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Alissa Arp, Dean

The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at Southern Oregon University supports academic programs in arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences that have a strong disciplinary focus. The CAS also enhances several interdisciplinary programs and selected graduate programs. Students have multiple opportunities to gain knowledge and experience in the community through service-learning classes, practica, and capstone classes. They are also encouraged to study abroad as part of their academic program.

CAS educational programs address the social, cultural, scientific, technical, economic, environmental, physical, political, psychological, and health-related spheres. Students are involved in significant research and scholarly activities, preparing them for successful careers and advanced educational opportunities. SOU faculty are committed to providing students with personal instruction and advising, small classes, experience with modern instrumentation and technology, and opportunities to build investigative and communication skills.

In its role as a Designated Center of Excellence in the Fine and Performing Arts by the Oregon University System (OUS), SOU offers programs in studio art, art history, music, and theatre. CAS promotes such activities as theatrical productions, art exhibitions, music concerts, publication of the West Wind Review, poetry readings, the Chamber Music Concerts, the Oregon Writing Project, Shakespeare studies, and exhibits at the Schneider Museum of Art, as well as many community and regional opportunities in the arts.

The region’s diverse environment offers students an outstanding natural laboratory for research and instruction. CAS departments have established relationships with local businesses and local, state, and federal agencies, where faculty and students perform research and students gain practicum and internship experiences. Students are challenged to apply their knowledge in real-world situations through community-based service opportunities in which they are mentored in meaningful civic engagement, skill-building, and the study of social values. As a result, students learn how to understand the human condition and build respectful relationships within communities. Many CAS departments support teacher education and maintain strong ties with the educational community.

Students are encouraged to expand their multicultural and global perspectives; to increase their critical thinking, communication, cooperation, problem-solving, and leadership skills; and to grow in personal and physical well-being. Faculty value personal curiosity, lifelong learning, and development of the whole student.

Graduate Programs

Master in Interdisciplinary Studies

The broadly focused interdisciplinary graduate program allows students to combine theory and practice from several strands or disciplines of inquiry originating in the arts, humanities, sciences, and social and health sciences. Students work with a Graduate Faculty Committee to design a program unique to their goals. All students participate in three core seminars, a comprehensive exam over course material, and a final project or thesis. Students choose a major area of concentration and a minor or a second major. For complete information about this program, see the Master in Interdisciplinary Studies website at www.sou.edu/cas/miis.

Discipline-Based Graduate Programs

In addition, the College of Arts and Sciences offers the following discipline-based programs: a Master of Music in Conducting, a Master of Science in Environmental Education, a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling, a Master of Theatre Studies in Production and Design, and a Master of Arts in Spanish Language Teaching. For complete information on these programs, see the specific department listings.

Preprofessional Programs

Preprofessional programs enable students to complete one or more years of study at Southern Oregon University prior to transferring to a professional school. SOU offers preprofessional programs in chiropractic medicine, dental hygiene, dentistry, education, engineering, law, medical technology, medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician’s assistant, psychology, counseling, social work and human service, and veterinary medicine. For specific information on engineering, see the chemistry and physics program.

College of Arts and Sciences Courses

Courses listed in CAS are general open-numbered courses to serve interdisciplinary programs, study abroad, and foundational perspectives in the humanities, arts, sciences, social sciences, and health sciences. Many of the latter meet general education requirements. Graduate courses meet foundational and/or interdisciplinary requirements for the Master in Interdisciplinary Studies.

Program Requirements

Programs

• Master’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies

Courses

• CAS 199 - Special Studies
• CAS 209 - Practicum
• CAS 399 - Special Studies
• CAS 501 - Research
• CAS 502 - Paper
• CAS 503 - Thesis
• CAS 504 - Project
• CAS 505 - Reading and Conference
• CAS 506 - Activities
• CAS 507 - Seminar
• CAS 508 - Workshop
• CAS 509 - Practicum or Internship
• CAS 520 - Introduction to Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies
• CAS 521 - Applications in Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies
• CAS 522 - Research and Assessment in Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies