Christian M. M. Brady, D.Phil. (Oxon.), is Interim Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; Anna Bosch, Ph.D., is Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs; Elizabeth Lorch, Ph.D., is Senior Associate Dean for Research; Richard Schein, Ph.D., is Associate Dean of Faculty; Ruth Beattie, Ph.D. is Associate Dean for Advising; Cristina Alcalde, Ph.D., is Associate Dean for Inclusion and Internationalization; Sarah Lyon, Ph.D., is Associate Dean for Graduate Studies.

The College of Arts and Sciences embodies the liberal arts: the natural sciences and mathematics, the social sciences, and the humanities. Students augment their knowledge in all three areas by exploring the interconnections among them.

Study of the liberal arts opens to students the vast scope and excitement of human intellectual and cultural achievement. It enlarges the student’s vision and enriches the student’s life. Study of arts and sciences prepares students for life-long learning and vocational success. It also prepares them for a life of effective civic participation as informed and critical citizens of a diverse global society.

In essence, an Arts and Sciences education fosters the ability to think and learn independently. Arts and Sciences graduates are well prepared to meet future technological and cultural transformations.

Undergraduate Programs in Arts and Sciences

The University of Kentucky grants the following degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences:

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Liberal Studies

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science select from these majors: anthropology; biology; chemistry; economics; English; foreign language and international economics; geography; geological sciences; history; linguistics; mathematical economics; mathematics; modern and classical languages, literatures and cultures (with tracks in Arabic and Islamic studies, Chinese studies; Classics; French and Francophone studies; German studies; Japan studies; and Russian studies); physics; political science; psychology; sociology; writing, rhetoric, and digital studies; and topical studies. The College also offers a Bachelor of Arts with these majors: African American and Africana Studies; environmental and sustainability studies; gender and women’s studies; health, society, and populations; international studies; philosophy; Spanish; and U.S. Culture and Business Practices; a Bachelor of Science with a major in Neuroscience; and a Bachelor of Liberal Studies.

For more information on degree programs, visit: www.as.uky.edu/.

Undergraduate Certificates in Arts and Sciences

The University of Kentucky grants the following undergraduate certificates in the College of Arts and Sciences:

• Appalachian Studies
• Global Studies
• International Film Studies
• Peace Studies
• Pre-Medicine (Post-Baccalaureate)
• Sexuality Studies
• Social Sciences Research

Information and requirements for these certificates are listed at the end of this section.

Admission

Admission requirements are the same as those of the University, except for the topical studies major. Prospective students should see the college web site: www.as.uky.edu/.

Programs and Services

Academic Advising

Academic advising in the College of Arts and Sciences is provided by professional advisors, faculty, and graduate students beginning with new student advising conferences all the way through to graduation. All Arts and Sciences students are assigned an academic advisor after enrollment. Students and advisors will work as partners to help the student meet their academic goals.

All currently enrolled primary A&S majors have an assigned professional academic advisor or faculty advisor. All Arts and Sciences freshmen have an advising hold placed on their record requiring the student to meet with their A&S academic advisor prior to registration each semester. All students are encouraged to meet with their A&S advisor at least once each semester.

Students experiencing academic difficulty (academic probation) should meet with their academic advisor at the beginning of each semester and before the last day to withdraw from classes. For more information concerning these meetings, contact the Arts and Sciences Advising Center at 859-257-8712.

All Arts and Sciences students are expected to familiarize themselves with the degree requirements and keep track of requirements. The University has an online degree audit system within myUK GPS (Graduation Planning System). Students are expected to view their personalized degree audit prior to any advising session where scheduling for classes will be discussed. Routine questions concerning UK Core, college, major and minor requirements, grade-point average, repeat or bankruptcy options, transient student forms, credit overload requests, transfer credit equivalencies, forms required for graduation, and changing majors should be addressed to the student’s academic advisor.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with an advisor, visit www.as.uky.edu/advising.

