Dean
Richard J. Hoffmann
Assistant Dean, Facilities Management
Sheila McLaughlin
Assistant Dean, Administrative Services
Dona Parker
Assistant Dean, Budget and Personnel
(To Be Announced)
Assistant Dean, Academic Program
Gregory Stevens
Director, CAS Computing Services
Brian Macherone
The College of Arts and Sciences comprises
the students and faculty of 25 departments
offering majors and minors, as well as those
working in a variety of cooperative
interdisciplinary programs. These include the
arts, computational sciences, humanistic
studies, physical sciences, and social
sciences. Study in the Arts and Sciences
provides students with a liberal education,
including knowledge and skills applicable to
further study and to occupations in a great
variety of fields.
The presence of research faculty and graduate
students in the programs of the College
affords undergraduate students the
opportunity to study with scholars and
researchers working at the cutting edge of
their disciplines. Qualified advanced
undergraduates, in accordance with University
policy, may enroll in appropriate graduate
courses.
Fields of study leading to majors in the
College are actuarial and mathematical
sciences, African/Afro-American studies,
anthropology, art, Asian studies, atmospheric
science, biology, chemistry, Chinese studies,
computer science, computer science and
applied mathematics, economics, English,
French, geography, geology, Greek and Roman
civilization, history, Italian, Judaic
studies, Latin American studies, linguistics,
mathematics, music, philosophy, physics,
psychology, Puerto Rican studies, rhetoric
and communication, Russian, Russian and East
European studies, sociology, Spanish,
theatre, urban studies and planning, and
women's studies.
In addition, the college is responsible for
interdisciplinary majors with concentrations
in art history, biochemistry and molecular
biology, earth and atmospheric science, East
Asian studies, human biology, Japanese
studies, medieval and Renaissance studies,
and religious studies; and for minor programs
in cognitive science, film studies,
journalism, Hebrew, Japanese studies, and
Portuguese.
For purposes of degree requirements for the
B.A. and B.S. degrees, the following
undergraduate courses offered by the college
are defined as liberal arts and sciences: all
courses except A Csi 198, A Eaj 423, A Eco
495, A Heb 450, A Mat 204, A Mus 315, A Rus
395, A Thr 315.
Courses in this section are preceded by the
prefix letter A.
Foreign language placement is based on a
student's current level of competence, as
determined by placement procedures developed
by the University's foreign language
departments. Regulations covering foreign
language placement and credit may be obtained
from departmental offices offering the
language in question.
The department, through a departmental
representative, will assess the active skills
in that language and will make a final
placement decision for each student no later
than the second class meeting of the course
being recommended. A student may not earn
graduation credit for a course in a language
sequence if it is a prerequisite to a course
for which graduation credit has already been
earned.
Students earning advanced placement credits
from high school will be expected to register
for the next course in the language sequence.
Those earning credit in University in the
High School course work must consult with the
appropriate department chair for placement in
the next course in that language's sequence.
Courses in Arts and Sciences
A Cas 101 Understanding Language (3)
Nontechnical introduction to the nature and
role of human language in everyday life.
Topics include factors which give rise to
regional and social varieties, ways in which
language is exploited (for example, in
advertising and government,) and linguistic
aspects of such fields as education,
literature and computer science. Enrollment
limited to freshmen and sophomores.
A Cas 109 Intermediate Science Research (2)
Students learn research methodology in the
natural and social sciences by accessing
scientific databases, by using on-line
bibliographic search techniques, consulting
doctoral-level research scholars, developing
hypotheses and performing experiments to test
them, and by writing research papers and
making presentations at scientific symposia.
It is expected that the students will have
done many of these activities in the
prerequisite high school course, and in this
course emphasis in placed upon the
formulation of hypotheses and initiation of
experiments in consultation with mentors.
Prerequisite(s): completion of one year of an
approved course in science research at the
high-school level; permission of instructor;
may not be taken by students enrolled in
college. Offered summer session only.
A Cas 110 Intermediate Methods of Research (4)
Students learn research methodology in the
natural and social sciences by accessing
scientific databases by using on-line
bibliographic search techniques, consulting
doctoral-level research scholars, developing
hypotheses and performing experiments to test
them, and writing research papers and making
presentations at scientific symposia. It is
expected that the students will have done
many of these activities in the prerequisite
high school course, and in this course
emphasis is placed upon performing
experiments in consultation with mentors.
Students are expected to spend at least three
hours per week outside of class.
Prerequisite(s): Completion of one year of an
approved course in science research at the
high-school level; permission of instructor;
may not be taken by students enrolled in
college; available for year-long course of
study only.
