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 35 degree programs leading to a Bachelor’s degree, 51 minors, and 26 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 ensure 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.

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

Core Curriculum	Hours
On Ramp	0 Credits
The on-ramp is not a course and does not offer course credit, but is rather a series of exciting events that are designed to immerse students in the values and principles of UAB and kick-start their engagement in the UAB and Birmingham community.
Local Beginnings	3 Credits
Students begin locally in a community of learners that is developed through our innovative First Year Experience courses. These courses provide students with a meaningful introduction to academic study at UAB that engages them in the process of designing pathways for both their future careers and future engagements as citizens. Requirements Hours Local Beginnings 3 BUS 101 Introduction to Business BUS 102 Business Foundations BY 110 Biology's Guide to Surviving Stress CAS 112 Success in College EDU 100 Touch the Future ELI 114 International Student University Success EGR 200 Introduction to Engineering HRP 101 Experience the University Transition MU 112 Musical Success and Wellbeing in College NUR 100 Student Success in Nursing PUH 101 Transitioning to College, Exploring Public Health PY 107 Psychology of Adjustment UASC 101 Exploring UAB UASC 102 Success and the City UASC 105 Keys to Academic Success WLL 170 Lost in Translation: Navigating College and Beyond
Academic Foundations	15 Credits
Intellectual foundations provide students with opportunities to develop and apply processes of print and digital communication, quantitative literacy, and critical and ethical thinking to real-world issues. Courses such as our innovative place-based Freshman English courses foster students’ awareness of how foundational knowledge directly impacts the lives of those in our community and world. Requirements Hours Writing 6 Freshman Writing I and Freshman Writing II provide students with strong writing processes that enable students to become adaptable writers who can communicate in a variety of different media for different audiences. EH 101 English Composition I or EH 106 Introduction to Freshman Writing I or EH 108 English Composition I for Second Language Writers EH 102 English Composition II or EH 107 Introduction to Freshman Writing II or EH 109 English Composition II for Second Language Writers Quantitative Literacy 3 Courses in quantitative literacy provide students with central conceptual knowledge of numbers, formulas, data, and probabilities, and encourage students to apply this knowledge to address real-world problems. MA 105 Pre-Calculus Algebra MA 106 Pre-Calculus Trigonometry MA 107 Pre-Calculus Algebra and Trigonometry MA 108 Mathematics of Social Choice MA 110 Finite Mathematics MA 125 Calculus I MA 126 Calculus II MA 168 Mathematics of Biological Systems I MA 180 Introduction to Statistics MA 225 Calculus I - Honors MA 226 Calculus II - Honors MA 252 Introduction to Differential Equations MA 260 Introduction to Linear Algebra PH 103 Understanding the World Through Data PH 299 Reasoning through Modeling and Simulation of Data PSC 200 Data, Politics and Policy PUH 250 Biostatistics PY 116 Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences Reasoning 3 Courses in reasoning teach logic and reasoning processes, including ethical thinking processes that enable students to understand the critical dialogues and discourses that shape our world. ANTH 104 Introduction to Peace Studies BUS 200 Principles of Ethics BUS 210 Artificial Intelligence and Society BY 170 Biology of Sex HC 115 Honors Seminar in Reasoning HC 119 Honors Seminar HC 128 Honors Seminar in Reasoning PHL 115 Contemporary Moral Issues PHL 116 Bioethics PHL 120 Practical Reasoning PHL 220 Introduction to Symbolic Logic PSC 102 Foundations of Comparative Politics PSC 104 Foundations of Political Theory PUH 201 Introduction to Public Health PY 199 Irrational Thinking PY 213 Cross-Cultural Perspective on Child Development Communicating