2016-2017 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Administration
Dean: Antczak; Associate Dean: Menon; Associate Dean: Galbraith; Associate Dean: Tutt.
Website
Mission
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is a student-centered and diverse learning community that engages in critical inquiry extending knowledge to enrich and enliven individual and public life.
Program Information
Created in July 2004, CLAS is the largest of GVSU's colleges and offers more than 50 bachelors degrees (and a growing number of advanced degrees) in the natural and mathematical sciences, the humanities, the fine and performing arts, and the social sciences.
All GVSU undergraduates build the foundation for their major studies in general education courses offered by our college.
Advertising and Public Relations
Advertising and Public Relations, B.A., B.S.
Advertising and Public Relations (minor)
Aging and Adult Life
Aging and Adult Life (minor)
Anthropology
Anthropology, B.A., B.S.
Anthropology (minor)
Arabic
Arabic (minor)
Archaeology
Archaeology (minor)
Art and Design
Art Education (K-12) B.A., B.S.
Art History, B.A.
Art History (minor)
Studio Art, B.A., B.S.
Studio Art, B.F.A.
Ceramics
Graphic Design
Illustration
Jewelry/Metalsmithing
Painting
Printmaking
Sculpture
Visual Studies
Studio Art (minor)
Athletic Training
Athletic Training, B.S.
Behavioral Neuroscience, B.A., B.S.
Behavioral Neuroscience
Behavioral Neuroscience, B.A., B.S.
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, B.S.
Biology
Biology, B.A., B.S.
Biomolecular Processes
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
General
Preveterinary Medicine
Secondary Education
Biology, M.S.
Aquatic Sciences
Natural Resources
Biology (minor)
Biomedical Sciences
Biomedical Sciences, B.S.
Microbiology
Nutritional Science
Biomedical Sciences, M.H.S.
Biostatistics
Biostatistics, M.S.
Cell and Molecular Biology
Cell and Molecular Biology, B.S.
Cell and Molecular Biology, M.S.
Biotechnology
Research
Chemistry
Chemistry, B.S.
Secondary Education
Chemistry (minor)
Green Chemistry (certificate)
Chinese
Classics
Classics, B.A.
Classical Languages Emphasis
Classical studies
Latin Secondary Education Emphasis
Communication Studies
Communication Studies, B.A., B.S.
Communications, M.S.
Comprehensive Science and Arts for Teaching (CSAT)
Comprehensive Science and Arts for Teaching, B.A., B.S.
Dance
Dance, B.A.
Dance (minor)
Earth Science
Earth Science, B.S.
Secondary Education
Earth Science (minor)
English
Applied Linguistics, M.A.
English, B.A.
Language and Literature
Language Arts (Elementary Education)
Secondary Education
English, M.A.
English (minor)
Exercise Science
Exercise Science, B.S.
Clinical Exercise Science
Health Fitness Instruction
Film and Video Production
Film and Video Production, B.A., B.S.
French
French, B.A.
Civilization
Linguistics
Literature
Secondary Education
French (minor)
French Secondary Education (minor)
Geography and Sustainable Planning
Geography, B.A., B.S.
Geography - Secondary Teacher Certification (minor)
Geographic Techniques (minor)
Sustainable Urban and Regional Planning (minor)
Geographic Information Systems Technology (certificate)
Sustainable Urban and Regional Planning (certificate)
Geology
Geology, B.S.
Geology (minor)
Geology - Chemistry
Geology - Chemistry, B.S.
German
German, B.A.
Secondary Education
German (minor)
German Secondary Education (minor)
Health Communication
Health Communication, B.A., B.S.
History
History, B.A., B.S
Secondary Education
History (minor)
History Secondary Education (minor)
History of Science
History of Science (minor)
Integrated Science
Integrated Science, B.S.
International Relations
International Relations, B.A.
International Relations (minor)
Mathematics
Mathematics, B.A., B.S.
Elementary Education
Secondary Education
Mathematics (minor)
Medical and Bioinformatics
Medical and Bioinformatics, M.S.
Movement Science
Athletic Training, B.S.
Exercise Science, B.S.
Physical Education, B.S.
Sport Coaching (certificate)
Multimedia Journalism
Multimedia Journalism, B.A., B.S.
Music
Music, B.A.
Music, B.M.
Instrumental
Keyboard
Vocal
Music (minor)
Music Education, B.M.E.
