College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

Click on any of the following links for information:

• Academic Regulations and Procedures
• CAS Degree Programs
• Bachelor of Arts (BA)
• Bachelor of Science (BS)
• Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE)_
• Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS)
• Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS)
• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
• Bachelor of Music (BM)
• Bachelor of Music Education (BME)

Office of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
516/517 David M. French Hall
(810) 762-3234
http://www.umflint.edu/cas

Dean: Dr. Susan Gano-Phillips
Associate Dean: Dr. Roy Barnes
Associate Dean: Dr. Chris Pearson
Interim Associate Dean:  Jeannette Stein
Assistant to the Dean: Brett Dennis
Communications Specialist:  Logan McGrady
CAS Graduate Programs Recruiter:  Marisa Eynon-Ezop
Office Administration Senior Supervisor:  Dominika Lazarska
Administrative/Project Coordinator: Rhonda Broadworth
Administrative Specialist: Jami Caulkins
Administrative Assistant Associate: Kathy Bitz
Budget Analyst Senior:  Dana Evans
Financial Specialist Associate:  Carolyn Horne
Accountant Intermediate:  Lora Priebe

At the heart of the educational program at the University of Michigan-Flint is the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), offering over 40 majors in the liberal arts and sciences, as well as programs for State of Michigan certification in secondary teaching. These programs lead to the degrees of Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies, Bachelor of Applied Science, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music, and Bachelor of Music Education.

Additionally, graduate study is available in many disciplines leading to degrees in Master of Arts in Arts Administration, English Language and Literature, Liberal Studies, Social Science; Master of Science in Biology, Computer Science and Information Systems, and Engineering; and Master of Public Administration.

The liberal arts and sciences faculty offers to all students an educational program which combines the traditional disciplines of the humanities, fine and applied arts, social sciences, and natural and applied sciences with several career and professional areas. Study in the liberal arts and sciences develops the student’s ability to think, to respond to ideas, and to test hypotheses, and provides the skills, knowledge and competencies which prepare graduates to be effective professionals and informed citizens.

Mission of the College

The College of Arts and Sciences transforms lives through the power of a comprehensive education rooted in theory and practice. Centered in Flint, we are an inclusive community of teachers, scholars, artists, and practitioners across a diverse array of disciplines. Our students, staff, and faculty empower each other to develop the necessary knowledge, skills, and empathy to effect positive change locally and globally. Above all, we are committed to the core values of the University of Michigan-Flint: academic excellence, student centeredness, and engaged citizenship. 

Together, we transform minds, lives, communities, and the world.

The College will:

• Foster excellence in teaching and learning  
• Engage students in learning partnerships with faculty  
• Develop mastery of disciplines and confidence in their application for a future of meaningful and productive work  
• Support students and faculty in traditional and applied research and creative endeavors  
• Engage faculty and students in professionally related service to the university and society  
• Promote and defend academic freedom, diversity, equality and justice

All regulations of the University of Michigan-Flint apply to students in the College of Arts and Sciences. The student should note these regulations printed in earlier sections of this Catalog. Specific rules and regulations adopted by the faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences are presented in the following sections.

Credits and Course Level

All bachelor’s degree programs of the College of Arts and Sciences require completion of 120 or more credits, depending on the degree and program. At least 33 credits must be in upper division courses; that is, courses numbered 300 or above.

Course Load

A normal undergraduate program consists of approximately 15 credits in Fall and Winter semesters and 6 credits in Spring and Summer terms.  Students may elect a maximum of 18 credits in Fall and Winter and 9 credits in Spring and Summer.  In exceptional cases, the Committee on Academic Standards may permit students of superior scholarship to elect more than the maximum number of credits.  A student who is employed should so inform the faculty advisor and should limit the course load accordingly.  A normal program for a student employed full-time is six credits each semester, and a maximum of ten credits is advised. A normal program for a student with part-time employment is 9 credits, and a maximum of 12 credits is advised..

Course Election and Changes

Changes in course elections include dropping and adding a course. To make a course change before the first official day of the semester the student must add/drop on the SIS website. Beginning on the first day of the semester, students may add courses in SIS as follows:

1st - 5th day, if seats are available - NO SIGNATURES or OVERRIDES NEEDED

6th - 10th day, if seats are available - WITH AN OVERRIDE from the academic department.

Students wishing to drop courses may do so in SIS without the instructor’s signature until the final drop deadline.

Students should check the course schedule or Registrar’s website for specific drop and add dates.