in the Modern World 3 Courses in communicating the modern world expand students’ understanding of verbal and visual forms of communication and empower them to become effective and adaptive communicators. ANTH 262 Mythbusting Hoaxes ARA 101 & 101L Introductory Arabic I and Introductory Arabic I Language Practice ARA 102 & 102L Introductory Arabic II and Introductory Arabic II Language Practice BUS 250 Foundations of Business Communications BY 225 Contemporary Issues in Science Policy CHI 101 & 101L Introductory Chinese I and Introductory Chinese I Language Practice CHI 102 & 102L Introductory Chinese II and Introductory Chinese II Language Practice CHI 201 Intermediate Chinese I CMST 101 Public Speaking CMST 105 Introduction to Human Communication EDU 210 Communication in EDU: Visually Communicating with Graphic Novels EGR 103 Computer Aided Graphics and Design EGR 117 Engineering Design & Innovation I: Design Thinking FR 101 & 101L Introductory French I and Introductory French I Language Practice FR 102 & 102L Introductory French II and Introductory French II Language Practice FR 105 Accelerated Gamified Introductory French FR 201 Intermediate French I GN 101 & 101L Introductory German I and Introductory German I Language Practice GN 102 & 102L Introductory German II and Introductory German II Language Practice GN 201 Intermediate German I HC 111 Honors Seminar in Engineering HC 114 Honors Seminar in Business HC 201 Leadership Skills ITL 101 & 101L Introductory Italian I and Introductory Italian I Language Practice ITL 102 & 102L Introductory Italian II and Introductory Italian II Language Practice JPA 101 & 101L Introductory Japanese I and Introductory Japanese I Language Practice JPA 102 & 102L Introductory Japanese II and Introductory Japanese II Language Practice JPA 201 Intermediate Japanese I NUR 203 Introduction to Health Literacy and Patient Education POR 101 & 101L Introductory Portuguese I and Introductory Portuguese I Language Practice POR 102 & 102L Introductory Portuguese II and Introductory Portuguese II Language Practice PSC 100 Public Service PSC 221 American State and Local Government SPA 101 & 101L Introductory Spanish I and Introductory Spanish I Language Practice SPA 102 & 102L Introductory Spanish II and Introductory Spanish II Language Practice SPA 180 Spanish for Health Professionals SPA 201 Intermediate Spanish I WLL 101 Introductory World Language I WLL 102 Introductory World Language II WS 100 Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies Total Hours 15
Thinking Broadly	20 Credits
To respond to the opportunities of tomorrow, students need the ability to think from a range of different disciplinary and cultural perspectives, recognize and value the diversity of human culture and identity, perceive the vital importance of intellectual and public knowledge of scientific inquiry in our society, understand the historical development of the cultures, communities, and networks that shape our world, and critically understand how narrative, visual art, and design shape our contemporary experience of the world. Requirements Hours History & Meaning 3 Courses in this section will explore the ways that human beings have sought to understand, organize, and interpret the human experience and to give it meaning. AAS 200 Introduction to African-American Studies AAS 223 African-Amer Hist to Civil War AAS 224 African American History Since 1865 ANTH 106 Introducing Archaeology ANTH 232 Explorers, Mummies, Hieroglyphs ANTH 245 Peoples of the World:Mediterranean ARH 210 Art and Medicine: A History EH 210 Interpreting Film EH 212 Forms of Literature EH 213 Ideas in Literature HC 116 Honors Seminar in History & Meaning HC 117 Honors Seminar in History & Meaning HC 216 Honors Seminar in Social and Behavioral Sciences HC 219 Honors Seminar HC 220 Honors Seminar History & Meaning HY 101 Western Civilization I HY 102 Western Civilization II HY 104 World History to 1600 HY 105 World History 1600 to the Present HY 106 World History and Technology I HY 107 World History and Technology II HY 120 The United States To 1877 HY 121 The United States Since 1877 HY 202 Reacting to the Past