Dean’s List

A student who completes at least 12 credits of “letter” grades with a 3.60 or higher grade-point average with no I grades listed for the fall or spring semester will be named to the Dean’s List in the College of Arts and Sciences. CLEP, AP, special exam and Independent Study credits are excluded. The student’s cumulative grade-point average is not considered; only the grade-point average for that particular semester is relevant. Exceptional circumstances, including fewer than 12 credits, will be considered for inclusion on the Dean’s List; students should submit a petition to the A&S Advising Center, 202 Patterson Office Tower.

Commencement and Departmental Honors

Commencement honors are determined by University standards. A full explanation of these honors can be found in the Graduation Requirements section of this Bulletin. Please note that if a student has not completed at least 90 hours at the University of Kentucky, but has completed at least 60 hours at the University of Kentucky, the student is eligible for commencement honors, but is held to a 0.2 point higher standard. If the student has not completed at least 60 hours, the student is not eligible for commencement honors. Commencement honors are indicated on the student’s final transcript.

Departments in the College of Arts & Sciences award departmental honors to their outstanding graduates. The standards for departmental honors are not collectively established by the College, but determined by each department. For details on departmental honors, see “Guide to A&S Departmental Honors Requirements” below. Address questions to the department awarding honors. Departmental honors are indicated on the student’s final transcript.

Scholarships

For information on general scholarships in the College, contact the A&S Advising Center, 202 Patterson Office Tower, 859-257-8712, or www.as.uky.edu/scholarships. Students interested in scholarships in a specific major should contact the individual department.

College Policy on Learning Disabilities

The College of Arts and Sciences anticipates that virtually all of its students will satisfy all of its requirements. However, any student who believes that he or she can show evidence - by diagnostic testing and/or psychological evaluation - that he or she has a learning disability which warrants course substitution of any specific college requirement may request such an exception from the College. Students should begin their inquiries and/or discussions in the UK Disability Resource Center, 407 Multidisciplinary Science Building, 725 Rose Street.

Readmission After a Two-Year Absence

In accordance with the University Senate rules which allow the dean of each college to determine which degree requirements a returning student shall follow, students should note the following: Students enrolling in the College of Arts and Sciences after an absence from the University of Kentucky of two or more years will be expected to satisfy the university, college, graduation, and department requirements in effect at the time of readmission.

Students with extenuating circumstances may petition the College for permission to continue under the degree requirements that were in effect during their previous enrollment in the UK system.

Academic Suspension and Reinstatement

The College of Arts and Sciences follows the general University rules for academic suspension and reinstatement, which are outlined in the Academic Requirements  section of this Bulletin. Students placed on academic suspension must be reinstated by the college in which they plan to enroll before applying for readmission to the university. Students planning to pursue a degree program in the College of Arts and Sciences should arrange for reinstatement proceedings before May 15 for any fall semester reinstatement, or October 1 for any spring semester reinstatement by calling the A&S Advising Center, 859-257-8712. Students who fail to request reinstatement prior to these deadlines will normally not be considered for reinstatement until the subsequent semester.

A student who has been suspended for a second time from the University of Kentucky will usually not be considered for reinstatement by the College of Arts and Sciences until two years have passed since the date of the second suspension.

The Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science Degree

Students must complete four areas of requirements to obtain a UK Arts and Sciences degree.

The four areas are: UK Core; major requirements; college requirements; and university graduation requirements. The following information outlines the specific degree requirements for the B.A. and the B.S. in Arts and Sciences. Please read them carefully and also note the specific differences in each degree program.

The B.S. degree requires three hours in college disciplinary requirements for the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities beyond those required for the UK Core and requires 60 hours of physical, biological and/or mathematical sciences.

The B.A. degree requires six hours in college disciplinary requirements for the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities beyond those required for the UK Core and requires 39 hours in course work numbered at or above the 300 level.

College Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts Degree

It is important to review the “NOTES” section that immediately follows the “College Requirements for a Bachelor of Science Degree” section.

To receive the Bachelor of Arts degree, students must:

1. Complete the UK Core requirements. ¹
2. Complete the following college requirements:
   1. Foreign Language Requirement. Contact your advisor or the A&S Advising Center for an explanation of the Foreign Language Requirement.
   2. Students must take six college hours in disciplines in the natural sciences. ^†
   3. Students must take six college hours in disciplines in the social sciences. ^†
   4. Students must take six college hours in disciplines in the humanities.
   5. Students must take three college hours in an approved race and ethnicity course.
3. Complete at least 120 credit hours in courses acceptable to the College of Arts and Sciences. ²
4. Complete at least 90 credit hours in Arts and Sciences courses. ³
5. Complete at least 39 credit hours in courses numbered at or above the 300 level. ⁴
6. Complete at least 39 credit hours within the major. At least 24 of these hours must be at or above the 300 level.
7. Complete at least one course that includes some laboratory or field experience. (See the description of the College Laboratory or Field Experience Requirement which follows.)
8. Attain an overall grade-point average of at least 2.0.
9. Attain a grade-point average of at least 2.0 in all major requirements courses (including all premajor courses).
10. Complete a minimum of six credit hours of free electives. These college electives cannot be counted towards UK Core, college or major requirements. These free electives also cannot be used to satisfy the college Race and Ethnicity Requirement.
11. Complete University graduation requirements, the Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement, and the residence requirement. 

†See College Core Requirements for B.A. and B.S. Degree following the next section.

College Requirements for a Bachelor of Science Degree

It is important to review the “NOTES” section that immediately follows the “College Requirements for a Bachelor of Science Degree” section.

To receive the Bachelor of Science degree, students must:

1. Complete the UK Core requirements. ¹
2. Complete the following college requirements:
   1. Foreign Language Requirement. Contact your advisor or the A&S Advising Center for an explanation of the Foreign Language Requirement.
   2. Students must take three college hours in disciplines in the natural sciences.^†
   3. Students must take three college hours in disciplines in the social sciences.^†
   4. Students must take three college hours in disciplines in the humanities.
   5. Students must take three college hours in an approved race and ethnicity course.
3. Complete at least 120 credit hours in courses acceptable to the College of Arts and Sciences. ²
4. Complete at least 90 credit hours in Arts and Sciences courses. ³
5. Complete at least 60 credit hours in the physical, biological and/or mathematical sciences. ⁵
6. Complete at least 39 credit hours within the major. At least 24 of these hours must be at or above the 300 level.
7. Complete at least one course that includes some laboratory or field experience. (See the description of the College Laboratory or Field Experience Requirement which follows.)
8. Attain an overall grade-point average of at least 2.0.
9. Attain a grade-point average of at least 2.0 in all major requirements courses (including all premajor requirements).
10. Complete a minimum of six credit hours of free electives. These college electives cannot be counted towards UK Core, college or major requirements. These free electives also cannot be used to satisfy the college Race and Ethnicity Requirement.
11. Complete University graduation requirements, the Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement, and the residence requirement.

†See College Core Requirements for B.A. and B.S. Degree following the next section.