Grading System

The following grading system is used in the undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences: A, excellent; B, good; C, fair; D, poor; E, failure; P, pass; F, fail; I, incomplete; N, no credit; W, officially withdrawn (without penalty). The following scale is used in calculating grade point averages:

Grade point averages are computed by dividing total honor points (course credits multiplied by course grade points) by total credits. The computation is limited to points and credits earned at the University of Michigan-Flint.

The report of I (incomplete) may be made by the instructor if the student is passing but unable to complete the coursework within the specified time. An I may be made up while a student is not enrolled and must be made up by the end of the fifth week of the next semester in which a student is enrolled or one calendar year from when the I was given, whichever is first. If for sufficient reason the student cannot remove the incomplete by one of the above deadlines, the Dean of CAS may grant an extension of the time upon request from the student and the instructor. It is the student’s responsibility to ask the instructor for an extension of time and file the required form with the Registrar prior to the deadline. Failure to make up the grade within the time allotted results in the I being automatically changed to a grade of E, F or N as applicable. The policies of the School of Education and Human Services (SEHS) , College of Health Sciences (CHS) , School of Nursing (SON)  and School of Management (SOM)  may differ from those of the College of Arts and Sciences.

The grade N, which signifies neither credit nor grade point value, is used in numerous courses. For these courses the lowest grade for which credit is earned is one of the following: C, C-, D, D-. The use of this grading system in a course is indicated in course listings and in the course schedule and is announced at the beginning of these courses. Students should be aware that although N grades do not affect the grade point average, the accumulation of an excessive number of Ns is considered insufficient progress toward a degree. Therefore, after the first nine (9) credits for which a grade of N is received, any subsequent grade of N will be recorded as an E, regardless of whether a course in the original nine credits is retaken.

The grade Y indicates “Work in Progress” and is therefore used only for courses designated to extend beyond a single semester. After completion of the work, the Y grade will be removed and replaced by an appropriate grade, or it may also be replaced by an (I) Incomplete.

A grade once reported (with the exception of I or Y) may be changed only to correct a demonstrable error up to one calendar year after the end of the semester in which the grade was originally submitted and then only with the approval of the Dean.  Grade changes made and/or received after degrees have been conferred will not be processed as the records are closed.  Final grades are reported at the conclusion of each academic semester and become part of the official record of the student. Final grades are generally available on SIS within one week of the last day of the examination period.

Recognition of Superior Scholarship

Graduating seniors with cumulative grade point averages of at least 3.5 but less than 3.75 are recommended for the degree “with honors” and those with cumulative grade point averages of at least 3.75 are recommended for the degree “with highest honors.” In computing averages, only courses taken at the University of Michigan-Flint are included, and only complete terms or semesters are counted.

See “Undergraduate Honors” in the “Academic Policies of the University” section of this Catalog for information regarding campus- and system-wide honors recognition.

Distinguished scholarship is also recognized by awards offered by the faculty of the University of Michigan-Flint and by other organizations.

Credit Without Grade (Pass/Fail)

The provision for credit without grade (pass/fail) is intended to encourage students to attempt courses outside their major fields of interest. Subject to the following regulations, a student may elect a limited number of courses without concern for the cumulative grade point average.

The following conditions must be met unless a course is offered only on a Pass/Fail basis:

1. The student has accumulated 55 or more credits.
2. The student is in good academic standing (GPA 2.0 or better).
3. Only one course may be elected pass/fail per semester.
4. The election does not put the student over the four class pass/fail election limit.
5. The course is outside the student’s major and outside any elected minor.
6. The course may not be used to fulfill general education requirements (except for a foreign language).

A student who wishes to elect a course for credit without grade must submit a grade modifier form, available from the Registrar’s office. This option may not be elected after the end of the first two weeks of the semester, nor changed to credit with grade after the announced deadline for dropping classes.

Students choosing the credit without grade option are expected to complete all assigned work and examinations of the course. If in the judgment of the instructor a grade of C or better is earned, the work is reported as “Pass,” and the credits for the course are received. If the grade earned is less than C, the report is “Fail,” and the course appears on the transcript without grade designation and without credits.

Courses elected for credit without grade are not included in the calculation of the grade point average.

Credit by Examination

The provision for credit by examination is intended to encourage students to engage in independent study.

A maximum of three courses may be passed by examination, and only courses offered by the University of Michigan-Flint can be used. Certain courses are excluded, as determined by the departments.

