College of Arts and Sciences

College of Arts and Sciences Website

Leadership

Donna J. LaVoie, Ph.D.
Dean

Gary W. Barker, M.F.A.
Sr. Associate Dean for Administration and Undergraduate Affairs

Dan Kozlowski, Ph.D.
​Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs 

Katrina Moore, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Engagement

Jennifer J. Popiel, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Affairs

Laurie Russell, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Student Success and Academic Innovation

Description

The College of Arts and Sciences, established in 1818, is the oldest academic unit at Saint Louis University. In keeping with the SLU's mission, the primary objective is to impart a liberal education with a core curriculum designed to educate the whole person. Specifically, the college curriculum is designed so that graduates are able to make value-centered, ethically-based judgments, are academically competent in their chosen disciplines and are prepared to enter a variety of careers, professional and/or graduate schools and are inspired to be effective leaders for change.

The college offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees, as well as minor and certificate programs, through numerous departments.

Accreditation

The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools certifies the college.

Clinical Psychology

The American Psychological Association has continually accredited Saint Louis University's clinical psychology program since 1965.

Questions related to the program's accreditation status should be directed to the American Psychological Association's Commission on Accreditation:

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation American Psychological Association
750 1st Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: 202-336-5979
http://apa.org/ed/accreditation

Continuation Standards

To continue in the degree program as a student in good standing, the student is required to have at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average for all coursework completed and a 2.00 cumulative grade point average in the major/minor/certificate.

Department Continuation Standards

Check program or department catalog information for specific requirements.

Contract Degree Option

This option is for the benefit of the student who wishes to develop an academic program that is unique and interdisciplinary in nature. Under this option, it is the student's responsibility to organize a coherent plan for the degree and to enlist a faculty advisory committee that will monitor the student's progress.

Requirements for the contract option are:

• The student should have a cumulative grade point average of 2.70 or better and have completed at least one semester's coursework at Saint Louis University.
• This option should normally be selected prior to the end of the sophomore year (or the completion of 60 credits of coursework). Students who have completed 90 or more credits of coursework may not elect a contract option.
• The student must prepare a contract proposal that includes a detailed term-by-term degree plan, which must be approved by the advisory committee and the dean’s office.
• The contract must adhere to University guidelines governing contract majors.

For further information contact the associate dean for undergraduate affairs, Verhaegen Hall, 218.

Core "Double Duty"

A single course may not fulfill more than one College of Arts and Sciences core requirement. Exceptions are diversity in the U.S. and global citizenship courses, which may do "double duty" by satisfying another core, major, minor or certificate requirement.

Core Substitution

Students seeking a substitution for coursework in the College of Arts and Sciences core due to the functional impact of a disability must be registered with Disability Services. Once you have registered with Disability Services, the following process must be followed: 

• Make a written request to your academic adviser explaining the need for the substitution.
• The academic adviser will request documentation you’ve provided and a written recommendation about the substitution from Disability Services.
• Your written request and Disability Services’ recommendation will be reviewed by the college’s associate and assistant deans. Additional faculty and staff input may be solicited.
• Approval or disapproval of the substitution request will be communicated to you and your academic adviser. If approved, specific substitutions will be identified and the adviser will initiate paperwork, as appropriate.

Substitutions may be granted for the foreign language* and math core components. Other elements of the core have no viable substitutions that allow for core learning objectives to be fulfilled.

*Courses substituted for foreign language may not count toward other core, major, or minor requirements.

Double Major

Many students find it possible to complete the requirements for two or more majors within the college. The 120 credits required for graduation may remain sufficient if the core requirements and requirements for both majors can be fulfilled. In addition to fulfilling the general requirements for degree completion, the student seeking a double major must:

• Complete a major confirmation/declaration form for each major.
• Upon acceptance by each department/major, be assigned a mentor for each major.
• Satisfy requirements in each major.

A student enrolled in another school or college of the University may earn a second major within the College of Arts and Sciences by satisfying the core requirements of the degree-granting school/college or University Core (as applicable), the requirements for each major, and completing the minimum number of credits for degree conferral required by the degree-granting school or college.

Both departments and the student make an agreement to accept and coordinate the potential program at the outset. No department is required to participate in a double major program when it is felt that, for some reason, a particular combination is impractical.

English for Academic Purposes Courses

Courses listed under the intensive English program do not count toward graduation requirements. Course numbers EAP 1500, EAP 1900 and EAP 2850 count toward graduation requirements as equivalents to Department of English courses. In addition to those courses, six credits from EAP/MLNG courses at the 1000 level or higher may count toward graduation requirements.

Foreign Language Proficiency 

Students at Saint Louis University can prove foreign language proficiency through the following methods:

1. An approved score on an Advanced Placement (AP) exam. 
2. An approved score on an International Baccalaureate (IB) exam. 
3. An approved score on an American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) test. The ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview, or OPI, is required. (*) 
4. An approved score on the Common European Framework of References for Languages (CEFR) assessment.   
5. The minimum equivalent score on any test/evaluation (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS, etc.) used to evidence English language proficiency for University admission. This option is only available to international students with citizenship from countries in which English is not the primary language.