Notes

1. See the UK Core  section of this Bulletin for a detailed explanation of the requirements.
2.  
   1. 001-099 courses, or courses followed by an “R” designation cannot be counted as credit towards a bachelor’s degree.
   2. Physical education one-hour service courses (KHP) are acceptable as electives only and may count toward the total 120 minimum hours needed to graduate. Only one successful completion of multiple completions of the same KHP course will count.
   3. A maximum of 16 semester credit hours earned in military science (AMS) and aerospace studies (AFS) are acceptable towards fulfilling both the College 90hour and 120-hour requirement for the B.A. or B.S. degree. AMS 320 /HIS 320  is not included in this 16 hour limit.
   4. A maximum of 12 semester credit hours earned in experiential education and internship courses (EXP 396 , departmental 399 courses) will be accepted. For ANT 399 , SOC 399 , and SPA 399 , a maximum of 15 semester credit hours can be earned. See Experiential Education and Internship Course section within the Arts and Sciences section of the Bulletin.
   5. All courses offered by the College of Arts and Sciences are acceptable with the exception of MA 108R.
   6. Courses transferred from other institutions and judged by the College to be equivalent or comparable to Arts and Sciences courses are acceptable.
   7. Usually the College will apply only six hours of technical course work taken at any institution.
   8. The student is permitted to elect and count toward graduation courses in other colleges within the University of Kentucky or their equivalent from other institutions, not to exceed 30 hours. Hours taken in the other colleges at UK gained during the junior and senior years may, if at the 200-level or above, be counted towards the major requirements with approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies/Program Director and the College.
   9. Courses with an “S” grade designation or a “place holder” designation such as NSE (National Student Exchange) for 1 credit hour cannot be counted as credit toward a bachelor’s degree in Arts & Sciences. EAP 599 , 1 credit hour, can count towards the A&S “hours” requirements for the degree.
3. Courses classified as Arts and Sciences courses for purposes of the 90-hour requirement include all courses offered by the College of Arts and Sciences; all art history courses; all courses in music and theatre appreciation and ART 100  plus the history of music and theatre; TAD 370 ; all economics courses; all undergraduate courses in the Department of Computer Sciences (CS); all undergraduate courses in the Department of Communication (COM); and all American Sign Language courses officially transferred to the student’s UK record.
4. CHE 230 , CHE 231 , CHE 232  and CHE 233  will count towards the 39 credit hours in courses numbered at or above the 300 level needed for degree requirements. Please note that courses numbered 800-899 cannot be counted as 300-level and above for the purpose of completing the 39 hours needed for the degree.
5. Courses offered within the disciplines of physical, biological and/or mathematical sciences may count towards the 60 credit hours of physical, biological and/or mathematical sciences for the Bachelor of Science degree. That includes courses with the following departmental prefix: ANA, AST, BCH, BIO, CHE, CS, EES, MA (except MA 108R), PGY, PHY, and STA. In addition, the following courses may be used to satisfy the 60-credit-hour requirement: ECO 391 , PHI 120 , PHI 320 , PSY 215 , and PSY 216 . Courses listed as satisfying the A&S natural science core requirement may also be used towards the 60 credit hours of physical, biological and/or mathematical sciences.

College Core Requirements for B.A. and B.S. Degree

To satisfy the Arts and Sciences college core requirement, students must complete three (for a B.S.) or six (for a B.A.) college hours in each of three areas - natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities - not counting any courses taken to fulfill the requirements of UK Core.

Students may also use other Arts and Sciences courses to satisfy the college core requirement if these courses have been approved to fulfill parallel inquiry areas in the UK Core.

Major Requirements

A major concentration in the College of Arts and Sciences consists of at least a 39-credit-hour program, referred to as the “major requirements.”

Each department or program has specified the requirements for their majors, as listed in this Bulletin under each relevant heading and as outlined in the online degree audit system within myUK GPS (Graduation Planning System).

Aside from any exceptions explicitly approved by the Arts and Sciences Educational Policy Committee and the Undergraduate Council, however, major requirements must conform to the following restrictions:

1. A total of 39 credits is required in the major requirements.
2. Courses electively taken pass-fail will not count toward UK Core, major/minor, or College requirements.
3. At least 24 credits must be in courses at the 300 level or above.
4. A minimum of 18 credits in a department, taken at the 200 level or above, is required for a major.
5. An overall grade-point average of at least 2.0 in all courses listed for the major requirements, including all premajor courses. This includes all grade attempts except those for which repeat options or academic bankruptcy has been approved.

