Contact Information: 
Campus Location: Third Floor, University Hall (UH) 
Academic Advising: (312) 996-3366 
las.uic.edu

Administration: 
Dean, Lisa Freeman
Executive Assistant Dean, Student Academic Affairs, Brian Roessler, Third Floor, UH
Associate Dean, Undergraduate Academic Affairs, Rosilie Hernandez-Pecoraro

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Introduction

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) offers a wide range of programs and courses in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. The offerings of LAS contribute to the educational quality, breadth, and vitality of UIC. The tradition of the liberal arts emphasizes holistic intellectual development rather than vocational and professional training. An understanding of human cultures, the natural universe, and social sciences provide the foundation for comprehending the complex and evolving world in which we live.

LAS undergraduate degree programs encompass a broad-based general education experience, a student-selected field of specialization, and elective courses to round out a student’s interests. Students are encouraged to participate in faculty-led research and scholarly opportunities, as well as internships and study abroad. Graduates are prepared to pursue nearly any career path and further education.

In support of student progress to degree across a wide range of programs and academic opportunities in LAS and at UIC, LAS is home to a large network of professional academic advisors. College-based advising is required for all new students and throughout the first and second year for new first year students. Additionally, LAS strongly recommends that first year students enroll in a first year seminar course in their first term that supports students' transition from high school to college. All degree-seeking undergraduate students work with an assigned academic advisor in support of their academic success, see Academic Advising below for more details.  

Degree Requirements

To earn a College of Liberal Arts and Sciences degree from UIC, students need to complete university, college, and department degree requirements.

Changes to graduation requirements and related policies are announced online. If requirements are changed, continuing students in LAS and those whose attendance at UIC has been interrupted for no more than two years may complete the current graduation requirements or may continue to meet those requirements in effect at the time of initial registration in the college. Students who return to UIC after an absence of more than two years are responsible for meeting the requirements of the university and college as well as of the major or curriculum in effect at the time of the student’s reenrollment. For all students, however, if courses originally required are no longer offered or if external accrediting or certifying agencies modify their requirements, the college or department will specify substitutes.

University and college degree requirements for all College of Liberal Arts and Sciences students are outlined below. Students should consult their department section for additional degree requirements.

Semester Hour Requirement

Each of the degree programs listed below minimally requires a total of 120 semester hours.

UG Semester Hour Requirement

Major	School	Degree Conferred	Total Hours
Anthropology	Anthropology	BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences	120
Applied Psychology	Psychology	BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences	120
Biochemistryb	Interdepartmental	BS in Biochemistry	120
Biological Sciences	Biological Sciences	BS in Liberal Arts and Sciences	120
Black Studies	Black Studies	BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences	120
Central and Eastern European Studies	Polish, Russian, and Lithuanian Studies	BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences	120
Chemistry—BA	Chemistry	BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences	120
Chemistry—BSb	Chemistry	BS in Chemistry	120
Classical Studies	Classics and Mediterranean Studies	BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences	120
Communication	Communication	BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences	120
Computer Science and Linguisticsb	Interdepartmental	BS in Computer Science and Linguistics	120
Criminology, Law, and Justice	Criminology, Law, and Justice	BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences	120
Earth and Environmental Sciences	Earth and Environmental Sciences	BS in Liberal Arts and Sciences	120
Economics	Economics	BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences	120
English	English	BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences	120
English—Teacher Educationb	English	BA in the Teaching of English	120
French and Francophone Studies	French and Francophone Studies	BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences	120
French—Teacher Educationb	French and Francophone Studies	BA in the Teaching of French	120
Gender and Women’s Studies	Gender and Women’s Studies	BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences	120
Germanic Studies	Germanic Studies	BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences	120
German—Teacher Educationb	Germanic Studies	BA in the Teaching of German	120
Global Asian Studies	Global Asian Studies	BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences	120
History	History	BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences	120
History—Teacher Educationb	History	BA in the Teaching of History	120
Integrated Health Studies	Interdepartmental	BS in Liberal Arts and Sciences	120
Italiana	Hispanic and Italian Studies	BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences	120
Latin American and Latino Studies	Latin American and Latino Studies	BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences	120
Liberal Studies	Interdepartmental	BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences	120
Mathematics	Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science	BS in Liberal Arts and Sciences	120
Mathematics—Teacher Educationb	Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science	BS in the Teaching of Mathematics	120
Mathematics and Computer Science	Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science	BS in Liberal Arts and Sciences	120
Neuroscienceb	Interdepartmental	BS in Neuroscience	120
Philosophy	Philosophy	BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences	120
Physics—BA	Physics	BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences	120
Physics—BSb	Physics	BS in Physics	120
Political Science	Political Science	BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences	120
Psychology	Psychology	BS in Liberal Arts and Sciences	120
Sociology	Sociology	BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences	120
Spanish	Hispanic and Italian Studies	BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences	120
Spanish—Teacher Educationb	Hispanic and Italian Studies	BA in the Teaching of Spanish	120
Statistics	Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science	BS in Liberal Arts and Sciences	120

a

Until further notice, this program is not accepting applications for admission.

b

Denotes specialized curriculum. 

Note: Degrees in teacher education generally require additional courses for teacher licensure beyond the 120 semester hours.

Course Requirements

General Education and Writing-in-the-Discipline

Students are required to complete the following course requirements in order to earn a degree in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Proficiency in academic writing and quantitative reasoning is essential to success in all degree programs. Therefore, all LAS undergraduate students shall, in their first year, register for courses that satisfy the University Writing and Quantitative Reasoning requirements, or for such preparatory courses as may be indicated by placement tests, and shall continue to register in such courses until the requirements have been satisfied. Students who fail to follow these guidelines will be subject to academic probation and other sanctions. The remaining course requirements, with the exception of the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement, should be completed as early in the college career as feasible.

Note: The table below outlines LAS General Education and Writing-in-the-Discipline requirements. The number of semester hours a student is required to take to fulfill these requirements will vary. Please read the explanatory notes that follow on General Education Core, General Education Proficiencies, and Writing-in-the-Discipline for more information on fulfilling these requirements.

UG LA Gen Ed Writing in Disc

General Education and Writing-in-the-discipline	Requirement (Typical Hours)
Analyzing the Natural Worlda	Two laboratory courses (8–10)
Exploring World Culturesa	One course (3)
Understanding the Creative Artsa	One course (3)
Understanding the Individual and Societya	One course (3)
Understanding U.S. Societya	One course (3)
Understanding the Pasta	One course (3)
Two elective courses from any General Education Core categorya	Two courses (6)
Foreign Language	Four semesters of a single foreign language at the college level (16)
Quantitative Reasoning	One course (3–5)
University Writing Requirement	ENGL 160 and ENGL 161 (6)
Writing-in-the-Discipline	One course (0–3)

a

Students should consult the General Education section of the catalog for a list of approved courses in this category.

General Education Core

General Education at UIC is designed to serve as a foundation for lifelong learning. The following General Education Core requirements for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences satisfy the University’s minimum requirements. Students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are required to take a total of nine courses. Of those, seven are prescribed: two laboratory courses in Analyzing the Natural World and one course in each of the other five categories. The remaining two courses may be chosen freely from among any of the six categories.

Students who register for a course that is listed in more than one category will have the flexibility of deciding which category the course will satisfy. They do not have to decide right away but may wait to see how their plan of study develops over time. The course, however, will fulfill the requirement of only one category. In other words, the course will not satisfy the requirement of two categories just because it is listed in two categories.

The General Education Core categories are as follows:

1. Analyzing the Natural World
2. Understanding the Individual and Society
3. Understanding the Past
4. Understanding the Creative Arts
5. Exploring World Cultures
6. Understanding U.S. Society

For a description and list of courses for each General Education Core category, students should consult the General Education section of the catalog.

Note: Up to two courses in the major may count toward fulfillment of General Education Core requirements. Students should see their department sections to determine if their major includes any approved General Education Core courses.