Students who feel that they have the necessary background to pass a course by examination should request an interview with the chair of the appropriate department to assess competence. The department then sets up an examination committee. Having received written approval from the department chair and the committee, the student registers at the Office of the Registrar and thereafter takes the examination. The appropriate letter grade is entered on the student’s record as if the course had been taken conventionally.

Credit without grade cannot be earned by this means, and ordinarily a student may attempt credit by examination in a given course only once. Entering freshmen should see also the section on the Advanced Placement Program.

Experimental Courses

A faculty member and 12 or more students may develop and offer a one-semester course for no more than three credits on an experimental basis, subject to the approval of the appropriate department. The course should not be a minor variation of an existing course.

Written notice of intent to offer such a course should be given to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at least six weeks before the registration period for the semester in which the course is to be offered. Normally, the course carries a departmental course number, but if it is essentially interdisciplinary the Dean designates it “Interdisciplinary Study.”

Credit to fulfill requirements of a major is permitted only by approval of the appropriate department; general education credit only by approval of the Curriculum Committee and the General Education Curriculum Committee.

Academic Standing

A student in the College of Arts and Sciences who maintains a grade point average of at least 2.0 for courses elected while enrolled in the University is in good academic standing.

The academic records of all students whose grade point averages fall below C (2.0) are reviewed at the end of each semester by the Committee on Academic Standards. According to individual circumstances, students with deficient academic records may be placed on warning or academically dismissed. Students on warning must make substantial improvement during the following semester in order to continue at the University.

Appeal to the Committee on Academic Standards

Students who believe that they are unreasonably affected by a policy of the College of Arts and Sciences may appeal to the Committee on Academic Standards. Petition forms are used to request exceptions in individual cases; information can be obtained from advisors or the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office.

Business Credit Restrictions in CAS Degree Programs

For all undergraduate degree programs in CAS no more than 30 credits in business courses (BUS in the Catalog and course schedule) may be counted in the total credits required for graduation. This 30 credit maximum includes both credits transferred in and credits taken at the University of Michigan-Flint.

Changes in Academic Rules and Degree Requirements

1. Changes made in general degree requirements, including general education requirements, and in specific major and minor requirements go into effect the Fall semester following approval and apply to all students admitted to the University that term or thereafter.
2. Continuously enrolled students (those who are enrolled for classes at least one semester or term of each 12-month period) are entitled to fulfill the requirements in effect the first semester in which they were admitted to the University. Students who reenroll are required to fulfill the requirements of the Catalog in effect on the date of reenrollment. Students may elect to fulfill requirements of any subsequent Catalog.
3. Exceptions to these guidelines may be granted in some circumstances, when approved by the governing faculty of the unit affected. If such an exception is approved, it is the responsibility of the department or program requesting the exception to publicize the approved changes by circulating the information to academic advisors and to students affected by the changes.

Post-Professional Bachelor’s Degrees

UM-Flint students who entered a professional program (e.g., medical school, dental school, physician assistant program, doctor of pharmacy program, etc.) prior to completion of their Bachelor’s degree may be eligible to transfer credit from their professional program to complete their College of Arts and Science degree requirements. A maximum of 30 credit hours from the professional program may be applied toward the UMFlint degree. To obtain a Bachelor’s degree using transfer credits from a professional program, the student must meet the following conditions:

1. Completion of CAS general education requirements.
2. Completion of a minimum of 45 credit hours at UM-Flint.
3. Acknowledgement, from the UM-Flint department or program with whose major program the student wishes to graduate, that the student has met the department’s or program’s graduation requirements.
4. Approval of a petition to the Academic Standards Committee that the requirement that the last 30 hours of course work be completed at UM-Flint (the 30 hour rule) be waived.

Student Grievance Procedures

1. The general procedure for resolving student grievances in matters of dispute between student(s) and instructor(s) regarding classroom instruction, arbitrary and/or inconsistent application of classroom policies and procedures including assignment of grade(s).  If the conflict is of a discriminatory or sexually harassing nature, the student should consult with the Institutional Equity Specialist in the Office of Human Resources. Formal complaints must be filed with the Institutional Equity Specialist.
   1. The instructor(s) shall be consulted directly in an effort to resolve the dispute.
   2. Should the dispute not be resolved, the student may refer the problem to the instructor’s department or program chair within 30 days of the start of the next regular academic semester (excluding spring or summer term).
   3. If a resolution is not reached through discussion with the department or program chair, a written complaint shall be submitted within five school days to the chair, who shall, within five school days, return to the student(s) a written confirmation of receipt of the grievance.
   4. Within 30 days of receiving the grievance, the department or program chair shall return to the student(s) a written decision. This decision shall represent the conclusion of at least a majority of the full-time, regular teaching faculty of that department or program. The student may appeal decisions of the department or program faculty to the Committee on Academic Standards of the College. The Committee shall then consider all evidence and testimony and shall render its decision not later than one month after submission of the appeal. Its decision shall be binding on both the student and the instructor and shall be final.
2. Decisions on matters which involve department or University policies, where the Academic Standards Committee’s decision is the original decision, may be appealed to the Dean and the Executive Committee, whose majority decision is final.

