: 

The University provides a number of resources for students to help them meet their academic responsibilities successfully. These include: 

It is the student’s responsibility to seek out and make use of the resources provided by the University. 

Undergraduate students who experience academic difficulty are strongly encouraged to use the appropriate academic support services provided by the University. Students who have questions about these services should consult their academic counselor in the Academic Services office. 

Students who need help with coursework beyond the help available from peer tutors or the instructor may wish to consult with the department offering the course to inquire about the availability of other tutors. Most departments maintain a list of tutors, primarily graduate students within the department. These tutors provide services for a fee arranged between the student and the tutor. 

Admission to the College of Arts and Sciences 

The minimum requirements for admission to the College are: 

1. A declared Arts and Sciences major; 

2. At least a 2.00 (C) combined retention grade point average on all college-level work attempted; and 

3. At least 24 semester credit hours of earned college-level credit. 

Some major programs (Social Work, Health and Exercise Science, and the B.S. in Psychology) have admission requirements beyond the minimums set by the College. 

The freshman year at the University of Oklahoma is spent in University College, which is not a degree-recommending college. University College provides an advisory system for freshmen and assists students in choosing a major. University College students are invited to visit the Academic Services office and the departments in which they have an interest. Transfer to the College of Arts and Sciences from University College is automatic upon completion of the minimum requirements for admission listed above. 

Advising Services 

The College provides advising services to all undergraduate majors through faculty and professional staff advisers in the major departments and through the Academic Services office. 

FACULTY ADVISERS 

The College of Arts and Sciences requires all undergraduate majors to meet with their faculty or professional staff adviser in their major department prior to each enrollment. 

The Arts and Sciences faculty and professional staff advisers have special expertise in degree program planning, due to their knowledge of the discipline, courses, methods of teaching, and special opportunities available through the major departments. In addition, they can provide information about potential careers and assist with plans for graduate study. Students should contact their major department for information concerning their faculty or professional staff adviser. 

ACADEMIC SERVICES 

Joyce Allman, Ph.D., Assistant Dean 
Jodie Daffer, Academic Counselor 
Deborah Gray, Academic Counselor 
Tracy Holloway, Academic Counselor 
Jodi Hubbel, Academic Counselor 
Kathy Martin, Academic Counselor 
Malissa McCracken, Academic Counselor 
Michele Nabonne, Senior Academic Counselor 

Phone: (405) 325-4411; Fax: (405) 325-7429 

The Cal Hobson Academic Services office of the College of Arts and Sciences is located in 124 Ellison Hall. Academic counselors in this office are knowledgeable about programs offered by the College. They assist students with choice of major, transcript evaluation, enrollment, graduation requirements, graduation certification, minors, and any problems of an academic nature. Counselors are available throughout the year. Students may schedule appointments with their counselor at http://iadvise.ou.edu. 

Students who have earned at least 90 credit hours (earned hours plus current enrollment) should schedule an appointment with an academic counselor in the Academic Services office to determine the remaining requirements for graduation (“degree check”). 

Seniors must consult with their academic counselor prior to the beginning of their final semester or term to ensure that their final enrollment will complete all remaining graduation requirements. In order to graduate seniors must also complete a graduation application form and turn it in to the Office of Academic Records during their final term of enrollment prior to published deadlines. 

TRANSFER STUDENTS 

The College of Arts and Sciences welcomes students who wish to transfer from other colleges or universities. Transfer students who have completed at least 24 semester credit hours will be admitted directly into the College of Arts and Sciences if they meet the University's admission requirements. Transfer students who have earned fewer than 24 semester credit hours will be admitted to University College. 

The Office of Admissions will determine acceptance of credits from the transferring institutions. The College of Arts and Sciences will determine how the credits apply toward the requirements for an Arts and Sciences degree. All new transfer students who are directly admitted to the College of Arts and Sciences must meet with an academic counselor in the College’s Academic Services office prior to their first enrollment at the University of Oklahoma. 