Students are expected to review and understand all degree requirements listed in the online degree audit system within myUK GPS (Graduation Planning System).

Students who have taken courses (200 level or above) outside the college should talk with their academic advisor to see if these courses are applicable to their major requirements.

Topical Studies Majors

Students who have multiple interests or interests which do not fall into departmental areas may select a topic for concentration instead of a departmental major. Topical Studies offers academic flexibility and allows students to cut across departmental and college lines in constructing meaningful and imaginative programs. Courses in several departments might be selected to pursue special interests - Asian studies, for instance. Other examples might be African American studies or human studies.

Each Topical Studies major is designed and directed by the student in consultation with a faculty advisor in the general area of study, and in consultation with the topical studies advisor in the A&S Advising Center and an Arts and Sciences Associate Dean.

Topical Studies is the only selective admission program in the College of Arts and Sciences. The student must have a cumulative UK grade-point standing of at least 2.5 to be accepted to Topical Studies. The specific requirements of the topical studies major are that the student must meet UK Core and College requirements, must enroll in and complete at least 30 credit hours after formal admission, and complete the 39-hour major requirements (see preceding section entitled “Major Requirements”). Except for electives, all of the student’s work must be related to the topic. Additionally, in the senior year, the student must complete a comprehensive paper or project that serves to integrate his or her topical studies field. Frequently, it is advantageous to begin writing this paper or project in the context of an independent work course or a seminar, with the instructor’s approval. The paper or project proposal must be approved by a faculty advisor, an Arts and Sciences Associate Dean, and the Topical Studies advisor before significant work has begun on the project. Students must submit the final paper or project for review and approval no later than eight weeks before finals during the semester the student intends to graduate. The paper should be submitted to the Associate Dean no later than six weeks before the final exam week during the semester the student intends to graduate. Departmental honors for topical studies majors are determined by the Associate Dean and the Topical Studies advisor. To be eligible for departmental honors, a student must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.6 and a final paper or project that has been judged to be outstanding.

For more information, contact the Arts and Sciences Topical Studies advisor in the A&S Advising Center (202 Patterson Office Tower); or visit the Topical Studies major website at: www.as.uky.edu/topical-studies.

A Second Major

A student may obtain a second major by meeting all requirements in two departments. Major work in one department can, if there is a generic relationship, serve as the outside field in the second major, and vice versa. However, the International Studies major allows a maximum of 15 hours of course work to overlap between two majors. The student must indicate his or her second major to the A&S Advising Center, 202 Patterson Office Tower. He or she must have an advisor in both departments. If one of the majors is in another college, the student is still required to know the list of requirements from the other college. The student who completes requirements for a second major will receive only one degree, but his or her transcript and diploma will reflect the two majors.

For information on second majors (not the same as second degree), consult the Graduation Requirements  section of this Bulletin.

A Second Bachelor’s Degree

A student may obtain a second bachelor’s degree by completing all university requirements for one degree; by completing all the major requirements of both degrees; and by completing all college requirements of both degrees. Courses taken towards fulfilling one degree may also count towards fulfilling parallel requirements in the other, but the total credits in the two degree programs must be at least 144 hours. Major work in one department can, if there is a generic relationship, serve as the outside field in the second major and vice versa. However, the International Studies major allows a maximum of 15 hours of course work to overlap between two majors. The student must indicate his/her double degree in his/her primary college. The student may elect to receive the degree simultaneously, if college and departmental requirements can be met simultaneously. For information regarding double degree (not the same as double majors), consult the Graduation Requirements  section of this Bulletin. Students are expected to be knowledgeable of requirements for any major in Arts and Sciences as outlined in the online degree audit system within myUK GPS (Graduation Planning System).

