College of Arts and Sciences

Carla Koretsky
Dean

Stephanie Peterson
Associate Dean

Nicolas Witschi
Associate Dean

Mission of the College
Our mission is to ignite and sustain a passion for learning and discovery in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences, to help students, staff, and faculty succeed in life and contribute to the betterment of our local and global communities.

Vision of the College
Our vision is to achieve excellence in all aspects of learning and discovery across the humanities, social sciences, and sciences while fostering a climate of intellectual freedom, diversity, and inclusion.

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.

Academic Advising Office
Diana Blouin, Director
Elizabeth Cramer, Assistant Director
Jackie Bizzell, Academic Advisor Senior
Stephanie Graves, Academic Advisor
Jasmine Jefferson, Academic Advisor
Lindsey Millet, Academic Advisor Senior
Thomas Mills, Academic Advisor
Kayla Jo Mitchell, Administrative Assistant II
Nathan Robinson, Academic Advisor
McKenzie Vliek, Academic Advisor

2318 Friedmann Hall
(269) 387-4366
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
Our mission is to intensify student success by inspiring students to pursue meaningful learning experiences, by developing a network of committed, highly trained professionals, and by providing timely, consistent, and comprehensive support.

The College of Arts and Sciences Academic Advising Office at Western Michigan University, located in 2318 Friedmann Hall, provides general advising regarding university and WMU Essential Studies requirements, pre-professional programs and the College of Arts and Sciences Liberal Education Curriculum. The Academic Advising Office also offers introductory information about the programs, majors and minors available within the College of Arts and Sciences. Major and minor specific advising is offered by professional staff and faculty within each department in the College. Schedule an appointment with a College of Arts and Sciences Academic Advisor online at wmich.edu/arts-sciences/advising or by calling (269) 387-4366.

College of Arts and Sciences Essentials (CASE)
All students who graduate from the College of Arts and Sciences will be enrolled in CASE.

Case Requirements:
All students at Western Michigan University must satisfy the WMU Essential Studies requirements. The College of Arts and Sciences Essential (CASE) expands these requirements as follows:

World Language Requirement:
All CAS students must complete a world language other than English through the 1010 level (1020 level if American Sign Language), by university-level course work completed at WMU or transferred to WMU or by examination.
Writing Requirement:
All CAS students must complete the ENGL 1050/1060 sequence.
Baccalaureate Writing Requirement:
All CAS students must complete a course designated “baccalaureate writing”. This requirement may be fulfilled in the student’s program of study, e.g. HIST 4400 is designated “baccalaureate writing” by the Department of History. Students majoring in a world language other than English may fulfill this requirement with a course taught in the world language of their major, e.g., SPAN 3160 (Spanish composition) could be designated “baccalaureate writing” by the Department of Spanish.

College Degree Requirements

College of Arts and Sciences Essentials:
Students who enter in the 2021 and subsequent catalogs and who will graduate through the College of Arts and Sciences must complete the College of Arts and Sciences Essentials (CASE) described here. Students who enter under the 2020 catalog are required to complete the new WMU Essential Studies Program.
Majors and Minors:
Students who will graduate through the College of Arts and Sciences must have a stand-alone major (i.e., not a coordinate major) in the college and a minor in Arts and Sciences or any other college in the university. Students with two majors are not required to complete a minor.
To be admitted to any major in the College of Arts and Sciences, students should apply to the department or program as soon as possible and prior to completion of 35 semester hours. Transfer students with more than 35 hours should apply before matriculation. Students who are not yet admitted to a major may not be permitted to enroll in major core courses. Some departments have restrictive policies for admission to certain majors, as described in the departmental sections of this catalog, which may make it difficult to change curricula during the junior or senior year.
The Credit/No Credit option cannot be used in courses that fulfill the world language and baccalaureate writing requirements of CASE. Use of the Credit/No Credit option for courses in major and minor programs must follow the University policies.