General Education Proficiencies—Foreign Language Requirement, Quantitative Reasoning Requirement, and University Writing Requirement

Foreign Language Requirement

The basic requirement is proficiency in a language that has a recognized literature or culture. The level of proficiency must be the equivalent of that expected of the student who has completed the elementary and intermediate levels of language study (i.e., the first two years) at the University of Illinois Chicago. Students studying a foreign language at UIC are strongly encouraged to register for required language courses in consecutive semesters until the requirement is met. Students may satisfy the requirement in any one of several ways:

1. By presenting qualifying scores on an Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) examination in a foreign language, a qualifying score on a UIC foreign language placement test, a qualifying score on another authorized proficiency test for languages not offered at UIC, or appropriate coursework as awarded per the State Seal of Biliteracy.
2. By demonstrating proficiency in a language other than English via transferring college-level credit for a full or partial sequence of approved courses, as determined by the results of a placement test or placement by a language department.
3. With college approval, a student transferring from another university or another UIC college who has never been enrolled in LAS, who is admitted with senior standing and who has not satisfied the language requirement may do so by passing one course in a language sequence during each term in enrollment residence at UIC. Note: Seniors admitted with foreign language transfer credit must consult their LAS assigned advisor for the application for this rule.
4. By completing four semesters of language courses at UIC. The college currently offers complete sequences in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Lithuanian, Modern Greek, Polish, Russian, and Spanish.
5. By completing a partial sequence of language courses as determined by the results of a placement test or placement by a language department at UIC. The college determines eligibility for credit in a recommended course.
6. By presenting evidence of secondary education completed in a country where the language of instruction was other than English. No elementary- or intermediate-level course or proficiency credit will be given for that language. The language requirement, however, will be considered fulfilled only if the student receives college approval for application of this rule.
7. By presenting evidence of entry to the U.S. for the first time at the age of 12 or older from a country where a language other than English is the dominant or official language.
8. By demonstrating proficiency in American Sign Language via transferring credit for a full or partial sequence of approved courses from an accredited U.S. college or university, as determined by the results of a placement test or placement by a language department. Courses must include the study of deaf culture.
9. If a disability prevents or greatly impedes academic success in foreign language courses, with the support of the UIC Disability Resource Center,  and an approved petition of the college, the Foreign Language Requirement may be completed via college approved course substitutions. Approved course substitution plans are determined on a case-by-case basis and typically require four courses, taught in English, that represent the culture, history, and literature relevant to a specific language area.     

Quantitative Reasoning Requirement

Students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences must demonstrate competency in quantitative reasoning to earn a degree. Such competence can be demonstrated in any one of the following ways:

1. Achievement of a score on the mathematics placement examination high enough to qualify for enrollment in MATH 180. Placement in MATH 180 may be by other means determined by the Department of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science.
2. Grade of C or better in any one of the following courses:

   Course List

   Code	Title	Hours
   MATH 105	Mathematical Reasoning	4
   MATH 110	College Algebra	4
   MATH 121	Precalculus Mathematics	5
   MATH 125	Elementary Linear Algebra	5
   MATH 160	Finite Mathematics for Business	5
   MATH 165	Calculus for Business	5
   MATH 170	Calculus for the Life Sciences	4
   MATH 180	Calculus I	4
   STAT 101	Introduction to Statistics	4
   STAT 130	Introduction to Statistics for the Life Sciences	4

3. Grade of C or better in a mathematically oriented course in a department in LAS other than Mathematics. Such courses must require MATH 090 or MATH 105 as a prerequisite. At present, such courses include:

   Course List

   Code	Title	Hours
   COMM 201	Statistics in Communication Research	3
   CLJ 262	Research Methods II	3
   POLS 201	Political Data Analysis	3
   PSCH 343	Statistical Methods in Behavioral Science	4
   SOC 201	Introductory Sociological Statistics	4

4. Grade of C or better in a logic course in the Department of Philosophy: PHIL 102 or PHIL 210.
5. Transfer students may present equivalent courses taken elsewhere, for which they have received a grade of C or better, to satisfy this requirement.

University Writing Requirement

Each student must demonstrate proficiency in written expression by the successful completion of the following:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Courses
ENGL 160	Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts	3
ENGL 161	Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research	3

The student’s performance on the writing placement test determines whether the following courses must be completed as a prerequisite to ENGL 160:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
ENGL 060	English as a Second Language Composition II	4
ENGL 150	Introduction to Academic Writing for Nonnative Speakers of English	3
ENGL 151	Introduction to Academic Writing	3

Students may receive 3 hours of proficiency credit in ENGL 160 based on the ACT English subscore, SAT Reading and Writing score (2016 or after), or SAT Critical Reading score (prior to 2016). All students must complete ENGL 161.

ENGL 150 and ENGL 151 are preparatory courses for UIC’s required academic writing sequence. Upon completion of either of these courses, however, the English department may recommend a waiver of ENGL 160 based on final course assessment. Students who receive this waiver earn 3 hours of proficiency credit for ENGL 160 and placement into ENGL 161.

Writing-in-the-Discipline Requirement

As part of the major, students must successfully complete at least one course that requires extensive writing. This course should be taken before the beginning of the student’s last semester. A required Writing-in-the-Discipline course is included in each degree program.

Other Requirements

Course Level Requirement, Advanced Hours

A student must earn a minimum of 40 semester hours in advanced-level courses (those numbered 200 and above at UIC) at any accredited four-year college or university. At least 12 semester hours of these 40 advanced hours must be taken in the major field while in residence at UIC. Community college work, regardless of the course number or level, is not considered advanced for the purposes of this requirement. General elective credit earned from the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) does not count toward advanced-level. 

Coursework Limitations

Coursework completed at UIC and other accredited institutions is not automatically applicable toward graduation requirements. The final decision regarding the acceptance of credit and courses that apply toward degree requirements is made by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Coursework considered by the college office as nonbaccalaureate or remedial is not accepted toward the degree. Coursework that duplicates previous work is counted toward graduation, whereas the original coursework does not count. No credit is given for a course in which a failing grade was received.

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences restricts degree credit as follows:

• The college allows a maximum of three semester hours of personal training and physical fitness credit including the following 100-level UIC courses; KN 130, KN 136, KN 137, KN 194.
• Students may earn a maximum of three semester hours of 100-level Military Science and Naval Science courses. Students who have served for a minimum of six months of extended active duty in any branch of the armed forces for the United States can be awarded a total of 4 hours of 100-level Military or Naval Science credit for the service and may not count additional 100-level courses in Military Science or Naval Science toward their degree.
• Credit in individual performance courses is limited to 8 semester hours.
• No credit is given for doctrinal and canonical coursework taken in seminaries or any other institution that provides religious or sectarian training.
• No more than 16 semester hours of independent study may apply toward the degree. The maximum degree credit in independent study in an individual department or program is 8 semester hours. Fieldwork and internship courses that are formally required for the major are excluded from this limitation.
• A maximum of 24 semester hours in courses offered by other UIC colleges and acceptable by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences may be applied toward the degree. Transfer courses from other liberal arts colleges must be equivalent to those offered by other UIC colleges to be acceptable. In cases where majors, minors, certificates, and curricula require courses not offered in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the student may take no more than 24 hours of non-LAS courses in addition to those non-LAS courses required for the program.

Elective Credit

Together, the major and LAS course requirements generally do not provide the entire 120 semester hours required for graduation. Known as electives, those hours remaining should serve to enrich a student’s educational background either through work allied to the major or in courses that can generally increase knowledge and understanding. Elective courses should always be chosen by a student for educational reasons, not simply for convenience or for semester hours. Students may wish to pursue a second major, minor(s), or certificate(s) program in the fulfillment of their remaining degree hours. 

Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement

A student must earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00/4.00 in all work taken at UIC. In addition, the combined average of a student’s transfer work and work taken at UIC must be at least 2.00. A minimum grade point average of 2.00 is required for all courses in the major field. In addition, the combined average of transfer work and work taken at UIC in all courses in the major field must be at least 2.00. Some majors may require a higher grade point average. Failure to maintain the required minimum grade point average in the major may result in the student's dismissal from that major.

Graduation Declaration/Filing to Graduate

Students declare their intent to graduate online using my.UIC. Students who do not have access to my.UIC should contact the LAS Student Academic Affairs Office to file the Intent to Graduate form. The deadline for submission to the Pending Degree List is the end of the third week (fall and spring) or second week (Summer Session 2) of the term in which graduation is sought. Failure to submit the request at this time may delay the awarding of the degree. A final review will be made following the close of the term. If a student has satisfactorily completed all the degree requirements, the student’s name will be placed on the official degree list.

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences reserves the right to recommend the awarding of a degree once degree requirements have been fulfilled without prior request or approval of the student.

Enrollment Residence Requirement

For the major, a student must complete at least one-half of the coursework required for the major, excluding collateral course requirements, in enrollment residence at the University of Illinois Chicago. The major coursework completed in residence must include at least 12 semester hours at the advanced level.

For all coursework, either the first 90 semester hours or the last 30 semester hours of degree work must be completed in continuous, uninterrupted enrollment residence at the University of Illinois Chicago. Concurrent attendance at the University of Illinois Chicago and another collegiate institution, or enrollment at another institution, when approved by the student’s college, does not interrupt the UIC enrollment residence requirement for graduation.

Credit earned through military service or non-UIC test-based credit such as but not limited to College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Advanced Placement Program (AP), International Baccalaureate Program (IB), and State Seal of Biliteracy will not apply to the last 30 semester hours of enrollment residence.

