College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Mission and Values Statement
We affirm the centrality of an engaged education in the liberal arts and sciences to the mission of Bradley University and to an open, vibrant society. We are a community that seeks insight into the self, society, and the natural world with courage, humility, and open minds and hearts. We empower students to be capable, imaginative, responsible, and compassionate individuals who embrace the challenges of the twenty-first century.
We cultivate in ourselves and foster in others:
- advanced analytical, computational, and communication skills
- historically informed and comparative insights into diverse societies
- in-depth understanding of the natural world through scientific methods
- habits and methods of ethical thinking applied across disciplines and life experiences
- reflective approaches to the human condition in all its complexity
- intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm to enable lifelong learning
- knowledgeable and engaged citizenship across communities from the local to the global
- steadfast commitment to the democratic ideals of freedom, justice, civility, and equality
Curricula
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers curricula leading to majors in over 24 areas of study. The major consists of not fewer than 27 semester hours of courses taken in one department, or in an approved interdepartmental program, including not fewer than 24 semester hours in courses above the first-year level. All of the departmental and interdepartmental curricula require a nucleus of core courses in humanities, social sciences, and natural and computational sciences. Each student in the College must declare a major in one of the following fields: Biochemistry; Biology; Biomedical Science; Chemistry BA, Chemistry BS (Concentration in American Chemical Society Certified, Chemical Engineering, Pre-Health Professions, or High School (9-12) Education); Computer Information Systems; Computer Science; Criminology; English; Environmental Science (with concentration in either Biology or Chemistry); General Studies; History; Interdisciplinary Major program; Medical Laboratory Science (Clinical or General Concentration); Political Science; Psychology; Social Work; Sociology; Spanish; and Spanish Education.
In addition to departmental offerings, the College also interdisciplinary offers minors in African-American Studies; Asian Studies; European Studies; Latin American Studies; Sustainability; and Women's and Gender Studies.
High School Education (Grades 9-12)
Students who wish to prepare for a high school teaching career may declare a secondary major of High School Education (HSE) in the College of Education and Health Sciences as part of their 120 semester-hour baccalaureate degree program, which includes completion of the required professional education and field/clinical experiences, as well as the Illinois State Board of Education requirements. Students enrolled in HSE must select one of the following primary majors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
- Biology, Biology Education (9-12) Concentration
- Chemistry, Chemistry Education (9-12) Concentration
- English Education Major
- History and Social Studies Education(9-12) Major
Preprofessional Preparation for the Health Professions
The College has long prepared preprofessional students interested in the health professions. For example, the Department of Biology offers a specific curriculum leading to a degree in biomedical science with concentrations in pre-medicine, veterinary science and biomedical research and development; the Department of Chemistry also offers preprofessional curriculum options. However, experience has shown that virtually any major is acceptable for professional education provided the student is careful to select, as electives, those courses necessary for admission to the professional school of his or her choice. Biology, chemistry, and psychology are appropriate majors, but students majoring in the social sciences or the humanities have also been admitted to medical or dental school. Preprofessional students who prefer to design their own major or to obtain a general background in the College without concentrating their courses in a major, may do so under the liberal arts and sciences interdisciplinary major program.
Pre-Law Curriculum
Most American law schools desire their students to have a broad educational background and do not generally recommend any particular undergraduate major. Courses emphasized as effective preparation include those which contribute to organized and precise thought, to the proper use of English, and to an expanded perspective of one’s social environment. Of basic importance is the ability to communicate competently in oral and written form; facility in this respect should be cultivated through both appropriate course work and independent effort.
While virtually any major is acceptable, breadth of knowledge is vital. The academic program should, therefore, provide significant coverage of the humanities, social sciences, and physical sciences. In addition, students will further benefit by undertaking, on their own initiative, a reading plan to supplement their formal study.
Pre-law students who prefer to design their own major or to obtain a general background in the College without concentrating their courses in a major, may do so under the liberal arts and sciences interdisciplinary major program.
Experiential Learning
The programs of the College provide opportunity for “hands on” learning through cooperative education/internships, practica in clinical settings, work/study opportunities, research participation, and undergraduate assistantships. These experiences link the world of the intellect and the world of work and practical affairs.
Cooperative Education/Internship Program
The College participates with employers in an optional Cooperative Education/Internship Program. Students either alternate periods of full-time study with full-time employment or have part-time employment while attending classes. The program provides academic- or career-related work experiences. To be eligible, the student must have sophomore standing and a 2.0 minimum overall grade point average at Bradley and in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Graduation Requirements
The College confers two degrees, the Bachelor of Arts (which requires a world language) and the Bachelor of Science (see University requirements for the B.S. degree). The requirements for the degrees are outlined below; the degree received depends upon the course of study of the individual student.
Students who maintain continuous enrollment and who complete work toward the baccalaureate degree within five years from the date of entry may graduate under either the catalog in effect at the time of entrance or under the catalog in effect at the time of graduation. A change in major could mean meeting new requirements in force at the time of the change as a condition for acceptance into that major. Students whose work has been interrupted for one or more semesters may be held to requirements in effect at the time of their re-enrollment.
All-University Requirements
The student must satisfy the general university requirements as to residence, grade point average, required courses, and total number of hours. See “Academic Regulations” for these requirements.
- Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree must present credit for three semesters of college-level world language or its equivalent. The world language requirement is outlined in detail under "Requirements for the BA Degree" on the All-University Degree Requirements page.
- Candidates for the Bachelor of Science degree must successfully complete at least 15 hours of courses selected from mathematics, computer science, and the natural sciences. See requirements for the B.S. degree in detail under "Requirements for the BS Degree" on the All-University Degree Requirements page.
- Transfer students from another institution or from within the University who have successfully completed a minimum of 5 semester hours of English composition shall not be required to take additional hours of composition. CLEP composition credit may substitute for ENG 101 English Composition, but not for the junior-level composition course.
College Requirements
In addition to the University requirements, the student must satisfy the following college requirements which are concurrent, not cumulative:
- A minimum of 30 semester hours credit (toward the 40 required for graduation) in courses numbered 300 or above offered by the College.1
- All students majoring in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences2 will either
- Take one additional course from any Bradley Core Curriculum Area of Inquiry (excluding Communication and Fine Arts) outside of their major cluster area. This option leads students to pursue a greater breadth of knowledge in Liberal Arts and Sciences disciplines outside their major field of study.
- Students majoring in humanities choose from Natural Sciences, Quantitative Reasoning, Social and Behavioral Sciences, or approved Global Perspectives courses.
- Students majoring in the social sciences choose from Humanities, Natural Sciences, Quantitative Reasoning, or approved Global Perspectives courses.
- Students majoring in the natural sciences choose from Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Quantitative Reasoning, or approved Global Perspectives courses.
- Students majoring in the computational sciences choose from Humanities, Natural Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences, or approved Global Perspectives courses.
or
- Take a 3-credit hour first-year seminar, LAS 101 Arts and Ideas Seminar
- Take one additional course from any Bradley Core Curriculum Area of Inquiry (excluding Communication and Fine Arts) outside of their major cluster area. This option leads students to pursue a greater breadth of knowledge in Liberal Arts and Sciences disciplines outside their major field of study.
- 1
For students who are double-majors across colleges, a minimum of 24 semester hours credit in courses numbered 300 or above offered by the College is required.
- 2
Exclusive of those students completing a second major in another college, completing two majors within LAS with over 50 total unduplicated major hours, and students who have earned transfer equivalency credit for a 3-credit hour first-year seminar.
Baccalaureate Articulation: Associate in Arts or Associate in Sciences Graduates
A transferring student who has completed an Associate in Arts or an Associate in Science degree in an Illinois public community college may expect to earn a baccalaureate degree from a College of Liberal Arts and Sciences program upon the completion of two additional years of course work (normally 60-64 semester hours) provided that the following qualifications are met:
- that the transferring student does not change his or her intended major or area of specialization
- that the College has a program in the transferring student’s intended major or area of specialization
- that the 60-64 semester hours of course work represented in the associate degree include only baccalaureate-oriented, college-level courses which appear in the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) master course file.
Major Requirements
The student must complete a major of not fewer than 24 semester hours in one department or in an approved interdepartmental program, including not fewer than 20 hours in courses numbered 200 or above. Because some curricula require more than these minima and/or collateral work in other subject areas, students are urged to check requirements carefully with advisors for their major programs. The student must have a grade point average exceeding 2.0 in all courses numbered 200 or above in the department.
Transfer students who enter the College with 16 or more hours of the major already completed and are candidates for a degree must earn at Bradley at least nine hours in the major field with a grade point average exceeding 2.00. The department or program chair shall have the privilege of waiving some or all of these required nine hours but may not reduce the overall total for the major below 24 hours, 20 of which must be above the first-year level.
Global Scholars Program
Academic Mission
- A cross-disciplinary program of undergraduate study designed to offer students a background in global studies. The term “global” means a phenomenon or force that is worldwide in scope. We use the term to include both global systems and the diversity of cultures therein.
- A focus on diversified study within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences aimed at expanding cross-cultural and global knowledge, buttressed by world languages, core curriculum courses, and study abroad.
- A spotlight on global knowledge that is useful for developing information and skills needed to succeed in a competitive job market.
Program Information
The Global Scholars Program provides a unique opportunity for students majoring in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to gain substantive exposure to a broad spectrum of global and cultural forces. The required coursework spans several academic disciplines, introducing students to relevant content framed in a global setting. As a broad cross-disciplinary concentration, this program seeks to stimulate students’ intellectual involvement in global affairs and helps those students wishing to pursue future international opportunities.
Program Benefits
Students electing to enroll in this program will earn the designation of “Global Scholar” in recognition of their achievement. They may do so within any academic major in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. This designation confers:
- Formal recognition by the dean of the college
- Citation at the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Honors Day Ceremony
- Identification, through an exclusive logo, on the student’s official university transcript and resume
Program Requirements
World Languages (0-8 hours)
LAS Global Scholars students must complete at least two semesters of College-level world language study or its equivalent. This requirement may be met in several ways:
- Completion of a two-semester sequence (101-102) or higher;
- Transfer of similar credits from another institution;
- By proficiency examination (AP or CLEP). Note: if a student places into a level above 102, only one course is necessary.
Course descriptions in World Languages and Cultures.
Coursework (10 hrs.)
LAS 125 Global Topics in Liberal Arts and Sciences (1.0 s.h.)
Required coursework (9 hours): Students will take 9 credit hours, at least 3 credit hours from a course in the Bradley Core Curriculum (BCC) World Cultures category and 3 credit hours from a course in the BCC Global Systems category (for eligible courses, see link below).
Please note: The third 3 credit hour course can also be from the World Cultures or Global Systems categories (see above link) or, optionally, from one of the following natural science courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 300 | Population, Resources and Environment | 3.0 |
| CHM 102 | Chemistry and Civilization | 3.0 |
| GES 300 | Oceanography the Human Perspective | 3.0 |
Study Abroad (3 hours)
Studying abroad gives students a deeper understanding of the institutions, history, and languages of other societies and cultures. Students in the Global Scholars Program must participate in a university-approved study abroad program for a minimum of 3 credit hours. Bradley provides a variety of study abroad options, including programs offered during Bradley’s Interim and Summer Sessions as well as during the academic year. Study abroad opportunities are available to students throughout their academic career in a wide range of disciplines with a variety of programs across the globe.
Participants taking any of their required Global Scholars coursework abroad will receive credit for fulfilling both the course and the study abroad requirement. For specific information concerning the Study Abroad program offered by the Bradley University Study Abroad program, please visit the Study Abroad Program.
Capstone (3 hours)
Students have three options to complete this requirement:
- Completion of an independent study course on a global-themed topic (from list below)
- Completion of ENG 304 Advanced Writing--Research in Individual Discipline on a global-themed topic
- Completion of a capstone course on a global-themed topic (from list below)
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Capstone Courses and Independent/Directed Studies Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Departmental Capstone Courses in LAS | ||
| ANT 403 | Anthropology Senior Project | 1.0-3.0 |
| AAS 400 | Directed Research in African-American Studies | 3.0 |
| BIO 490 | Biology Capstone | 1.0 |
| CHM 480 | Senior Seminar in Chemistry and Biochemistry | 1.0 |
| CS 490 | Capstone Project I | 3.0 |
| CS 491 | Capstone Project II | 3.0 |
| ENS 470 | Environmental Science Capstone | 1.0-3.0 |
| HIS 450 | US History Research Seminar | 3.0 |
| HIS 451 | European History Research Seminar | 3.0 |
| HIS 452 | Area Studies Research Seminar | 3.0 |
| MTH 494 | Senior Project in Mathematics I | 0.0 |
| MTH 495 | Senior Project in Mathematics II | 3.0 |
| PHL 403 | Seminar in Philosophy | 3.0 |
| PHY 399 | Special Problems in Physics | 1.0-3.0 |
| PLS 491 | Seminar in Comparative Politics | 3.0 |
| PLS 492 | Seminar in International Relations | 3.0 |
| PLS 493 | Seminar in Political Theory | 3.0 |
| PLS 494 | Seminar in American Politics | 3.0 |
| PSY 400 | Honors Research | 3.0 |
| RLS 497 | Problems in Religious Studies | 1.0-3.0 |
| RLS 498 | Problems in Religious Studies | 1.0-3.0 |
| S W 393 | Social Work Practicum | 9.0 |
| S W 395 | Social Work Seminar | 3.0 |
| Other | ||
| ENG 304 | Advanced Writing--Research in Individual Discipline | 3.0 |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAS Independent/Directed Studies | ||
| BIO 385 | Supervised Research | 0.0-3.0 |
| BIO 480 | Readings | 1.0-3.0 |
| BIO 485 | Research | 0.0-6.0 |
| CHM 499 | Directed Studies in Chemistry and Biochemistry | 0.0-3.0 |
| CS 498 | Directed Individual Studies in Computer Science | 1.0-3.0 |
| CIS 498 | Directed Individual Studies in Computer Information Systems | 1.0-3.0 |
| ENG 495 | Independent Study | 1.0-3.0 |
| HIS 406 | Individual Study in History | 1.0-3.0 |
| MTH 491 | Directed Individual Studies in Mathematics | 1.0-16.0 |
| NEU 490 | Independent Research in Neuroscience | 1.0-3.0 |
| PHL 551 | Reading in Philosophy | 1.0-3.0 |
| PHL 552 | Reading in Philosophy | 1.0-3.0 |
| PHY 399 | Special Problems in Physics | 1.0-3.0 |
| PLS 485 | Research | 1.0-6.0 |
| PSY 481 | Reading | 0.0-3.0 |
| PSY 491 | Research | 0.0-3.0 |
| SOC 491 | Directed Research | 1.0-3.0 |
| SOC 491 | Directed Research | 1.0-3.0 |
| S W 490 | Individual Study in Social Work | 1.0-3.0 |
| S W 499 | Honors Colloquium | 3.0 |
| WLF 495 | Independent Study | 1.0-3.0 |
| WLG 495 | Independent Study | 1.0-3.0 |
| WLS 495 | Independent Study | 1.0-3.0 |
Note: Enrollment in these courses can only satisfy Global Scholars capstone requirements with faculty and Global Scholars approval.
Student must earn a “B” or better in the capstone course. Contact the Office of Global Studies and Initiatives for more information about the capstone application.
GPA
Students must maintain at least a 3.0 overall GPA at Bradley in order to graduate as an LAS Global Scholar.
Washington Semester
Bradley University has a cooperative arrangement with American University for well-qualified students to study in one of these programs: the Washington Semester in American Politics, the Foreign Policy Semester, the Economic Policy Semester, the Justice Semester, and the Journalism Semester. A package of seminars with public and private officials, internships, research, and coursework provides students with a first-hand view of their area of interest. A full semester of credit is earned through the program.