Major Programs

To achieve a fuller understanding of one branch of learning, every student must complete the requirements of a major. For a complete listing of CAS majors, see the Guide to Programs and Degrees in the section Programs of Study. A student may choose to fulfill the requirements of two or more majors concurrently.

Freshmen and sophomores should give early consideration to the work of the junior and senior years and to the general area in which their major will probably lie. Deciding on a major should not be postponed too long, since major courses of study have prerequisites which need to be completed before the junior year to avoid unnecessary delay.

All students, upon becoming juniors, must select a major. A student may change their major after becoming a junior but may find that the time required to complete his or her program of study will be lengthened.

The Bachelor of Arts degree is awarded in recognition of study in a specialty area within the context of a broad liberal arts education.

General Degree Requirements

1. Completion of the College of Arts and Sciences general education requirements.
2. Completion of additional Bachelor of Arts distribution requirements:
   1. ARB 112 , ASL 112 , CHN 112 , FRN 112 , GER 112 , SPN 112  or successful transfer of the second semester of a foreign language. Students who wish to meet the requirement in a foreign language with courses taken in high school, or those who have attained fluency in a foreign language without formal course work, must demonstrate such equivalent proficiency by examination.
   2. Four additional credits in natural sciences laboratory courses beyond the general education requirement.
   3. A course in US diversity. (list of approved courses ).
      U.S. diversity courses address the cultural and socially constructed identities of historically marginalized individuals or groups within the context of power relationships in U.S. society, and may also explore the historical precursors of these relationships or the resistance/activism of minority groups.  Students learn of dominant group/minority group relations related to privilege and characteristics such as race and ethnicity, language, class, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, or religion.
3. Completion of at least 120 credits, including at least 33 in upper-division courses (courses numbered 300 or higher) from any discipline.  Not more than 40 credits in any subject may be counted in the   total credits required for graduation. Not more than 65 credits in any two subjects may be counted.
4. Completion of program requirements in a major approved for the Bachelor of Arts degree. Majors offered for the Bachelor of Arts degree include general programs and Teacher’s Certificate programs. For a complete listing of CAS majors, see the Guide to Programs and Degrees in the section Programs of Study. A student may choose to fulfill the requirements of two or more majors concurrently, subject to the rules above.
5. A cumulative grade point average of C (2.0) or better in the major and in the total work at the University of Michigan-Flint.

The Bachelor of Science degree is awarded in recognition of study in certain majors, generally requiring more than 40 credits in one subject area, in conjunction with study of the liberal arts.

General Degree Requirements

1. Completion of the College of Arts and Sciences general education requirements.
2. Completion of at least 124 credits, including at least 33 in upper-division courses (courses numbered 300 or higher) from any discipline.
3. Completion of program requirements in a major approved for the Bachelor of Science degree. Majors offered for the Bachelor of Science degree include general programs and Teacher’s Certificate programs. For a complete listing of CAS majors, see the Guide to Programs and Degrees in the section Programs of Study. A student may choose to fulfill the requirements of two or more majors concurrently.
4. A cumulative grade point average of C (2.0) or better in the major and in the total work at the University of Michigan-Flint.

The Bachelor of Science in Engineering is awarded in recognition of completion of study in certain engineering programs.

General Degree Requirements

1. Completion of the College of Arts and Sciences general education requirements.
2. Completion of at least 128 credits, including at least 33 in upper-division courses (courses numbered 300 or higher) in engineering.
3. Completion of major program requirements in a major approved for the Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree.
4. A cumulative grade point average of C (2.0) or better in the major and in the total work at the University of Michigan-Flint.

The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree is awarded in recognition of completion of an individually designed program of study not provided by existing majors. It may not be a minor variation of an existing program, and must draw from two or more departments or programs.