Study abroad and distance-learning courses that have been approved by the student’s major department and by the college are not considered an interruption of enrollment residence for students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

60-hour Requirement

At a minimum, 60 semester hours are required at the University of Illinois Chicago or any other accredited four-year college or university. Additionally, students must complete the enrollment residency requirement to graduate (see Enrollment Residence Requirement).

Transfer Credit

Coursework completed at other colleges and universities may apply toward partial fulfillment of graduation requirements and may be used as prerequisites for courses at UIC. The University of Illinois Chicago is a participant in the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI), a statewide agreement that allows for the transfer of the IAI-approved General Education Core Curriculum between participating institutions. Please consult Illinois Articulation Initiative in the Admissions section of the catalog. The final decision, however, regarding the acceptance of credit and courses that apply toward degree requirements is made by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Students who transfer coursework may anticipate some loss of credit. This might require more time to complete the degree than had been originally planned. When the loss of credit occurs, it does not imply a negative evaluation of a student’s transfer work but rather a lack of appropriateness for the programs of the college. Attendance at new transfer student orientation is strongly encouraged as an individualized assessment of progress-to-degree and appropriate course selection will be reviewed. New transfer students who are unable to attend orientation are required to complete an advising appointment before or during their first term to ensure continued enrollment. For more information regarding the transferability of credits prospective students may create an account at Transferology.

Transfer Credit for Continuing Students

Continuing students who want to take coursework for credit at another institution, either concurrent with UIC enrollment or during the summer term, must obtain prior approval from their LAS assigned advisor and, where appropriate, the relevant department to ensure the transferability of coursework. Students are obligated to report all work from other institutions. 60 hours at a four-year school are required for graduation (see 60-hour Requirement). Additionally, students must complete the enrollment residence requirement to graduate (see Enrollment Residence Requirement).  

Secondary Education Program Requirements

Students who are preparing to teach at the secondary level enroll in programs supervised by the departments offering the various majors. These programs, which have state approval and differ in some respects from those of the arts and sciences programs, prepare the student for State of Illinois licensure.

Completion of a secondary education curriculum leads to either the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science in the teaching of the field of specialization. The choice of a major determines the particular degree that will be awarded. Those who complete a secondary education curriculum may not pursue a second major or curriculum; only secondary education majors may elect a teacher education minor or endorsement. A student must choose a major field from the following academic disciplines: English, French, German, History, Mathematics, or Spanish. Detailed information is available in the College of Education section of the catalog. 

Secondary Licensure

Students interested in completing the approved program leading to licensure at the secondary level should consult the College of Education. For information on licensure, consult the Council on Teacher Education.

College Policies

All students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, whether enrolled as full-time, part-time, nondegree, or visitor, are subject to all rules of the college.

Academic Load and Semester Hour Overload

In the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, students may enroll in either a part-time or full-time program of study, in either day or evening classes. During the fall and spring semesters, a minimum full-time program is 12 semester hours, however, 14–16 hours are recommended. To ensure adequate progress-to-degree it is recommended that students complete 30 semester hours a year, including the use of summer session as needed. A program of 19 semester hours or more must be approved by a student's assigned academic advisor. For Summer Session 1 (four-week) and Summer Session 2 (eight-week), UIC considers a total aggregate of 6 semester hours (5 hours for graduate students) as the minimum number necessary to constitute full-time enrollment. A program of 13 semester hours or more during the summer session must be approved by a student's assigned academic advisor. Semester hour overloads are considered on a case-by-case basis and may be denied. Considerations used in the granting of a credit overload include a student's academic history, which may include the following; GPA, number of terms completed at UIC, program, (number of hours and rigor). Additionally, the rigor of the current registration will be taken into consideration for overload approval. Semester hour overloads will not be considered for students who are on academic probation (term or overall) or for new students in their first term at UIC. Students who will not be graduating in the term for which they are requesting an overload must wait until the add/drop period at the beginning of the term in order to request course overload approval.

Academic Notice and Dismissal Rules

Deficit Points and Academic Recovery

To better understand academic notice, dismissal, and academic recovery,  it is important to understand deficit points. Students who have earned a UIC total GPA below a 2.00 will have negative deficit points. Deficit points are calculated as follows: multiply the number of semester hours for each course taken by the points for the grade received, A=+2, B=+1, C=0, D=-1, F=-2. Add the points for each course taken during the semester. The total equals the deficit points used to determine academic notice and dismissal. For every negative deficit point earned, an equivalent in positive points must be earned to offset the negative, returning the GPA to 2.00, and good academic standing. As an example, students with a -14 deficit would need a subsequent semester of 14 semester hours of B grades, with nothing less than a C in order to return to good standing. A personalized degree audit found in uAchieve detail academic deficit, semester, and total GPAs.   

Term Notice Rules

A student not currently on academic notice or term notice will be placed on term notice at the end of any term in which the student earns less than a 2.00/4.00 grade point average but whose UIC grade point average is equal to or greater than a 2.00/4.00. For such a student, term notice serves as a call to action for the student to seek support from campus success resources, including academic advising. A student on term notice who earns a UIC Term GPA of at least 2.00/4.00 will be removed from term notice. Term notice resulting from a UIC GPA cannot be removed by coursework from other institutions or universities, including programs of the Springfield and Urbana-Champaign campuses.

Academic Notice Rules

A student not currently on academic notice will be placed on academic notice at the end of any term in which the student earns a cumulative or UIC GPA less than a 2.00/4.00. This rule applies even for the student with a cumulative GPA of 2.00/4.00 or higher. For such a student, academic notice serves as a warning for the student to seek support from campus success resources, including academic advising. An end-of-term academic standing of academic notice indicates that a student may be academically dismissed should subsequent semesters of negative GPA performance continue; see dismissal rules.

A student on academic notice who earns a GPA of at least 2.00/4.00 in a given term will be removed from academic notice, provided the student’s cumulative GPA in all work taken at UIC is at least 2.00/4.00. Academic notice resulting from a UIC GPA cannot be removed by coursework from other institutions or universities, including programs of the Springfield and Urbana-Champaign campuses. Further, for the student with transfer credit, the combined average of the student’s transfer credit and UIC coursework must also be at least 2.00/4.00.

A student currently on academic notice will be continued on academic notice when one of the following occurs:

1. The student meets the GPA required by the conditions of their academic notice but does not raise the cumulative UIC GPA to at least 2.00/4.00; or
2. The student meets the GPA required by the conditions of their academic notice but does not raise the combined average of the student’s transfer credit and UIC course work to at least 2.00/4.00.

To support degree completion, a designate of the dean of the student’s college may require the completion of specific courses and/or prohibit continued enrollment in areas where the student consistently fails to meet minimum academic standards. The college may notify the student of these limitations through an academic contract.  Additionally, the college may require additional mandatory advising and the creation of a success plan to promote continued enrollment and academic recovery. For assistance in choosing a major, see Major Exploration and Career Development.

Dismissal Rules

The college is greatly concerned with student success and occasionally must take steps to encourage a student to remediate academic deficits and/or reevaluate their commitment to higher education. After careful consideration of a student's ability to recover from academic difficulty, the college may elect to academically dismiss a student and cancel their continuing student status.

 In any term, a student may be dismissed for one or more of the following reasons:

1. First-term students will be dismissed after their first term of enrollment if they earn zero credit, have a grade point average of less than 1.00/4.00, or have a deficit of -15 points or more. 
2. Continuing students will be dismissed at the end of any term in which their deficit points are -15 or more.
3. Failure to earn any credit.
4. Failure to earn at least a 2.00/4.00 GPA while on academic notice.
5. Failure to meet the conditions of an academic contract.
6. Failure to meet conditions specified at the time of admission.
7. Failure to make progress toward completion of an LAS degree.
8. Two or more consecutive terms of university withdrawals.

a

In other university publications, Dismissal Rules are sometimes referred to as Drop Rules. Term Notice and Academic Notice may be referred to as Probation.

Appeal of a Dismissal Decision

Students who have been dismissed may apply for readmission after two terms (excluding the summer session), applications originate at the office of admissions. It is important to note, that students are afforded 15 weeks to complete a term withdrawal, available online, through the last day of instruction. In the event that serious health or personal issue prevented the student from completing the online term withdrawal by the deadline, or extenuating circumstances prevented the student from completing finals, students will have the limited opportunity to submit a written petition for immediate reinstatement. The student may request immediate reinstatement by following the guidelines as outlined in the college dismissal letter.

Change of Course Schedule

Adding Courses

Students may add courses for which they have met the prerequisite(s) if seats are still available during the first two weeks of the fall and spring semesters, the first Wednesday of Summer Session 1, or the first Friday of Summer Session 2. Students should seek approval of the instructor to enroll in a class after the fifth day of the semester since some courses prohibit enrollment during the second week in accordance with college policy.

