- College of Arts and Sciences
- Degree Programs
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College of Arts and Sciences
Dean's Office
Varner Hall, Room 217
371 Varner Drive
Rochester,
MI
48309-4485
(location map)
(248) 370-2140
Fax: (248) 370-4280
cas@oakland.edu
Degree Programs
The College is home to 16 departments and nearly 100 majors. The College offers instruction leading to the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Social Work, Master of Arts, Master of Music, Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. In conjunction with the School of Education and Human Services, the College offers instruction leading to secondary teaching certification in biology, chemistry, English, history, mathematics, French, German, Spanish, music, physics, and studio art education. The School of Engineering and Computer Science and the College offer 3 majors jointly: engineering biology, engineering chemistry and engineering physics.
Below is a listing of undergraduate majors, masters and doctorate programs and other programs of study, including Secondary Teaching Education Programs. Students should consult the Undergraduate and Graduate catalogs for a complete list of all college offerings.
Undergrad
Bachelors Programs of Study
(All undergraduate degree programs earn a B.A. degree unless otherwise noted.)
- Acting (B.F.A.)
- Actuarial Science
- Anthropology (B.A.)
- Applied Statistics (B.S.)
- Art History (B.A.)
- Biochemistry (B.S.)
- Bioengineering (B.S.)
- Biology (B.A.)
- Biology (B.S.)
- Biology (Secondary Certification)
- Biomedical Sciences (B.S.)
- Chemistry (B.A.)
- Chemistry (B.S.)
- Chemistry (Secondary Certification)
- Chinese Studies (B.A.)
- Cinema Studies (B.A.)
- Cinema Studies (filmmaking) (B.A.)
- Communication (B.A.)
- Creative Writing (B.A.)
- Criminal Justice (B.A.)
- Dance (B.A.)
- Dance Education and Performance (B.F.A.)
- Dance Education (B.A.)
- Dance (B.F.A.)
- Economics (B.A.)
- Engineering Chemistry (B.S.)
- Engineering Physics (B.S.)
- English (B.A.)
- English (Secondary Certification)
- Environmental Science (B.S.)
- French (K-12 Certification)
- French Language and Literature (B.A.)
- German (K-12 Certification)
- German Language and Literature (B.A.)
- Graphic Design (B.A.)
- History (B.A.)
- History (Secondary Certification)
- International Relations (B.A.)
- Japanese (K-12 Certification)
- Japanese Language and Literature (B.A.)
- Japanese Studies (B.A.)
- Journalism (B.A.)
- Latin American Language and Civilization (B.A.)
- Latin American Studies (B.A.)
- Liberal Studies (BALS)
- Linguistics (B.A.)
- Teaching English as a Second Language Certificate
- Mathematics (B.A.)
- Mathematics (B.S.)
- Mathematics (Secondary Certification)
- Medical Physics (B.S.)
- Music (B.A.)
- Music Education, Choral and General Music (B.M.)
- Music Education, Instrumental and General Music (B.M.)
- Music Education and Performance, Choral and General Music (B.M.)
- Music Education and Performance, Instrumental and General Music (B.M.)
- Music - Instrumental Performance (B.M.)
- Music - Piano Pedagogy (B.M.)
- Music - Piano Performance with a Specialization in Pedagogy (B.M.)
- Music - Piano Performance (B.M.)
- Music - Voice Performance (B.M.)
- Musical Theatre (B.F.A.)
- Philosophy (B.A.)
- Physics (B.A.)
- Physics (B.S.)
- Physics (Secondary Certification)
- Political Science (B.A.)
- Psychology (B.A.)
- Public Administration and Public Policy (B.S.)
- Public Relations and Strategic Communication (B.A.)
- Social Work (B.S.W.)
- Sociology (B.A.)
- Sociology and Anthropology (B.A.)
- Spanish (K-12 Certification)
- Spanish Language and Literature (B.A.)
- Studio Art (B.A.)
- Studio Art Education (K-12 Certification)
- Theatre (B.A.)
- Theatre Design and Technology (B.F.A.)
- Women and Gender Studies (B.A.)
- Writing and Rhetoric (B.A.)
Undergraduate Degree Requirements
Degree Requirements
All students in the College of Arts and Sciences are required to complete the following degree requirements:
- Complete a minimum of 124 credits (at the 050 level or above). The Bachelor of Science degree with a major in environmental health requires completion of 128 credits. The Bachelor of Music degree with a major in music education requires completion of 153 to 161 credits. No more than 8 credits in physical education will count toward a degree in the College of Arts and Sciences.
- Complete the requirements for a major offered by the College of Arts and Sciences with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00.
- Complete at least 32 of these credits at Oakland University, of which at least 16 credits must be in the student's elected major.
- Complete at least 32 credits in courses at the 300 level or above.
- Complete the last 8 credits at Oakland University.
- Earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 in courses taken at Oakland University and in the major(s) and any elective minor(s).
- Complete the writing proficiency requirement, generally by completing a two course sequence in RHT 150 and 160, preferably in their first year.
- Complete the university's 32-credit general education requirement as defined below.
- Complete the university's ethnic diversity requirement.
- Complete the college distribution requirements described below.
General Education Requirements
All students at Oakland University must complete 32 credits of General Education courses (4 credits in each area) in the following areas :
- Arts
- Literature
- Language
- Western Civilization
- International Studies
- Social Sciences
- Mathematics, Logic and computer science
- Natural science and technology
Students within the college must select a major. minors or concentrations are encouraged but not required.
