College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Undergraduate majors: BA; BS; BFA; BM

Graduate degrees: programs leading to DMA; MA; MFA; MS; MSW; PhD (degrees conferred by the Graduate College)

Website: https://clas.uiowa.edu

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS), established in 1900, is the largest of the 11 colleges that comprise the University of Iowa, with 37 departments spanning the visual, performing, literary, and cinematic arts; humanities; natural and mathematical sciences; social and behavioral sciences; and communication disciplines.

Throughout CLAS departments and programs, faculty are at the forefront of their disciplines. They bring their world-class research and artistry into their classrooms, studios, and labs, giving students the unparalleled opportunity to learn right from the source of the latest innovations in knowledge and practice.

Graduate students and many undergraduates work side-by-side with faculty members, conducting breakthrough research that advances understanding of ourselves and the complex, ever-changing world in which we live.

Faculty members help students discover their individual talents and passions, mentoring students about research opportunities, internships, and career choices. Professional academic advisors encourage students to create unique academic portfolios that help them stand out among their peers, with students developing creative strategies to combine majors, minors, and certificates—a common practice in CLAS, where all work together to support students’ diverse interests and goals.

CLAS students can choose from almost 70 undergraduate majors, 70 minors, and 27 undergraduate interdisciplinary certificate programs, with choices that particularly focus on applied skills helpful in a chosen profession that encourage students to pursue intellectual and artistic interests along with pragmatic preparation for a first career. Students in CLAS have many opportunities to engage beyond the classroom: for example, faculty-mentored research, study abroad, honors, community engagement, and internships.

Schaeffer Hall building on campus.

CLAS Undergraduate Programs

Located in Schaeffer Hall and at the center of campus on the Pentacrest, CLAS Undergraduate Programs (CLAS UP) is an integral part of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Under the direction of the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, CLAS UP oversees academic advising in the College; the development of the undergraduate curriculum, including the General Education CLAS Core; and the collegiate academic standards.

Academic staff in CLAS UP meet with students about requirements, collegiate policies that affect students, and a range of other issues, including successful completion of a degree. CLAS UP staff strive to promote the success of every student, maintain the academic integrity of CLAS, and to impart the value of a liberal arts education.

GE CLAS Core

Students entering the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences who wish to earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS), Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), or Bachelor of Music (BM) degree must complete the requirements of the General Education CLAS Core in addition to the requirements of a major and other UI and CLAS graduation requirements.

The GE CLAS Core encourages students to explore beyond familiar topics, helping students to discover intriguing majors, minors, and certificates while challenging students to embrace personal transformation by expanding their core knowledge and perspectives. For this reason, the GE CLAS Core is framed by the overall concept that general education (GE) courses also teach students how to learn, thereby fostering success in the major and life-long learning.

For GE CLAS Core requirements, related academic policies, and lists of approved courses, see the GE CLAS Core and related GE courses in the catalog.