The deadline for adding or switching sections of ENGL 160 and ENGL 161 is the end of Week 1 of the semester. After Week 1, adding or switching sections of these courses is not permitted.

Dropping Courses

Undergraduate students may drop courses using my.UIC through the end of the second week of classes for fall and spring semesters, or through the first Wednesday of Summer Session 1 and the first Friday of Summer Session 2. During weeks 3 through 10 of the fall and spring semesters (first Thursday through the third Wednesday of Summer Session 1 or weeks 2 through 5 of Summer Session 2), students may drop courses with the permission of the college. If the drop occurs between 0–2 weeks in fall and spring, there will be no notation on the transcript. If the drop occurs during weeks 3 through 10 in fall and spring, a W is noted on the transcript. During their entire undergraduate degree program, undergraduate students may drop a maximum of four UIC individual courses that result in a W notation on their transcript. These drop requests are approved, regardless of the circumstances, provided that the student meets with an LAS academic advisor within the designated period and that the student has not exceeded the limit of four late drops. The merits of the student’s request are not a factor in determining eligibility to late drop.

Given that four total course late drops are available to a student over the entire period in which they are enrolled at UIC, students are advised to evaluate their academic standing in the course with the instructor before requesting to exercise one of these four late drops.

Requests to drop a course after the tenth week of the fall and spring semesters, or requests to drop a course within the approved exception period in excess of the four automatic drops are not routinely granted unless there are exceptional circumstances outside of the student’s control that can be documented. Requests must include a written petition and are reviewed by the committee on petitions. Poor performance in a course is not a sufficient reason to approve a request. Students may inquire about the petition process by contacting their LAS assigned academic advisor. 

Course drop deadlines that apply to summer sessions are announced by the Office of the Registrar on its website.

Change of Major

Students seeking to change or add a major should declare the new major with the department offering that major (see Declaring a Major). Some programs require that specific requirements be fulfilled in order to declare a major and/or be retained in a major.  For more information about LAS majors, see the Explore LAS Majors web page. For more information about pre-health/pre-science or differential tuition, see the differential tuition web page.  

Class Attendance

Each instructor may establish their own attendance policy, including penalties for nonattendance. Failure to attend class does not result in automatic withdrawal from a course. The college expects that students will attend all classes. Students must be registered to attend courses and to earn credit. 

Closed Courses

A course is considered closed or full when the enrollment maximum set for that course has been reached. Over-enrollment into a closed course or attendance in such a course is prohibited. Retroactive registration is not allowed. The academic department of instruction should be consulted when a lack of availability prevents progress-to-degree. Students are encouraged to take note of their registration time ticket, the date and time they are eligible to register. Students with advanced standing are permitted to register ahead of students who have earned fewer hours. 

Course Prerequisites

A student must satisfy course prerequisites before enrolling in a course. A student enrolling in a course without having met the prerequisites may be withdrawn from the course without prior notification. See Course Backtracking below. Course prerequisites are listed in both the Course Descriptions section of the catalog and XE Registration/View Classes in my.UIC.edu. Warning: Registration in a course without meeting prerequisites does not imply approval of the registration. 

Course Backtracking

Credit/No Credit Option

The credit/no credit option allows the student to complete a course with a grade of credit (CR) or no credit (NC) instead of a letter grade. Courses completed with a grade of CR carry credit and apply toward degree requirements. In general, grades of CR and NC are final and cannot be changed to letter grades. College policy coincides with campus policy with the following conditions:

1. Only students in good standing may elect to take a course under the credit/no credit option. Students on probation and those whose status is undetermined at the time at which they elect the option are not eligible.
2.  A student may request only one course per term as credit/no credit.
3. No more than two courses in a single discipline may be taken as credit/no credit.
4. Only elective courses may be taken on a credit/no credit basis; courses being used to meet any graduation course requirements must be taken for letter grades.
5. The following describes the restrictions that apply to all students, regardless of major or curriculum:
   1. Students may not take ENGL 160 or ENGL 161 as credit/no credit.
   2. Students may not take any course used to satisfy the foreign language requirement as credit/no credit.
   3. Students may not take any course used to satisfy the General Education Core requirements as credit/no credit. Until students have completed the minimum requirement in each General Education Core category, courses from these areas may not be taken as credit/no credit.
   4. Students may not take any course used to satisfy the Quantitative Reasoning requirement as credit/no credit.
   5. Students may not take any course being used to satisfy the requirements of the major, minor, or the required prerequisite and collateral courses of the major as credit/no credit.
   6. Students in the health sciences curricula are advised not to complete required science courses under the credit/no credit option.
6. A student may earn no more than 21 semester hours of credit at UIC under the credit/no credit option.

Students must apply to take a course credit/no credit at the college office, third floor, University Hall, no later than the tenth day of the term (first Wednesday of Summer Session 1 or first Friday of Summer Session 2). After that date, students may not request courses on a credit/no credit basis nor may they change a credit/no credit request previously submitted. It is the responsibility of the student to determine eligibility under the regulations. Students requesting a course under the credit/no credit option will be informed if they are ineligible and will receive a grade for the course. Students with questions concerning their eligibility should make an appointment with their assigned LAS academic advisor. Instructors are not informed that a student has elected this option; the final grade is converted to CR/NC.

Declaring a Major

Double Major, Double Degrees, and Second Bachelor’s Degree

Double Major

A student may declare a second major with the approval of the college office. An additional major will not be approved if the first major and the proposed second major involve similar study or substantial duplication of coursework. With few exceptions, an additional major will not be approved if the first major and proposed second major are in the same department. Students in a specialized curriculum (see list of degree programs) cannot have a second major. A student declaring a degree program defined as a specialized curriculum (see list of degree programs) may not have a second specialized curriculum (see list of degree programs) program. 

The following LAS double major program combinations are prohibited:

• Major in Integrated Health Studies, Concentration in Health and Science and Major in Biological Sciences
• Major in Integrated Health Studies, Concentration in Behavioral Health and Major in Psychology (both Applied and General)
• Major in Mathematics and Major in Statistics
• Major in Mathematics and Major in Mathematics and Computer Science
• Major in Mathematics and Computer Science and Major in Statistics

Double Degrees

In some cases, a student may receive two degrees concurrently from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The student must complete 30 semester hours of credit at UIC beyond the requirements for the first degree in courses not offered for the first degree. In addition, the student must complete all degree requirements of the college (foreign language, quantitative reasoning, LAS general education, advanced hours), and the major department. Double degrees will not be approved if the first degree and the proposed second degree involve the study of a similar area or substantial duplication of coursework. 

For the purposes of declaration, a student must be in good academic standing. An LAS student must consult an academic advisor in the college office to initiate a request for double degrees. The college does not approve requests for more than two bachelor’s degrees.

The following LAS double degree program combinations are prohibited:

• BS in Computer Science and Linguistics and BS in LAS Major in Mathematics and Computer Science, Concentration in Algorithms and Theory
• BS in LAS Major in Biological Sciences and BS in Chemistry
• BS in Biochemistry and BS in LAS Major in Biological Sciences   
• BS in Biochemistry and BA in LAS Major in Chemistry
• BS in Biochemistry and BS in Chemistry
• BS in Biochemistry and BS in Neuroscience
• BS in LAS Major in Integrated Health Studies, Concentration in Health and Science and BS in LAS Major in Biological Sciences
• BS in LAS Major in Integrated Health Studies, Concentration in Behavioral Health and BA in LAS Major in Psychology (both Applied and General)
• BS in LAS Major in Mathematics and Computer Science and BS in LAS Major in Mathematics
• BS in LAS Major in Mathematics and Computer Science and BS in LAS Major in Statistics
• BS in Neuroscience and BS in LAS Major in Biological Sciences
• BS in Neuroscience and BS in LAS Major in Integrated Health Studies
• BS in Neuroscience and BA in LAS Major in Psychology (both Applied and General)
•  Any teaching education degree with a degree from the same academic department 

Students pursuing programs across colleges will not be awarded where the first degree and the proposed second degree involve the study of a similar area or substantial duplication of coursework (exe: a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences with a major in Biological Sciences and a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering). ​Students from other colleges may complete an online application for a double degree. 

Second Bachelor’s Degree

A student with a bachelor’s degree from UIC or another institution may receive a second bachelor’s degree from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences subsequent to the first undergraduate degree. The student must complete 30 semester hours of credit at UIC beyond the requirements for the first degree in courses not offered for the first degree. In addition, the student must complete all degree requirements of the college (foreign language, quantitative reasoning, and general education) and the major department. For specific information on these requirements, consult the department listings in the catalog.

