College of Arts and Sciences

Timothy Libretti, Ph.D., Dean, Professor of English
Amanda Dykema-Engblade, Ph.D., Associate Dean, Professor of Psychology
Kenneth Voglesonger, Ph.D., Associate Dean, Associate Professor of Earth Science

The College of Arts and Sciences comprises 19 programs of study which offer bachelor’s degrees in 26 majors with 55 minors, master’s degrees in 14 different disciplines, and additional certificate programs at the graduate and undergraduate level. As the largest of Northeastern’s three academic colleges, the College of Arts and Sciences also offers most of the undergraduate General Education-Distributive Learning curriculum.

The College of Arts and Sciences helps students develop their individual world-view, encouraging them to acquire social and cultural awareness, as well as a broad knowledge of a variety of disciplines. Fine arts, humanities, natural sciences, social/behavioral sciences, and professional studies all enrich our students’ learning environment by offering abundant opportunities for intellectual discovery, and by enabling them to become informed and responsible citizens. Students have the opportunity to learn from professors who are outstanding in their fields and passionate about teaching.

It is a further goal of the College to offer our students both academic and career-oriented programs of study. We support faculty/student research, peer-led team learning, internships and community-based fieldwork. In the College, we have developed nine Core Competencies that outline the skills and qualities that all students in CAS programs of study should expect to learn:

Experimentation, Data Collection, and Data Analysis
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
Ethical Reasoning and Decision-Making
Innovation and Creativity
Oral and Written Communication
Active Community Participation and Engaging a Diverse Community
Teamwork and Leadership
Technological Fluency and Information Literacy
Self-Awareness and Self-Improvement

Regardless of their specific program of study, all students in the CAS will learn these important skills as they pursue their degrees.

Pre-Health and Pre-Law Advising

Pre-Professional Advising is available from David Nissim-Sabat, Director of Pre-Professional Advising, in the College of Arts and Sciences. Pre-Professional students benefit from individualized advising in a student-centered atmosphere to create long-term planning. The goal is to build your future professional school prerequisites into your current degree program while also considering additional pre-professional experiences such as research, volunteer work, community service, campus involvement, entrance exam preparation, obtaining letters of recommendation and writing personal statements.

Departments/Programs

Anthropology, global studies, Geography & Environmental studies, ECONOMICS AND Philosophy

Scott Hegerty, Ph.D., Professor of Economics, Chair

Art + Design

Kimberly Ambriz, M.F.A., Professor of Art, Chair

Biology

Pamela Gedes, Ph.D., Professor of Biology, Chair

Chemistry, EARTH SCIENCE, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND PHYSICS

Ken Nicholson, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chemistry, Chair

Communication, Media and Theatre

Cyndi Moran, M.F.A., Professor of Communications, Media and Theatre, Chair

English and Linguistics

Bradley Greenburg, Ph.D., Professor of English, Chair

History and POLITICAL SCIENCE

Mateo M. Farzaneh, Ph.D., Professor of History, Chair

Justice Studies, SOCIOLOGY, AFRICAN & AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES, LATINA/O & LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES, AND WOMEN’S, GENDER AND SEXUALITY STUDIES

Adam Messinger, Ph.D., Professor of Justice Studies, Chair

Mathematics and Math Development

Nancy Wrinkle, Ph.D., Professor of Mathematics, Chair

Music and Dance

Travis Heath, D.M.A., Professor of Music, Chair

Psychology AND CHILD ADVOCACY STUDIES

Shannon Saszik, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology, Chair

Social Work

Andrew Brake, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Social Work, Chair

World Languages and Cultures, ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROGRAM,TEACHING ENGLISH TO SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES (TESOL), AND SCHOOL FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LEARNING (SAELL)

Jeanine Ntihirageza, Ph.D., Professor of TESOL, Chair

Undergraduate Majors

Baccalaureate degrees are offered in the following disciplines:

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Anthropology
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Applied Geosciences
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Art - (Art History and Studio Art)
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Biology
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Chemistry
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Communication, Media and Theatre
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Economics
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English
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Environmental Science
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Geography and Environmental Studies
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Global Studies
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Graphic Design
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History
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Justice Studies
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Latina/o/x and Latin American Studies
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Mathematics
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Music (Education or Performance)
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Philosophy
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Physics
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Political Science
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Psychology
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Social Work
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Sociology
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Spanish
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Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies
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The University offers licensure for teaching in PK-12 and K-12 schools in the following disciplines:

PK-12

FOREIGN LANGUAGE: SPANISH

K-12

VISUAL ARTS
MUSIC

Students interested in teaching should consult the appropriate department and the Goodwin College of Education section of this catalog.

