College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

Richard Rothaus, Ph.D., Dean
Marcy Taylor, Ph.D., Associate Dean

106 Anspach; 989-774-3341

https://www.cmich.edu/colleges/class

Associated Designators: CGL, CRM, DBI, ELI, HUM, LAR, MST, NSC, OJB, SEP, SSC, WGS

Department of English Language and Literature
Department of History
Department of Military Science and Leadership
Department of Philosophy and Religion
Department of Political Science and Public Administration
Department of Psychology
Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work
Department of World Languages and Cultures

Undergraduate Certificate: Deafblind Intervenor (CMU Online only)

A university is a place where “mind clashes with mind.”

-John Henry Newman

Mission

The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences is a community of individuals who share a dedication to the life of the mind. Its fundamental purpose is to invigorate the intellectual lives of its students, faculty, and staff, and to promote an intellectual orientation in the larger communities it serves. In this spirit, the College challenges everyone to confront new and disturbing ideas with open minds and to reexamine old ideas with fresh eyes. Within the university, the mission of this College is to pursue disciplined inquiry into ideas and values that grow out of human experience, as well as the forces that shape human behavior and interaction. Since these areas of study - together with the natural sciences and the fine arts - are fundamental to the liberal arts, the College plays a crucial role in liberal arts education. The College also teaches students to apply their knowledge to the resolution of human problems in the world at large, thereby preparing them for professions in which they will contribute to the well-being of others.

Goals

In order to fulfill all of these purposes, the College shall:

provide high quality academic programs that develop the understandings and skills necessary for living in a complex and changing world;
immerse the academic community in a multicultural and international environment;
support programs of research and creative endeavors that add to our understanding of the human situation;
share knowledge and skills with the larger community through service;
attract and develop a diverse community of faculty, staff, and students;
provide quality graduate programs whose graduates make important contributions to the discipline and to society.

The Role in Liberal Arts Education

In order that students may become more thoughtful citizens in our diverse society and more active participants in our changing and interdependent world, the College will help them to develop

strong writing and speaking skills;
abilities to think clearly and critically;
abilities to use technology in support of life-long learning;
familiarity with their intellectual and cultural heritages;
an understanding of social, psychological, and political environments; and
an appreciation of other peoples and cultures.

Areas of Study

Departmental

The eight departments in the College offer a wide spectrum of degree programs at CMU. Most fields of study lead to a major or minor, many with emphases and concentrations. The departments and their primary fields of study are:

English Language and Literature (English, Creative Writing, World Literature, Children and Young Adult Literature, English as a Second Language)
History
Military Science
Philosophy and Religion
Political Science and Public Administration (Political Science, International Relations, Public Administration)
Psychology
Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work (Anthropology, Sociology, Social and Criminal Justice, Social Work, Ethnic Studies, Youth Studies)
World Languages and Cultures (French, German, Spanish, and coursework in Japanese, Latin, Russian, Ojibwe)

See the links above for more information on each of the above programs. The staff of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences office can also help you locate the appropriate department and advisor (Anspach 106; 989-774-3341).

Programs for Education Degrees

Majors with secondary certification include English, history, and social studies. Minors with secondary certification include English, history, and English as a Second Language (interdisciplinary). Other teacher education certifications can be earned in elementary education, elementary special education, secondary education, and secondary special education. Each of these programs has specific major and minor requirements, some of which are found in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.

If you are interested in any of the programs leading to teacher certification, consult both the specific department of choice in the Bulletin and the sections on degree programs and teacher certification.

Interdisciplinary Studies

Interdisciplinary studies include the Cultural and Global Studies Major and Minor, the Game Design Thinking Minor, the Museum Studies Minor, the Social Science Major, the Sustainability and Environmental Policy minor, and the Women and Gender Studies minor; in education, the Social Studies majors for teaching secondary and Teaching English as a Second Language minor. In addition two interdisciplinary concentrations in Neuroscience are available for students interested in a major related to Psychology.

Undergraduate Certificates in African and African Diaspora Studies, American Indian Studies, Cultural Competency, East Asian Studies, European Studies, Human Geography, Latin American and Latino Studies, and Middle East and Islamic Studies are also offered. For more information, see Undergraduate Certificates.

Courses offered under the designators HUM, LAR, and SSC are also interdisciplinary in character. See their descriptions in the Course Description section of the Bulletin.

Pre-Professional Studies

Professional programs such as law require certain basic preparatory work for acceptance into law school. Students should select a program of study that is strong in oral and written expression and fosters critical thinking skills and a critical understanding of the human institutions and values with which the law deals. There is no specific pre-law major, but Central Michigan University’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences can provide much of the needed preparation for law school admissions.

Graduate Programs

Departments in the college offer graduate programs at the masters and/or doctoral level. The English Language and Literature Department offers an M.A. in English Language and Literature with a concentration in Creative Writing. History offers a traditional M.A. and a joint M.A. and Ph.D. program offered in association with a partner institution abroad. Graduate programs in political science include the Masters of Public Administration and a traditional M.A. in political science. The department also offers courses contributing to a concentration in public administration in the Master of Science in Administration. Psychology’s graduate programs include two masters level programs, a specialist degree, and four doctoral programs. They are the Master of Science in General/Experimental Psychology, a Master of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, a Specialist in Psychological Services in School Psychology, and Ph.D. programs in Clinical Psychology, School Psychology, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, and Applied Experimental Psychology.

Accelerated Degrees

Master’s degrees with accelerated programs for undergraduate students include the M.A. in History, Political Science, English Language and Literatures (Creative Writing concentration), and Experimental Psychology for highly motivated students. Students in these programs accelerate their careers by undertaking graduate work toward the traditional Masters degree concurrently with undergraduate work, as specified in the program of study and approved by the department and the office of Graduate Studies.

Student Organizations

Nearly three dozen student organizations are affiliated with programs in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. Among those groups are honor societies in English, world languages, history, military science, and psychology.

Other groups open to interested students include a literary journal; French, German, Japanese, and Spanish culture clubs; a variety of groups affiliated with military science; a pre-law organization that assists students in preparing for the LSAT; history, political science, social work, sociology, and psychology interest groups. Organizations schedule speakers and workshops, host annual meetings and initiations, sponsor educational travel, and engage in social activities. Dues and membership requirements vary. Contact the particular department or the Dean’s Office (Anspach 106) for a listing of organizations affiliated with the college. Additional information is also available on the college website.