College of Arts and Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences serves as the anchor for all undergraduate study at Loyola.  The liberal arts and sciences are key to the cultural and intellectual formation of the individual.

The College of Arts and Sciences Draft Mission Statement: The College of Arts and Sciences provides all students with a foundation in knowledge through teaching and scholarship within and across the liberal arts and sciences. The College educates students to lead meaningful lives with and for others; to appreciate and contribute to global cultures; to think critically and make decisions for the common good; and to have a commitment to the Jesuit tradition of a life of justice, service, and intellectual engagement. 

Contact information can be found on the website for the Office of the Dean Faculty and Staff.


Overview

Use the links below to navigate College of Arts & Sciences programs and important policies:

Undergraduate Departments

Humanities

The College of Arts and Sciences offers the following degree programs in the humanities:

Social Sciences

The College of Arts & Sciences departments in the Social Sciences:

Natural Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences offers the following degree programs in the natural sciences:


Bachelor Degrees

The College offers the following degrees within each department:

  • Biological Sciences: Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences or Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences (with a concentration in Teacher Education)
  • Chemistry and Biochemistry: Bachelor of Science in Chemistry or Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (with a concentration in Biochemistry, Forensic Chemistry, or Chemistry Liberal Arts with Teacher Education)
  • Classical Studies: Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies (with a concentration in Classical Civilizations, Classical Languages, or Latin with Teacher Education)
  • Criminology & Justice: Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Criminal Justice, and Master of Criminal Justice
  • Economics: Bachelor of Arts in Economics
  • English: Bachelor of Arts in English (with a concentration in Literature, Writing, Film/Digital Media, Literature with Teacher Education, or Writing with Teacher Education)
  • Environment: Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies (with a concentration in Humanities or Social Sciences), Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science (with a concentration in Biological Sciences), or Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science (with a concentration in Teacher Education)
  • History: Bachelor of Arts in History or Bachelor of Arts in History (with a concentration in Pre-Law, International Studies, or Teacher Education)
  • Languages and Cultures: Bachelor of Arts in Languages and Cultures (with a concentration in French, Latin American Studies, Spanish, or Teacher Education in French or Spanish, or Translation & Interpreting: Spanish-English)
  • Mass Communication
  • Mathematical Sciences: Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, Bachelor of Science in Mathematics (with a concentration in Computational Mathematics), Bachelor of Science in Mathematics (with a concentration in Mathematics Liberal Arts or Liberal Arts with Teacher Education), or Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems
  • Philosophy: Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy or Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy (with a concentration in Pre-Law)
  • Physics: Bachelor of Science in Physics, Bachelor of Science in Physics (with a concentration in Liberal Arts Physics, Liberal Arts Physics withTeacher Education, *Pre-Engineering Physics, or Pre-Health Physics)
  • Political Science: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
  • Psychological Sciences: Bachelor of Science in Psychology or Bachelor of Science in Psychology (with a concentration in Pre-Health)
  • Religious Studies: Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies (with a concentration in Christianity or World Religions)
  • Sociology: Bachelor of Arts in Sociology (with concentrations in Crime, Law, and Social Control; Global Sociology; and Social Justice & Inequalities)

Students who wish to earn a bachelor’s degree through programs not regularly available in the College of Arts and Sciences may consult the Associate Dean about the possibility of a contract major. 

*Through a special arrangement with Tulane University's School of Engineering, Loyola students may participate in a program which leads to a B.S. degree from Loyola and an engineering degree from Tulane upon successful completion of both segments of the program. Interested students must consult the Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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College Requirements for Degree

The requirements for the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science are the following:     

  1. Successful completion of an approved degree program within the College.
  2. At least a 2.0 Loyola cumulative, major and minor grade point average if a minor is pursued.
  3. Completion of the Loyola Core requirements.
  4. Completion of all course requirements specified by major department.
  5. Completion of at least 30 credits in the major (some departments require more).
  6. Completion of a comprehensive and/or exit examination if required by the department.  Such departments establish and publish in advance the nature of the comprehensive examination and the standard for acceptable performance.
  7. Residency requirements: a minimum of 30 credits at Loyola University; a minimum of 15 credits in the major and 9 credits in the minor (if pursued); a minimum of 12 credits in the Loyola Core, and 3 credits from any other area of a major's DPCL.
  8. Some departments offer an opportunity for their majors to complete their degree programs with departmental honors. Students should ask their departmental chairperson for these requirements. 
  9. Certification of degree completion by the Dean's Office.

