2025-2026 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

Entire Catalog Colleges Content & Navigation Course Filters Courses Degree Types Program Acronyms Program Descriptions Program Emphases Program Requirements Program Types Subjects Search Search Help
Search Descriptions

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS)

About the College

CLAS Administration

Interim Dean: Anderson
Associate Dean: Bergman
Associate Dean: Lewis
Associate Dean: McCloud
Associate Dean: Tunstall
Associate Dean: Vigna

Website

gvsu.edu/clas

History of the College

Created in July 2004, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) is the largest of Grand Valley's colleges and offers more than 50 bachelor's degrees (and a growing number of advanced degrees) in the natural and mathematical sciences, the humanities, the fine and performing arts, and the social sciences. All Grand Valley undergraduates build the foundation for their major studies in general education courses offered by our college.

Vision

Through our commitment to liberal education, CLAS strives to be an inclusive and equitable community of inquiry where students, staff, and faculty collaborate to pursue and create knowledge, to enact global citizenship, and to engage and support our many communities. Learn more on our website.

Special Programs

The CLAS Voyage

In GVSU's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS), we believe that education extends beyond the classroom walls. That's why we've created the CLAS Voyage,a dynamic and immersive experience designed to empower students to navigate their academic journey, explore their passions, and chart a course toward personal and professional success.

The CLAS Voyage uses a multifaceted approach to ensure students have access to real-world learning. As undergraduates prepare for life after college, the CLAS Voyage guarantees they benefit from:

1. The Embarking Experience

During their first year, students engage in interactive learning communities, peer mentoring, and co-curricular activities that help welcome them into a vibrant community and set their foundation for success.

2. Reflective Portfolio

The ePortfolio allows students to document their academic achievements, reflect on their learning, and showcase their accomplishments. This empowers them to explore their purpose and passions and make corresponding career connections, while honing their digital literacy and technology skills.

3. Experiential Learning

From research and service projects to internships and study abroad programs, experiential learning helps students integrate what they are learning in the classroom into real-world experiences. These barrier-free, high-impact activities are woven throughout every program in the college to ensure every student experiences at least two of them.

4. A Capstone Experience

Whether it's a research thesis, creative project, community engagement initiative, or professional internship, this culminating experience challenges students to integrate all they've learned and demonstrate mastery in their field.

Program Information

Academic Units

Anthropology
Biology
Biomedical Sciences
Cell and Molecular Biology
Chemistry
Classics
Communications, School of
English
Environmental Science
Geography and Sustainable Planning
Geology
History
Mathematics
Modern Languages and Literatures
Movement Science
Music, Theatre, and Dance
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science
Psychology
Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute
Sociology
Statistics
Visual and Media Arts
Writing

Program Descriptions

Advertising and Public Relations

• Advertising and Public Relations, B.A., B.S.
  • Advertising (emphasis)
  • Public Relations (emphasis)
• Advertising and Public Relations (minor)
• Digital Media (certificate)
• Social Media and Analytics (badge)
• Combined Advertising and Public Administration, B.A., B.S. and Master of Communication, M.S.

Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute
(See Biology, M.S., Aquatic Sciences)

Aging and Adult Life

• Aging and Adult Life (minor)

Anthropology

• Anthropology, B.A., B.S.
• Anthropology (minor)
• Applied Anthropology (certificate)

Applied Communication

• Applied Communication (minor)

Applied Linguistics

• Applied Linguistics (minor)
  • General (minor emphasis)
  • ESL (minor emphasis)

Aquatic Sciences

• Aquatic Sciences (minor)

Arabic

• Arabic (minor)

Archaeology

• Archaeology (minor)

Behavioral Neuroscience

• Behavioral Neuroscience, B.A., B.S.

Biochemistry

• Biochemistry, B.S.

Biology

• Biology, B.A., B.S.
  • Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (emphasis)
  • Genetics (emphasis)
  • Preprofessional (emphasis)
  • Preveterinary Medicine (emphasis)
• Biology, M.S.
  • Aquatic Sciences (M.S. emphasis)
  • Natural Resources (M.S. emphasis)
• Biology (minor)

Biomedical Sciences

• Biomedical Sciences, B.S.
• Microbiology B.S,
• Combined Biomedical Sciences, B.S. and Master of Health Science, (M.H.S.)
• Biomedical Sciences, M.H.S.