General Degree Requirements

1. Completion of a student-designed program of study consisting of at least 45 credits and approved by the Curriculum Committee. The plan of study will be thematic and designed to address the specific needs of the student wishing to pursue a particular course of study not available within currently offered majors. In the spirit of the interdisciplinary component of the program, the course of study must draw from two or more departments or programs, including at least one from the College of Arts and Sciences, from which the majority of credit will be drawn.
   1. The student will select at least two appropriate faculty advisors, one from each of the departments or programs from which the student will be taking the majority of courses. These advisors will serve as the “Board of Study” and will assist the student with the design of the course of study. At least 24 credits in the course of study must be taken after the semester in which the course of study is approved by the Curriculum Committee.
   2. The course of study will be submitted to the IDS coordinator in the office of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. The IDS coordinator will verify that the course of study meets all degree requirements and will then submit it to the Curriculum Committee for approval.
   3. The proposal must include a rationale for the composed course of study, complete with specific education objectives and a description of how it will be determined that these objectives will have been met (portfolio, internship, research, major paper).
   4. Any subsequent changes to the course of study must be presented to the Curriculum Committee for approval, and will follow the normal procedure for the waiving of degree requirements.
   5. In the senior year, the student will present or produce a final project (IDS 498  , IDS 499  ). This final project will be subject to review by the Board of Study and one member of the CAS Curriculum Committee.
   6. Upon successful completion of the approved program of study, the Board of Study will present its recommendation that the Curriculum Committee grant final approval in anticipation of the conferral of the degree of Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Study.
2. Completion of the CAS general education requirements.
3. Completion of at least 120 credits, including at least 33 credits in upper division courses (numbered 300 or above).  See the Transfer of Credits section of this Catalog for the rules governing transfer credits.
4. A cumulative grade point average of C (2.0) or better in the student’s total work at the University of Michigan-Flint.
    

The Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degree is awarded in recognition of baccalaureate-level study beyond approved two year programs in specified technical areas. The degree permits students with education and experience in a technical field to complete a baccalaureate degree in a program appropriate to the student’s interests and needs.

All AAS and similar degree concentrations are accepted toward the BAS degree, including such areas as business, construction, foods, graphic design, health, industrial management, and mechanical and electronic technology.  However, credit for technical courses transferred in under this program applies only to the BAS degree.  Such technical courses cannot be used toward any other degree offered by the University of Michigan-Flint.

Admission Requirements

1. Completion of an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) or similar degree, such as Associate in Applied Arts and Sciences (AAAS) or a Diploma program.  The applicant should have at least sixteen (16) transferable semester-hour credits which apply toward the General Education requirements of the University of Michigan-Flint.  The approval of specific programs and of the transferability of credits toward the BAS degree rests with the BAS Committee, which is chaired by the Program Director.
2. See “Transfer Students” in the “Admissions and Recruitment” section of this Catalog for general admission requirements.

Degree Requirements

1. Completion of the Applied Science program, consisting of technical credits taken as part of the associate degree program, and one of the following options, chosen in consultation with an advisor, allowing pursuit of areas of interest in some depth.

Option 1.  Any one of the minors offered at the University of Michigan-Flint, found under the Program Listings section of the University of Michigan-Flint Catalog.

Option 2.  Fifteen credits in each of two disciplines of the student’s choice, including at least nine in upper-level courses (courses numbered 300 or higher) with at least three in each discipline.  Note:  A discipline is defined as any approved current departmental course prefix (BIO, PHL, HCR, etc.).

2. Completion of at least 33 credits in upper-division courses (courses numbered 300 and above), with at least 30 taken at the University of Michigan-Flint.
3. Completion of at least 124 credits.  No more than thirty credits in business courses, including both transfer credits and credits earned at the University of Michigan-Flint, may be counted, with the exception that a student with an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) or similar degree in a business program may retain all transferable business credits if that total exceeds 30, but no additional credits in business taken at the University of Michigan-Flint may then be applied to the program.  (Students who wish to take more business courses should plan to apply to the School of Management and work toward a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.)
4. All University of Michigan-Flint graduation requirements, including General Education requirements; at least 45 credits, including the last 30, taken at the University of Michigan-Flint; and a cumulative grade point average of C (2.0) or better in the concentration and in the total work at the University of Michigan-Flint.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is awarded in recognition of study which develops artistic knowledge and skills toward the pursuit of creative excellence. Majors are available in Art and Theatre. See Art  and Theatre  for further information.

The Bachelor of Music Education (BME) is awarded in recognition of study dedicated to the training of musicians. See Music (MUS)  for further information.

The Bachelor of Music (BM) is awarded in recognition of study in music performance. See Music (MUS)  for further information.