FACULTY AND STAFF

PHILOSOPHY AND MISSION

Philosophy
The diverse programs in the College of Liberal Arts share a common goal: to enable students to interpret, evaluate, and alter their world. Students in this college thus acquire a familiarity and facility with the linguistic, artistic, technical, and social media through which humanity inscribes its image on the world. Such programs develop a spirit of toleration and rigorous intellectual honesty that helps students shape their destiny in a free society.

Mission
The College develops the intellectual discipline needed in any business or profession. It teaches the general education courses common to all majors, including courses in communications, English, foreign languages, fine arts, philosophy, history, and social sciences. It not only helps educate prospective teachers; it offers pre professional curricula in law and other professions, and vocational curricula in journalism, public relations, public administration, and criminal justice. The faculty of the College is committed to excellence in teaching; in research, publication, and production; and in service to the community.

DEGREE PROGRAMS

The College of Liberal Arts offers the following degree programs:

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Criminal Justice
• Bachelor of General Studies
• Master of Arts in Liberal Arts
• Master of Science in Human Services Administration
• Master of Science in Health Care Administration

Major programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts include:

• English
• Fine Arts
• Foreign Languages (French, Spanish)
• Mass Communications
  • Journalism
  • Public Relations
• Social Sciences
• Geography
• History
• Political Science
• Sociology
• Speech

Additionally the College offers courses in drama, German, India Studies, International Studies, music, philosophy, women's studies, and religion.

For information on the Master of Arts in Liberal Arts and the Master of Science in Human Services Administration, see GRADUATE PROGRAMS.

MINOR PROGRAMS

Students in the College of Liberal Arts need not select a minor. However, for individual educational development and for career orientation, a minor can be helpful. The following represent interdisciplinary minors. Other minors will be found immediately following the degree programs.

The Human Services Minor is designed for students interested in working as professionals with youth and human service organizations, such as programs for homeless families, programs for physically challenged individuals, and Junior Achievement. By completing the minor, students will automatically meet the requirements for American Humanics Certification, recognized nationally by youth and human service organizations as providing the knowledge and skills equivalent to someone who has been working as a professional in nonprofits for one year. The fifteen nonprofits supporting American Humanics, Inc. and its certificate program indicate that the need exceeds 20,000 entry-level professionals each year.

Independent Study (3 hours) in student's major
*Cross listed as psychology, management and political science.

The minor in International Studies is an interdisciplinary program enabling students to gain global perspectives, to understand our interconnected world, and to apply those insights in a variety of professions. The program provides considerable latitude in meeting the needs and goals of students. Thus, students must work closely with their academic advisors to plan the best possible minor program in International Studies.

Six hour core requirement:

• Introduction to International Studies 250 – 3 hrs
• Foreign Language proficiency at the 200 level –3 hrs

Eighteen hours from the following courses: (No more than two courses in a student’s major may qualify for inclusion in these eighteen hours; nine of the eighteen hours must be at the 300+ level.)

6 hours of LSUS study abroad may apply toward the minor, if appropriate.

*490 courses must be international in content. Additional information is available from the International Studies advisors.

This flexible, interdisciplinary minor would be useful to all students who anticipate writing as being a regular part of their career, as well as to any student who wants to sharpen their oral and written communication skills. This minor requires a total of 21 term hours, 9 hours from three Core groups and 12 hours of electives. Students should select these courses in consultation with an English Department advisor. Students select one three-hour course from each of the following groups:

Courses taken for core credit cannot be taken for Elective credit.

Students then choose 12 hours from the following (at least two departments):

*A student cannot take both CSC 111 and ISDS 150.

The minor in Public History is an interdisciplinary program that enables students to gain knowledge and skills applicable to multiple career modes in public history and related fields. Students will gain experience in research, interpretation, and public presentation that will help prepare them for professions in historical museums, historic houses and sites, national and state military parks, historic preservation and conservation, heritage tourism, and education. The program provides for individual development in specific areas of public history. Students are expected to set goals and objectives, and to work closely with supervising professors in developing professional expertise in selected studies.

Required Courses:

The minor in Public Safety Administration provides knowledge of public sector management in general, and specifically equips those students interested in careers in public safety agencies. Drawing upon the disciplines of political science and criminal justice, it exposes the student to basic principles of administration, particularly in the pubic safety area, as well as presenting an overview of governments and the politics involved which carry out public safety duties and make policy regarding public safety.

NOTE: Any core or elective courses above the 100-level that would be required for the student's major cannot also count toward the 21-hour requirements for this minor but would have to be supplemented by the additional core or elective courses listed here.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Responsibilities of Students
Close adherence to the curriculum assures that students complete all general degree requirements and all major requirements in a timely manner. Students are responsible for knowing degree requirements, for enrolling in courses that fit into the degree program, and for taking courses in the proper sequence to ensure the orderly progression of work. Students are also responsible for knowing University regulations regarding the standard of work required to continue in the University, as well as the regulations dealing with scholastic probation. Regular consultation with faculty advisers will help students meet all these requirements.

