Stephen F. Austin State University

The College of Liberal & Applied Arts

Overview

One of the largest and the most diverse of SFA's colleges, the College of Liberal and Applied Arts is a center of academic excellence. Comprised of nine departments, schools, and divisions, the college provides opportunities to acquire both a knowledge base necessary for informed citizenship and the specific skills required for professional success. Students in the college learn to analyze complex problems, to make critical judgments and to formulate innovative solutions.

The college offers the Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice, communication (communication studies, journalism and radio/television), English, French, geography, history, liberal studies, philosophy, political science, psychology, public administration, sociology, and Spanish; Bachelor of Science degrees are available in communication (communication studies, journalism and radio/television), geography, multidisciplinary studies, political science, psychology, public administration, and sociology. Students in the college also can pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in creative writing or a Bachelor of Social Work degree. The Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences degree is available to students meeting specific admission requirements. Teacher certification programs are offered in English, French, history, journalism, social studies, speech communication and Spanish.

Mission

The College of Liberal and Applied Arts is a community of educators and students working together to promote learning in support of service to society. Students learn to communicate effectively, analyze complex social and cultural issues, make judgments and formulate strategies to address the issues of tomorrow.

Advising & Student Services

The Office of the Dean and individual academic departments oversee the curricular programs of students who pursue any of the courses of study offered within the college. Most students work with faculty advisers in the academic departments to develop specific degree plans, while those working toward degrees in Applied Arts and Sciences, Liberal Studies, Multidisciplinary Studies, or other interdisciplinary programs are assigned an adviser by the dean.

Students who have declared a major in the college and have earned fewer than 45 semester credit hours should contact the Liberal and Applied Arts Academic and Career Advising Office in Ferguson 290 or at laaadvising@sfasu.edu. Students who have not yet declared a major are advised in the Academic Advising Center, located on the second floor of the Ralph W. Steen Library, Room 203.

Many departments in the college have specific advising schedules. Students should contact the department that houses their particular degree program for advising information.

Accreditation

The Council on Social Work Education has accredited the bachelor and master's programs in social work.

Scholarships & Fellowships

Student Organizations

Academic Probation, Suspension, and Reinstatement

The college enforces the university policies regarding academic probation, suspension and reinstatement as described earlier in this Bulletin.

Undecided Students

Students who are undecided about a major are required to seek advising on a course of study prior to each registration period. The advising program for undecided majors allows the student to explore different curricular areas before declaring a major. Through the program, students can select a combination of general education and elective courses that will apply toward a degree when the student eventually declares a major. Additionally, faculty advisers are available to counsel with students about the choice of majors and other academic matters throughout the semester. The advising office for undecided majors is the Academic Advising Center. (See Student Services section of this bulletin.)

Degree Requirements

Bachelor of Arts Degree - Communication Studies, Criminal Justice, English, French, Geography, History, Journalism, Liberal Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Public Administration, Psychology, Radio/Television, Sociology & Spanish

  1. Core Curriculum Requirements (42-48)
    1. Communication (12-14 hours)
      1. Six hours from: ENG 131, 132, 133H
      2. Proficiency in a foreign language through SFA's 132 courses or two semesters of any single language. Students may satisfy this requirement with two semesters of American Sign Language (SPH 172, 272).
    2. Mathematics (3 hours)
      1. Three hours from: MTH 110, 133, 138, 143, 220, 233
    3. Natural Sciences (6-8 hours) (Lab required)
      1. Six to eight hours from: AST 105; BIO 121, 123, 131, 133, 225, 238; CHE 111, 112, 133, 134; ENV 110; GOL 131, 132; PHY 101, 102, 110, 118, 131,132, 241, 242
    4. Humanities and Visual & Performing Arts (6 hours)
      1. Three hours from: ART 280, 281, 282; MUS 140; MHL 245; THR 161, 370; DAN 140, 341
      2. Three hours from: ENG 200 - 233H, 300; PHI 153, 223; HIS 151, 152
    5. Social and Behavioral Sciences (15 hours)
      1. Six hours from: HIS 133, 134
      2. Six hours from: PSC 141, 142
      3. Three hours from: ANT 231; ECO 231, 232; GEO 131, 230; PSY 133, 153; SOC 137, 139
        *Applies only to students completing a minor in Secondary Education.
  2. College Requirements
    1. All students completing Bachelor of Arts degrees in English, French, history, liberal studies, philosophy, political science, public administration, psychology or Spanish must complete the following college requirements:
      1. Foreign language proficiency through the SFA 232 level (SPH 479 for American Sign Language).
      2. Three hours of humanities coursework from: ENG 200-233H, 300; HIS 151, 152; PHI 153, 163, 223. The course chosen must have a different prefix than that selected in line D-2 in the university core above.
      3. Three hours of oral communication skills from COM 111 or COM 170.
    2. All students completing Bachelor of Arts degrees in communication studies, criminal justice, geography, journalism, radio/television, or sociology must complete the following College Requirements:
      1. Three hours from courses with global awareness content: HIS 302, 303; PSC 332; SOC 351, 357.
      2. Three hours from courses with cultural awareness content: ANT 231, COM 435, HIS 321, GEO 131, LAS 300.
      3. Three hours of humanities coursework from: ENG 200-233H, 300; HIS 151, 152; PHI 153, 163, 223. The course chosen must have a different prefix than that selected in line D-2 in the University Core above.
      4. Three hours of oral communication skills from COM 111 or COM 170.
  3. Major
    1. A departmental first major of at least 30 semester hours, but not more than 36 hours, with at least 18 hours advanced and at least 12 hours advanced at SFA.
  4. Minor or Second Major
    1. An academic minor of at least 18 semester hours, but not more than 23 semester hours, with at least nine advanced hours and at least six advanced at SFA.
    2. A second major of at least 24 semester hours with at least 12 advanced hours at SFA.
  5. Forty-two or more semester hours of advanced work (courses numbered 300-499 inclusive), at least 36 at SFA.
  6. A minimum of 42 semester hours of work in residence at SFA.
  7. Enough additional semester hours to make a total of at least 120 semester hours.
  8. A grade of at least C in each freshman English course; a C average at SFA; a C average in first major courses taken at SFA; a C average in minor or second major courses taken at SFA. These required averages are based on those courses in each category that are included in the student's official degree plan.
  9. Students must complete nine semester hours of courses designated as writing enhanced at SFA.

Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree - Creative Writing

  1. Core Curriculum Requirements (42-48 hours)
    1. Communication (12-14 hours)
      1. Six hours from: ENG 131, 132, 133H
      2. Proficiency in a foreign language through SFA's 132 courses, or two semesters of any single language. Students may satisfy this requirement with two semesters of American Sign Language (SPH 172, 272).
      3. Mathematics (3 hours)
        1. Three hours from: MTH 110, 133, 138, 143, 220, 233
      4. Natural Sciences (6-8 hours) (Lab required)
        1. Six to eight hours from: AST 105; BIO 121, 123, 131, 133, 225, 238; CHE 111, 112, 133, 134; ENV 110; GOL 131, 132; PHY 101, 102, 110, 118, 131, 132, 241, 242
      5. Humanities & Visual & Performing Arts (6 hours)
        1. Three hours from: ART 280, 281, 282; MUS 140; MHL 245; THR 161, 370; DAN 140, 341
        2. Three hours from: ENG 200-233H, 300; PHI 153, 223; HIS 151, 152
      6. Social & Behavioral Sciences (15 hours)
        1. Six hours from: HIS 133, 134
        2. Six hours from: PSC 141, 142
        3. Three hours from: ANT 231; ECO 231, 232; GEO 131, 230; PSY 133, 153; SOC 137, 139
    2. College Requirements:
      1. Proficiency in a foreign language through SFA's 232 courses or two additional semesters of the same language as that elected in (1.A.2.) above. Students may satisfy this requirement with two semesters of American Sign Language (SPH 477, 479), but only a few openings are available in Sign Language courses. (Six hours)
      2. Three hours from Visual and Performing Arts: ART 280, 281; MUS 140; MHL 245; THR 161, 370; DAN 140, 341C.
      3. Three hours from: COM 111
    3. Major in creative writing: A first major of at least 33 semester hours.
    4. Minor: A mandatory minor in literature of at least 21 semester hours, with at least 15 advanced hours.
    5. Forty-two or more semester hours of advanced work (courses numbered 300-499 inclusive), at least 36 at SFA.
    6. A minimum of 42 semester hours in residence at SFA.
    7. Enough additional semester hours to make a total of at least 120 semester hours.
    8. A grade of at least C or better is required in each freshman English course; a C average or better at SFA; a C average in all specified work completed in the academic major or minor.
    9. Students must complete nine semester hours of courses designated as writing enhanced at SFA.

Bachelor of Science Degree - Communication Studies, Geography, Journalism, Political Science, Public Administration, Psychology, Sociology & Radio/Television