Biostatistics

• Biostatistics, M.S.

Cell and Molecular Biology

• Cell and Molecular Biology, B.S.
• Cell and Molecular Biology, M.S.
  • Biotechnology (M.S. emphasis)
  • Research (M.S. emphasis)
• Combined Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Cell and Molecular Biology
• Bioinformatics and Genomics (undergraduate certificate)
• Bioinformatics and Genomics (graduate certificate)
• Cell and Molecular Biology (minor)
• Homebrewing Beer (badge)
• Advanced Craft Brewing (badge)

Chemistry

• Chemistry, B.S.
• Chemistry (minor)
• Green Chemistry (certificate)

Chinese

• Chinese Language (minor)

Classics

• Classics, B.A.
  • Classical Languages (emphasis)
  • Classical Studies (emphasis)
  • Latin Secondary Education (emphasis)
• Classics (minor)

Climate Science

• Climate Science, B.S.
• Climate Science (minor)
• Climate Science (certificate)

Communication and Public Advocacy

• Communication and Public Advocacy (minor)

Communication Studies

• Communication Studies, B.A., B.S.
• Communications, M.S.
• Combined Communication Studies, B.A., B.S. and Master of Communication, M.S.

Dance

• Dance, B.A.
• Dance (minor)

English

• English, B.A.
  • Language and Literature (emphasis)
  • Secondary Education (emphasis)
• English (minor)
• English Secondary Education (minor)
• Applied Linguistics (minor)

Environmental Science

• Environmental Science, B.S.
• Environmental Science (minor)

Exercise Science

• Combined Exercise Science, B.S. and Master of Athletic Training, M.A.T.
• Combined Exercise Science, B.S. and Master of Public Health, M.P.H.
• Exercise Science, B.S.
  • Exercise Physiology and Sports Performance (emphasis)
  • Exercise Science in Health Care (emphasis)
  • Physical Activity and Health (emphasis)

Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, B.S.

French

• French, B.A.
  • Secondary Education (emphasis)
• French (minor)
• French Secondary Education (minor)

Geography and Sustainable Planning

• Geography, B.A., B.S.
  • Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation, and Resiliency Planning (emphasis)
  • Environment and Global Development (emphasis)
  • Geospatial Technology (emphasis)
  • Urban and Regional Planning (emphasis)
• Environmental Remote Sensing (certificate)
• Geographic Information Science (G.I.S.) and Technology (certificate)
• Sustainable Urban and Regional Planning (minor)
• Geospatial Technology (minor)
• Sustainable Urban and Regional Planning (certificate)

Geology

• Geology, B.S.
  • Environmental (emphasis)
• Geology (minor)

Geology - Chemistry

• Geology - Chemistry, B.S.

German

• German, B.A.
  • Secondary Education (emphasis)
• German (minor)
• German Secondary Education (minor)

Health Communication

• Health Communication, B.A., B.S.
• Combined Health Communication, B.A., B.S., and Master of Communication, M.S.

Health and Physical Education

• Health and Physical Education, B.S.
• Health and Physical Education, B.S. (K-12)

History

• History, B.A., B.S.
• History (minor)
• Medical and Health Humanities (certificate)
• Public History (badge)

History of Science

• History of Science (minor)

Integrated Science

• Science, B.S.
  • Secondary Education (emphasis)

International Relations

• International Relations, B.A.
• International Relations (minor)

Japanese

• Japanese (minor)

Journalism, Broadcasting, and Digital Media

• Journalism, Broadcasting, and Digital Media, B.A., B.S.
• Combined Journalism, Broadcasting, and Digital Media, B.A., B.S. and Master of Communication, M.S.

Mathematics

• Mathematics, B.A., B.S.
  • Applied Mathematics (emphasis)
  • Secondary Education (emphasis)
  • Theoretical Mathematics (emphasis)
• Mathematics (minor)
• Mathematics Elementary Education (minor)
• Mathematics Secondary Education (minor)

Modern Languages and Literatures

• Foundational Intercultural Fluency for Business (badge)
• Intermediate Intercultural Fluency for Business (badge)
• Advanced Intercultural Fluency for Business (badge)
• Multilingualism (badge)

Movement Science

• Movement Science (minor)

Music

• Music, B.A., B.S.
• Music, B.M.
  • Instrumental (emphasis)
  • Keyboard (emphasis)
  • Vocal (emphasis)
• Music (minor)
• Music Education, B.M.E. (K-12)
  • Instrumental (emphasis)
  • Vocal/Choral (emphasis)
• Piano Pedagogy (certificate)

Natural Resource and Environmental Management

• Natural Resource and Environmental Management, B.S.
• Natural Resource and Environmental Management (minor)
• Ecological Restoration (certificate)
• Applied Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Natural Resources (certificate)

Pedagogical Content Knowledge for Elementary Teaching, B.A., B.S.