Professional and Continuing Studies Students

Adult and non-traditional students can contact the Office of Professional and Continuing Studies (PCS) for information about Evening Programs and Online Degrees.


Curriculum Design

Loyola University New Orleans' undergraduate curriculum provides students indepth preparation and knowledge in their chosen major as well as the Loyola Core, a series of multidisciplinary courses designed to be intellectually engaging and promote personal growth and reflection in the Jesuit tradition.  In these courses, students examine their current convictions, beliefs, and commitments in an atmosphere of study and reflection. Together, the major and the Loyola Core, cultivate students' intellectual, personal, social and spiritual transformations necessary to live happy, productive and purposeful lives with and for others.   

The curriculum is divided into four parts:

Part One–Loyola Core

The Loyola Core complements the major and adjunct courses by embracing an interdisciplinary, holistic approach to learning focusing on development of the whole person.  The Loyola Core is comprised of Foundation and Knowledge-Values courses. Find out more »

Part Two–Major

The major is a series of courses that lead to a student's mastery of knowledge in a specific academic discipline. Each major requires between 30 and 40 credits hours of coursework and is outlined on departmental webpages.

Part Three–Adjunct Courses

Adjunct Courses are a series of courses in areas that complement the major.  Some of these courses are specifically named under degree programs; others are selected in consultation with the student’s faculty advisor or departmental chairperson.

Part Four-General Electives

General Elective requirements can be satisfied by any non-remedial undergraduate course not already being used in the Loyola Core or major. Students may use their general elective credits to pursue a minor or a double-major or to take courses that will prepare them for graduate studies or professional development.  Students may also decide to use their general elective credits to take a variety of courses that are of interest to them.  The number of general elective credits required for degree completion depends on a student's major.

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Double Majors

Students who have completed two semesters and earned a minimum GPA of 3.0 at Loyola University New Orleans may declare a double major.  Students pursuing a double major must successfully complete the Loyola Core requirements of the first major, as well as the major and adjunct requirements for both programs. Students complete the comprehensive and/or exit examination requirements for both majors if required. Students who complete the requirements for two majors receive the degree of their first major; however, the transcript will indicate two majors were completed. Students interested in declaring a double major should consult with the Associate Dean in the college of their first major.


Early Law Admissions

Students who enter law school generally do so after having completed a bachelor’s degree. However, the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law may accept students after they have completed three years of exceptional undergraduate work and have earned an appropriate score on the LSAT. Students in the College of Arts and Sciences who wish to attempt early admission into the College of Law after three years must have completed all but the last 30 credits of their degree program, including all Loyola Core, major, and named adjunct requirements. The first 30 credits earned in law school will be applied as general elective credits to complete the student's undergraduate degree. 

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General Studies

Director: Uriel Quesada, Ph.D., Associate Dean

Many students enter college undecided about the field of study they would like to pursue. For students still exploring their educational and/or career goals, Loyola University New Orleans offers the General Studies Program. In this program, students try courses in a variety of disciplines in order to identify their intellectual strengths and interests, while advancing the overall, non-major requirements.

During their first semester, students are assigned a General Studies advisor who will continue as their advisor until a major is declared. General Studies advisors are knowledgeable about all the degree programs in the college, and help guide students in determining a major that best suits their interests. Courses taken in this exploration process generally fulfill requirements for the major, adjunct, or general electives once the student selects a major.

Students may remain in the General Studies Program until they have 55 earned credits. Since the University does not grant a degree in General Studies, students must officially declare a major no later than the end of their sophomore year.

General Studies Degree Program Course List


 

Arts and Sciences Limitations on Credit Toward Degrees

Transfer work:

  1. Remedial work taken at Loyola or at other institutions will not apply to Arts and Sciences degree programs.
  2. The Dean’s Office will determine the applicability of a student’s transfer credit as accepted by the Office of Enrollment Management to the Arts and Sciences degree programs.

Other:

  1. Students may not receive credit for lower-level coursework in which they have already successfully completed a more advanced course.
  2. No more than 20 credits may be taken in any one semester without the authorization of the Dean. No more than six credits may be taken in any one summer term without authorization of the Dean.
  3. Arts and Sciences students must obtain prior written permission of their adviser and/or Department Chair and the Associate Dean in order to take courses at another university (summer school, study abroad, etc.). Students must be in good standing, i.e. no academic, disciplinary or financial holds.
  4. Intensive Weekend and Intersession courses are not accepted by the College of Arts and Sciences.
  5. Courses in physical education will not apply to the degree programs in Arts and Sciences.

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