Transfer Credits
Transfer credits apply for degree credit only to the extent to which they represent courses in the college's curricula. Validation may be required for credits earned more than ten years before admission to the college. Transfer students may also be required to validate proficiency in English and math by completing additional courses or by passing examinations.
Pass/No Credit Option
Undergraduate students in the College of Liberal Arts who have achieved junior standing and have an overall average of 2.0 on all work taken at LSUS may take one course each term on a pass/no credit basis, with work of C quality or better required for a grade of P. Credits earned in this manner may not exceed a total of 12 hours, and all courses so taken must be electives within the degree program. Credits earned on a pass/no credit basis will count toward the total number of hours required for a degree but will not affect grade point average.

Students who wish to schedule a course on the pass/no credit basis must file an application form in the dean's office by the final date for adding courses for credit of the term in which the course is taken. Once enrolled in a course on the pass/no credit basis, students may not change to another grading system. Detailed information may be obtained in the Office of the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts.

BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE (B.A.)

Minimum Subject Requirements
The following minimum subject requirements must be satisfied by any student awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Liberal Arts.

Oral and Written Language and Communications
One of the most important functions of education is to further the individual's ability to think logically, critically, and clearly, to express ideas and feelings, and to persuade others ethically. Liberal arts curricula aid the student in this function by requiring six hours of English composition (English 105, 115), three hours of oral communication (Communications 135), and nine hours of one foreign language, including 3 hours at the sophomore level.

Values and Traditions
Flexible thinking about the human values and traditions manifested in the humanities and the arts is an important goal of liberal arts education. Therefore, liberal arts curricula specify six hours of literature within the twelve hour English requirement; six hours of drama, fine arts, or music; and three hours of philosophy.

History and Social Sciences
The past gives perspective on contemporary life, as does understanding the patterns of human behavior and the development of institutions past and present. To enlarge such perspectives, the curricula require six hours of Western Civilization, three hours of American history, and nine hours in social sciences (economics, geography, political science, anthropology, psychology, or sociology).

Science and Mathematics
The educated and disciplined thinker must strive to understand physical reality, the scientific approach to it, and the relationship of mathematics to a knowledge of it. Liberal arts curricula advance this understanding by requiring six hours of mathematics (MATH 121 or above) and ten hours of science (one three hour course with a one hour laboratory and an additional six hours in a two term sequence). Courses must be selected from the biological sciences and the physical sciences.

In addition to these minimum subject requirements and the requirements of the major, most of the curricula in the College provide a flexible elective system. It is wise for students to choose electives conducive to the breadth that an educated person needs electives developing computer literacy, increasing knowledge of American government and of the impact of mass communications, and maintaining physical health. By considering these and other areas, including the academic minors already described, students can work out a personally satisfying and enriching curriculum.

Other Requirements
To be granted the Bachelor of Arts degree by the College of Liberal Arts, students must have satisfactorily completed:

1. All general degree requirements of the University, of the College, and of the major.
2. A minimum of 128 term hours; in the major subject, the student will satisfy minimum department requirements (24 60 term hours) but may not use more than 65 hours in the major subject to satisfy the total hours required for the degree.
3. All work with a minimum grade point average of 2.0 (1) in the major subject and (2) in all coursework attempted for the degree.
4. Communications 135 and English 115 with grades of C or better.
5. A minimum of thirty hours in courses numbered 300 or above.
6. A minimum of nine hours in residence in courses above 300 in the subject of concentration; the student transferring from other universities must take at least 12 hours in the major subject, with a minimum of nine of these hours in courses numbered 300 or above.
7. The assessment procedures of their major.
8. A maximum of 12 term hours of Military Science may be used for degree credit in the College of Liberal Arts, with no more than four of these hours being from the Basic Course (see “Military Science).

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Communications - Speech
Communications - Mass Communications
English
Fine Arts
Foreign Languages - French
Foreign Languages - Spanish
History/Social Sciences - History
History/Social Sciences - Geography
History/Social Sciences - Political Science
History/Social Sciences - Sociology
Bachelor of Criminal Justice Degree (B.C.J.)
Bachelor of General Studies Degree (B.G.S.)

OTHER OFFERINGS

Prelaw Studies
Students interested in the legal profession should carefully select a degree program as soon as possible, preferably during their freshman year.

They should keep abreast of all qualitative standards for admission to law schools and be aware that a B.A. degree is a minimum condition for admission to most law schools. Since lawyers must read, write, and speak effectively, and since words are the basic tools of the profession, students should select courses that emphasize the English language, human institutions and values, and the ability to think creatively, analytically, and logically. Although not required, French is recommended for those planning legal careers in Louisiana.

The prelaw advisers in the College of Liberal Arts can provide information concerning this program, the Law School Admission Test, and other matters concerning students interested in the legal profession.

Summer Programs Abroad
The College of Liberal Arts cooperates with the Division of Continuing Education and Public Service in offering occasional summer programs abroad.

Students may earn six hours of academic credit through participation in lectures and tutorials presented while visiting Continental Europe and England. Credit courses are offered for undergraduate and graduate students; noncredit courses, for members of the community. Further information is available in the College of Liberal Arts and the Division of Continuing Education and Public Service.