A second bachelor’s degree will not be approved if the first degree and the proposed second degree involve the study of a similar area or substantial duplication of coursework, see prohibited degree program list under double degree. Proposed second degrees involving the same area of study with a minor may not be approved. The student must apply via the office of admissions as a second degree-seeking student. The college does not approve requests for more than two bachelor’s degrees, nor for bachelor's degrees subsequent to a graduate degree. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences reserves the right to restrict enrollment of students into its academic programs based on space availability.

Rules Governing the Major

The major consists of discipline-specific courses, excluding required prerequisite and collateral courses outside of the major department. Specialized curricula include all courses required for the undergraduate degree. Degree program listings in the department sections address these differences.

A liberal arts and sciences degree program may not include less than 27 or more than 40 semester hours of coursework in the major field and 36 semester hours of prerequisites and collateral coursework. For those departments and programs that require prerequisites and collateral courses, the total field of specialization may not exceed 72 semester hours. Writing-in-the-Discipline courses may be excluded from this limitation. The major, exclusive of collateral courses, must include 14 semester hours of upper-division (200-, 300-, or 400-level) courses. Specialized curricula must meet the minimum requirements for graduation in the college. The maximum number of hours allowed in a specialized curriculum will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Enrollment Residence Requirement in the Major

At least one-half of the coursework required for the major field must be completed in enrollment residence at UIC. Credit earned through military service or non-UIC test-based credit such as but not limited to College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Advanced Placement Program (AP), International Baccalaureate Program (IB), and State Seal of Biliteracy does not apply.

Double Major

Cross-listed courses may count toward specific requirements in each major, including the semester hours. A student need not repeat coursework, duplicate requirements, or make up semester hours to complete the second major. Students may not double major across colleges. 

Graduate-Level Courses for Undergraduate Credit

With department approval, an undergraduate student may enroll in a course in the Graduate College (500 level) for undergraduate elective credit. With the approval of the director of undergraduate studies, graduate-level credit may be applied toward a student's major. Prior to enrollment students must obtain instructor approval and fulfill any stated prerequisites.

Students should understand that graduate-level courses taken by an undergraduate student are generally not applicable toward a graduate degree, except in designated joint degree programs.

Cross-Listed Courses

Courses cross-listed in two or more departments have equivalent standing in each department and are treated as the same course regardless of the department under which the registration occurs.

Independent Study Course Options

A number of departments offer independent study course options (research, field experience, internship, and independent study) in which a student’s special interests may be pursued under the direction of a faculty member. To enroll in such a course in any UIC college, the LAS student must have a minimum 2.50/4.00 grade point average in all coursework taken at UIC and must obtain the consent of the instructor and the department offering the course prior to registration. No student may enroll in an independent study course option after the tenth day of the term without the approval of the department and the dean’s office.

A maximum of 8 semester hours in any of the independent study course options in a given department or program may count toward the degree. No more than 16 semester hours of independent study credit may apply toward the degree. Because many of these courses may not be repeated, students should consult the catalog for specific credit limitations. Please note fieldwork and internship courses that are specifically required in the major as stated in this catalog are excluded from this limitation.

Petition Procedure

Any rule, regulation, or action of the college may be petitioned in writing. Continuing students must initiate the petitions process in consultation with their assigned academic advisor. Former students may submit a petition via lasadvising@uic.edu. It is the student’s responsibility to provide documentation in support of a petition. To be eligible for consideration a petition must address an academic term within the last two years. Submission of a petition does not imply approval.     

Rules Governing Placement Tests

Placement tests are used by UIC departments to determine appropriate initial course of study within a course sequence. Placement tests do not award academic credit.

Required and recommended placement tests will be determined by college and university degree requirements and desired program(s) of study. All first year students will be required to complete select placement tests. New transfer and readmit students are encouraged to complete placement tests in subjects for which they wish to enroll at UIC. Continuing students may be required to complete select placement tests in subjects they wish to study. The university does not accept placement test results from other institutions.

Students with earned credit (via completed coursework completed outside of UIC or awarded test-based credit) are permitted to register for the next course in a sequence, but are encouraged to complete the appropriate placement test(s) in order to confirm the most appropriate registration. Testing exemptions are listed online.

Academic Writing Placement Test

Required for: First year students

Chemistry Placement Test

Required for: All students pursuing a degree program or educational goal that requires any level of Chemistry.

Foreign Language Placement Tests

Required for:

• Students intending to study Chinese or Spanish (all levels)
• Students intending to study a language they have previously studied in the classroom or been exposed to (heard, spoken, read, or written) from family/friends in social settings.

Math Placement Test

Required for:

• First year students
• All students intending to take math at UIC at the Calculus I (MATH 180) level or below, who do not have transfer or test-based credit awarded.

Physics Placement Test

Required for: All students pursuing a degree program that requires completion of calculus-based physics, PHYS 141 and PHYS 142.

Retaking Placement Tests

• All placement test scores are valid for one year. The only exception is placement into the Spanish Heritage Language Program (SPAN 113 or SPAN 114); those placements do not expire.
  • If it has been less than a calendar year since a student has completed a placement test, the placement test is still valid and the student may register for the designated course, even if the start of the term in which the student is taking the course is after the placement expires.
• Students are not permitted to repeat a placement test within a year of having taken the same test.
  • Exceptions to this include:
    • The Math/ALEKS placement test can be repeated up to four times. Students are required to wait 72 hours in between retakes of the Math placement test, and to complete five hours of the ALEKS Learning Module.
    • The Chemistry placement test can only be repeated within a year of having taken the same test by students with an original placement of “Postpone Chemistry until passing MATH 110 (or equivalent) with a grade of C or better.”, and who have completed MATH 110 with a grade of C or better.
• Students are not permitted to repeat a placement test after having completed a course at UIC in the subject of the test (“completed” meaning that the student has earned a final grade other than W).

• Exceptions to this can include:
  • Students who state that they have studied the subject/language intensively since they last took coursework in the subject/language and believe they could improve their placement.
  • Language-specific:
    • Students who state that they have lived or traveled in a country in which the respective language is spoken since they took coursework in the language and believe they could improve their placement.
    • Students who state that they have lived with someone who speaks the respective language since they took coursework in the language and believe they could improve their placement.
• Students requesting to retake a placement test after having completed a course in the subject of the test should talk with their LAS assigned academic advisor to request their exception be reviewed.

Proficiency Examinations

LAS departments may offer proficiency examinations, which are similar in content to regularly scheduled final course exams. To take such an exam, however, a student must meet the eligibility requirements of both the college and department. Consideration for such approval includes a careful review of the student’s secondary and postsecondary records. If approval is granted, the minimum passing grade that a student must earn is a C, although a department may require a higher passing grade. When credit is awarded, a grade of P (Pass) is assigned. The Pass grade is not included in a student’s grade point average, but the credit may apply toward the total hours required for graduation. Note that proficiency credit does not apply toward nor interrupt the 30-hour enrollment residence requirement for graduation.

Although other limitations apply, proficiency exams may not be taken by a student who has credit for more than one course in the subject above the level of the course in which the exam is required. For more detailed information on eligibility criteria, consult Proficiency Examinations for Enrolled Students in the Academic Standing section.

Retroactive Credit for Writing Composition

A student who places into ENGL 161 via the Writing Placement Test and subsequently passes ENGL 161 with a grade of B or higher may receive academic proficiency credit for ENGL 160. The ENGL 160 requirement would still be waived for any student who does not earn a grade of B or higher in ENGL 161, but credit for ENGL 160 would not be granted. This applies only to incoming students who place into ENGL 161 via the placement test and who do not have prior credit for college writing coursework. 

Additionally, a student who places into ENGL 161 via the Writing Placement Test and subsequently passes HUM 120 with a final grade of B or higher may receive academic proficiency credit for ENGL 160. The ENGL 160 requirement would still be waived for any student who does not earn a grade of B or higher in HUM 120, but credit for ENGL 160 would not be granted. This applies only to incoming students who place into ENGL 161 via the placement test and who do not have prior credit for college writing coursework. 

Retroactive Credits in Foreign Language

A student who has placed into the 104 or higher level of a foreign language taught at UIC as the result of the UIC administered placement tests may receive academic proficiency credits for prerequisite courses.