PHL 100 Introduction to Philosophy PHL 125 Introduction to Ethics PHL 203 Philosophy of Religion PHL 207 Meaning of Life: Perspectives PSC 120 Urban Politics WLL 145 Afrodocs: Afro-Iberian and Caribbean History through Film WLL 230 The International Bio-Pic The Creative Arts 3 Courses in this section will explore the imaginative and creative arts. ARH 101 The Art Experience ARH 102 Modern Visual Culture ARH 203 Ancient and Medieval Art ARH 204 Early Modern-Contemporary Art ARH 205 Survey of African Art ARH 206 Survey of Asian Art ARS 280 Creativity and Imagination EH 205 Introduction to Creative Writing HC 112 Honors Seminar in Creative Arts HC 118 Honors Seminar in Creative Arts HC 218 Honor Seminar in Arts and Humanities MU 120 Music Appreciation MU 165 Jazz Styles: History and Appreciation MU 205 African-American Music 1619-Present MU 264 Introduction to Indian Classical Music MU 266 Introduction to World Music THR 100 Introduction to the Theatre THR 102 Introduction to Cinema THR 105 Introduction to Dance THR 200 Plays on Film THR 281 Drama in Performance WLL 140 Worlds of Anime and Manga WLL 220 World Literatures in English Translation Scientific Inquiry 8 Courses in this section will teach students the processes of scientific inquiry and the uses of scientific evidence and challenge them to think about the importance of scientific inquiry for understanding and addressing our world’s key challenges. These courses will be accompanied by labs. ANTH 102 & 102L Introduction to Biological Anthropology and Laboratory in Biological Anthropology AST 101 & AST 111 Astronomy of the Universe and Astronomy of the Universe Laboratory AST 102 & AST 112 Stars and Galaxies and Stars and Galaxies Laboratory AST 103 & AST 113 Astronomy of the Solar System and Astronomy of the Solar Systems Laboratory AST 105 & AST 115 Extraterrestrial Life and Extraterrestrial Life Laboratory BY 101 & BY 102 Topics in Contemporary Biology and Topics Contemporary Biology Laboratory BY 103 & 103L Oceans and You and Oceans and You - Laboratory BY 108 & BY 109 Human Population and the Earth's Environment and Laboratory in Environmental Science BY 123 Introductory Biology I BY 124 Introductory Biology II CH 105 & CH 106 Introductory Chemistry I and Introductory Chemistry I Laboratory CH 107 & CH 108 Introductory Chemistry II and Introductory Chemistry II Laboratory CH 115 & CH 116 General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory CH 117 & CH 118 General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Laboratory CH 125 & CH 126 General Chemistry I HONORS and General Chemistry I HONORS Laboratory CH 127 & CH 128 General Chemistry II HONORS and General Chemistry II HONORS Laboratory CS 104 Data Science for All ES 101 Physical Geology ES 102 Physical Geology Laboratory HC 120 Honors Seminar: Scientific Inquiry PH 201 College Physics I PH 202 College Physics II PH 221 General Physics I PH 222 General Physics II PHS 101 Physical Science PHS 102 Physical Science II Humans and their Societies 3 Courses in this section look at the ways that human beings behave in the social world and how they have organized their societies. ANTH 101 Introducing Cultural Anthropology ANTH 120 Language and Culture CJ 207 Crime and Everyday Life CMST 100 Introduction to Media and Society DCS 101 Media, Culture and Society EC 210 Principles of Microeconomics EC 211 Principles of Macroeconomics HC 101 Fundamentals of Leadership HC 110 Honors Seminar: Special Topics in Humans and Their Societies HC 113 Honors Seminar in Humans and Their Societies HC 126 Honors Seminar Humans & their Societies HC 214 Honors Seminar HCS 250 Extreme Teaming in Healthcare HY 201 History and Society KIN 231 Digital Gaming LING 110 Art and Science of Language NTR 121 Well Being and You NTR 201 Healthy People, Healthy Planet NTR 222 Nutrition and Health NUR 204 Healthy Aging in the U.S. PHL 213 Ethics of Artificial Intelligence PHL 230 Social and Political Philosophy PHL 270 Science, Knowledge, and Reality PSC 101 Foundations of American Government PSC 103 Foundations of International Relations PUH 202 Introduction to Global Health PUH 204 Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health PY 101 Introduction to Psychology PY 109 Drugs and Human Behavior PY 201 Honors Introduction to Psychology PY 212 Developmental Psychology PY 222 Honors Developmental Psychology SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology SOC 200 The Tipping Point: How Societies Change SOC 220 Gendered Lives: Sociology of Sex and Gender SOC 245 A Society in Flux: Contemporary Social Problems in the United States SOC 250 Beyond Black and White: Exploring Race and Ethnicity SOC 278 Global Lives: Sociology of Our Interconnected World SOC 280 Sickness and Health: An Introduction to Medical Sociology WLL 120 World Cultures WLL 121 Songs of Social Change through World Cultures Additional Selection 3 Select one additional course from History & Meaning, The Creative Arts, or Humans & Their Societies Total Hours 20
City as Classroom	3 Credits
A signature initiative of Blazer Core, City as Classroom courses will be taught by faculty across the many disciplines at UAB and will immerse students in undergraduate research, experiential learning, or other high-impact practices that enable them to see the role of knowledge in addressing the challenges and opportunities of our city. Here are just a few possible examples: Requirements Hours City As a Classroom 3 AC 264 Taxation and the Working Poor AC 265 Financial Oversight for Not-for-Profit Organizations ANTH 100 City as Culture AST 121 Protecting Starry Skies in Birmingham and Beyond BUS 270 Urban Neighborhood Revitalization and Community Development/CAC BY 201 CAC: Climate Change and the Environment BY 203 CAC: Aging: From Cells to Society CE 280 Sustainable Cities CJ 199 Real Life in the City CHHS 141 Lifelong Health & Wellness DCS 291 Documentary Filmmaking in Birmingham EC 220 Economic Impacts, Equity and History of Birmingham ECY 200 Disability in Society EH 203 Writing in Birmingham EH 204 Reading in Birmingham ES 108 Urban Geology FN 201 Investigations into Financial Inclusion GEO 101 Intro to Geography HC 130 Honor Seminar - City as a Classroom HRP 210 Social Determinants of Health in Alabama HRT 100 Introduction to Human Rights HY 200 City as Classroom HY 204 History of Disease in the American South HY 278 Untold Stories: Oral History LING 200 Dialect and Language Diversity in the South MA 189 Data Dive Into Birmingham NUR 201 Health in the City NUR 202 The Art and Science of Wellbeing NUR 205 Leading Interprofessional Teams NUR 206 Health Emergency Prevention & Response in Birmingham PH 104 Community Data Research PHL 299 Philosophy Service Learning PSC 267 Political Science City as Classroom PUH 275 Health Equity, Disparities, and Social Justice in Alabama PUH 280 Introduction to Sustainability: Shaping Our Shared Future PY 197 Community Service Practicum SOC 222 Sociology in the City WLL 115 Experiencing Japanese Culture in Birmingham WLL 118 City as Main Character WLL 125 Eating in Birmingham: From Food Banks to Fine Dining WLL 130 My Global Birmingham WLL 132 Multicultural City: Heritage through Festivals WLL 135 The Sports Culture of the Hispanic World WLL 295 Study Abroad and the City Flags (5 minimum): As students progress through Blazer Core, they will develop key skills and capabilities that sometimes are not reflected on their transcripts. Our innovative flagging program allows students to earn flags for course work and co-curricular activities that cultivate specific skills, perspectives, and habits of mind that reflect the goals of the core and ideals of UAB. Here are just a few of our important flags. Justice Wellness/Wellbeing Sustainability Civic Engagement High-Impact Practices First Year Experiences Common Intellectual Experiences Collaborative Assignments and Projects Service Learning/Community Based Learning Undergraduate Research Post-Freshman Writing Global/Multicultural Perspectives
Total Semester Hours:	41

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 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), History, Human Rights, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, World Languages, Theatre, Writing and Media: 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.