College of Arts and Sciences

Vision Statement

To be recognized and respected throughout the United States as one of the premier Colleges of Arts and Sciences at a metropolitan university, maximizing our resources to build exceptional programs related to teaching, scholarship, creative activity, outreach, and service.

Mission Statement

The College of Arts and Sciences is a liberal arts college within a metropolitan university. The college serves as UNO’s standard-bearer for the tradition of liberal education, which emphasizes the importance of breadth of knowing and ways of knowing as central to a student’s education, and prepares students for the 21st century workforce.

Courses of instruction are offered in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences/mathematics to support a liberal education for the students of the college and to provide a significant portion of the general education requirements of the university. We offer disciplinary and interdisciplinary majors and minors at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. The college is committed to outstanding teaching and to significant scholarship and research activities of its faculty and students and encourages involvement with our metropolitan community and the world at large.

General Information

The College of Arts and Sciences offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees, with a diversity of majors from the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. The College also offers advising for many pre-professional programs preparing students for graduate or professional schools in medicine, allied health and law.        

Academic majors are available in the following fields: biology, molecular and biomedical biology, black studies, chemistry, economics, English, environmental science, foreign languages and literature, general science, geography, geology, history, interdisciplinary studies, international studies, Latino/Latin American studies, mathematics, medical humanities, neuroscience, pharmaceutical sciences, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology, religion, sociology, and women’s and gender studies.

The pre-professional programs of study are determined largely by the requirements of the graduate or professional schools which students intend to enter. If planned carefully, the requirements for a pre-professional program can also meet many of the requirements for a B.A. or B.S. degree. These pre-professional programs are not academic majors and a student seeking a degree from UNO must complete the requirements of a major as well. Pre-professional information can be found on the Arts and Sciences website.

Accreditation Information

Accreditation

Major	Degree	Accreditation Body
Chemistry	BA/BS	American Chemical Society (ACS)
School of Psychology	MS Ed.S.	- Recognized by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) - Nebraska Department of Education

Choice of Catalog Policy

A student registering in the College of Arts & Sciences for the first time may, except for the limitations described below, complete work for the degree according to the requirements of the catalog in effect during that year or during any subsequent year prior to and including the year the student applies for the degree.

Returning students who have not been enrolled for two or more years will complete work for the degree according to the requirements of the catalog in effect during the year they re-enroll or any subsequent year prior to and including the year the student applies for the degree.

The College of Arts & Sciences reserves the right to institute and make effective, after due notice, during the course of a student’s work toward a degree, any new ruling which may be necessary for the general good of the college and to substitute courses currently offered for those no longer offered.

Contact Information:

Arts and Sciences Advising Center
220 Arts and Sciences Hall
402.554.2458

College Website

Admission Requirements

All students who have not yet earned any college credit and who are eligible to enter the university are accepted for admission to the college. However, admission of transfer students or students who have previously been enrolled at UNO is evaluated on an individual basis. A 2.0 grade point average in previous course work is required for non-exploratory students.

Application deadline for admission is the same as that for the university.

Academic Requirements for the College Degrees

Number of Hours to Graduate

College Rules

Upper-Division Rule

Students must have at least 18 hours of upper-division course work in their major and a total of at least 27 credit hours of upper-division work (3000 or 4000-level courses).

Forty-Five Hour Rule

No candidate may count more than 45 credits in any one discipline toward completion of a major.

Four Hour Rule

No candidate may count more than four out of 120 credits in physical education activity classes.

Overlapping Restrictions

Courses that are taken toward the completion of two or more programs are subject to restrictions, as determined by the individual programs. If differences in policies exist, the policy that allows the fewest number of course overlap will be enforced. When possible, known course overlap restrictions are explicitly stated in the individual program catalog pages and enforced in the degree audit system. Still, not all combinations can be accounted for and may not be accurately reflected in a degree audit, or stated in the program catalog pages. It is imperative for students to work closely with their advisor for guidance when thinking about declaring another program of study that shares some course requirements between them. Taking distinct courses for each program is generally advised to avoid overlap issues.

Separate from course overlap restrictions between two or more academic programs such as majors and minors, the College of Arts and Sciences limits the amount of overlap that can exist between the different components of our BA and BS degrees. Specifically, the College of Arts and Sciences' Breadth Requirement asks students to select any one of the following to fulfill the requirement: Option I-Minor; Option II-Additional General Education; Option III-Double Major or Comprehensive major. Cognate coursework may not also be applied toward the minor or double major satisfying the College of Arts and Sciences Breadth Requirement unless explicitly approved by the Educational Policy Committee of the College. Additionally, the BS cognate coursework should complement the student's major, with courses selected from cognate fields outside the student's major department. Students can overlap up to 6 credits of BS cognate or up to 5 credits of BA foreign language coursework with the university general education requirements or Option II additional general education coursework. Questions may be directed to the Arts and Sciences Advising Center.