Transfer students should pay particular attention to the following requirements for graduation from the University of Oklahoma: 

1. At least 60 semester credit hours must be earned at accredited senior (4-year) institutions. 

2. At least 48 semester hours of upper-division credit (courses numbered 3000 or above) must be earned. Transfer work is counted as lower-division or upper-division depending on the level at which it was offered at the institution where it was earned. Two-year college work is accepted only as lower-division credit. 

3. Residency: this is defined as coursework taken at the University of Oklahoma, excluding correspondence courses. 

a. A minimum of 30 semester credit hours applied toward the degree must be earned in residence at the University of Oklahoma. 

b. At least 15 of the final 30 hours applied toward the degree or at least 50 percent of the hours required by the institution in the major field must be satisfactorily completed at the University of Oklahoma. 

c. At least 15 semester hours of upper-division major credit applied to the degree must be earned in residence at the University of Oklahoma. 

d. Credit transferred from other institutions and credit earned through OU correspondence courses is non-resident credit. Credit earned by examination is considered neither resident nor non-resident for the purposes of these calculations. 

e. Capstone courses must be taken through the University of Oklahoma unless a substitution is approved by the academic department awarding the degree. 

CHANGE OF MAJOR/COLLEGE 

A student who wishes to change major fields within the College of Arts and Sciences must fill out a Change of Major Form in the Academic Services office. The form also is available online at the college’s web site, www.ou.edu/cas. When completed, the form must be submitted in person or by fax (405-325-7429) to the Academic Services office. The student should then schedule an advisement session with a faculty or professional staff adviser in the department of the new major. 

A student who wishes to transfer out of the College of Arts and Sciences to another college on the Norman campus must fill out a Change of College Form in the Academic Services office. 

Enrollment Information 

ADVISEMENT 

All students registered in the College of Arts and Sciences must be advised by a faculty adviser or a professional staff adviser in the major department prior to each enrollment. The steps for enrollment are as follows: 

1. The student should first meet with a major department faculty or professional staff adviser to determine which courses will be taken in the upcoming semester or session. The adviser will create a record of the advising session and give the student electronic permission to enroll, thus allowing the student access to complete online enrollment. 

2. The student will then enroll in courses through online enrollment at the time of his/her designated enrollment window. For specific online enrollment information, contact the Office of Enrollment Services. 

3. If a student has a College STOP on his/her enrollment, the student must contact the College of Arts and Sciences Academic Services office. 

4. If the student has other stops on his/her enrollment, such as Bursar’s or Housing stops, the student needs to contact the appropriate office to discuss the circumstances for the stop. 

Students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of early registration periods in November (for the Spring semester) and in April (for the Summer session and the Fall semester). Courses fill quickly, and students who delay enrollment will find their course selections very limited. 

INTERSESSION ENROLLMENT 

Intersession allows students to earn credit between academic terms. Students who wish to enroll in May, August, or December Intersession may register online. Although it is always recommended, students are not required to meet with an adviser prior to enrolling in an Intersession course. 

CREDIT HOUR REGULATIONS 

The maximum course load in a semester is 19 hours during a regular semester and nine hours in the summer term. A student who has established a strong academic record may request to exceed the maximum enrollment hours by petition to the dean through the Academic Services office. 

CHANGE OF ENROLLMENT 

Deadlines for enrollment, adding a course, and dropping a course are published by the University (http://admissions.ou.edu/calendar.html). It is the student’s responsibility to meet deadlines set by the University for changing an enrollment. 

PASS/NO PASS ENROLLMENT 

Students have the option of taking a course Pass/No Pass (P/NP). To prevent possible bias in grading, the student’s choice of the P/NP option will not be made known to the instructor who will assign the letter grade. The final P/NP grade will be assigned automatically, by computer, on the basis of the letter grade reported by the professor. The grade of P is assigned to a course in which the student earned the equivalent of a C or better. The grade NP is assigned to a course in which the student earned a D or an F. No credit is given for a course graded NP. Courses graded P/NP are not calculated into the student’s grade point average. 

There are three very important restrictions to Pass/No Pass enrollment in the College of Arts and Sciences: 

1. A student may enroll in a maximum of 16 hours of courses under the P/NP option throughout their academic career. 

2. A student may not use the P/NP option for courses taken to satisfy University General Education requirements, Arts and Sciences College requirements, major credit courses, major support requirements, or minor requirements. Only courses used to fulfill free electives may be taken under the Pass/No Pass option. 

