College of Arts & Sciences

Dean: Kecia M. Thomas
Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs: Catherine Daniélou
Associate Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education: Rajesh K. Kana
Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs: John K. Moore
Associate Dean for Research and Innovation: Yogesh K. Vohra
Assistant Dean for Student Engagement: Angela K. Lewis-Maddox

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

The College offers 33 degree programs leading to a Bachelor’s degree, 50 minors, and 23 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 interesting as we realize the benefits of multiple perspectives and methods to advance understanding and improve solutions. We work with the UAB Heersink School of Medicine to offer undergraduate degree paths in Bioinformatics, Cancer Biology, Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Immunology, Neuroscience. Students in the College of Arts and Sciences can pursue formal interdisciplinary programs such as African-American Studies, Human Rights, or International Studies. The Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) degree is another interdisciplinary option that prepares students for careers in various professional fields where fundamental critical thinking and inquiry skills as well as rigorous writing and communication skills are of key importance. We also welcome very motivated students to work with their academic adviser 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: Asian Studies, Children Studies, Chinese Studies, Community Development and Social Change, Health Studies, International Development, International Health, Legal Studies, Motor Development and Health, New Media, Quantitative Economics, Sports and Health in Society, Translational Research.

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

The UAB Blazer Core Curriculum

Additional Requirements

Departments within the College have policies on the grade level of acceptable work that may be applied towards the major or minor. All College of Arts and Sciences majors 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. All students must have a capstone experience. 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 and Chemistry. 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.

Requirements for students majoring or minoring in Political Science, International Studies, 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, Anthropology, Art/Art History, Communication Studies, Criminal Justice, English, Film (minor), World Languages, History, 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.

Teacher Certification

UAB offers baccalaureate level (Class B) secondary (grades 6-12) teacher certification in Chemistry, Biology, General Science, History, General Social Science, English Language Arts, Mathematics, Music-Instrumental, Music-Choral, and middle school (grades 4-8) teacher certification (Class B) in Mathematics. To obtain certification in fields outside science and mathematics, 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. To obtain certification in Chemistry, Biology, Physics, General Science, and Mathematics, students major in their teaching field and participate in the UABTeach program, which leads to a minor in STEM Education and Class B teacher certification. 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 early in their academic careers, or consult directly with UABTeach if in science or mathematics. 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.