  1. Core Curriculum Requirements (42-47 hours)
    1. Communication (12-13 hours)
      1. Sx hours from: ENG 131, 132, 133
      2. Three hours of: ENG 273
      3. Three to four hours from: COM 111 or foreign language or American Sign Language
    2. Mathematics (3 hours)
      1. Three hours from: MTH 110, 133, 138, 143, 220, 233
    3. Natural Sciences (6-8 hours) (Lab required)
      1. Six to eight hours from: AST 105; BIO 121, 123, 131, 133, 225, 238; CHE 111, 112, 133, 134; ENV 110; GOL 131, 132; PHY 101, 102, 110, 118, 131, 132, 241, 242
    4. Humanities and Visual & Performing Arts (6 hours)
      1. Three hours from: ART 280, 281, 282; MUS 140; MHL 245; THR 161, 370; DAN 341, 140
      2. Three hours from: ENG 200-233H, 300; PHI 153, 223; HIS 151, 152
    5. Social & Behavioral Sciences (15 hours)
      1. Six hours from: HIS 133, 134
      2. Six hours from: PSC 141, 142
      3. Three hours from: ANT 231; ECO 231, 232; GEO 131, 230; PSY 133, 153; SOC 137, 139
  2. College Requirements
    1. Six to eight additional semester hours from one of the following sequences:
      1. Anthropology/Archaeology/Geography: ANT 248, 251; GEO 130
      2. Biology: BIO 131, 133, 225, 238, 239
      3. Chemistry: CHE 133, 134, 231
      4. Geology: ENV 110; GOL 131, 132
      5. Physics: AST 105; PHY 110, 131, 132, 241, 242
    2. Three to four additional semester hours from MTH courses numbered 133 or above.
    3. COM 111; ENG 273, 344; FRE 304; SPA 435, 445; HIS 151, 152 or PHI 153, 163, 223 (3 hours) (Students seeking Teacher Certification should take COM 111 in this category). Note: students pursuing the BA in psychology must complete only college requirements A and B.
  3. Major a departmental first major of at least 30 semester hours, but not for more than 36 hours, with at least 18 hours advanced and at least 12 hours advanced at SFA.
  4. Minor or Second Major
    1. An academic minor of at least 18 semester hours, but not more than 23 semester hours, with at least nine advanced hours, and at least six advanced at SFA.
    2. A second major of at least 24 semester hours with at least 12 advanced hours at SFA.
  5. Forty-two or more semester hours of advanced work (courses numbered 300-499 inclusive), at least 36 at SFA.
  6. A minimum of 42 semester hours of work in residence at SFA.
  7. Enough additional semester hours to make a total of at least 120 semester hours.
  8. A grade of at least C in each freshman English course; a C average at SFA; and a C average in first major courses taken at SFA; a C average in minor or second major courses taken at SFA. These required averages are based on those courses in each category that are included in the student's official degree plan.
  9. Students must complete nine semester hours of courses designated writing enhanced at SFA.

Bachelor of Social Work Degree

  1. Core Curriculum Requirements (42-48 hours)
    1. Communication (12-14 hours)
      1. Six hours from: ENG 131, 132, 133
      2. Six to eight hours from: BCM 247; COM 111, 170; ENG 273; FRE 131, 132; GER 131, 132; GRK 131, 132; ILA 111, 112; LAT 131, 132; SPA 131, 132; SPH 172, 272
    2. Mathematics (3 hours)
      1. Three hours from: MTH 110, 133, 138, 143, 220, 233
    3. Natural Sciences (6-8 hours) (Lab required)
      1. Six to eight hours from: AST 105; BIO 121, 123, 238; CHE 111, 112, 133, 134; ENV 110; GOL 131, 132; PHY 101, 102, 110, 118, 131, 132, 241, 242;
    4. Humanities and Visual & Performing Arts (6 hours)
      1. Three hours from: ART 280, 281, 282; MUS 140; MHL 245; THR 161, 370; DAN 140, 341
      2. Three hours from: ENG 200-233H, 300; PHI 153, 223; HIS 151, 152
    5. Social and Behavioral Sciences (15 hours)
      1. Six hours from: HIS 133, 134
      2. Six hours from: PSC 141, 142
      3. Three hours from: ANT 231; ECO 231, 232; GEO 131, 230; PSY 133, 153; SOC 137, 139
        (See Social Work Program section of the Bulletin for additional requirements.)
  2. The professional social work course sequence of 50 semester hours, with at least nine hours of Practice Methods courses and 15 hours of Field Practicum at SFA.
  3. A minimum of 42 semester hours of residence work, (on the SFA campus) at least 36 hours of which must be advanced (courses numbered 300-499 inclusive).
  4. At least 12 hours of electives to total 120 semester hours of acceptable credit.
  5. A grade of at least C in each freshman English course; if required by the Texas Success Initiative, and unless exempt from the Texas Success Initiative, a C in MTH 099, ENG 099 and RDG 098; a C average in all coursework at SFA; a grade of a C or better in each research methods courses (SOC 378, SWK 455 and SOC 379); a 2.25 grade point average in professional social work courses; and a grade of C or better in BIO 121, 123 or 238. These required averages are based on those courses in each category that are included in the student's official degree plan.
  6. Students must complete nine semester hours of courses designated writing enhanced at SFA.

Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences, Bachelor of Science in Multidisciplinary Studies

Information about these degrees can be found in the Office of Interdisciplinary Programs section of this bulletin.