3. A student may change registration in any course from the P/NP option to a regular graded status (or vice versa) only during the first two weeks of a semester or the first week of a regular summer session. 

GOOD STANDING/ENROLLMENT CONTRACT 

Good standing in the College of Arts and Sciences requires the following: 

Students not meeting one or both of these requirements will be placed on enrollment contract status and must meet specific conditions established by the assistant dean in the Academic Services office. Failure to meet these conditions will result in denial of enrollment privileges in the College. 

Students who have been denied enrollment privileges in the College of Arts and Sciences due to poor academic work should contact the Center for Student Advancement (311 Old Science Hall, 325-2574). Professional counselors in the Center will assist students in determining their options for continuing their educational pursuits. 

If at any time during a semester the scholastic standing or attendance in any class of a student on enrollment contract is deemed unsatisfactory, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences may recommend to the University Registrar that the student be withdrawn from the University. 

Academic Forgiveness Policy 

The Academic Forgiveness Policy, instituted by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, allows students, under certain circumstances, to have courses removed from the calculation of the retention grade point average. It consists of two components: the repeat policy and the reprieve policy. These are described in the Academic Standards section of this catalog. 

Students should contact the assistant dean in the Academic Services office for instructions concerning the process of requesting academic forgiveness. 

Graduation Requirements 

Rules, Regulations, and Requirements for Undergraduate Programs 

The responsibility for meeting graduation requirements lies with the student. 

The requirements for graduation from the College of Arts and Sciences are listed on the next several pages. The requirements for a specific degree come from four separate sources: (1) the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education; (2) the faculty of the University of Oklahoma; (3) the faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences; and (4) the faculty of a school or department, or the faculty committee administering a special curriculum. 

Degree programs normally have four components: 

The specific requirements for majors and minors are listed in the Academic Units section of this catalog and on the degree requirement checksheets for each program. Degree checksheets are available from the Academic Services office or the College’s web site (www.ou.edu/cas). 

Certification of completion of graduation requirements is the responsibility of the Academic Services office. If grades for the last term of enrollment prior to the planned date of graduation are not adequate for degree completion, students should immediately contact their academic counselor in this office. The counselor will assist the student in establishing another graduation date. 

Graduation Grade Point Average Requirements 

The College of Arts and Sciences requires a minimum ‘C’ (2.00) average in each of the following areas: 

1. Students must earn a minimum of a 2.00 combined retention grade point average (University of Oklahoma and transfer work combined). 

2. Students must earn a minimum of a 2.00 retention grade point average on all University of Oklahoma coursework. 

3. Students must earn a minimum of a 2.00 retention grade point average in all major credit courses (University of Oklahoma and transfer work combined), and a 2.00 retention grade point average in major credit courses taken at the University of Oklahoma. Some schools and departments in the College of Arts and Sciences have established additional higher grade point requirements for their students. Please refer to the Academic Units section of this catalog for detailed information. 

TEN-YEAR LIMITATION RULES 

A student in the College of Arts and Sciences may elect to follow the degree requirements that were in place at the time of the student's first enrollment in the Oklahoma State System for Higher Education (excluding high school concurrent enrollment) or exercise the option to update to the most current degree requirements. Those who elect to follow requirements in place at the time of their first enrollment in the Oklahoma State System for Higher Education must complete the requirements within a maximum of 10 calendar years from the date of that enrollment. If the work for a degree covers a period longer than 10 years, the student must update to the most current degree program requirements. 

Credit in a student’s major that is more than 10 years Old may not be applied toward a bachelor's degree unless it is validated by the major department, or each individual department if the major is interdisciplinary. 

CREDIT HOUR REGULATIONS 

Please read this section carefully. Each of the following credit hour regulations must be satisfied to earn a bachelor’s degree from the College of Arts and Sciences. Refer to individual degree program checksheets for specific requirements. 

1. A minimum of 120 semester credit hours applicable towards an Arts and Sciences degree must be earned, excluding physical education activity courses. 

2. A minimum of 80 semester credit hours must be earned in liberal arts and sciences courses for a Bachelor of Arts degree. A minimum of 55 semester credit hours must be earned in liberal arts and sciences courses for a Bachelor of Science degree. “Liberal arts & sciences courses” are defined by the State Regents as courses in the humanities; social and behavioral sciences; communication; natural and life sciences; mathematics; and the history, literature and theory of the fine arts (music, art, drama, and dance). This excludes fine arts courses that focus primarily on performance techniques or involve mostly studio work. 

3. A minimum of 60 semester credit hours must be earned at accredited senior (4-year) institutions, excluding physical education activity courses. 

4. A minimum of 48 semester hours of upper-division credit (courses numbered 3000 or above) must be earned at accredited senior institutions. Transfer work is counted as lower-division or upper-division depending on the level at which it was offered at the institution where it was earned. Two-year college work is accepted only as lower-division credit. 

5. A minimum of 30 semester credit hours must be earned in the major, including a minimum of 15 semester credit hours at the upper-division level. 

6. Residency: this is defined as coursework taken at the University of Oklahoma, excluding correspondence courses. 

a. A minimum of 30 semester credit hours applied toward the degree must be earned in residence at the University of Oklahoma. 

b. At least 15 of the final 30 hours applied toward the degree or at least 50 percent of the hours required by the institution in the major field must be satisfactorily completed at the University of Oklahoma. 

c. At least 15 semester hours of upper-division major credit applied to the degree must be earned in residence at the University of Oklahoma. 

d. A student must be listed as a College of Arts and Sciences student at the time of graduation. 

e. Credit transferred from other institutions and credit earned through OU correspondence courses is non-resident. Credit earned by examination is considered neither resident nor non-resident for the purposes of these calculations. 

f. Capstone courses must be taken through the University of Oklahoma unless a substitution is approved by the academic department awarding the degree. 

7. No more than 16 semester credit hours earned under the Pass/No Pass option will apply toward the degree. Refer to the College of Arts and Sciences section on P/NP Enrollment. 

8. No more than 12 semester credit hours earned in all individualized study courses, e.g., Independent Study and Directed Readings, but excluding Honors Reading and Honors Research, will be counted as part of the minimum 120 semester credit hours required for graduation. 

9. No courses may be repeated for credit unless specified “repeatable for credit” in the course description of this catalog or the University’s course inventory. Refer to the course description for the number of times or hours a course can be repeated. 

10. Students recommended for the bachelor's degree must achieve a grade point average of 2.0 as a minimum on all course work attempted, excluding any courses repeated or reprieved as detailed in the State Regents’ Grading Policy and excluding physical education activity courses. 

UNIVERSITY-WIDE GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS 

All bachelor’s degrees offered by the College of Arts and Sciences include the following minimum general education requirements: 

Courses for fulfillment of these requirements must be chosen from the University-Wide General Education Approved Course List, published by the University (admissions.ou.edu/gened.htm). 

Core Area I: Symbolic and Oral Communication (9–19 hours, 3–5 courses): 

a. English Composition (6 hours, 2 courses), 

b. Foreign Language (met with the College requirement), 

c. Mathematics (3 hours, 1 course), 

d. Other (may be used when additional credit hours are needed to bring the total hours completed to 40. Approved courses in this area include communication, logic and public speaking). 

Core Area II: Natural Science (met with the College requirement) 

Core Area III: Social Science (6 hours, 2 courses): U.S. Government, plus one additional social sciences course chosen from the approved list. 

Core Area IV: Humanities (12 hours, 4 courses): 

a. Understanding Artistic Forms (3 hours, 1 course), 

b. Western Civilization and Culture (6 hours, 2 courses), 3 of these 6 hours must be HIST 1483 or 1493, 

c: Non-Western Culture (3 hours, 1 course). 

Core Area V: Senior Capstone Experience (3 hours, 1 course). 

In addition to the Senior Capstone Experience, students must take at least one upper-division General Education approved course outside the student’s major. 

ARTS AND SCIENCES COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS 

Courses for fulfillment of these requirements must be chosen from the University-Wide General Education Approved Course List published by the University (admissions.ou.edu/gened.htm). 

