Santa Clara University

College of Arts and Sciences

Dean: W. Atom Yee
Associate Deans: Gregory P. Corning, Stephen C. Lee, Terri L. Peretti
Senior Assistant Dean: Kathleen Villarruel Schneider
Assistant Dean: Rafael Ulate

The goal of the College of Arts and Sciences is to foster a learning community committed to addressing the fundamental problems of society with a spirit of inquiry, mutual respect, and intellectual excitement and to prepare students to understand and appreciate a broad range of peoples and cultures so they may exercise moral leadership in a pluralistic world. In this way, the College is central to Santa Clara’s Jesuit, liberal education.

With more than 1,500 courses in the humanities, arts, social sciences, and natural sciences, the College offers an inclusive and welcoming academic environment, providing:

• a common educational experience for all undergraduate students at Santa Clara through the University’s Core Curriculum;
• majors in 38 subject areas;
• departmental and interdisciplinary minor programs; and
• opportunities for advanced study in a student’s particular area of interest.

All undergraduate students at the University explore the sciences and liberal arts through the University’s Core Curriculum that challenges them to develop open and critical thinking, to communicate effectively, to work with complex methods of inquiry, to understand diverse cultures and peoples, and to appreciate the demands of ethical decision making. Those who select majors or minors in the College have the opportunity to develop specialized knowledge and skills in areas of concentration that reflect their personal interests and talents. Students are encouraged to use elective courses to pursue particular interests beyond their chosen major. In addition to selecting individual courses, students have the opportunity to organize their electives around minors and emphases in many departmental and interdisciplinary programs throughout the College.

The College of Arts and Sciences offers a variety of student-faculty research opportunities and ongoing mentoring relationships in which students work closely with faculty members in the creation of knowledge or original artistic works. These opportunities include research assistantships throughout the College in the arts, humanities, and natural and social sciences.

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

The College of Arts and Sciences confers the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Ancient Studies, Art History, Chemistry, Classical Languages and Literatures (Greek and/or Latin), Classical Studies, Communication, English, French and Francophone Studies, German Studies, History, Individual Studies, Italian Studies, Music, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Spanish Studies, Studio Art, and Theatre Arts. The College also confers the Bachelor of Science in Anthropology, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Combined Sciences, Computer Science (Mathematics), Economics, Engineering Physics, Environmental Science, Individual Studies, Liberal Studies, Mathematics, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology. In addition, companion majors are available in Environmental Studies and in Women’s and Gender Studies.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BACHELOR OF ARTS

To qualify for the Bachelor of Arts degree, students must complete a minimum of 175 quarter units of credit and satisfy the requirements of the University Core Curriculum and the departmental major. There are no additional College requirements.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

To qualify for the Bachelor of Science degree, students must complete a minimum of 175 quarter units of credit and satisfy the requirements of the University Core Curriculum and the departmental major. There are no additional College requirements.

MINORS IN THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

The College of Arts and Sciences offers departmental and program minors in ancient studies, anthropology, art history, biology, chemistry, classical languages and literatures (Latin or Greek), classical studies, communication, computer science, creative writing, dance, economics, English, environmental science, environmental studies, ethnic studies, French and Francophone studies, German studies, history, Italian studies, Japanese studies, mathematics, music, philosophy, physics, political science, religious studies, sociology, Spanish studies, studio art, theatre, and women’s and gender studies. Descriptions of the departmental and program minors and associated requirements can be found in the appropriate department or program section of this chapter.

In addition, the College administers interdisciplinary minors in Arabic, Islamic and Middle Eastern studies; Asian studies; biochemistry; biotechnology; Catholic studies; Medieval and Renaissance studies; musical theatre; and urban education. Descriptions of the interdisciplinary minors and the associated requirements can be found in Chapter 6, Interdisciplinary Minors and Other Programs of Study.

CENTERS, INSTITUTES, AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS

Center of Performing Arts

The Center of Performing Arts consists of Santa Clara University students, faculty, and staff working in music, theatre, and dance who, with the resources of their academic departments, serve the University and local community by providing a rich season of performance events. Promoting the performing arts through a variety of programs, the Center encourages the interdisciplinary exploration of performance as a way of encountering, knowing, and acting in the world. The Center also encourages and supports the creative expression of Silicon Valley artists by providing performance space for local arts organizations.

Justice and the Arts Initiative

The development of competence, conscience, and compassion in our future artist-scholars is an integral, vital dimension of campus life. The Justice and the Arts Initiative (JAI) serves as an incubator for the arts and social justice on campus and in the community. The Initiative allows for the development of an intellectual frame of reference for examining and fostering artistic processes that are critically bound to issues of justice. The programs of the JAI instigate and enliven a climate of inquiry, support practical experimentation and production, and create models for interdisciplinary projects across the University. Artists increasingly use their skills across professional boundaries, effecting change and fostering dialogue as citizens of their nations and the world. The Justice and the Arts Initiative helps student-artists develop a conscience of being “persons for others” through programming that features artist-activists from around the globe; mentoring of local and international projects in music, theatre, dance, visual and the literary arts; immersion opportunities; connecting to research opportunities and graduate programs; vocational discernment; internships; and seminar courses.

Environmental Studies Institute

The Environmental Studies Institute is an interdisciplinary community of scholars— composed of faculty, staff, and students—dedicated to understanding the interactions between humans and the natural world. The Institute serves local and global communities by addressing environmental issues through education, research, and leadership. The Institute’s faculty members involve undergraduates in interdisciplinary research, give lectures to enhance public understanding of environmental issues, and serve as experts on environmental advisory panels. The bachelor-level degrees in Environmental Science and Environmental Studies challenge undergraduates to integrate knowledge and research in the natural and social sciences with ethics, service, and leadership to promote a sustainable world. The Institute provides a variety of campus and community programs including seminars, internships, and opportunities for research, service, and study abroad.

Office of College Special Programs

The Office of College Special Programs works with students from traditionally underrepresented groups through innovative outreach and support programs. The relationship with students begins with high school students in the Eastside Union High School District and extends through college and beyond with the goal of developing leaders who will make an immediate impact on their communities. Managed through the Liberal Studies Program, programs include the Eastside Future Teachers Project, High School Scholars Academy, SAT Workshop, Teacher-Mentoring Program, Urban Educators Forum, and Teachers Who Inspire Excellence.