Instrumental
Vocal/Choral
Piano Pedagogy (certificate)
Natural Resources Management
Natural Resources Management, B.S.
Natural Resources Management (minor)
Philosophy
Philosophy, B.A.
Philosophy (minor)
Photography
Photography, B.A., B.S.
Photography (minor)
Physical Education
Physical Education, B.S.
Professional Instruction (K-12)
Sports Leadership, Coaching
Sports Leadership, Sports Management
Physical Education (minor)
School Health Education (minor)
Sport Coaching (certificate)
Physics
Physics, B.S.
Secondary Education
Physics (minor)
Political Science
Political Science, B.A., B.S.
Legal Education Admission Program (LEAP)
Political Science (minor)
Political Science and Law, B.A./J.D.
Political Science and Law, B.S./J.D.
Preprofessional Studies
Predental Studies
Prelaw
Premedical Studies
Preveterinary Medicine
Psychology
Applied Behavior Analysis (certificate)
Psychology, B.A., B.S.
Psychology (minor)
School Psychology
School Psychology, M.S., Psy.S.
Sociology
Sociology, B.A., B.S.
Sociology (minor)
Spanish
Spanish, B.A.
Secondary Education
Spanish (minor)
Spanish Elementary Education (minor, in conjunction with a CSAT major)
Spanish Secondary Education (minor)
Statistics
Statistics, B.A., B.S.
Actuarial Sciences
Applied Statistics (minor)
Data Science (minor)
Mathematical Statistics (minor)
Theatre
Theatre, B.A., B.S.
Theatre (minor)
Writing
Writing, B.A.
Writing (minor)
Academic Units
Anthropology
Annis Water Resources Institute
Art and Design
Biology
Biomedical Sciences
Cell and Molecular Biology
Chemistry
Classics
School of Communications
English
Geography and Sustainable Planning
Geology
History
Mathematics
Modern Languages and Literatures
Movement Science
Music and Dance
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science
Psychology
Sociology
Statistics
Writing
Accreditation
See individual unit or program sections for information.
| Art Education (B.A., B.S.) | National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) |
| Athletic Training program (B.S.) | Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) |
| Chemistry (B.S.) | Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society (ACS) |
| Film and Video Production (B.A., B.S.) | National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) |
| Music (B.A. , B.M. , B.M.E.) | National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) |
| Photography (B.A., B.S.) | National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) |
| Studio Art (B.A., B.S., B.F.A.) | National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) |
Secondary Admission for Undergraduates
The following programs require audition, portfolio review, and/or prerequisites and separate application:
- Art and design - Studio art and art education
- Athletic training
- Dance
- Film and video production (in the School of Communications)
- Music
Graduate Admission
See appropriate Academic Program description for information on graduate admission.
Student Services
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Academic Advising Center
The CLAS Academic Advising Center serves as a key resource for students pursuing majors and/or minors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The goal is to complement faculty advising with professional advising services and serve students by
- providing initial academic advising through freshman, transfer, and international student orientations;
- assisting in the development of an achievable academic plan;
- disseminating Grand Valley policies and procedures as they pertain to degree completion in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences;
- offering a central location for students seeking information on preprofessional programs such as premedical, predental, prepharmacy studies, and many other postbaccalaureate programs;
- assisting students interested in attaining teacher certification through the undergraduate programs or the graduate teacher certification program, as well as current teachers seeking an additional endorsement in a CLAS-related area; and
- providing support for nontraditional students and students returning to Grand Valley after an absence.
The CLAS Academic Advising Center's location is C-1-140 Mackinac Hall and can be reached by calling (616) 331-8585 or via email at [email protected]. Additional information also can be found on the center's website at www.gvsu.edu/clasadvising/.
Mathematics Tutoring Center
Science Success Center
Statistical Consulting Center
Statistics Tutoring Center
Honors Organizations
Program-specific honors programs are described under their unit's description.
Scholarships
The eligibility criteria for each scholarship can be found in the Costs and Financial Aid section of the catalog.