• Placement into the 104-level provides four hours of proficiency credit for the 103-level course if the student completes the 104-level course with a grade of B or higher.
• Placement into the final course in a heritage language sequence will provide four hours of credit for the prerequisite course, if the student completes the course with a B or higher.
• Placement at the 200-level, i.e., student has satisfied the college foreign language requirement through placement testing, provides four hours of proficiency credit for the 103-level course and four hours of proficiency credit for the 104-level course if the student completes the 200-level course with a grade of B or higher. The same provision applies to heritage language course placement except that proficiency credit is awarded for the two previous prerequisite heritage courses.
• These credits are awarded only for courses taught at UIC and only on the basis of new student placement test results for those with no prior college-level foreign language credits. Retroactive credit may be applied for a single student for more than one language sequence.  
• Proficiency credits appear as “PS” on the transcript and are not calculated into the grade point average. Proficiency credit does not apply to placements based on AP or IB scores for which credits are applied in a prescribed manner. CLEP credits are not accepted for foreign language courses.
• Proficiency credit is not awarded for a 104-level course if a student has transfer, AP, or IB credit for a 103-level course, and then places into and receives an A or B in a 200-level course at UIC.
• Students are eligible for proficiency credits in a language that they have not previously earned credit in, even if they have previously taken course(s) in another foreign language. For example, if a student has earned credit in Polish, but now wants to study Chinese and places into CHIN 104, they could be eligible for proficiency credit in CHIN 103, if they take and pass CHIN 104 with a grade of B or higher.
• Native speakers of a foreign language, including international students, are eligible to earn retroactive foreign language credits.
• Students to whom this section applies must initiate the request for the credits with their assigned academic advisor in the LAS Academic Advising Center. 

Registration Approval

All new first year students are required to attend new student advising and registration  program prior to registration. Certain students, such as readmits, may be required to see their assigned advisor prior to registration. First year students are required to meet with a college academic advisor during their first two semesters in order to register for the following semester. 

Repeat Policy for Standard Graded Courses

Courses in which a student earned a grade of A or B or C may not be repeated. Courses with D or F grades may be repeated once without written permission. In all cases, the original grade for the course and the grade for each repeat will appear on the transcript. The original grade and the grade for each repeat will be calculated into the grade point average. Only one registration for the course counts toward the total number of credits required for graduation. A student may not repeat a course after receiving credit in a course for which the repeat course is a prerequisite, administrative sanctions may apply, see Course Backtracking above. 

To repeat a course more than once (third attempt) requires written permission from the student’s college dean. Failure to obtain consent is subject to administrative registration revision. Students who have been dismissed may not appeal on the grounds of intention to repeat courses. Certain courses may not be repeated; students should consult their college before repeating a course.

Undergraduate Grade Point Average Recalculation Policy

• Colleges may elect to implement this policy as early as the end of the junior year, or as late as the final semester during degree certification.
• The college will evaluate each student unable to graduate because of an academic grade point average deficit. The deficit may occur in the UIC GPA, the program GPA, or both.
• The academic record is examined so as to determine if courses, deemed appropriate by each college, with grades of F or grades of D, may be excluded from the student's grade point average.
• A total of four courses may be excluded, with one course excluded at a time until the necessary quality points are obtained to meet the UIC GPA requirement and/or degree program minimum GPA. The semester hours associated with excluded course grades will not count towards graduation requirements.
• Only the college can initiate course exclusions, and only in consultation with the evaluated student.
• Students may not request exclusions.
• Only courses taken at UIC may be converted as part of this policy.
• This policy only applies to undergraduate degree-seeking students.
• All courses taken and all grades will remain on the official transcript.
• The grade exclusion policy does not apply to courses failed as the result of a student conduct hearing.
• In cases where these procedures would impact program accreditation, licensure or similar, colleges may use their discretion to allow the policy. Colleges, departments, and programs may have discretion in choosing courses that impact the student's major. 

Transferring

Intercollege Transfer Students

Students currently enrolled at UIC who want to transfer into the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences should complete an Intercollege Transfer Application. Students are invited to discuss their academic interests with an LAS academic advisor during intercollege transfer information sessions, which are regularly scheduled throughout the fall and spring semesters. Applications must be submitted by the end of a given term. Admission to LAS is generally limited to those students in good academic standing who have a UIC grade point average of at least 2.00/4.00 and whose combined UIC and transfer grade point average is at least 2.00. Those students who are accepted into LAS are expected to enroll immediately in courses that fulfill LAS degree requirements.

Transfer Students from Other Universities

Prospective students applying to the UIC's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences as new transfers—those who will have earned at least 36 semester hours or 54 quarter hours of credit by the time of enrollment—must submit complete transcripts from all postsecondary institutions. Provided space is available, it is recommended that applicants have a 2.50/4.00 grade point average for consideration. Transfer applicants with fewer hours are encouraged to apply if they have at least one graded term of college coursework (high school transcripts and ACT/SAT scores will be required in this case). Please consult the Admissions section of the catalog for more information. See the Office of Admission Transfer Guide for more information about transfer admission requirements.

Transferring out of the College

An LAS student who wants to transfer into another UIC college must follow the procedures of that college. For information on application procedures and deadlines, consult the Intercollege Transfer web page or the LAS Academic Advising Center.

Minors

Although a minor is not required, a student may elect to complete one or more minors. LAS students may complete a minor in another college, with the approval of that college.

UG Minors

Minor	Department	Hours
Anthropology	Anthropology	20
Arabic	Classics and Mediterranean Studies	19
Biological Sciences	Biological Sciences	19
Black Studies	Black Studies	15
Central and Eastern European Studies	Polish, Russian, and Lithuanian Studies	12
Chemistry	Chemistry	18–20
Chinese	Linguistics	16
Classical Studies	Classics and Mediterranean Studies	15
Communication	Communication	18
Comparative Cultural Studies	Literatures, Cultural Studies, and Linguistics	15
Criminology, Law, and Justice	Criminology, Law, and Justice	18
Earth and Environmental Sciences	Earth and Environmental Sciences	18
Economics	Economics	18–20
English	English	18
French and Francophone Studies	French and Francophone Studies	18
Gender and Women’s Studies	Gender and Women’s Studies	18
Germanic Studies	Germanic Studies	16
Global Asian Studies	Global Asian Studies	15
Global Middle East Studies	Anthropology	15
History	History	15
International Studies	Interdepartmental	21
Italian and Italian American Studies	Hispanic and Italian Studies	19
Latin American and Latino Studies	Latin American and Latino Studies	18
Law and Society	Criminology, Law, and Justice	18–19
Linguistics	Linguistics	18
Logic, Argumentation, and Writing	English	18
Mathematics	Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science	20
Mathematics and Computer Science	Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science	22
Moving Image Arts	Interdepartmental	18–20
Philosophy	Philosophy	15
Physics	Physics	17
Polish Studies	Polish, Russian, and Lithuanian Studies	12
Political Science	Political Science	18
Professional Writing	English	15–18
Psychology	Psychology	18
Religious Studies	Interdepartmental	18
Russian Studies	Polish, Russian, and Lithuanian Studies	12
Social Justice	Gender and Women's Studies	16
Sociology	Sociology	15
Spanish	Hispanic and Italian Studies	18
Spanish for the Professions	Hispanic and Italian Studies	15
Teaching of English	English	18

Rules Governing the Minor

• Cross-listed courses may count towards either rubric in each applicable program regardless of the registered rubric section.
• An individual course and its semester hours are applied to each declared program. Courses can fulfill the requirement and hours of more than one academic program.
• The number of semester hours required for the LAS minor is 12 to 21.
• A teacher education minor may be completed only by a secondary education major.
• Also, with few exceptions, a minor will not be approved if the student’s major and proposed minor are in the same department.
  • Allowable exceptions:
    • BS in Computer Science and Linguistics and a Minor in Chinese
    • Major in Classical Studies and Minor in Arabic
    • Major in Criminology, Law, and Justice and Minor in Law and Society (Public Law concentration only, CLJ course not allowed)
    • Major in Gender and Women's Studies and Minor in Social Justice
    • Major in Political Science and Minor in Law and Society (Criminal Justice or Law in Social Context concentrations only, POLS courses not allowed) 
• Minors that have substantial overlap with major and specialized curriculum content are not allowed. 
  • Prohibited combinations:
    • BA in LAS Major in Political Science, Concentration in Law and Courts and Minor in Law and Society, Public Law track
    • BS in LAS Major in Integrated Health Studies, Concentration in Health and Science and Minor in Biological Sciences
    • BS in LAS Major in Integrated Health Studies, Concentration in Behavioral Health and Minor in Psychology
    • BS in LAS Major in Mathematics and Computer Science and Minor in Mathematics
    • BS in Biochemistry and Minor in Biological Sciences
    • BS in Biochemistry and Minor in Chemistry
    • BS in Computer Science and Linguistics and Minor in Linguistics
    • BS in Computer Science and Linguistics and Minor in Mathematics and Computer Science
    • BS in Neuroscience and Minor in Biological Sciences
    • BS in Neuroscience and Minor in Psychology
    • All Teacher Education Degrees and minor in same content department
  • A double minor may not be approved if the second minor involves the same area of study or substantial duplication of coursework with the student's first minor.

Course-Level Requirement for the Minor

At least 9 semester hours in the minor field must be at the advanced level (200-, 300-, or 400-level courses), except in a foreign language, where a minimum of 6 semester hours is required. Of the 9 semester hours at the advanced level, 6 must be in enrollment residence at the University of Illinois Chicago. A minimum grade point average of 2.00/4.00 is required for all courses in the minor field. In addition, the combined grade point average of transfer coursework and coursework taken at UIC in all courses in the minor field must be at least 2.00.

