PURPOSE
The graduate programs in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are characterized by both a diversity of disciplines and a commonality of purpose. The disciplinary diversity of the college is broad by intent, embracing those branches of learning most central to the foundations of society in the humanities and the sciences. Unity of purpose is achieved through a common commitment to intellectual integrity, to research, and to the preservation of freedom of academic inquiry, as well as through informal exchanges and cross-disciplinary centers.
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has active research programs in all units offering advanced degrees. In recent years, the rapid addition of excellent faculty has enhanced the cadre of senior scholars and scientists with whom graduate students work.
ORGANIZATION
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, which offers graduate study in the humanities, the mathematical and the natural sciences, and the social sciences, brings together highly qualified faculty and advanced students to share learning and discovery in 20 academic units and in a number of interdisciplinary centers. In lectures and seminars, in laboratories and libraries, in creative endeavors, field experiences, and research projects, faculty and students cooperate in preserving, evaluating, and expanding knowledge.
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
In cooperation with the Graduate College, faculty affiliated with various departments and units within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offer three research-oriented degrees: the M.A., the M.S., and the Ph.D. In addition, four professional degrees are offered: the Master of Natural Science, the Master of Teaching English as a Second Language, the Master of Physical Education, and the Master of Fine Arts, an interdisciplinary creative writing program offered in cooperation with the College of Fine Arts. The interdisciplinary master’s program in Humanities draws faculty expertise from the Departments of Anthropology, Dance, English, History, Languages and Literatures, Philosophy, Religious Studies, and the School of Art. Interdisciplinary programs leading to the Ph.D. degree are offered in Exercise Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Science and Engineering of Materials, and Speech and Hearing Science. Many departments within the college participate in the Master of Education, Doctor of Education, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees offered and administered through the College of Education. Members of the Department of Mathematics faculty participate in the interdisciplinary M.S. degree in Statistics (with College of Business faculty); members of the Departments of Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Plant Biology participate in the interdisciplinary M.S. and Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology; members of the faculty in the Departments of Anthropology, History, Languages and Literatures, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Religious Studies, and Sociology participate in the interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Justice Studies program; members of the Departments of Geography, Political Science, and Sociology faculty contribute to the interdisciplinary Doctor of Public Administration program; and members of the Departments of English, Family Resources and Human Development, Sociology, and Speech and Hearing Science faculty participate in the interdisciplinary Ph.D. degree in Communication.
One of the unique features of an interdisciplinary program is that it draws upon faculty research and teaching interests from a number of academic units; thus a student may tailor a course of study to fit individual needs and goals.
| Major | Degree | Administered by |
| Anthropology Concentrations: archaeology, bioarchaeology, linguistics, medical anthropology, museum studies, physical anthropology, social-cultural anthropology | M.A. | Department of Anthropology |
| Anthropology Concentrations: archaeology, physical anthropology, social-cultural anthropology | Ph.D. | Department of Anthropology |
| Biology1 Concentration: ecology | M.S., Ph.D. | Department of Biology |
| Chemistry Concentrations: analytical chemistry, biochemistry, geochemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, solid state chemistry | M.S., Ph.D. | Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry |
| Communication Disorders | M.S. | Department of Speech and Hearing Science |
| Creative Writing | M.F.A.2 | Creative Writing Committee |
| English Concentrations: comparative literature, English linguistics, literature and language, rhetoric and composition | M.A. | Department of English |
| English Concentrations: literature, rhetoric/composition and linguistics | Ph.D. | Department of English |
| Exercise Science Concentrations: biomechanics, motor behavior/sport psychology, physiology of exercise | Ph.D.2 | Committee on Exercise Science |
| Exercise Science/Physical Education | M.S. | Department of Exercise Science and Physical Education |
| Family Resources and Human Development Concentrations: family studies, general family resources and human development | M.S. | Department of Family Resources and Human Development |
| Family Science1 Concentration: marriage and family therapy | Ph.D. | Department of Family Resources and Human Development |
| French Concentrations: comparative literature, language and culture, literature | M.A. | Department of Languages and Literatures |
| Geography | M.A., Ph.D. | Department of Geography |
| Geology | M.S., Ph.D. | Department of Geology |
| German Concentrations: comparative literature, language and culture, literature | M.A. | Department of Languages and Literatures |
| History Concentrations: Asian history, British history, European history, Latin American history, public history, U.S. history, U.S. Western history | M.A. | Department of History |
| History Concentrations: Asian history, British history, European history, Latin American history, U.S. history | Ph.D. | Department of History |
| Humanities | M.A. | Graduate Committee on Humanities |
| Mathematics | M.A., Ph.D. | Department of Mathematics |
| Microbiology | M.S., Ph.D. | Department of Microbiology |
| Molecular and Cellular Biology | M.S., Ph.D. | Interdisciplinary Committee on Molecular and Cellular Biology |
| Natural Science | M.N.S. | |
| Concentrations: | ||
| Biology | Department of Biology | |
| Chemistry | Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry | |
| Geology | Department of Geology | |