All bachelor’s degrees offered by the College of Arts and Sciences require the following minimum College requirements: 

I. Science (7 hours, 2 courses, consisting of one  biological science and one physical science course. One of the courses must include a laboratory.) 

II. Foreign Language (0–13 hours. One course at the intermediate level or demonstrated competency at that level. Students may need to complete one or two courses at the introductory level prior to enrolling in an intermediate course. Language courses transferred from another institution must be equated to an OU intermediate-level course or evaluated by OU. Competency at the intermediate level will also fulfill the General Education Foreign Language requirement.) 

III. Additional Core IV Humanities courses (6 upper-division hours, 2 courses at the 3000-level or above. Must be outside the major and selected from approved courses in Understanding Artistic Forms, Western Civilization and Culture, or Non-Western Culture.) 

APPLICATION FOR GRADUATION 

Students are responsible for filing an official graduation application during their final semester. Graduation applications are available in the Hobson Arts and Sciences Academic Services Center, 124 Ellison Hall. Failure to file the graduation application will result in the student not being eligible for graduation during that semester or term. Those students who plan to graduate in the fall are strongly encouraged to apply for graduation before November 1; those finishing in the spring before March 1; and those finishing in the summer before July 1. In addition to completing all academic requirements for the undergraduate degree, students must also pay all tuition and fees before the degree can be conferred. Students who complete all academic requirements but fail to pay tuition and fees before the beginning of the following semester or session will have the original graduation date printed on their diploma, but only after all tuition and fees are paid. 

DEGREE CHECK 

Students who have earned 90 or more credit hours should schedule a degree check with their academic counselor in the Hobson Academic Services Center. At this appointment the counselor will review the student’s transcript and how the completed courses will apply to the degree program. At the conclusion of the degree check, the student will know exactly how the earned credits apply to his/her degree as well as what courses and how many hours are required to graduate. It is crucial for students to complete the degree check so they will know exactly where they are on the track to graduation. Students may schedule a degree check appointment at https://iadvise.ou.edu. 

Optional Opportunities 

Combined Curriculum 

A student may qualify for the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science at the end of his/her first year in an approved school of dentistry, medicine, osteopathic medicine, or veterinary medicine by fulfilling the requirements listed below. Items A-1 through A-4 must be completed prior to entering the professional school. 

A. Combined Curriculum with the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine or College of Dentistry: 

1. Complete at least 98 semester credit hours before entering the College of Medicine or College of Dentistry. 

2. Earn at least 30 semester credit hours in residence at the University of Oklahoma. 

3. Earn at least 15 semester credit hours of upper-division major credit courses at the University of Oklahoma. 

4. Earn at least 15 of the last 30 semester credit hours before entering the College of Medicine or College of Dentistry in residence at the University of Oklahoma. 

5. Complete all other degree requirements of the College including the University’s general education requirements, the Arts and Sciences College requirements, and all the major and major support requirements of a regular Arts and Sciences degree program. 

6. Successfully complete the work of the first year in the College of Medicine or Dentistry. 

B. Combined Curriculum with other Approved Schools of Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, Dentistry, and Veterinary Medicine: 

A student enrolled in a medical school approved by the Association of American Medical Colleges, in an Osteopathic Medical School approved by the American Osteopathic Association, in a dental school approved by the American Dental Association, or in a school of veterinary medicine approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association may receive the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science upon the satisfactory completion of: Items A-2 through A-4 (above) and completion of at least 98 hours prior to entering the professional school and by satisfactory completion of the first year in the approved College of Dentistry, Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine or Veterinary Medicine. 

Planned Program 

DEGREES OFFERED 

Students seeking an educational experience that meets individual interests or needs may complete a Planned Program in lieu of an existing major. The program may be created in consultation with a faculty member or college-level academic counselor. 

The Planned Program must be a coherent set of courses exploring some theme or topic. The program must include at least 36 hours of courses acceptable for major credit in the departments offering the courses, including a capstone class appropriate for the Planned Program. The program proposal should state in writing the courses to be included and must be approved by the student's faculty or college-level counselor. 

The program proposal must be submitted to the Assistant Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences for preliminary approval, and then to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences for final approval and for designation of the appropriate degree to be awarded upon the successful completion of the program. 