Minimum GPA/Additional Requirements

Students seeking a degree must maintain an average grade of at least “C” (2.0) in all college work, including work transferred from other institutions.

Specific College of Arts & Sciences' Breadth Requirements

Students must complete one of the three following options:

Option I:  Minor

Students may complete any UNO minor.  Courses counting toward the minor may not also be used toward the student's cognate requirements without approval by the Educational Policy Committee of the College. See the respective departmental requirements for details. Minors offered in the College of Arts and Sciences include: ancient Mediterranean studies, anthropology, biology, molecular and biomedical biology, black studies, chemistry, Chicano-Latino/a studies, economics, English, environmental science, ethics, film studies, foreign language and literature (French, German, Spanish), geography, geology, history, holocaust & genocide studies, human rights studies, international studies, Islamic studies, leadership & public policy, LGBTQ-Sexuality studies, mathematics, medical humanities, Medieval/Renaissance studies, Native American studies, neuroscience, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology, religion, sociology, sustainability, and women’s and gender studies. See the respective programs for details.

Option II:  Additional General Education

The University has established minimum General Education requirements. This option is designed to further the purposes of liberal education by encouraging students to explore coursework in other areas.

Humanities/Fine Arts (nine additional credit hours)

• Three additional credit hours from a third discipline
• HIST 1000 – World History to 1500 is required
• HIST 1010 – World History since 1500 is required 

Transfer students who have taken two semesters of Western Civilization may count three hours toward the World History since 1500 requirement (HIST 1010) and then take three hours of HIST 1000 to complete their World History requirement, or they may take HIST 2190.

Social Sciences (three additional credit hours)

• Three additional credit hours from a third discipline.

Natural and Physical Sciences (four additional credit hours with a lab)

• Four additional credit hours with a corresponding lab.

Quantitative Literacy (three additional credit hours)

• One additional three-credit hour course in mathematics, computer science, statistics, logic, or other quantitative topic as specified by the student’s major and approved by the college.

Option III:  Comprehensive/Double Major

Students may earn more than one major or complete a comprehensive major approved by the College curriculum committee for this option.  These comprehensive majors will require more than 50 credit hours total. Approved comprehensive majors are bioinformatics, biology B.S. with education concentration, chemistry B.S. with a concentration in chemistry education, environmental science, interdisciplinary studies with individualized or integrative concentrations, mathematics B.A. or B.S. with mathematics education concentration, neuroscience, and physics B.S. with a concentration in physics education.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree must complete a major, including at least 18 credit hours of upper-division work (3000 or 4000-level courses) designated as appropriate by the faculty in one of the following fields: biology, chemistry, economics, English, foreign language and literature, geography, geology, history, interdisciplinary studies, international studies, Latino/Latin American studies, mathematics, medical humanities, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology, religion, sociology, and women and gender studies. A student meeting the requirements in each of two fields may present a double major in these fields, provided that the disciplines do not overlap significantly in requirements and a total of at least 27 credit hours of upper-division work (3000 or 4000-level courses) is completed.

For Bachelor of Arts students, foreign language through the intermediate level is required, as described in the next paragraph.

Foreign Language

For Bachelor of Arts degree-seeking students only, students must complete 16 credit hours of college work in one foreign language, American Sign Language, or equivalent. This is generally accomplished by completing levels I, II, III, and IV of any one foreign language. Up to five credit hours may be used toward the BA and Humanities/Fine Arts Requirement abiding by the university's list of approved courses. 

Special circumstances:

• Students with prior experience in a foreign language may satisfy the BA foreign language requirement in fewer than 16 credits with successful completion of level IV in a college foreign language.
• High school language coursework may satisfy the BA foreign language requirement if successfully completed through the equivalent of a level IV college foreign language.
• Speakers of native languages should consult their advisor to discuss options.
• For unusual circumstances, please contact the Arts and Sciences Advising Center.

To enroll in any French, German, Japanese, or Spanish course beyond 1110, a student who has not successfully completed the prerequisite courses at UNO must take the appropriate placement exam and qualify for the desired course. All students are subject to this requirement, including transfer students (including those from UNK/UNL). The Department of Foreign Languages and Literature reserves the right to cancel the registration of any student who has not met the prerequisites for a course. Transfer courses at the 3000/4000 level are subject to the approval of a departmental adviser and the department chair. All foreign language courses must be completed with a grade of “C-” or better to continue to the next course.