Enrollment Residence Requirement in the Minor

A student must complete at least one-half of the coursework required for the minor field in enrollment residence at UIC. Credit earned through military service or non-UIC test-based credit such as but not limited to College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Advanced Placement Program (AP), International Baccalaureate Program (IB), and State Seal of Biliteracy does not apply.

Undergraduate Campus Certificates

The following campus certificates are available to undergraduate students.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Certificate	Department
Academic Spanish for Heritage Speakers	Hispanic and Italian Studies	16
German Language	Germanic Studies	17
Medical Humanities	Anthropology	15
Polish Language	Polish, Russian, and Lithuanian Studies	17
Russian Language	Polish, Russian, and Lithuanian Studies	17

Undergraduate certificates are designed for individuals enrolled in a UIC undergraduate program and are awarded only upon completion of the undergraduate degree. A certificate may not be approved if it involves the same area of study or substantial duplication of coursework with the student's major, specialized curriculum, or minor.

Enrollment Residence Requirement in the Certificate

A student must complete at least one-half of the coursework required for the certificate in enrollment residence at UIC. Some certificates may have additional requirements related to residency. Credit earned through military service or non-UIC test-based credit such as but not limited to College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Advanced Placement Program (AP), International Baccalaureate Program (IB), and State Seal of Biliteracy does not apply toward enrollment residence for the certificate.

Academic Advising

Academic Advising Mission Statement

The Office of Student Academic Affairs of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences recognizes that undergraduate students expect to receive a quality education in a quality environment. It is the role of Student Academic Affairs to ensure that, in the continuum from admission through graduation, the student's individual educational needs are met while maintaining the academic standards established by the faculty of the college. As a primary source of college information, the professional staff of LAS Student Academic Affairs promotes and facilitates excellence through academic advising. The Office of LAS Student Academic Affairs believes that its services should assist in maximizing the academic experience and student achievement in the expectation that students will become lifelong learners and attain their career objectives. 

Degree Advising

The LAS Academic Advising Center is comprised of full-time professional academic advisors who are available to undergraduate students and serve as representatives of the dean. College-based academic advisors are an LAS student's primary point of contact and the only professional staff at UIC that certify the student's completion of a degree. All LAS undergraduates are assigned an academic advisor, as such academic advisors have cohorts of students. LAS academic advisors collaborate with stakeholders within the college, including LAS administration, department heads and chairs, directors of undergraduate studies, course coordinators, educational committees of the college, and its faculty. College-based advising is required as the college has many academic tracks and requirements that can be satisfied in various ways. Additionally, LAS degrees often afford flexibility in hours, permitting the inclusion of more than one major, the addition of a minor(s), or certificate program(s). As such, student consultation with their assigned LAS academic advisor is essential. 

Under LAS's two-tiered degree advising model, a student's degree progress is overseen by at least two academic advisors, their assigned college advisor and departmental advisor(s), who guide them in navigating their undergraduate academic career. LAS assigned advisors support students in their cohort from orientation to graduation, and aid students' overall educational development, and guide them in the completion of their degree requirements. Departmental advisors are available to assist students in navigating the requirements of their chosen, or potential, major(s), minor(s), or certificate(s) and connect students with the resources and opportunities found in their home academic department. To learn more about academic advising and advising services, including appointment availability, see the LAS advising web page. 

Assigned Advisor

All students are assigned an LAS academic advisor and exist as part of that advisor’s student cohort for the duration of their academic career at UIC—from orientation to graduation. Assigning students to a specific academic advisor at the very start of a student’s academic career facilitates a connection between the student and advisor, resulting in a relationship that allows advisors to assist their students as they pursue their academic goals, while also addressing the students’ emotional, cultural, personal, and developmental concerns and/or pursuits. Additionally, LAS academic advisors advocate for and assist their students with navigating campus and college policies and procedures. The creation of cohorts as early as orientation allows students to immediately make contact with other students and, therefore, initiates the peer relationships that are critical to helping students feel more connected and engaged with their UIC campus community.

Departmental Academic Advising

Departmental advisors are experts in a particular major(s), minor(s), and certificate(s) areas of study. They outline major, minor, and certificate requirements for students, map out plans to complete these requirements, assist students with course sequencing for the major or minor, and provide general information about career options with the major or minor. LAS departmental advisors are connected with the faculty, faculty administrators, and committees of the academic unit. Beginning in the sophomore year, students should meet with their departmental advisor(s) at least once each term to confirm their progress in their program of study to ensure that they are taking advantage of all of the resources and opportunities available to them. Because departmental advisors focus more specifically on major and minor requirements, it is still expected that students keep in contact with their assigned LAS academic advisor regarding their overall academic progress. Departmental advisor contact information is listed under the major requirements of each degree audit.

Advising Programming and Resources:

New Student Advising and Registration

Incoming first year students must participate in UIC's online orientation modules, complete UIC placement testing, and meet with an LAS academic advisor to register for courses. First-year students should complete the required placement tests as soon as possible as well as the online orientation modules, which may be done concurrently as both are required prior to meeting with an LAS academic advisor. Incoming transfer and readmit students are strongly encouraged to meet with an academic advisor prior to the start of term to review course transferability, course registration and progress-to-degree. Following advising and course registration, new students are expected to attend UIC's new student orientation programming as it offers an opportunity to learn more about UIC's campus and culture, new student expectations, and available supports to ease  transition to UIC and prepare students to make the most of their college experience.

First Year Seminar Requirement

To further support the transition from high school to college, as an extension of the required New Student Advising and Registration, LAS first year students are strongly encouraged to enroll in a first year seminar course, see First Year Seminar below.

Mandatory First Year Advising (MFA)

All first year students must make an appointment with their assigned LAS academic advisor in both the fall and spring terms of their first year in order to be able to register for classes for the next term. First year students will be contacted via their UIC email with additional information about this requirement; however, students should feel free to make an LAS advising appointment at any point during their first two terms at UIC. LAS recommends that students see their LAS academic advisor at least once each term.

Mandatory first-semester advising is required of new transfer and readmit students.

Mandatory Second Year Major Advising

To help students connect with their academic department or to provide support when students are truly undecided in their major, all sophomores must participate in mandatory second year major advising that occurs throughout their second year. Options for completing mandatory second year major advising include: departmental group advising, major exploration workshop participation (i.e. Finding Your Fit in an LAS Major), departmental individual advising, or general individual advising (if pursuing a "Teaching of" degree or interested in an intercollege transfer out of LAS). Second year students are notified about this requirement during their spring mandatory first year advising appointment and will also be contacted through UIC email with additional information.

Pre-Health and Pre-Law Advising Collaboration and Referral

In addition to the two-tiered academic degree advising model comprised of LAS assigned advisors and departmental advisors, LAS is home to preprofessional studies and employs pre-health and pre-law advisors to provide guidance on students' completion of course requirements and admission to professional programs in pre-health and pre-law fields, see Preprofessional Advising below.

Career Development and Major Exploration Collaboration and Referral

In partnership with the campus Office of Career Services, LAS provides programming designed in support of students' major exploration and career readiness, including internship experiences. LAS assigned academic advisors partner with LAS career development professionals in supportive programming. LAS provides students the opportunity to reflect on the value of their academic work and experiences so that they may understand their importance as related to the high demand employer sought after competencies, see Major Exploration and Career Development below.

Campus  Collaboration and Referral

As a student's primary point of contact for their academic degree, LAS assigned academic advising will refer students to LAS pre-health, pre-law, and career development programming and advisement. In addition to college resources, the assigned advisors will refer students to campus resources when they are in need of additional support. Campus partners include student success centers, cultural centers, leadership programs, career services and learning centers that provide additional support such as mentoring, academic coaching, tutoring, financial assistance, and academic skills development such as; test-taking strategies, time management, and tutoring, as well as soft skill development such as professional conduct, career readiness, and major exploration.  A listing of campus resources is available online. 

uAchieve Degree Audit

The uAchieve Degree Audit is an individualized report that displays all courses a student has completed and demonstrates their progress towards meeting their degree requirements. A student’s degree audit is available to them at any time via uAchieve Degree Audit in the student portal: my.UIC. Students should review their degree audit regularly and always consult with their LAS academic advisor(s) if they have questions. uAchieve also features the ability to view a hypothetical degree audit, which allows a student to see how their completed and in-progress courses would be applied to a major that is different than their current one.

The responsibility for selecting courses and meeting graduation requirements rests with the students, who must plan well to make their programs consistent with their goals and with college requirements. All LAS students should review a uAchieve Degree Audit analysis with their LAS academic advisors in the college at least annually.