Minors

The College of Arts and Sciences does not require minors. However, students can earn a minor in the following disciplines in the college:

• anthropology
• biological sciences
• chemistry
• creative writing
• criminology
• economics
• English
• gender and women’s studies
• geography
• geology
• history
• international studies
• linguistics
• mapping and GIS
• mathematicsmicrobiology
• military leadership
• modern and classical languages, literatures and cultures
• neuroscience
• philosophy
• physics
• political science
• professional and technical writing
• psychology
• sociology
• Spanish
• statistics
• urban studies
• writing, rhetoric and digital studies

Interdisciplinary minors are available in:

• African American and Africana studies
• American studies
• Appalachian studies
• cognitive science
• environmental and sustainability studies
• Indian culture
• Jewish studies
• Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino studies
• world religions

Minors can only be awarded in conjunction with a UK undergraduate degree. Additionally, students cannot pursue a minor in the same discipline as their major. This includes the area of concentration for a Topical Studies major and International Studies major.

For more information about choosing or declaring a minor, please review the requirements outlined in the online degree audit system within myUK GPS (Graduation Planning System); contact the department where the minor is offered; and/or consult the departmental section of this Bulletin. To officially declare a minor, students must complete a Declaration/Change of Major or Minor form in the A&S Advising Center, 202 Patterson Office Tower.

Awarded minors appear on the student’s final transcript but not on his or her diploma.

The Preparation of Teachers

Any Arts and Sciences student intending to seek teaching certification should so indicate to his or her academic advisor. The student should also contact the College of Education, 166 Taylor Education Building. As soon as the student has determined to seek certification he or she is assigned an advisor both in the College of Education and in the major department in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Students seeking certification should be sure to familiarize themselves with the requirements of both colleges. The sooner and the more thoroughly this is done, the greater the advantage to the student.

Information on Courses

Transfer of Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) Courses

The college will usually apply up to 6 hours of technical course work taken at any accredited institution including KCTCS. Beyond these 6 credit hours, courses will be evaluated on an individual basis and as it applies to the student’s baccalaureate degree program.

Independent Work Courses

A junior or senior may, with prior approval of his or her faculty advisor and the instructor who would direct the work, register for an independent work course in his or her major department. Normally, a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the major is required. In exceptional circumstances a nonmajor or topical studies major may be permitted to enroll in a departmental independent work course. Such a course is characterized by special assignments for study, regular conferences, reports, and usually involves preparation of a paper. The instructor in each case must file with the department evidence of the nature of the work achieved. Credit for such courses may be granted to undergraduates to an amount of not more than 12 hours.

Experiential Education and Internship Courses

The College of Arts and Sciences accepts experiential education and internship courses (such as EXP 396 , departmental 399 courses,) on a pass-fail basis only, regardless of which college is offering the courses. A total of 12 credit hours in these courses may be counted toward the 120 credit hours required for graduation. For ANT 399  and SPA 399 , a maximum of 15 semester credit hours can be earned. For PS 399 , a maximum of 12 credit hours can be earned per semester on a case by case basis. However, College of Arts and Sciences majors may only earn a maximum of six credit hours of experiential education credit (EXP) in one semester.

ROTC Program

A maximum of 16 semester credit hours earned in American Military Studies and Air Force Studies courses will be accepted towards fulfilling the 90 hours of A&S courses required and the 120 minimum number of hours needed for graduation with a baccalaureate degree in the College of Arts and Sciences, even though students typically enroll for more than 16 semester credit hours of AMS and AFS course work. However, credit received from taking AMS 320 /HIS 320 , American Military History, can apply in addition to the 16 credit hour limit earned in AMS or AFS course work. Additionally, AMS 350  (1 credit hour) can only be counted for a maximum of 4 credit hours.

Programs

• Appalachian Studies Certificate
• Global Studies Certificate
• International Film Studies Certificate
• Peace Studies Certificate
• Post-Baccalaureate Undergraduate Certificate in Pre-Medicine
• Sexuality Studies Certificate
• Social Sciences Research Certificate

• College Core Requirements for B.A. and B.S. Degree