Undergraduate Minors

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African and African American Studies
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Anthropology
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Art History
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Art, Studio 
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Asian Studies
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Biology
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Chemistry
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Child Advocacy Studies
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Communication
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Communication, Media and Theatre
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Creative Writing
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Criminology
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Dance
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Data Science
Disability Studies
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Earth Science
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Economics
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English
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Environmental Studies
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Forensic Psychology
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French Studies
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Geography
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Geographic Information Science
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Gerontology
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Global Studies
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History
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Interaction Design
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Interdisciplinary English Studies
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Jewish Studies
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Journalism
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Korean
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Latina/o and Latin American Studies
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Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Studies

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Linguistics
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Mathematics Applied
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Mathematics ELED and Humanities
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Mathematical & Statistical Modeling of Complex Systems

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Media
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Music
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Neuroscience
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Philosophy
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Photography
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Physics
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Political Science
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Pre-Law
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Psychology
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Public Administration
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Social Justice
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Social Work
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Sociology
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Spanish
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Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Theatre Design, Technology and Management
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Theatre Performance
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Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies
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Graduate Programs

Departments in the College of Arts and Sciences offer 14 master’s degree programs which are listed below.

General requirements for graduate admission to the University and to specific degree programs can be found in the College of Graduate Studies section and in the appropriate departmental sections of this catalog. Graduate students who have specific questions should contact the appropriate departmental office.

Master of Science in Biology
Master of Science in Chemistry
Master of Arts in Communication, Media and Theatre Studies
Master of Arts in English
Master of Arts in Geography & Environmental Studies
Master of Arts in Human Developmental Science
Master of Arts in History
Master of Arts in Spanish (all coursework in Spanish)
Master of Arts in Linguistics
Master of Science in Mathematics
Master of Arts in Music
Master of Arts in Political Science
Master of Social Work
Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Certificate Programs

Geographic Information Science (GIS), Undergraduate Certificate

Geographic Information Science (GIS), Graduate Certificate

Gerontology Senior Advocate, Graduate Certificate

Pre-Health, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
Pre-Nursing Certificate

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, Graduate Certificate

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, Undergraduate Certificate

Declaration of Major

Students who wish to declare a major or minor must complete the Undergraduate Major/Minor Declaration form and submit it to the appropriate College of Arts and Sciences Department. In addition to being available online, forms are available in all departmental offices, Enrollment Management Services, the Dean’s Office in the College of Arts and Sciences, and Academic Advising. All declared majors should request the name of an advisor from their major departments.

In certain programs, special requirements must be fulfilled prior to admission to the major program. Students should consult the appropriate sections of this catalog for additional information, and contact the departmental chairperson.

Graduation Requirements

Students in the College of Arts and Sciences must meet all university requirements as well as the specific requirements for graduation within their particular major.

To be counted toward the major, courses transferred to the University must be accepted by the student’s major department.

Transfer students must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours in courses at the 200 and/or 300-level in their majors at Northeastern Illinois University. At least 9 credit hours for a minor must be completed at NEIU.

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES EDUCATION PLUS (CASEP) PROGRAM

Jennifer Hasso, Acting Coordinator

Prepare for a career as an educator through Northeastern's College of Arts and Sciences Education Plus (CASEP) Program. CASEP will help you determine if teaching, counseling, or another education-oriented career is the best one for you. CASEP's ultimate goal is to increase student success, which includes increasing overall student retention and decreasing time to degree. Once accepted to Northeastern, students can select CASEP as their success program option and request more information about CASEP at this link. If qualified, you will be invited to interview with the CASEP Coordinator for full acceptance into the program.