John Allegrina Nontraditional Student Memorial Scholarship
Eric A. Andres Live, Laugh, Love, Learn Scholarships
Alex Aninos Music Education Scholarship
John T. Batchelder Political Science Scholarship
Edith I. Blodgett Endowed Piano Scholarship
William J. and Margaret G. Branstrom Fine Arts Scholarship
Breen Scholarship
Dr. Andrew M.C. Brown Memorial English Scholarship
Alexander Calder Honor Scholarship
Robert L. Chamberlain Scholarship
Frederick A. Chapman Endowed Memorial Public Relations Scholarship
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Endowed Scholarship
Gilbert R. and Patricia K. Davis Endowed Merit Scholarship for Full- or Part-time English Majors
Gilbert R. and Patricia K. Davis Endowed Theatre Scholarship: Remembering Shakespeare
Aaron M. DesRocher Memorial Chemistry Scholarship
Pamella and Daniel G. DeVos Musical Theater Scholarship
DeWitt Barrels Inc. Environmental Science and Natural Resources Scholarship
Ann M. Dilly Jewelry/Metalsmithing Scholarship
Mary Jane Dockeray Scholarship
Leslie Eitzen Voice Scholarship
English Faculty Endowed Scholarship for New Majors
Shelby Fazio '13 Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Richard E. Flanders Scholarship
Barbara L. Flaschenreim Endowed Classics Scholarship
Norman and Helen Gibson Geology Field Study Scholarship
Geology/Earth Sciences Fund
Charlotte A. Gierst and Salome C. Egeler Trust Fund
Grand Valley State University Symphony Orchestra Endowed Scholarship
GV in DC Endowed Scholarship
Tom and Marcia Haas and Family Laker Marching Band Scholarship
Paul B. Henry Congressional Internship
Arthur C. Hills Music Scholarship
Prof. Paul A. Huizenga Biology Education Scholarship
Paul and Dianna Johnson STEM Pathway Endowed Scholarship
Jurries Family Scholarship
Marlene Kenneway Love of Dance Scholarship
Knauf Family Endowed Scholarship
Prof. Charles Knop Chemistry Scholarship
Walton B. Koch Memorial Scholarship
Albert S. and Ella D. Koeze Art Scholarship
MaryBeth Koeze Art Scholarship Endowment
Dirk Koning Film and Video Scholarship
Marney Houseman MacAdam Endowed Voice Scholarship
Dr. Nancy Mack Scholarship
Mathematics Endowment Fund
Movement Science Student Excellence Endowed Scholarship
Arlene Treanor Natie Plants Internship
Glenn A. and Betty J. Niemeyer History Scholarship
Nedra J. Otis Art Scholarship
Eugene and Lillian Pawl Scholarship
Ross W. Perry Bachelor of Science Scholarship
Chuck Peterson '83 Memorial Film and Video Endowed Scholarship
Dr. George I. and Helen Z. Quimby Scholarship
Robert and Linda '89 Rynbrandt Endowed Sociology Scholarship
John Salski Memorial Fund
Ilene I. Schooley Biomedical Science Scholarship
School of Communications Scholarship
Mary and Wilhelm Seeger Scholarship
John J. and Marjorie E. Shephard Communications Scholarship
John Shontz Native Plants Biology Scholarship
Statistics Endowment
George and Marianne Stein Endowed Memorial Scholarship
Howard and Rose Stein Endowed Biology Scholarship
Duke Tanka Jr. Anatomy Scholarship
Edward L. Tremba Scholarship
Ada Council for the Arts Rebecca Vogelsang Memorial Scholarship
Margaret F. Ward Art and Design Scholarship
Margaret F. Ward Music Scholarship
Dr. Ronald W. Ward Scholarship
Holliday Willey Psychology Scholarship for the Study of Pervasive Development Disorders
Bill and Diana Wipperfurth Annis Water Resources Institute Student Research Scholarship
Writing Major Scholarship
Doug and Linda Woods Athletic Training Scholarship
Jennifer Youssef Journalism Scholarship
Barbara Waddell Native Plants Research Scholarship
Barbara Waddell Integrated Science Academic Excellence Award
Mark A. Warren Memorial Scholarship
Community Resources
- Annis Water Resources Institute
- Autism Education Center
- Regional Math and Science Center
Refer to the Community Resources section of this catalog for more information.
Program Descriptions
- Anthropology
- Art and Design
- Biology
- Biomedical Sciences
- Cell and Molecular Biology
- Chemistry
- Classics
- Communications
- School of Communications
- Dance
- English
- French
- Geography and Sustainable Planning
- Geology
- History
- Integrated Science
- International Relations
- Mathematics
- Modern Languages and Literatures
- Movement Science
- Music and Dance
- Natural Resources Management
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Political Science
- Pre-Law
- Psychology
- Social Science
- Sociology
- Statistics
- Annis Water Resources Institute
- Writing