Red River Regional Studies Center
The Red River Regional Studies Center pursues interdisciplinary studies, research, and services directed toward all aspects of the Red River region, with a special emphasis on archival, historical, and social sciences services. The components of the Center include the Library Archives, the Oral History Program, the Pioneer Heritage Center, and the Social Sciences Research and Analysis Project. Also associated with the Center is the Journal of the North Louisiana Historical Association.

American Studies Program
The American Studies Program encourages innovative teaching and creative exploration of topics in the social sciences, humanities, and arts related to the general field of the American heritage. A sound knowledge of the history, culture, and values of the American experience is necessary for a sound civic education, and this privately endowed program attempts to meet this need for the students of LSUS and the citizens of northwest Louisiana.

The program sponsors forums, seminars, and fellowships on the LSUS campus, as well as travel and internship experiences that allow students to study each year in Washington, D.C. In cooperation with Continuing Education and Public Service, the College of Liberal Arts enables interested undergraduate students to develop a sequence of courses in American Studies.

Further information on the American Studies Program is available from the College of Liberal Arts or from the Director of the American Studies Program.

American Humanics Program
American Humanics is a leadership and academic program that can transform one from a willing worker to a productive professional. It is open to any undergraduate major or baccalaureate degree holder. The American Humanics Certificate Program at LSUS is designed to compliment a student's major. With minimal additional coursework beyond the normal required for graduation, students can be certified and prepared for careers with voluntary youth and human service agencies. Questions regarding the LSUS American Humanics Program should be directed to Professor Norman Dolch, Program Director, Bronson Hall Room 355.

Women's Studies Program
The Women's Studies program offers courses and lecture series which encourage female students to explore their roles in their local community as well as in the global community to which we all belong. Its focus acknowledges the achievements of a diverse human culture and explores its capacity for growth and change. The program is housed for administrative purposes within the Department of Fine Arts, Foreign Languages and Humanities within the College of Liberal Arts; its faculty, however, are drawn from many departments across campus.

A broadly based program of 33 term hours, the Master of Arts in Liberal Arts (MLA) offers the mature student a graduate program that is interdisciplinary in nature and nonprofessional in intent. It is oriented towards broad based learning rather than the highly specialized training of more traditional graduate programs. It seeks to make the liberal arts more accessible to adults from all walks of life teaching, journalism, law, medicine, social work, business, government, and industry by meeting the special interests and needs of those already established in their chosen vocations.

The specific purposes and goals of the Master of Arts in Liberal Arts program include the following:

1. To offer a broad, liberal arts education at the graduate level that will enhance the personal intellectual growth that is an asset in any field or vocation.
2. To encourage diverse perspectives that will develop a more comprehensive understanding of the relationships among the liberal arts, which include such disciplines as communications, philosophy, history, the arts, the social sciences, the natural sciences, and literature and languages.
3. To provide multiple options of study within a flexible and coherent multidisciplinary framework, expanding vocational and avocational interests and stimulating intellectual inquiry.
4. To increase abilities in oral and written communication and competence in the evaluation of information, ideas, opinions, and value systems.

The program is designed for the individual who has reached a level of personal achievement, community responsibility, or professional standing that demands the broad liberal learning essential to analytical thinking, critical judgment, and creative decision making.

Policies and regulations pertaining to the Master of Arts in Liberal Arts degree program are discussed under “GRADUATE PROGRAMS.

A multidisciplinary program, the Master of Science in Human Services Administration will offer the advanced knowledge base and training necessary for the administration of human service organizations, including government offices and nonprofit organizations such as homeless shelters, youth organizations, and job training programs. Based on the belief that managing community organizations in the 21st century will require both a commitment to social purpose and effective management, this program recognizes that building community, managing diversity, and nurturing vision have become professional skills as crucial as financial management and strategic planning.

The degree requires 33 hours of credit: 30 hours of courses and three hours of a directed final project. In doing their projects, students will have an opportunity to apply research and theory to practice in a human service organization of their choice. Aimed primarily toward working students, this program will allow them a degree through evening and weekend courses. The program is viewed as a professional development degree for middle and upper-level administrators in human service organizations.

Policies and regulations pertaining to the Master of Science in Human Services Administration degree program are discussed under GRADUATE PROGRAMS.

The Master of Science in Health Care Administration provides a multi-disciplinary program, which offers advanced study, research, and training necessary for the administration of health care organizations. Graduates of the program are capable of becoming leaders in hospitals, outpatient clinics, physician’s practices, consulting, health insurance companies, and other health care corporations.

The Master of Health Care Administration degree requires 39 hours of classroom credit and cover areas such as organizational change, health economics, finance, and health care policy. Students will either complete a 12- hour internship or special project depending on their experience in the field of health care administration. A total of 54 hours of coursework is required to complete the degree. Aimed primarily toward working students, this program will allow them a degree through evening and weekend courses. The program is viewed as a professional development degree for middle and upper-level administrators in health care organizations.

Policies and regulations pertaining to the Master of Science in Health Care Administration degree program are discussed under “GRADUATE PROGRAMS.”