College of Arts & Sciences

About

The College of Arts and Sciences focuses on scholarship and creativity to directly engage students. We are committed to providing an education that prepares our graduates to understand and address complex contemporary problems within their wider social, historical, and ethical contexts. Students develop expertise in their chosen discipline and gain critical perspective from a broad array of academic fields.  Additionally, through hands-on research, creative projects, fieldwork, internships, and study abroad opportunities, students have the opportunity integrate classroom learning with real-world experience and application.

Our interdisciplinary college aims to spark curiosity and imagination, fostering each student’s unique strengths and preparing them to meet local, regional, and global challenges. A successful student in any program in the College of Arts and Sciences will have an excellent foundation for professional success, graduate study, and a passion for lifelong learning.

The College of Arts and Sciences is committed to supporting our local and state communities by engaging with and serving the State of Wyoming.  By leveraging college strengths in the social and behavioral sciences, humanities, and arts, we can play a role in diversifying Wyoming’s economy and contribute to the communities in Wyoming. Through the skills and knowledge acquired by our undergraduate and graduate students, our graduates are well prepared to play an active role in the social, economic, and civic life throughout the state.

Special Requirements and Information

College Credit Hours Requirements

1. Minimum total credit hours 120
2. Upper-division credit requirements (42). Thirty of the 42 hours must be earned from UW. Courses must be taken for a letter grade unless offered for S/U only. This is an all-university requirement for all degree programs and may come from the courses that fulfill the USP, the major, the minor, and electives.
3. Major field of study (30-60). At least 30 hours of C grade or better must be earned in the major subject (the major may require more). Courses in the major must be taken for a letter grade unless offered for S/U only.
4. Out of Major requirement (60). In addition to attaining all credits required by the major, students are required to earn 60 credits outside the major. Credits in AS internship, independent study, or special topics courses (AS 2400, AS 2490, AS 4400, AS 4500, AS 4900. and AS 4975) may not be used to fulfill these outside the major requirements. 

All other university and college regulations apply. See the “Graduation Requirements and Procedures” section of this Catalog for more information. Graduate level “Enrichment” courses do not count toward the requirements for a bachelor’s degree.

College Degree Requirements for Continuing and Re-enrolling Students (Prior to Fall 2015)

Students who re-enter the university after an absence of a year or more should refer to other sections of this Catalog for university policies and procedures. Unless approved otherwise, re-enrolling students, after a year’s absence, are required to follow the University Studies and College requirements in effect the semester of their re-enrollment. 

Assistance with learning to browse classes and to understand the Degree Evaluation can be obtained from the A&S Advising Center, Ross 6, 766-4013, asadvising@uwyo.edu.

Departments and programs in the College of Arts and Sciences may require re-enrolling students to complete requirements in the major that meet the current expectations of the discipline.

Acceptance of Transfer Credits

The College of Arts and Sciences and its Departments reserve the right to grant transfer credit toward the bachelor’s degree only for those courses where a grade of C or better was earned and meet student learning outcomes of current curriclum.

Courses Taken for S/U Credit

Students may include up to 20 semester credit hours in free electives with a grade of S as part of the total hours required by the College of Arts and Sciences for graduation. However, no S/U hours may be used to satisfy university, college requirements, including the required 42 upper-division credit hours unless the course is offered for S/U grading only.

Students registering in courses for S/U grades are subject to all general regulations.

Concurrent Majors

Students may pursue two or more majors simultaneously. With careful planning, A&S students may be able to use all or most of the free elective hours for requirements in other majors. The student earns one degree with one diploma. Students pursuing a concurrent major must contact the A&S Advising Center, Ross 6, 766-4013, asadvise@uwyo.edu to receive advising for each of the declared majors.  Refer also to the section, “Graduation Requirements and Procedures” in this Catalog.

Dual Degrees

Students may simultaneously pursue degrees in the same or more than one UW college. A diploma is awarded for each degree.

Each additional degree requires 30 more credit hours added to the 120 credits to the primary degree. Of these 30 credits, 12 must be at the 3XXX-4XXX levels. Refer also to the section, “Graduation Requirements and Procedures” in this Catalog.

