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College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) is the oldest and largest of the 11 colleges that make up The University of Iowa. Students from all over the United States and more than 50 other nations study together in the college. Every University of Iowa undergraduate takes courses offered by the college, and more than 75 percent of undergraduates earn their degrees from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

The college provides a comprehensive liberal arts education and advanced education in specialized areas. It offers more than 70 majors and certificates as well as a wide variety of minors and opportunities for interdisciplinary work. Students also may design their own majors through the Bachelor of Arts in interdepartmental studies.

In addition to their academic pursuits, students participate in the college in a variety of ways. They serve on the Dean's Student Advisory Committee and as members of the Educational Policy Committee and the General Education Curriculum Committee--collegiate committees that advise the deans on important educational issues. Students also are invited to serve on ad hoc committees within the college, and many departments have an undergraduate student group or association. CLAS students serve in the University of Iowa Student Government, too. Interested students should contact the appropriate committee or office.

CLAS Web Site

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences web site contains a wealth of information for students and faculty members.

Students find information on academic policies and procedures on the For Students pages, including requirements of the CLAS General Education Program (see Student Academic Handbook). Information about scholarships, service opportunities, and upcoming deadlines also is available on the For Students pages.

The Departments and Programs link provides a list of CLAS administrative units (departments, programs, and schools) and undergraduate majors, certificates, and minors.

Faculty members turn to the CLAS web site for information on teaching and curriculum. resources to use when advising and instructing students, and updates on important CLAS committees. 

The CLAS web site also includes a home page for the Office of the Dean and for CLAS Academic Programs & Services as well as links to other helpful pages.

CLAS Academic Programs & Services

Located in Schaeffer Hall, at the center of campus, CLAS Academic Programs & Services is an integral part of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The office, which is led by the associate dean for undergraduate programs and curriculum, welcomes students wishing to declare or change majors, file second-grade-only options, request permission to register late, add or drop a course late, or withdraw an entire registration after the established deadlines.

The office's staff members answer students' questions concerning academic requirements or programs, and they frequently meet with students concerning General Education Program requirements, graduation requirements, and collegiate policies that affect students.

Students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences may request exceptions to CLAS rules and requirements by petitioning CLAS Academic Programs & Services. All students should discuss their questions and need for an exception first with a staff member in the office.

The office's associate directors work closely with students on academic probation and counsel them on strategies for success. They also conduct semiannual reviews of students on academic probation and consider requests for reinstatement. 

CLAS Academic Programs & Services recommends appropriate disciplinary action for academic fraud, such as acts of plagiarism, cheating, and forgery, and for other academic misconduct. It also handles dismissals from the College.

General Education Program

All students entering the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences who wish to earn a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), Bachelor of Liberal Studies (B.L.S.), of a Bachelor of Music (B.M.) degree must complete the CLAS General Education Program in addition to the requirements of their major and other requirements for graduation.

For General Education requirements, related academic policies, and lists of approved courses, see General Education Program under "College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Academic Program Index" below.

CLAS Units and Academic Programs

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences includes nearly 40 administrative units ranging across the fine and performing arts, humanities and letters, social sciences, and natural and mathematical sciences. These units offer nearly 70 undergraduate majors and certificates as well as a wide variety of minors. They also offer more than 50 graduate programs (with degrees granted by the Graduate College).

Undergraduate Majors, Certificates, and Minors

The college offers undergraduate majors in a broad range of disciplines; for program descriptions and requirements, see the links under "College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Academic Program Index" below. In addition, several majors are offered to CLAS students by other colleges at the University, with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences granting the degrees.

The Tippie College of Business offers a major in economics (B.A. and B.S.); the Carver College of Medicine offers majors in biochemistry (B.A. and B.S.) and in microbiology (B.S.); and the College of Education offers majors in elementary education (B.A. or B.S.) and in science education (B.S.). Link to information about these majors under "College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Academic Program Index" below.

The College of Education also offers a Teacher Education Program leading to licensure at the secondary level for students who have completed certain CLAS majors, such as English, mathematics, and art, and who wish to work with students in middle or high school. Students must apply for admission to College of Education programs; contact the college's Office of Teacher Education and Student Services.

Students who begin their study in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences may earn undergraduate degrees in clinical laboratory sciences, nuclear medicine technology, and radiation sciences; see the Carver College of Medicine section of the Catalog for information about those majors.

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers a broad array of certificates and minors for undergraduate students. In addition, the college collaborates with the University's International Programs office to offer the Certificate in Global Health Studies and the Certificate in Latin American Studies, and it offers the Certificate in International Business together with the Tippie College of Business. Link to information about CLAS certificates and minors under "College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Academic Program Index" below.

CLAS undergraduates may earn certificates and minors offered by other colleges, too. The Tippie College of Business offers the Certificate in Entrepreneurship, the Certificate in Risk Management and Insurance, and the minor in business administration. The College of Public Health offers the Certificate in Public Health. University College offers the Certificate in Museum Studies, the Certificate in Nonprofit Management, and the Certificate in Sustainability. The College of Education offers minors in educational psychology and in human relations. For lists of all undergraduate certificates and minors offered by the University, see Certificates and Minors in the Academics at Iowa/Undergraduate Study section of the Catalog.

Undergraduates also may take courses in book arts from the Center for the Book, a Graduate College program that offers a graduate certificate.

Graduate Degrees and Certificates

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers graduate programs in most of its disciplines, with degrees granted by the Graduate College. Students may earn degrees at the master's and doctoral levels; graduate certificates are available in some areas of study. See Degrees Offered in the Graduate College section of the Catalog for a complete list of graduate degrees offered by the University.

For information about CLAS graduate programs, see the links under "College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Academic Program Index" below.