| Mathematics | Department of Mathematics | |
| Microbiology | Department of Microbiology | |
| Physics | Department of Physics and Astronomy | |
| Plant Biology | Department of Plant Biology | |
| Philosophy | M.A. | Department of Philosophy |
| Physical Education | M.P.E. | Department of Exercise Science and Physical Education |
| Physics | M.S., Ph.D. | Department of Physics and Astronomy |
| Plant Biology1 Concentrations: ecology, photosynthesis | M.S., Ph.D. | Department of Plant Biology |
| Political Science Concentrations: American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory | M.A., Ph.D. | Department of Political Science |
| Psychology Concentrations: behavioral neuroscience, clinical psychology, cognitive/behavioral systems, developmental psychology, environmental psychology, social psychology | Ph.D. | Department of Psychology |
| Religious Studies | M.A. | Department of Religious Studies |
| Science and Engineering of Materials Concentrations: high-resolution nanostructure of Materials analysis, solid-state device materials design | Ph.D.2 | Committee on the Science and Engineering of Materials |
| Sociology | M.A., Ph.D. | Department of Sociology |
| Spanish Concentrations: comparative literature, language and culture, linguistics, literature | M.A. | Department of Languages and Literatures |
| Spanish | Ph.D. | Department of Languages and Literatures |
| Speech and Hearing Science Concentrations: developmental neurolinguistic disorders, neuroauditory processes, neurogerontologic communication disorders | Ph.D.2 | Committee on Speech and Hearing Science |
| Statistics | M.S.2 | Committee on Statistics |
| Teaching English as a Second Language | M.TESL | Department of English |
| 1 | This is a formalized concentration; other areas of study are available. |
| 2 | This program is administered by the Graduate College. See “Graduate College.” |
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Applicants to graduate programs within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences must meet general requirements for admission established by the Graduate College. In addition, academic units usually require submission of test scores (such as Graduate Record Examination and Miller Analogies Test), letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose. Consult the individual degree programs for particular requirements. International applicants must also submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores and are advised to submit application materials well in advance of deadlines.
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
The college is characterized by the development of program thrusts in new areas, many of which are interdisciplinary in content. There is special strength, for example, in planetary geology, as well as in more traditional geological subdisciplines; in geochemistry, as well as in biochemistry and solid-state and materials science; and in magnetic properties of materials, as well as nuclear physics and surface physics. In psychology, traditional social, developmental, and clinical research is augmented by a new interest in preventive mental health. Flexibility and forward-looking program development pervade all college programs. The interdisciplinary degree in Exercise Science is internationally recognized. The graduate Creative Writing program brings talented students together with distinguished poets, playwrights, and novelists. The Teaching English as a Second Language program attracts students from all over the world.
The Southwest environment has favorably affected program development in several ways, ranging from research activities in water resources, archaeology, and fluvial geomorphology to distinguished programs in Hispanic language, literature, culture, and history.
In addition to traditional and innovative programs within departments, there are multidisciplinary research centers within the college, bringing together faculty from various departments. These include the Centers for Asian Studies, Exercise and Sport Research, Hispanic Research, Latin American Studies, Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Meteorite Studies, and Solid-State Science. Centers sponsor colloquia, workshops, conferences, and visiting scholars. They administer international exchange programs, enhance library holdings and other collections, publish papers and monographs, maintain archives, and employ graduate research assistants.
COLLEGE FACILITIES
Strong and nationally funded research facilities, like the Facility for High Resolution Electron Microscopy and the Planetary Geology Laboratory have attained national and international prominence. Important research collections include one of the largest meteorite collections in the world, the holdings of the anthropology archives and museum, the space photography collection, the Herbarium, and extensive library holdings, including important manuscript collections in late 19th-century British literature and historical documents of the Southwest.
Graduate students in all disciplines have access to outstanding computer facilities. Mainframe computing for research is provided free of charge. There are substantial microcomputer facilities within individual academic units as well as clusters serving the humanities and social sciences. Minicomputer capabilities are found in various academic units. Also refer to the description of computing facilities and services.
Financial Assistance and Support
In addition to the usual support for graduate students in the form of stipends and teaching and research assistantships, there is a vigorous funding program to support graduate student research. Not only do graduate students obtain grants from external sources to support their research projects, they also receive support from the college and university to present papers at professional meetings.
ADVISING
Faculty advisors in each academic unit provide guidance to graduate students from admission through completion of the program. Consult the director of graduate studies in the appropriate academic unit. Graduate students must follow an approved program of study filed with the Graduate College. The calendar for enrollment activities is published in the schedule of classes for each semester. Teaching and research assistants, who are required to be enrolled in at least six hours, as well as those enrolled for individual project, thesis and dissertation credit, are subject to the same calendar deadlines as students enrolled in regularly scheduled classes.
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