Second Bachelor’s Degrees

For those students whose first degree is from another university and who seek a second bachelor’s degree from the College of Arts and Sciences, the minimum requirements include:

• 30 semester hours earned from the University of Wyoming, 12 of which must be upper division (3XXX-4XXX level) or graduate level (credit by examination does not count as UW hours).
• Completion of the U.S. and Wyoming Constitutions requirement (V courses in the University Studies Program course list in this Catalog).
• If the first degree is from an institution where English is not the predominant language, successful completion of the COM1 and COM2 requirements of the University Studies Program is required.

For students whose first degree is from UW:

• The additional required 30 hours (12 of these at the 3XXX-4XXX) are added to the degree requiring the least number of hours. For example, for a first degree, A&S requires 120 hours. Thus, the total credits a UW student would have to complete for the second bachelor’s degree is a minimum of 150 credits. Since the University requires a total of 42 upper division hours for a degree, for the second degree from A&S, a UW student would need to earn a total of 54 hours at the 3XXX-4XXX level. For more information, please see the Second Bachelor’s Degree entry in the section, “Graduation Requirements and Procedures” in this Catalog.
• In situations in which a student is subsequently required to take coursework from another collegiate institution to fulfill major and overall hour requirements for a second degree from the university, the student’s department can ask the Office of the Registrar to load selected courses into the student’s record.

Advising

To help plan a program of study, an academic advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences Advising Center (A&S Advising Center, Ross 6, 766-4013, asadvise@uwyo.edu) is assigned to each student. Students who are undecided about a major are advised in the UW Advising, Career, and Exploratory Studies (ACES) office (222 Knight Hall).

Students should consult regularly with their academic advisor not only for course scheduling but also to discuss educational and career goals. Faculty and professional advisors can connect students to the many college and university resources to assist undergraduate study. Instructors are also willing to discuss concerns students may have regarding specific courses.

A&S Core requirements for a student continuing a degree program in effect at the time of matriculation at UW are found in the relevant previous Catalog. Assistance with learning to browse classes and to understand requirements and the Degree Evaluation can be obtained from the A&S Advising Center, Ross 6, 766-4013, asadvising@uwyo.edu.

Degree Programs

Undergraduate Degrees

Bachelor of Science

• Communication, B.S.  
• Political Science, B.S.  
• Psychology, B.S.   
• Psychology, B.S. (online)  

Bachelor of Arts

• American Studies, B.A.  
• Anthropology, B.A.  
• Art Education, B.A.  
• Communication, B.A.  
• Criminal Justice and Criminology, B.A.  
• Criminal Justice and Criminology, B.A. (online)  
• English, B.A.  
• European Languages, Literature and Film Studies, B.A.  
• History, B.A.  
• International Studies, B.A.  
• Journalism, B.A.  
• Music, B.A.  
• Native American and Indigenous Studies, B.A.  
• Philosophy, B.A.  
• Political Science B.A.  
• Religious Studies, B.A.  
• Sociology, B.A.   
• Sociology, B.A. (online)  
• Spanish, B.A.  
• Theatre and Dance, B.A.  
• Visual Arts, B.A.  

Bachelor of Fine Arts

• Studio Art, B.F.A.  
• Theatre and Dance, B.F.A.
• Visual Communication Design, B.F.A.   

Bachelor of Music 

• Music Education, B.M.  
• Music Performance, B.M.  

Minors options:

Graduate Degrees

Master of Science

Master of Arts

• American Studies, M.A. (interdisciplinary)  
• Anthropology, M.A.  
• Communication, M.A.  
• English, M.A (hybrid)  
• History, M.A.  
• International Studies, M.A (interdisciplinary)  
• Political Science, M.A.  
• Spanish, M.A.  

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing  
Master of Music  
Master of Music Education  
Master of Public Administration (online)   

Doctor of Philosophy

• Anthropology, Ph.D.  
• English, Ph.D.  
• Psychology, Ph.D.  

Certificate Programs

• American Studies, Certificate  
• Audio Technology, Certificate  
• Arts Entrepreneurship, Certificate (Undergraduate)