HELP Undergraduate Catalog 2016-2017 [ARCHIVED CATALOG] College of Arts and Sciences Print-Friendly Page (opens a new window) Facebook this Page (opens a new window) Tweet this Page (opens a new window)

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Carla Koretsky, Dean

James Cousins
Interim Associate Dean

Keith Hearit
Associate Dean

Sherine Obare
Interim Associate Dean 

Mission of the College

The College of Arts and Sciences cultivates engaged, global citizenship by providing high quality education in the liberal arts - bridging the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences, creating, discovering, and disseminating scientific, humanistic and artistic knowledge and expression; and fostering intellectual engagement and continuous discovery and learning.

Vision of the College

The College of Arts and Sciences promotes and sustains an intellectually challenging, dynamic community that is nationally and internationally recognized for innovative researchers and life-long learners who value integrated knowledge, skills and creative methods, and apply these flexible, holistic approaches in a variety of life settings.

 *This major is to be selected only along with a standard major.

Any student completing a major or minor from the College of Arts and Sciences must earn a minimum of nine (9) credit hours toward their major and at least six (6) credit hours toward their minor from the degree-granting unit at WMU. Academic units within the college may set higher credit hour minima for their programs. Please consult the appropriate program for details.

Accelerated Degree Program with WMU Thomas Cooley Law School

Students with a declared major in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) who are accepted into the WMU Thomas Cooley Law School may enroll in an accelerated degree program, allowing them to count credits earned from their first-year law school courses toward both their law degree and their bachelor’s degree.

Application for this program is required. Students should apply through the CAS Office of Undergraduate Advising. Minimum requirements include acceptance into the WMU Thomas Cooley Law School, junior or senior standing, and a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better. Applications will be reviewed by a joint admissions committee consisting of CAS advising staff, CAS faculty, and a representative from the CAS Dean’s office, and representatives from Cooley Law School.

Students accepted into this program will enroll at WMU in 18 credits of A-S 5100 - Topics in Legal Studies, which will be scheduled in partnership for the following first-year courses at the Cooley Law School:

CIVP 105 LECT - Civil Procedure I   Credits: 3 hours
CONL 404 LECT - Constitutional Law I   Credits: 3 hours
CONL 503 LECT - Constitutional Law II  Credits: 3 hours
CONT 108 LECT - Contracts I   Credits: 3 hours
CONT 213 LECT - Contracts II   Credits: 3 hours
CRLP 107 LECT - Criminal Law   Credits: 3 hours
PRSE 109 LECT - Property I   Credits: 3 hours
PRSE 207 LECT - Property II   Credits: 3 hours
TOEQ 106 LECT - Torts I   Credits: 3 hours
TOEQ 304 LECT - Torts II   Credits: 3 hours

Students in this program will receive WMU credit for 18 of the 24 credits successfully completed (with a grade of “C” or better) during their first year at Cooley. Successful completion (with a grade of “C” or better) of 18 credits of A-S 5100 will also constitute the successful completion of the minor in Legal Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Students in this program still need to complete their major requirements and their general education requirements, and still need a minimum of 122 credits to receive their bachelor’s degree. Students interested in pursuing this option should contact the College of Arts and Sciences Office of Undergraduate Advising to learn more.

Academic Advising Office

Kevin Knutson, Director
Tammi Smith, Assistant Director
Jackie Bizzell, Academic Adviser
Kerrie Jo Harvey, Academic Adviser
Cheryl Peters, Academic Adviser
Elizabeth Cramer, School of Communication , Departmental Adviser
Madeline Goodman, Office Coordinator
Lynnette Abbate, Office Assistant

2318 Friedmann Hall
(269) 387-4366
www.wmich.edu/cas/advising

Vision

Western Michigan University’s College of Arts and Sciences Office of Undergraduate Advising strives to be nationally and internationally recognized by the College, University, and external communities for providing timely, accurate, and intentional advising.

Mission Statement

The College of Arts and Sciences Office of Undergraduate Advising, as a key component in a learner-centered, discovery-driven, globally-engaged research university, is dedicated to engaging students in intentional, collaborative, supportive, and meaningful partnerships that promote personal growth, educational excellence, cultural appreciation, and career development to facilitate self-directed, life-long learning.

Goals Statement

1. Ensure that students have access to knowledgeable and informed advisors who participate in ongoing professional development and demonstrate care and respect.
2. Provide accurate information about academic requirements, policies, and procedures, and co-curricular opportunities. Introduce Degree Works to help facilitate student progress towards degree completion.
3. Collaborate with students on the development and implementation of academic plans and educational experiences congruent with the student’s interests and abilities.
4. Encourage students to utilize University resources and services to maximize their educational and personal potential.
5. Facilitate the understanding of the critical role of liberal arts and sciences through intellectual engagement, continuous discovery, and life-long learning across the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.
6. Promote and advocate the value of advising across the College, University, and external communities.
7. Contribute to Department, College, and University recruitment and retention efforts.
    

Students in the Arts and Sciences Liberal Education Curriculum should see a college advisor to plan their degree programs. The staff of the College of Arts and Sciences Advising Office advises students concerning Liberal Education Curriculum requirements as well as Intellectual Skills and other University requirements. An appointment with an advisor should be scheduled during the student’s first enrollment period in order to obtain information regarding requirements.

Transfer students in the Liberal Education Curriculum, after they have received their credit evaluation forms from the Admissions Office, should have their transfer courses evaluated for credit toward their Liberal Education and other college or University requirements.

The staff of the Academic Advising office will provide introductory information about the programs, majors and minors available within the College of Arts and Sciences and will make referrals to other advising facilities and university resources, such as departmental advisors, etc. Students seeking exploratory information about the programs and curricula of the College are encouraged to visit this office.

Within the College of Arts and Sciences at Western Michigan University, we offer a two-tier advising system for undergraduates. Students receive major/minor specific advising through the faculty or staff expertise within the department and general advising regarding university and general education requirements as well as pre-professional advising through the college’s advising office located in 2318 Friedmann Hall. Schedule an appointment online at www.wmich.edu/arts-sciences/advising or by calling (269) 387-4366.

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