A Cas 111 Beginning Fundamentals of Research (2)
Students learn research methodology in the
natural and social sciences. Students access
scientific databases by using on-line
bibliographic search techniques, consult
doctoral level research scholars, develop
hypotheses and perform experiments to test
them, and write research papers and make
presentations at scientific symposia. This
course emphasizes the first group of these
activities, up to the actual performance of
experiments, but some students may go
further. Students are expected to spend at
least three hours working on class work per
week outside of class. May be repeated once
for credit.
A Cas 125 A Diversity of Voices in Literature and the Arts: Creating Ourselves and Our Cultures (3)
General Education: HD
Examines the emergence of American literary
and other creative endeavors from the diverse
experiences and heritages of the American
peoples. The course focuses on creative works
that explore and create representations of
the self in relation to individual and group
identity, and on the ways that cultural
values and ideologies influence creative
expression.
A Cas 131 Diversity and Equity in America (3)
General Education: HD
What are the sources, extent, and
consequences of diversity in American
society? Using various approaches in the
social and behavioral sciences, this course
compares the American beliefs about equality
with evidence of unequal treatment of groups
labeled on the basis of race, ethnicity,
gender, and religion. The course also
considers how group conformity, stereotyping,
and prejudice affect individuals in their
everyday lives.
A Cas 141 Concepts of Race and Culture in the Modern World (3)
General Education: HD
This course considers the complex dynamics of
global human diversity from the vantage point
of the various social sciences. It explores
the use of race, nationality, ethnicity,
culture, and gender as focal concepts in the
critical analysis of human behavior and
interaction in the modern world. Cross-
cultural and cross-national aspects of these
issues are of central concern to the course.
A Cas 150 Cultural Diversity and the Human Condition (3)
General Education: HD
Interdisciplinary study of selected cultures
or societies focusing on six themes: family
and social structure; religion and cultural
values and traditions; art and nature;
continuity; change and their global
implications; work and play; health, ecology,
science/technology. Each semester two or more
cultures, including at least one non-Western
culture, will be compared and contrasted with
each other and with contemporary U.S.
experiences. Examples will include Brazil,
China, France, India, Mexico, Peru, Russia
and West Africa. May be repeated once for
credit when content differs. May be taken
only by freshmen and sophomores.
A Cas 160Z Bronowski's The Ascent of Man (3)
General Education: WI
Based on the Bronowski television series,
which will be supplemented by readings,
lectures and discussions. Ranging backward
and forward in time, the Bronowski series
places scientific turning points in a larger
intellectual setting by considering the leaps
of imagination that lead to major conceptual
changes, and by reflecting the lives and
thoughts of key men and women against the
values of their times. May not be offered
during 1999-2000.
A Cas 198 Special Topics in the Humanities (1-4)
Special group studies which provide students
and faculty with the opportunity to explore
significant themes, issues and problems from
a broadly humanistic and interdisciplinary
perspective. May be repeated for credit
provided the subject matter is not repeated.
A Cas 200 Computing in the Social Sciences (3)
Overview of internet resources for research
in the social sciences, including fundamental
computing terminology and the use of internet
net browsers and search engines. May not be
taken for credit by students with credit for
A Csi 101N, A Csi 201N, or B Msi 215. May be
offered as a quarter course. A-E graded.
A Cas 202L Understanding the Arts (3)
General Education: HA
Interdisciplinary course designed to foster
an awareness and understanding of the
significance of great works of Western art,
music and literature. Students will study how
to perceive and analyze works of art drawn
from various periods. Categories include:
architecture, sculpture, painting, music,
drama, poetry and fiction.
A Cas 209 Advanced Science Research (2)
Continuation of work undertaken in A Cas 109
or equivalent with emphasis placed upon the
completion of experiments in consultation
with mentors. Students will consult with
their teachers as necessary, but will not
meet in a formal classroom period.
Prerequisite(s): Satisfactory completion of
A Cas 109 or completion of two years of an
approved science research course at the high
school level; permission of instructor; may
not be taken by students enrolled in college;
offered summer session only.
A Cas 210 Advanced Methods of Research
Continuation of work undertaken in A Cas 110
or equivalent with emphasis placed upon the
communication of results. Students are
expected to spend at least three hours per
week outside of class. Prerequisite(s):
Satisfactory completion of A Cas 110 or
completion of two years of an approved
science research course at the high school
level; permission of instructor; may not be
taken by students enrolled in college;
students must be enrolled throughout an
entire academic year to obtain credit.