CASEP begins in the first year of study at Northeastern. It combines general education courses and early field experiences with discussion and feedback about various educational fields. Students take general education courses that count toward any degree at Northeastern. So even if you decide not to become an educator or counselor, CASEP’s coursework will allow you to pursue other academic paths.

Students selected to join CASEP:

Become part of a cohort, or group, of like-minded students interested in the possibility of becoming future educators
Enroll in specially-designated general education courses in their first and second years at NEIU that fulfil discipline-specific requirements
Conduct K-12 classroom observations in their second year of coursework
Work with the CASEP program advisor, coordinator, faculty, and a network of peers
Receive targeted scholarship information and the opportunity to join the Future Teachers Living Learning Community (with a residence scholarship)
Participate in events outside of the classroom, service learning, and volunteer opportunities in a variety of educational settings
Become comfortable holding leadership roles in education-centered environments

STUDENT CENTER FOR SCIENCE ENGAGEMENT (SCSE)

The Student Center for Science Engagement (SCSE) supports students in STEM disciplines in achieving academic and professional success. The Center’s mission is to increase student interest and achievement in the sciences and to help prepare them for cutting edge, scientifically driven careers. The Center primarily serves students in the departments of Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Earth Science, Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology, assisting students to explore these areas of study and showing them how to lead fulfilling careers.

Center staff, with graduate degrees in the sciences and education, offer one-on-one advising to help with creating a plan for gaining professional experience and with taking the steps needed to pursue careers and graduate study. SCSE staff engage with students to identify and pursue internships, jobs, and graduate study opportunities and also help with preparing application materials. The SCSE hosts a summer research program for students and faculty. Events and workshops are offered throughout the year to help students network with professionals in the sciences and find ways to apply their studies, find out about careers in the sciences, and prepare for life after graduation. Tutors in select upper level science courses are also available.

To meet with an advisor for help with academic and professional development planning, consult with a tutor, study alone or in a small group, attend a workshop or event, or, to receive more information about summer internships, visit the Student Center for Science Engagement located in BBH 235 and BBH 247, email scse@neiu.edu, and check out the SCSE website.

SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES RESEARCH CENTER (SHARC)

The Northeastern Illinois University Social Sciences and Humanities Research Center (SHARC) is an interdisciplinary virtual space that acts as a hub for training, research, and career readiness in social science and humanities disciplines and interdisciplines. Our aim is to increase student engagement by amplifying what is relevant and compelling about the social sciences and humanities — especially, how these fields prepare us to understand and critically analyze the world around us and provide a foundation for a range of exciting and satisfying careers.

We encourage students to participate in SHARC as a complement to what they are learning in their major and minor coursework and as they imagine their paths after graduating from Northeastern. From specific skills to long-range planning, we help students develop analytical and critical thinking skills that are essential elements of a liberal-arts education and highly valued qualities for employers.

The Center also serves as a resource for faculty to further engage with students and collaborate with each other around research, pedagogy, and increasing the visibility of the social sciences and humanities at Northeastern. We intend for the Center to act as an incubator for collaborative, interdisciplinary faculty initiatives in curriculum, research and creative projects, public events and more. In addition to engaging the University community, the Center hosts the broader Chicago community through events centered on pressing current issues and critical responses from scholars, advocates, practitioners, and creatives in the social sciences and humanities.

The Center is an inclusive, student-centered community that values diverse viewpoints and experiences. We encourage innovation and creativity built on purposefully chosen, ethically-grounded tools, theories, and approaches from the social sciences and humanities. We provide opportunities (some funded) for:

hands-on experience and skills-building through faculty-student summer research
developing oral and written communication skills through student conference presentations, and
preparing for next steps toward a career through career-planning workshops and internship resources.

We invite students to join us as we build a community dedicated to demonstrating the crucial role of the social sciences and humanities at Northeastern and for navigating the challenges and possibilities of today’s world.

Connect with us by visiting our website or emailing sharc@neiu.edu.