Because the planned program substitutes for only the major requirements, all other degree requirements of the College must be met. Students considering pursuing a planned program should consult a college-level counselor for advice on how to proceed. 

Additional Bachelor’s Degrees 

Additional bachelor’s degrees may be earned from the College of Arts and Sciences by satisfying specific requirements beyond those required for a first degree from the College. Students may earn degrees from the College concurrently, or students holding a bachelor’s degree from the College of Arts and Sciences or another college within the University or from another institution may qualify for an additional (consecutive) degree. To earn an additional bachelor’s degree from the College of Arts and Sciences, a student must: 

1. Choose a major different from that of the prior degree(s). 

2. Satisfy all current requirements of the additional degree program. 

3. Earn a minimum of 30 credit hours in Arts and Sciences courses not applied toward a previous degree, 24 of which must be upper-division. 

4. Earn a minimum 2.00 average on all work attempted for the additional degree. 

5. At least 15 of the last 30 hours applied toward the second degree must be completed in residence at the University of Oklahoma. 

Credit-hour limitations set for the first bachelor’s degree from the College of Arts and Sciences will not be extended for an additional degree (i.e., if the college’s 12 independent study hours were applied to an earlier degree, no additional independent study may be taken). 

Double Majors 

Students may earn two majors as part of a single degree. Both majors must be completed within the College of Arts and Sciences prior to graduation. Only one degree will be awarded but the transcript will indicate both majors. The degree will be awarded when requirements for both majors are completed. Courses used to fulfill minor requirements may not be used toward either major. Students interested in a major outside the College of Arts and Sciences must pursue a second undergraduate degree. 

Minors 

The College of Arts and Sciences offers its students the option of declaring a minor subject. Minors are available in several departments and interdisciplinary programs in the college and the specific minor requirements are discussed in the section of the catalog describing the major programs offered by the college. Requirements also are available in the College of Arts and Sciences Academic Services office or on the college’s Web site at www.ou.edu/cas. Requirements include a minimum of 15 hours of courses acceptable for major credit, at least nine of which are upper-division hours. At least six credit hours must be earned in courses acceptable for resident credit by standards set forth by the College of Arts and Sciences, excluding transfer, correspondence, and examination (AP, CLEP, Advanced Standing) credit. Courses for the minor may not be taken Pass/No Pass. Courses used to fulfill minor requirements may not be used to fulfill the major requirements of a degree or the requirements of another minor. If the minor is officially declared, successfully completed, and noted on the graduation application, the student's transcript will so indicate at the time the bachelor's degree is recorded. The College of Arts and Sciences also offers minors to undergraduate students enrolled in other colleges within the University. 

Following is a list of minors available at the time this catalog was published. For a more current list, consult the college web site at www.ou.edu/cas. 

  • African and African-American Studies 
  • African Studies 
  • Anthropology 
  • Arabic 
  • Astronomy 
  • Botany 
  • Chemistry 
  • Chinese 
  • Classical Culture 
  • Classical Greek 
  • Communication 
  • Economics 
  • English — Literature; Writing 
  • Enterprise Studies 
  • European Studies 
  • Film & Video Studies 
  • French 
  • Gender Studies 
  • German 
  • Health and Exercise Science-Athletic Coaching 
  • Hebrew 
  • History 
  • History of Science 
  • Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Environment 
  • International Enterprise Studies 
  • International Studies 
  • Italian 
  • Japanese 
  • Judaic Studies 
  • Latin 
  • Latin American Studies 
  • Linguistics 
  • Mathematics 
  • Medieval and Renaissance Studies 
  • Microbiology 
  • Middle Eastern Studies 
  • Native American Studies 
  • Nonprofit Organizational Studies 
  • Philosophy 
  • Physics 
  • Political Science 
  • Portuguese 
  • Psychology 
  • Public Affairs and Administration 
  • Religious Studies 
  • Russian 
  • Russian and East European Studies 
  • Sociology-General; Criminology 
  • Spanish 
  • Women of Color 
  • Women’s Health 
  • Women’s Studies 
  • Zoology 

Revised: October 30, 2007