This review of earned credits can assist students in planning their program of study. Degree audits obtained online should be confirmed by a college advisor. Four-year plans of study are available for each academic program and serve as a guide for degree planning. See specific departments for more details.

First Year Seminar 

To support the transition from high school to college and build one’s UIC support network, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences strongly recommends that all new first-year students enroll in a first year seminar. Students work with their advisor during New Student Advising & Registration to select an appropriate first year seminar. The college strongly recommends enrollment in LAS 110.^a

With an emphasis on small group activities, LAS 110 allows first year students to collaborate with classmates to learn how to be successful at UIC. The goal of this class is to help students identify and utilize UIC programs, resources, and services that will support academic success. Students explore strengths and motivation and apply self-knowledge to personal and academic planning. With an emphasis on building a sense of belonging through interactive activities, students build a support network at UIC that will serve as the foundation of success in college and beyond. More information on LAS 110 is available online. 

a

First year students enrolled in the Honors College may enroll in HON 101. Students may opt to enroll in DLG 120 in place of LAS 110   

Career Development and Internships

The Liberal Arts and Sciences Career Development and Internships Office supports students throughout every step of the career and major exploration process. The office provides individualized career counseling appointments, online resources, workshops, and networking events to help students explore their unique interests, skills, motivations, strengths, and values to ensure students are exposed to valuable experiences and internships that promote career readiness. Students are encouraged to activate their UIC Handshake account to explore part-time, on-campus, internship, research, and career opportunities.   

The office hosts various programs and events to encourage students to broaden their interests and build connections such as Careers Social Services, Internship Bootcamp, Grow Your Gap, Journey to My Major, and Health Professions Forum. LAS students are encouraged to schedule an appointment to have deeper conversations regarding major exploration, the internship search process, experiential learning opportunities, options for course credit, and ways to strengthen their professional brand. For more information about these resources, services, and career programs, students can visit the LAS Career Development and Internships Office website and on Instagram, @uiclascareer.  

Major Exploration  

The LAS Career Development and Internships Office provides guidance and support to students who are undecided about their major or navigating career options with their chosen LAS major. Through individualized career advising and exploratory  workshops, the office guides students in identifying interests, skills, motivations, and values to support their major and career exploration process. Students also have access to online assessments, exploratory resources, and digital career success guides to support their self-guided research and development of their professional identity.   

Once a student has decided on a major, it is recommended that they make an appointment with their departmental advisor every semester. Topics in these appointments might include course selection and progress in major courses, long-term planning, and enrichment opportunities such as research, internships, independent study, or study abroad. In addition to opportunities available through their academic departments, all students are encouraged to participate in career development activities, such as work experience, internships, campus involvement, volunteering, community service, and networking through job shadowing and conducting informational interviews. Additionally, students are also encouraged to work with UIC Career Services to benefit from the career fairs, networking events, employer information sessions and career advising.

LAS 200 Career Success Course

The Career Success course is eight weeks and covers a wide range of career readiness activities to foster and strengthen skills necessary for managing a professional career. Students focus on their strengths, skills, values, unique experiences, interests, and academic achievements to develop a competitive brand and feel confident in their internship/job search. Students develop a self-marketing package including creating a competitive resume and cover letter, understanding, and articulating their professional brand, polishing their interviewing skills, learning networking strategies, and connecting with alumni and professionals. This course is available to LAS sophomores, juniors, and seniors. For more information visit the LAS 200 Career Success Course.  

LAS 289 Internship Course  

The LAS Internship Course provides liberal arts and sciences students with the opportunity to combine their classroom study with periods of paid or unpaid career-related work experiences. Students interested in earning credit for their internship may apply as early as the end of their first year and have earned a minimum grade point average of 2.50/4.00. Students in the program can earn up to 6 semester hours through the internship course LAS 289. For more information, contact the LAS Career Development and Internships Office or visit the LAS Internship Program website. Consult major department for information regarding departmental internship opportunities that award credit.  

Preprofessional Advising (Pre-Health & Pre-Law)

Preprofessional advisors are available to assist students who have a declared educational goal in a preprofessional field such as pre-medicine, pre-law, and pre-pharmacy, to name a few. Preprofessional educational goals are not majors in LAS. Students who have an educational goal must also have a declared major to be eligible to graduate from LAS. Prior to applying for admission to a professional program, many programs require the completion of specific coursework. Preprofessional advisors are available to assist students in carefully selecting coursework to fulfill educational goal requirements. They also provide guidance to students through webinars, appointments, and workshops that help students brainstorm how their current and future experiences can help them achieve their goals, prepare for the application process, craft a personal statement, and navigate the letter of recommendation process. Students with educational goals should continue to work with LAS assigned and departmental advisors as they progress through their requirements toward graduation.

Preprofessional Studies

Preprofessional studies are designed for students who intend to pursue their undergraduate or graduate education in professional schools of the University of Illinois. Preprofessional areas are not major areas of study for the proposed degrees and are designated as educational goals in student records. Preprofessional study is offered in the following areas:

• Pre-Dentistry
• Pre-Health Information Management
• Pre-Law
• Pre-Medicine
• Pre-Nursing
• Pre-Nutrition
• Pre-Occupational Therapy
• Pre-Pharmacy
• Pre-Physical Therapy
• Pre-Public Health
• Pre-Veterinary Medicine

Advisors for students in these areas are available in the LAS Academic Advising Center to answer students’ questions about admissions requirements and procedures and to assist students in planning their programs of study. Many of the professional schools encourage prospective students to visit their college offices in order to obtain more detailed information on the programs. Pre-health or pre-law students should consult an LAS advisor regarding any changes in professional school admissions requirements.

Designation of a preprofessional area does not guarantee admission to a professional school, nor does completion of the required coursework or attainment of the minimum grade point average. Preprofessional students should follow an LAS degree program whether or not a bachelor’s degree is required for admission to the professional program. Once 45 semester hours are earned, an LAS major must be declared.

Because application procedures, as well as deadlines, vary among the professional schools of the University of Illinois, students are encouraged to consult both an LAS preprofessional advisor and the individual program to which application is planned. 

Studies in the Health Sciences

• Pre-Dentistry
• Pre-Medicine
• Pre-Occupational Therapy
• Pre-Physical Therapy
• Pre-Veterinary Medicine

LAS students in these areas of the health sciences complete all requirements for the bachelor’s degree, including a major, in addition to their preprofessional studies at UIC. Preparatory coursework for these fields is listed in the Preprofessional Studies section of the catalog. If admitted, students complete the professional degree in the professional college.

• Pre-Health Information Management
• Pre-Nursing
• Pre-Nutrition
• Pre-Pharmacy
• Pre-Public Health

Students in these areas of the health sciences complete all of the basic preparatory coursework in LAS prior to admission to the professional college. Preparatory coursework for these fields is listed in the Preprofessional Studies section of the catalog. If admitted, students complete the bachelor’s or professional degree in the professional college. Students in these areas are advised to follow LAS degree program requirements along with preprofessional study.

Studies in Pre-Law

LAS students in pre-law complete all requirements for the bachelor’s degree, including a major, at UIC. More information on pre-law is provided in the Preprofessional Studies section of the catalog.

LAS provides active support for students interested in pursuing careers in law. To take advantage, students interested in pre-law should see the pre-law advisor in the college as soon as possible and consider joining the student Pre-Law Society. Both provide important information about pre-law academic preparation, careers in law, the LSAT admissions test, strategies for applying to law school, etc.

UIC has a Guaranteed Professional Program Admissions arrangement with UIC School of Law for entering first year students. More information on this program is available in the Admissions section of the catalog.

Academic Honors

College Honors

The student who has demonstrated outstanding academic excellence throughout the entire undergraduate program may be eligible for graduation with College Honors. College Honors will be awarded at the time of graduation to those students who have earned a UIC and Cumulative GPA of at least 3.50/4.00.

Dean’s List

Exceptional academic achievement in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is recognized each term by inclusion on the Dean’s List. Eligibility is based on a 3.50/4.00 term GPA with a minimum program of 12 semester hours applicable towards the overall degree, exclusive of basic military science and basic activity courses in physical education. At least 9 semester hours must be earned for letter grades, in addition to a grade of Credit earned in any course taken on a credit/no credit basis.

Study Abroad

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers study abroad programs for students studying or fluent in French, German, or Spanish. These programs do not interrupt enrollment residence and with department and college approval, students may apply credit earned in the program toward the degree. More detailed information on these programs is available from the individual department. Extensive study abroad opportunities are offered by the UIC Study Abroad Office. For more information, please visit the Study Abroad website. While it is strongly recommended that students pursue their study abroad experience via UIC's Student Abroad Office or via an academic department, students may also pursue studies independently at accredited foreign universities with the approval of the college. For details, students can contact their assigned LAS academic advisor.