College of Arts and Sciences

The requirements for the bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees are qualitative and quantitative. Completion of 120 credits with a grade point average of C or better is not in itself sufficient to qualify for graduation. In addition to the general Quinnipiac requirements, eligibility for most bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees requires the satisfactory completion of both arts and sciences requirements and those in a major or field of concentration. Specific major requirements are noted below under the individual departmental or area descriptions. Students should be cautioned that an average of C, or 2.0, in the student’s major is a minimum requirement for each major and that some departments may require higher standards as noted.

Of the 120 credits required for the bachelor’s degree, only 6 credits of workshop courses and/or physical education courses may be applied. Primary responsibility for knowing and completing all course requirements rests with the student.

Modern Language Requirement

All CAS students (both bachelor of science and bachelor of arts) must complete one modern language through the 102 level. Modern language courses may also count toward the UC Personal Inquiry II requirement. Students who have taken a language in high school should take the modern language placement test for that language. Students with placement scores at the 201 level or higher have demonstrated language competency and thus have passed out of the language requirement. 

Academic Advising

The College of Arts and Sciences places every student, upon matriculation, with an individual faculty adviser who can best help him or her form a personalized academic plan. An outcome of each academic adviser’s individualized guidance is that students come to understand the relationship between a particular discipline and a range of satisfying careers. Students also learn how an arts and sciences major can prepare them especially well for a life of consequence and meaning. Although the primary responsibility for setting academic goals and selecting courses rests with the student, the academic adviser fosters an ongoing conversation that cultivates self-reflection and development.

Students who enter the College of Arts and Sciences with a declared major are matched with a faculty adviser in that department. Each undeclared student works individually with an academic adviser to design a plan that is uniquely tailored to his or her needs and interests. During the preregistration period each semester, all students in arts and sciences meet with their academic advisers before selecting and registering for courses.

Career Development

In the College of Arts and Sciences, the career development office works with students to create and navigate a personalized career development program including major choice, personal branding, resume and LinkedIn development, networking, job search, professional development opportunities and graduate school advisement. Students can gain valuable work experience and explore career options through participation in credit-bearing experiential learning opportunities, including internships, research projects, shadowing, community service and part-time and summer employment.

Degrees in Arts and Sciences

Bachelor’s Degrees

The College of Arts and Sciences offers bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees.

Collaborative for Interdisciplinary/Integrative Studies

The Collaborative for Interdisciplinary/Integrative Studies affords students opportunities through advising, coursework and fieldwork to put into practice the relevance and value of the arts and sciences for their everyday lives. It houses the Environmental Science major, Environmental Studies co-major, the Interdisciplinary Studies major, the Independent major, the Sustainability and Environmental Policy major, the Independent minor, and eight interdisciplinary minors (Asian Studies, Global Public Health, History and Philosophy of Science, International Studies, Irish Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, Sports Studies, and Women's and Gender Studies).

Independent Major               

A student may design a unique major program to fit his or her individual goals. The responsibility for the planning of such a program rests with the student proposing it. A proposal for an independent major must contain suitable justification and a coherent curricular plan. The full proposal must be submitted to the dean for approval  and also must have the approval of a three-member faculty committee, chosen by the student, which will work with the student to plan the program. Independent major proposals must be submitted no later than the first semester of the junior year. Independent majors must include at least 24 credits of coursework at the 300 level or above, as well as a capstone project or final evaluation project that is outlined in the proposal.

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree in Molecular and Cell Biology

The Master's Degree in Molecular and Cell Biology is a two-year program for students who have already earned their bachelor’s degree in a biological, medical or scientific field. The mission of the Department of Biological Sciences is to prepare students for employment in research fields available in pharmaceutical companies, universities and hospitals as well as to provide an excellent foundation for students intending to pursue studies in professional health care fields and doctoral programs.

Dual Degrees

The College of Arts and Sciences offers several dual-degree programs allowing highly motivated students to connect undergraduate studies directly to graduate degrees and professional preparation.

Minors

In addition to major programs, a student may apply to have a minor recorded on his or her transcript. The College of Arts and Sciences offers minors in most of the subjects offering a major as well as a variety of interdisciplinary minors and an Independent Minor. Arts and sciences students may complete a minor in one of the other schools to explore areas of interest in a pre-professional field while still obtaining the benefits of a flexible arts and sciences education. Students interested in a minor may consult the department chairperson or the faculty member listed for information/advising.

For a complete list of College of Arts and Science minors, please see Minors.