(*)Those interested in proficiency testing in languages not available via ACTFL (e.g., Latin, Ancient Greek, etc.) should contact the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures.

Foreign language proficiency via any of the above methods must occur not later than the achievement of 60 credits (90 credits for transfer students).

Grade Appeals

The following procedures are available only for review of alleged capricious grading, and not for review of the judgment of an instructor in assessing the quality of a student's work. Students may appeal a grade only for one or more of the following reasons:

1. Miscalculation of grade.
2. The assignment of a grade to a particular undergraduate student on some basis other than performance in the course.
3. The assignment of a grade to a particular undergraduate student by more exacting or demanding standards than were applied to other equivalent undergraduate students in that section.
4. The grade assigned results from different standards than the criteria for performance and evaluation outlined in the course syllabus.

The Right of Fair and Equal Evaluation of Students

The assessment of the quality of a student's academic performance is one of the major professional responsibilities of University faculty members and is solely and properly their responsibility. It is essential for the standards of the academic program at Saint Louis University and the integrity of the degrees conferred by this University that the professional judgments of faculty members not be subject to pressures or other interference from any source.

It is necessary, however, that any semester grade be based on evidence of the student's performance in a course, that the student have access to the evidence, that the instructor be willing to explain the basis upon which the grade was determined, and that a grade be determined in accordance with announced guidelines.

Appeal Procedures

Students must initiate a grade appeal within 90 days of the date that the course grade was posted.

The grade appeal process must be resolved within one calendar year of the initiation of the appeal.

• The student shall confer with the instructor (in person or in writing), informing the instructor of questions concerning the grade and seeking to understand fully the grounds and procedures the instructor has used in determining the grade. The aim of such a conference is to reach mutual understanding about the grade, the process by which it was assigned and to correct errors, if any, in the grade.
• If, after consultation with the instructor, the student believes that a grade is capricious, the student will confer with the chair of the department in which the course was offered. The chair will consult with the instructor and the student separately or together in an attempt to reach a resolution of the matter.
• If the matter remains unresolved, the student will submit a written appeal request with supporting evidence (if relevant) to the chair. The chair will convene an intra-departmental grade appeal committee consisting of the chair and two faculty members. The student's written appeal request will be considered and the instructor will also respond to the student's petition in writing. The grade appeal committee will interview both the instructor and the student; and subsequently, the committee will recommend either that the grade was not assigned capriciously and shall stand, or that the grade may have been assigned capriciously and the matter merits further consideration. The departmental chair will communicate the recommendation of the departmental grade appeal committee to the student, the instructor and the dean. 
• If the matter has not been resolved to the satisfaction of the student and the instructor, either may petition the dean to convene an ad hoc grade appeal subcommittee to consist of two faculty members of the College of Arts and Sciences from outside of the instructor's department and the dean or his/her representative. This subcommittee shall recommend to the dean either that the grade should stand, or that it should be changed; and shall notify both the student and the instructor of its recommendation. The dean shall then render a decision and notify all parties of his or her action. *

* A written record should be kept at all stages of the appeals process.

Protection of the Instructor's Rights

The decision of a grade appeal subcommittee will neither be used as a cause for any disciplinary action nor dismissal of a tenured faculty member or a nontenured faculty member before the expiration of a contract period. Nor shall a decision, by itself, be a basis for any other disciplinary action. Any disciplinary actions shall be in accordance with regular University procedures. All evidence considered by a grade appeal subcommittee shall be made available to any body that may be considering disciplinary action concerning an instructor whose grading has been found by a grade appeal subcommittee to be capricious. That body shall make an independent determination based upon its own consideration of all evidence, irrespective of the findings of the grade appeal subcommittee.

Internship Protocols (Graduate and Undergraduate)

To ensure the quality of the student learning experience and compliance with accreditation and Department of Labor requirements, students (graduate and undergraduate) must accomplish the following to be registered for an internship in the College of Arts and Sciences:

1. Work with the academic department/program to identify an internship site.

2. Request an “Experience” in Handshake using the College of Arts and Sciences Experiential Learning Report Experience Type at least two weeks prior to the start of term (not later than the end of drop/add period for term). Find a guide to requesting an Experience here.

Make sure that you communicate to your faculty advisor and site supervisor that they will receive a request to approve your Experience in Handshake. 

3. After your Experience has been approved in Handshake, you will be asked to complete the following forms using DocuSign:

• The College of Arts and Sciences Learning Contract – Please complete the required fields in DocuSign. DocuSign will then route the form to your site supervisor and your faculty advisor for approval.
• An Internship Acknowledgment of Risk and Release for elective internships

Once your contract and acknowledgment/release are completed in DocuSign, they will be forwarded to the registrar and the registrar will enroll you in your internship course.