• Pre-K through 3^rd Grade (emphasis)
• 3^rd Grade through 6^th Grade (emphasis)
• Pre-K through 6^th Grade (emphasis)
• Mathematics (concentration)
• Language Arts (concentration)
• Social Studies (concentration)
• Integrated Science (concentration)

Performing Arts Industry

• Performing Arts Industry, B.S.

Philosophy

• Philosophy, B.A.
• Philosophy (minor)
• Ethics, Culture, and Society (minor)
• Health Care Ethics (minor)
• STEM Ethics (minor)

Physics

• Physics, B.S.
• Physics (minor)

Political Science

• Political Science, B.A., B.S.
• Legal Education Admission Program (LEAP)
• Political Science (minor)
• Political Science and Law, B.A./J.D.
• Political Science and Law, B.S./J.D.

Preprofessional Studies

• Predental Studies
• Prehealth Studies
• Prelaw Studies
• Premedical Studies
• Prepharmacy Studies
• Preveterinary Medicine

Psychology

• Psychology, B.A., B.S.
• Psychology (minor)
• Psychology Secondary Education (minor)

School Psychology

• School Psychology, M.S. and Psy.S.

Sociology

• Sociology, B.A., B.S.
• Sociology (minor)

Spanish

• Spanish, B.A.
  • Secondary Education (emphasis)
• Spanish (minor)
• Spanish Elementary Education (minor, in conjunction with a PCKET major)
• Spanish Secondary Education (minor)
• Spanish for Health Care Professionals (certificate)

Sport Management

• Sport Management, B.S.
• Sport Coaching (certificate)

Statistics

• Statistics, B.A., B.S.
  • Actuarial Sciences (emphasis)
• Applied Statistics (minor)
• Data Science (minor)
• Mathematical Statistics (minor)
• R Programming (badge)
• Combined Statistics, B.S. and Data Science and Analytics, M.S.

Theatre

• Theatre, B.A., B.S.
• Theatre (minor)

Visual and Media Arts

• Art Education (Teacher Certification K-12) B.A., B.S.
• Art History, B.A.
• Art History (minor)
• Film and Video Production, B.A., B.S
• Photography, B.A., B.S.
• Photography (minor)
• Studio Art, B.A., B.S.
• Studio Art, B.F.A.
• Studio Art (minor)
  • Ceramics (emphasis)
  • Graphic Design (emphasis)
  • Illustration (emphasis)
  • Jewelry/Metalsmithing (emphasis)
  • Painting (emphasis)
  • Printmaking (emphasis)
  • Sculpture (emphasis)
  • Visual Studies (emphasis)

Wildlife Biology

• Wildlife Biology, B.S.

Writing

• Writing, B.A., B.S.
• Writing (minor)
• Workplace Technology and Communication (badge)

Secondary Admissions

The following programs require audition, portfolio review, and/or prerequisites and separate application:

• Art education
• Dance
• Music

Graduate Admission

See appropriate Academic Program description for information on graduate admission.

Accreditation

• Art Education (B.A., B.S.); National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
• Art History (B.A.); National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
• Chemistry (B.S.); Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society (ACS)
• Film and Video Production (B.A., B.S.); National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
• Music (B.A., B.M.E., B.M.); National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)
• Photography (B.A., B.S.); National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
• Studio Art (B.A., B.F.A., B.S.); National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
• Regional Math and Science Center; Michigan Department of Education (MDEC)

Student Services

Scholarships

There are many scholarships available for students enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. For a complete list and criteria to apply, visit gvsu.edu/financialaid/scholarships-157.htm. The eligibility criteria for each scholarship can be found in the Costs and Financial Aid section of the catalog.

Honors Organizations

Program-specific honors programs are described under each unit's description.

Community Resources

• Autism Education Center
• Regional Math and Science Center
• Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute