Interim Dean: Robert E. Palazzo
Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Academic Affairs: Catherine Daniélou
Associate Dean for Advising: Kimberly Schnormeier
Associate Dean for Interdisciplinary and Creative Innovation: Yogesh K. Vohra
Associate Dean for Research in the Humanities: Rebecca Bach
Associate Dean for Research in the Sciences: David C. Schwebel 

The College of Arts and Sciences includes departments in the arts, humanities, mathematics, social, behavioral, natural and physical sciences.

The College offers 23 degree programs leading to a Bachelor’s degree and 22 programs leading to a masters or doctoral degree. Situated at the center of an internationally renowned research university and academic medical center, students and faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences have unparalleled opportunity to be part of the innovative and ground-breaking research and creative work that is the signature of UAB.

We offer a student-centered, experiential curriculum designed to prepare students not only for the careers and challenges of the 21st century, but also to be the leaders in the global marketplace of ideas. Every undergraduate program in the arts and sciences is designed to insure that students cultivate strong oral and written communication skills, proficiency in mathematical and analytical reasoning, and sophisticated appreciation of ethics and civic engagement. Graduates with an arts and sciences major develop the ability to understand diverse perspectives making them better prepared to work creatively and productively with others to solve the most important problems of our times.

Honors programs and honors level study are offered in almost every department, along with mentored research and study abroad for interested students. Our metropolitan location provides an endless number of internship placements coordinated with an academic program of study. Each year many of our students pursue at least one of these opportunities.

Interdisciplinary programs of study are increasingly popular as we realize the benefits of multiple perspectives and methods to advance understanding and improve solutions. Students in the College of Arts and Sciences can pursue formal interdisciplinary programs such as African-American Studies or International Studies. We also encourage motivated students to work with their academic advisor and faculty to design an individualized, interdisciplinary major in a focused area. Among the fields that some of our students have chosen to focus on are: Arabic, Asian Studies, Children Studies, Chinese Studies, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Science Film-making, Film Studies, Forensic Science, Health and Society, International Development, International Health, Japanese Studies, Sports and Health in Society, Social Media, Sports Economics, Women's Studies.

The UAB Core Curriculum requirements and the specific major and minor requirements for graduation are listed below for each Bachelor’s degree option.

Back To Top

The Core Curriculum for the College of Arts & Sciences

Core Curriculum	Hours
Area I. Written Composition	6 hours
Effective written communication skills are essential in a literate society. Requirements include six semester hours in written composition. UAB students must complete EH 101 English Composition I and EH 102 English Composition II with the grade of C or better within their first 30 hours or as soon as possible thereafter. Requirements Hours EH 101 English Composition I 3 EH 102 English Composition II 3
Area II. Humanities and Fine Arts	12 hours
Study in the humanities addresses the ability to deal with questions of values, ethics, or aesthetics as they are represented in literature, philosophy, religion, and the arts, and is fundamental to general education. Requirements include at least 12 semester hours in humanities with a minimum of three semester hours in literature, three semester hours in the fine arts, and the remaining hours from the humanities and/or fine arts. In addition to literature, disciplines in the humanities include, but are not limited to, philosophy, religious studies, speech, foreign languages, art, music, theatre, and dance. As part of the common Core Curriculum, students must complete a six-semester hour sequence either in literature (Area II) or in history (Area IV). The following courses satisfy Area II of the Core Curriculum: Requirements Hours AAS 200 Introduction to African-American Studies 3 ARA 101 Introductory Arabic I 3 ARA 102 Introductory Arabic II 3 ARH 101 The Art Experience 3 ARH 203 Ancient and Medieval Art 3 ARH 204 Renaissance through Modern Art 3 ARH 206 Survey of Asian Art 3 CHI 101 Introductory Chinese I 3 CHI 102 Introductory Chinese II 3 CMST 101 Public Speaking 3 EH 216 Introduction to Literature 3 EH 217 World Literature I: Before 1660 3 EH 218 World Literature II: 1660-Present 3 EH 221 British and Irish Literature I: Before 1800 3 EH 222 British and Irish Literature II: 1800-Present 3 EH 223 American Literature I: Before 1865 3 EH 224 American Literature II: 1865-Present 3 FLL 120 Foreign Cultures 3 FLL 220 Foreign Literatures in English Translation 3 FR 101 Introductory French I 4 FR 102 Introductory French II 4 FR 108 Introductory Intensive French 4 FR 201 Intermediate French I 3 FR 202 Intermediate French II 3 GN 101 Introductory German I 4 GN 102 Introductory German II 4 GN 201 Intermediate German I 3 GN 202 Intermediate German II 3 GN 204 Readings in German Literature 3 ITL 101 Introductory Italian I 3 ITL 102 Introductory Italian II 3 JPA 101 Introductory Japanese I 3 JPA 102 Introductory Japanese II 3 MU 120 Music Appreciation 3 PHL 100 Introduction to Philosophy 3 PHL 115 Contemporary Moral Issues 3 PHL 116 Bioethics 3 PHL 120 Practical Reasoning 3 PHL 125 Introduction to Ethics 3 PHL 203 Philosophy of Religion 3 SPA 101 Introductory Spanish I /QL 4 SPA 102 Introductory Spanish II 4 SPA 108 Introductory Intensive Spanish 4 SPA 201 Intermediate Spanish I 3 SPA 202 Intermediate Spanish II 3 THR 100 Introduction to the Theatre 3 THR 105 Introduction to Dance 3 THR 200 Plays on Film 3
Area III. Natural Sciences and Mathematics	11 hours
Study in the natural sciences and mathematics emphasizes the scientific method and applies quantitative or inductive reasoning. Requirements include at least 11 semester hours with at least three semester hours in mathematics at the pre-calculus algebra level or higher and at least eight semester hours in the natural sciences. All courses in the natural sciences must include laboratory experiences. Disciplines in the natural sciences include, but are not limited to, astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, and physics. UAB students must take the required three semester hours in mathematics within their first 60 hours or as soon as possible thereafter. The following courses satisfy Area III of the Core Curriculum: Requirements Hours AST 101   & AST 111 Astronomy of the Universe    and Astronomy of the Universe Laboratory 4 AST 102   & AST 112 Astronomy of Stellar Systems    and Astronomy of Stellar Systems Laboratory 4 AST 103   & AST 113 Astronomy of the Solar System    and Astronomy of the Solar Systems Laboratory 4 AST 105   & AST 115 Extraterrestrial Life    and Extraterrestrial Life Laboratory 4 BY 101   & BY 102 Topics in Contemporary Biology    and Topics Contemporary Biology Laboratory 4 BY 111   & BY 112 Extended Topics in Contemporary Biology    and Ext Topics Contemporary Biology Laboratory 4 BY 123 Introductory Biology I 4 BY 124 Introductory Biology II 4 CH 105   & CH 106 Introductory Chemistry I    and Introductory Chemistry I Laboratory 4 CH 107   & CH 108 Introductory Chemistry II    and Introductory Chemistry II Laboratory 4 CH 115   & CH 116 General Chemistry I    and General Chemistry I Laboratory 4 CH 117   & CH 118 General Chemistry II    and General Chemistry II Laboratory 4 ENV 108   & ENV 109 Human Population and the Earth s Environment    and Laboratory in Environmental Science 4 ES 101   & ES 102 Physical Geology    and Physical Geology Laboratory 4 ES 103   & ES 104 History of the Earth    and History of the Earth Laboratory 4 MA 105 Pre-Calculus Algebra 3 MA 106 Pre-Calculus Trigonometry 3 MA 107 Precalculus Algebra and Trigonometry 4 MA 109 Survey of Calculus 3 MA 110 Finite Mathematics 3 MA 125 Calculus I 4 MA 126 Calculus II 4 MA 227 Calculus III 4 MA 252 Introduction to Differential Equations 3 MA 260 Introduction to Linear Algebra 3 PH 201 College Physics I 4 PH 202 College Physics II 4 PH 221 General Physics I 4 PH 222 General Physics II 4 PHS 101 Physical Science 4
Area IV. History, Social, and Behavioral Sciences	12 hours
Study in history and the social and behavioral sciences deals primarily with the study of human behavior, social and political structures, and economics. Requirements include 12 semester hours with at least a three-semester hour course in history and at least six semester hours from among other disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences. Disciplines include, but are not limited to, anthropology, economics, geography, political science, psychology, and sociology. As part of the common Core Curriculum, students must complete a six-semester hour sequence either in literature (Area II) or in history (Area IV).  The following courses satisfy Area IV of the Core Curriculum: Requirements Hours ANTH 101 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology 3 ANTH 106 Introductory Archaeology 3 ANTH 120 Language and Culture 3 CMST 105 Introduction to Human Communication 3 EC 210 Principles of Microeconomics 3 EC 211 Principles of Macroeconomics 3 GEO 121 World Regional Geography 3 HY 101 Western Civilization I 3 HY 102 Western Civilization II 3 HY 104 World History to 1600 3 HY 105 World History 1600 to the Present 3 HY 120 The United States To 1877 3 HY 121 The United States Since 1877 3 ITS 101 Introduction to International Studies 3 PSC 101 Introduction to American Government 3 PSC 102 Introduction to Comparative Politics 3 PSC 103 Introduction to International Relations 3 PSC 221 American State and Local Government 3 PY 101 Introduction to Psychology 3 PY 201 Honors Introduction to Psychology 3 PY 212 Developmental Psychology 3 SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology 3 SOC 245 Contemporary Social Problems 3 WS 100 Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies 3
Area V. Pre-Professional, Pre-Major, and Elective Courses
Certain degrees/major may require students to take additional required courses and/or elective courses appropriate to the individual degree or program. Students should consult the appropriate college or school section of this catalog to see whether Area V requirements apply to them.
Total Semester Hours:	41

Back To Top

Additional Requirements

Back To Top

General Electives for Majors in the College of Arts & Sciences

Departments within the College have policies on the grade level of acceptable work that may be applied towards the major or minor. A student must take general electives to reach the 120 semester hour requirement. At least 9 semester hours of the major must be at the 400 level or above. In addition to the number of hours there is a requirement of at least a C average in courses counted toward the major and also in courses counted toward the minor for all students majoring in Biology, Chemistry, Computer and Information Sciences, Mathematics, Physics. At least one-third of the hours in both the major and minor must be completed at UAB, and at least a C average must be maintained in these courses.

Back To Top

Other Requirements

Requirements for students majoring or minoring in Anthropology, Communication Studies, Government, International Studies, History, Justice Sciences, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology: courses counted toward one major or minor may not be applied to meet the requirements of another major or minor; credit will be allowed for job-training instructional programs that have been evaluated and approved by an agency of the American Council on Education, or comparable evaluating agency, and when the work in question is germane to the student’s program.

Requirements for students majoring in African American Studies, Art/Art History, English, Foreign Languages, Music, Philosophy, Theatre: relevant courses counted toward one major or minor in one of these seven fields may be applied to meet the requirements of a major or minor in another of these specific fields. After doing so, if a student has not achieved the minimum required credit hours for graduation, the remaining hours may be fulfilled through courses of the student’s choosing, consistent with all other degree requirements.

Back To Top

Teacher Certification

UAB offers baccalaureate level (Class B) secondary (grades 6-12) teacher certification in Visual Arts, Chemistry, Biology, General Science, French, History, General Social Science, English Language Arts, Mathematics, Music-Instrumental, Music-Choral, and Spanish. To obtain certification, students must major in their teaching field and education. Requirements for the major in the College of Arts and Sciences may be found in the appropriate department listing. Because of specific Alabama Teacher Certification requirements, students seeking certification should consult with the School of Education Student Success Center (Room 100, Education Building) early in their academic careers. UAB also offers non-traditional fifth year masters’ level (Class A) certification in the above disciplines. Students majoring in one of the above fields should contact the School of Education Student Success Center for more information about program admission requirements.