College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences unites core humanities, social sciences, and arts. These have long been considered foundational to knowledge about the world and the self. We offer focused disciplinary and interdisciplinary majors and minors as well as master’s degrees.

These varied ways of knowing found in our fields complement each other: knowing and learning through creating and doing; exploring how humans interact with and interpret their world, questioning the dynamics of human interactions within and across cultures. Together, arts, humanities, and social sciences ask us to think critically, work collaboratively, communicate effectively, and prepare for active citizenship. We prepare people for lifelong learning as well as personal and professional success.

CLASS graduates go on to a wide range of careers in public or private sectors, including commercial, governmental, and caring professions.

Our Introductory courses are foundational to the UIS core curriculum and the general education program. Here students encounter complex problems, ethical dilemmas, interpretive ambiguity, and diverse perspectives both local and global, often through hands-on projects and collaborative learning. CLASS general education courses form the core of UIS’s first year and sophomore experience, providing both a well-rounded education and site for personal exploration.

The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences commits unequivocally to the values of ethical leadership, equity, and justice.