Please Note: Internship work must occur in the same term as the registration for internship credit. Credit for internship work (prior or future) outside of the term of registration is not permitted.

Major/Minor Declaration

Students may not pursue a major and minor/certificate or minor and certificate within the same academic discipline without departmental permission.

Petition for Reinstatement

Students dismissed from the University may petition for reinstatement by submitting the Petition for Reinstatement form. Students may be reinstated with specific conditions for continued enrollment. Failure to meet the conditions specified may result in cancellation of registration and academic dismissal. 

Probation Status Expectations

Students in the College of Arts and Sciences who are granted academic probation status are required to meet with their assigned academic adviser during the entire probationary period and earn grades that improve their cumulative grade point average. 

Failure of student to attend required meetings or fulfill the terms of the probation contract established with their academic adviser will negatively impact consideration for continued enrollment. Failure to meet the conditions established may result in a registration hold, registration cancellation, and/or academic dismissal.

Transfer/Prerequisite Coursework 

Coursework taken more than 10 years ago may require review to determine if the course will be accepted for transfer or used as a prerequisite. 

A student may - at the college's discretion - be required to complete proficiency exams, take additional courses, or repeat selected courses. This policy may also apply to coursework less than 10 years old for disciplines in which the University has determined the body of knowledge or its interpretation have undergone significant change.

All incoming Saint Louis University undergraduates—regardless of major, program, college or school—will complete the University Core curriculum. Find more information about SLU’s University Core here.

Core Information for Students Admitted Prior to Fall 2022 Only

Students admitted prior to fall 2022 will complete the College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Core Curriculum.

The mission of the Undergraduate Core Curriculum of the College of Arts and Sciences is to foster the development of "women and men for others" who are dedicated to the common good, social justice, and effective leadership. The mission is accomplished by a curriculum that:

• develops a broad understanding of ethical and religious principles and their relationship to the moral challenges of everyday life,
• provides students with practical knowledge and theoretical frameworks to understand and transform the world and address forthrightly the moral questions confronting today's society,
• develops sensitivity to the points of view of the oppressed and the marginalized,
• strives to reduce ethnocentric biases and encourages a scholarly perspective on cross-cultural issues,
• exposes students to different disciplines and their variety of approaches to the quest for knowledge,
• provides the tools for further learning through courses in the humanities, social sciences, arts, natural sciences and mathematics,
• enhances effective communication through courses in composition and foreign language,
• increases awareness of the imaginative, artistic and affective capacities of humankind,
• encourages an understanding of past traditions as well as an orientation toward present social problems

Such a core equips students with intellectual tools so that they can begin to understand the present and prepare for the future.

Additional Information

Detailed information can be found at www.slu.edu/arts-and-sciences/student-resources/core-curriculum.

Core Curriculum Fulfillment Policies

A single course may not fulfill more than one core requirement, except for Diversity in the US and Global Citizenship courses, which may do "double duty" by satisfying another core, major, minor, or certificate requirement.

Courses that meet both requirements of the core curriculum and a department’s or program’s requirement for the major, minor or certificate may be regarded as fulfilling both requirements simultaneously, provided departmental and program policies are preserved. For example, English majors may not use core literature courses to satisfy the major.

Neither cross-listed courses, nor courses meeting both a core curriculum and a department's or program's requirement for the major, minor, or certificate are counted twice for degree credit.

Core Requirements for Bachelor of Arts Degree Applicants with prior Associate Degree or Bachelor’s Degree

The student must complete the following from the approved Bachelor of Art (BA) Core Curriculum:

• At least one approved three-credit course from each of the BA core-curriculum-required areas of foundations of discourse, cultural diversity, fine arts, literature, science, mathematics, world history, social science;
• Proof of foreign language proficiency at the second-course level (1020) or one semester's study in a foreign country at a college/university where a language other than English is employed in courses taken;
• BA core-curriculum-required philosophy and theology courses.

A single course may not fulfill more than one core requirement (except for cultural diversity, which may do “double duty” by satisfying another core, major, minor, or certificate requirement).

Core Requirements for Bachelor of Science Degree Applicants with prior Associate Degree or Bachelor’s Degree

The student must complete the following from the approved Bachelor of Science (BS) Core Curriculum:

• At least one approved three-credit course from each of the BS core-curriculum-required areas of foundations of discourse, cultural diversity, fine arts, foreign language, literature, world history, social science;
• BS core-curriculum-required philosophy and theology courses;
• Four-credit Bachelor of Science Core Curriculum Mathematics course – MATH 1510 Calculus I) or higher;
• Eight-credit Bachelor of Science Core Curriculum Sciences courses – in a single science outside the student’s major.

A single course may not fulfill more than one core requirement (except for cultural diversity, which may do “double duty” by satisfying another core, major, minor or certificate requirement).