A Cas 211 Intermediate Fundamentals of Research (2)
Students learn research methodology in the
natural and social sciences. Students access
scientific databases by using on-line
bibliographic search techniques, consult
doctoral level research scholars, develop
hypotheses and perform experiments to test
them, and write research papers and make
presentations at scientific symposia. In this
course emphasis is placed upon performing
experiments and the communication of results.
Students are expected to spend at least three
hours per week working on class work outside
of class. May be repeated once for credit.
Prerequisite(s): completion of A Cas 111.
A Cas 220L Literatures of the World I (3)
General Education: CHP & HA
Major works in English translation from
literatures of ancient Mediterranean (Judaic,
Graeco-Roman), China, Italy, France, Germany,
Spain, and Francophone world. The first-semester
course feeds into the second-semester course,
but either semester may be
taken alone. The course is team taught by
faculty from the respective literature
departments.
A Cas 221L Literatures of the World II (3)
General Education: CHP & HA
Major works in English translation from more
recent literatures of Hebrew, China, Italy,
France, Germany, Spain, and Francophone
worlds. The first semester course feeds into
the second semester course, but either
semester may be taken alone. The course is
team taught by faculty from the respective
literature departments.
A Cas 222 The Undiscovered Self (3)
Study of the nature of the inner self and its
possible relation to God and the meaning of
life. Themes to be discussed include: life
after death, reincarnation, psychic
phenomena, meditation and extrasensory
perception.
A Cas 230 Expressionism in the Arts (3)
Expressionism as a characteristic of the arts
in Central Europe (Germany and Austria) and
Scandinavian countries (1905-1933). Includes
literature, art (with slides), film and
theater. The discussion includes the
aesthetic principles of Expressionism, the
political and artistic background of the
period as well as parallel developments
elsewhere in Europe. Conducted in English.
A Cas 240 Images and Issues of Diversity in the Visual Arts (3)
General Education: HD
This course will look at the visual arts
produced in selected subcultures and will
consider the ways in which such social
identities as race, class, gender and age are
represented. The course focuses on the
relationship of artists and their work to
cultural and critical history, on social
conditions under which these artists create,
and the effect of these conditions on the
themes, content, forms and shape of the
reality in their art.
A Cas 331Z Decadence in American, French, English, and Russian Literatures (3)
Decadents' fascination with death, drugs,
perverse sexuality, strangeness, self,
irrationality, exotic lifestyles and literary
techniques. Literary works of the period
examined against the background of other
contemporary art, especially painting and
music. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior
class standing, or permission of instructor.
A Cas 348 America's Radical Past: 1848-77 (3)
General Education: CHP
Interdisciplinary course which focuses on the
period in American political and cultural
history from the Women's Rights Convention at
Seneca Falls to the end of Reconstruction.
Examines major literary and historical events
from the perspective of race, sex and class,
in an effort to redefine and reinterpret the
American experience. If the topic for A His
390 is "America's Radical Past: 1848-77,"
students may not receive credit for both
A His 390 and A Cas 348.
A Cas 360E Passion and Choice (3)
General Education: HA & WI
Through film drama, fiction and philosophy,
this team-taught course will focus generally
on the inner and outer dynamics of the
individual as he/she interacts with the world
and culture, and will take up such issues as
the authority of reason versus the authority
of the passions; personal responsibility
versus allegiance to society; wealth as
redemption and corruption; finding one's
personal myth; and gender identity and the
quest for happiness.
A Cas 390 New York State Theatre Institute Internship (1-15)
A full- or part-time program involving
academic study through classes,
individualized instruction and written
projects, and supervised applied experiences
structured around the Institute's theatrical
productions and its residencies in New York
State schools. These internships emphasize
interdisciplinary learning about the arts in
society, in the education of children, and
the arts' aesthetic, technical, and business
aspects. Internships are open only to
qualified juniors and seniors who have an
overall grade point average of 2.50 or
higher. Open to qualified majors in diverse
fields or undeclared majors through a
competitive selection process. Applications
should be made to the Arts and Sciences
faculty coordinator by November 1 or April 1
for the following terms. Prerequisite(s):
permission of instructor. S/U graded.
A Cas 497 & 497Z Special Topics in the Humanities (1-4)
Special group studies which provide students
and faculty with the opportunity to explore,
on an advanced level, significant themes,
issues, and problems from a broadly
humanistic and interdisciplinary perspective.
A Cas 497Z is the writing intensive version
of 497; A Cas 497 and/or 497Z may be repeated
for credit provided the topic differs.
Prerequisite(s): junior or senior class
standing or permission of instructor.