Graduate
Masters Programs of Study
- Master of Arts in Biology
- Master of Arts in Communication
- Master of Arts in English
- Master of Arts in History
- Master of Arts in Liberal Studies
- Master of Arts in Linguistics
- Master of Arts in Mathematics
- Master of Music in Conducting
- Master of Music in Music Education
- Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy
- Master of Music in Vocal Pedagogy
- Master of Music in Instrumental Performance
- Master of Music in Piano Performance
- Master of Music in Vocal Performance
- Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) with concentrations in:
- Court Administration
- Criminal Justice Leadership
- Health Care Administration
- Local Government Management
- Nonprofit Organization and Management
- Master of Science in Applied Statistics with a concentration in:
- Biostatistics
- Master of Science in Biology
- Master of Science in Chemistry
- Master of Science in Industrial Applied Mathematics
- Master of Science in Physics
- Master of Science in Psychology
Graduate Certificate programs
- Graduate Certificate in Biomedical Sciences
- Graduate Certificate in Conducting
- Graduate Certificate in Instrumental Performance
- Graduate Certificate in Music Education
- Graduate Certificate in Piano Pedagogy
- Graduate Certificate in Piano Performance
- Graduate Certificate in Statistical Methods
- Graduate Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language
- Graduate Certificate in Vocal Pedagogy
- Graduate Certificate in Vocal Performance
Post-Master’s Graduate Certificate programs
- Post-Master’s Graduate Certificate in Conducting
- Post-Master’s Graduate Certificate in Court Administration
- Post-Master’s Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice Leadership
- Post-Master’s Graduate Certificate in Health Care Administration
- Post-Master’s Graduate Certificate in Instrumental Performance
- Post-Master’s Graduate Certificate in Local Government Management
- Post-Master's Graduate Certificate in Music Education
- Post-Master’s Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Organization and Management
- Post-Master’s Graduate Certificate in Piano Pedagogy
- Post-Master’s Graduate Certificate in Piano Performance
- Post-Master's Graduate Certificate in Vocal Pedagogy
- Post-Master’s Graduate Certificate in Vocal Performance
Certificates:
Endorsements:
Special Courses
Occasionally, with the approval of Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning, departments which do not have graduate programs may offer certain courses which carry graduate credit.
A list of College of Arts and Sciences special courses that have been approved by the Graduate Council can be viewed here.
Doctoral
Doctoral Programs of Study
- Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Mathematical Sciences with specializations in:
- Applied Continuous Mathematics
- Applied Discrete Mathematics
- Applied Statistics
- Doctor of Philosophy in Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences: Health and Environmental Chemistry
- Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences: Medical Physics
- Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education
- Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology
Minors
and Con.
and Con.
Minors
- Art History
- Advertising
- African and African-American Studies
- Anthropology
- Applied Mathematics
- Applied Statistics
- Biology
- Broadcasting
- Chemistry
- Child Welfare
- Chinese Language and Civilization
- Chinese
- Chinese Studies
- Christianity Studies
- Cinema Studies
- Communication
- Creative Writing
- Criminal Justice
- Dance
- Economics
- English
- Environmental Science
- Environmental Studies Concentration
- French Language and Literature
- French
- German Language and Literature
- German
- German Studies
- Graphic Design
- History
- Interactive and Social Media
- International Relations
- International Studies
- Islamic Studies
- Japanese Language and Civilization
- Japanese Language and Literature
- Japanese
- Japanese Studies
- Jazz Studies
- Journalism
- Judaic Studies
- Latin American Studies
- LGBTQ Studies
- Linguistics
- Linguistics, Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)
- Mathematics
- Middle Eastern Studies
- Multimedia
- Music, Auditioned
- Music, Liberal Arts
- Nutrition and Health
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Public Administration and Public Policy
- Public Relations
- Relational Communication
- Russian and East European Studies
- Science (Two and Three)
- Sociology
- South Asian Studies
- Spanish Language and Literature
- Spanish
- Studio Art
- Teaching English as a Second Language Minor (TESL)
- Theatre
- Training and Development
- Women and Gender Studies
- World Music
- Writing and Rhetoric
Concentrations
- Addiction Studies (Concentration)
- American Studies (Concentration)
- Archaeology (Concentration)
- Environmental Studies (Concentration)
- French Studies (Concentration)
- Gerontology (Concentration)
- Pre-law (Concentration)
- Preprofessional Studies in Medicine, Dentistry, Optometry and Veterinary Medicine (Concentration)
- Religious Studies (Concentration)
- Urban Studies (Concentration)
Continuing
Education
Education
- Center for English as a Second Language
ESL Institute Programs provide instruction in all English language skills at all proficiency levels. - Graduate Music Courses: Individuals holding either a bachelor's or master's degree in music or music education, and who meet the department's entrance qualifications, may enroll in graduate music courses under professional development status. Contact Jackie Wiggins (jwiggins@oakland.edu) or Joe Shively (shively@oakland.edu).
The Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP) is available to majors in biological sciences, chemistry, English, history, mathematics, French, German, Spanish, music, physics and studio art.
Generally, eligibility for admission to the STEP requires a GPA of 3.00 in both the major and minor, and an overall GPA of 2.80. No single major or minor course grade may be below 2.0. Second undergraduate degree candidates completing major and/or minors for STEP may be required to complete coursework at Oakland University beyond the stated minimums, For more information on program and admission requirements and procedures, please consult with advisers in the appropriate college department and the School of Education and Human Services.