The Department of Foreign Languages will grant retroactive credit for French, German, Japanese, or Spanish 1110, 1120, 2110, or 2120 subject to the following conditions:

• a student who completes any French, German, Japanese, or Spanish course in the 1120-2120 sequence with a grade of “C-” (1.67) or better at UNO without having completed the previous courses may be granted retroactive credit for those previous courses;
• a student who completes a 3000-level course in French, German, or Spanish with a grade of “C-” (1.67) or better at UNO without having completed the 1110-2120 sequence may be granted retroactive credit for any of the courses 1110, 1120, 2110, and 2120 for which credit has not already been earned.
• Please refer to the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature for questions and for assistance with retroactive credits.  

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree

The Bachelor of Science degree provides greater opportunity for concentrated and specialized study in a particular field, generally in the natural or social sciences. The requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree are the same as those for the Bachelor of Arts degree except as follows: Each degree candidate must complete a major including at least 18 credit hours of upper-division work (3000 or 4000-level) designated as appropriate by the faculty in one of the following fields: biology, black studies, chemistry, economics, environmental science, general science, geography, geology, history, interdisciplinary studies, mathematics, medical humanities, molecular and biomedical biology, neuroscience, pharmaceutical sciences, physics, political science, psychology, and sociology. A student meeting the requirements in each of two fields may present a double major in these fields, provided that the disciplines do not overlap significantly in requirements and a total of at least 27 credit hours of upper-division work (3000 or 4000-level courses) is completed.

Foreign language is not required for students completing a B.S. degree. Instead, students must complete cognate courses as described in the next paragraph.

Cognate Courses

Each Bachelor of Science degree requires a minimum of 15 credit hours from cognate fields outside the student’s major department. Up to six credit hours may be used toward the general education requirements. These cognate courses should complement the student’s work within the major. Cognate coursework may not also be applied toward the minor or double major satisfying the College of Arts and Sciences Breadth Requirement unless explicitly approved by the Educational Policy Committee of the College. Beyond these criteria, the major department will determine the approval of cognate coursework for each student. See the respective departmental requirements for details.

Transfer Credit Policy

The University allows the transfer of a maximum of 64 credit hours from community colleges. STEM majors may transfer 67 credit hours from community colleges. The Arts and Sciences Advising Center should be contacted for information on the transferability of courses applying to College of Arts and Sciences requirements.  Students may be referred to departmental advisors for transferability of courses toward major or minor requirements.   

Courses taken at a community college that are upper-division level courses in the College of Arts and Sciences may not be counted as equivalent to upper-division Arts and Sciences courses.  At the discretion of the advisor and the department, these courses may be used toward required or elective coursework but may not be used to meet upper-division requirements.

Unacceptable Credits

Remedial, developmental, or technical coursework may not be used toward the fulfillment of the 120 credit hour requirement.
 

Retroactive Credit Policy

https://nextcatalog.unomaha.edu/undergraduate/transfer-credit/

Advanced Placement Credits

https://nextcatalog.unomaha.edu/undergraduate/transfer-credit/

Military Credit

https://nextcatalog.unomaha.edu/undergraduate/transfer-credit/

IB Credit

https://nextcatalog.unomaha.edu/undergraduate/transfer-credit/

Placement Exams and Credit by Examinations Policies/Practices

https://nextcatalog.unomaha.edu/undergraduate/student-life-support-services/

Residency Requirement

At least 30 of the last 36 credits of a student's bachelor's degree must be taken at UNO.  A maximum number of transfer credits may be applied to Arts and Sciences majors and minors. Please consult the Arts and Sciences Advising Center for further information. 

Quality of Work

Students seeking a degree must maintain an average grade of at least “C” (2.0) in all college work, including work transferred from other institutions. Students must earn a grade of at least “C-” (1.67) in all coursework intended to satisfy general education, major or minor requirements, however some majors may require a minimum of a “C” (2.0). (Courses passed with less than a C- can still count as elective credit used towards the 120 credits needed to graduate, but will not satisfy specific requirements.) To qualify for a grade of “CR” in any course in the College of Arts and Sciences, a student must earn a grade of at least “C-” (1.67) in that course. All grades reported by the faculty to the registrar become part of the students’ permanent records and are included in the computation of their grade point averages, even though some of these grades may be for work done in excess of the 120 hours required for graduation. In order to graduate, students must attain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 (“C”). The only exception to this rule is provided in the section of these requirements entitled “Amnesty Clause.”

Good Academic Standing Policy

https://nextcatalog.unomaha.edu/undergraduate/grades/

Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) Grades

https://nextcatalog.unomaha.edu/undergraduate/grades/

Completion of Incomplete Grade

https://nextcatalog.unomaha.edu/undergraduate/grades/

Repeatable Grades/Courses

https://nextcatalog.unomaha.edu/undergraduate/grades/

Appeal Process

Summary

The College of Arts and Sciences establishes the following procedures for review of grade appeal cases for all Arts & Sciences courses.  In keeping with The University of Nebraska Board of Regents Bylaws and Policies, the College provides an appeals procedure for students who believe that evaluation of their academic progress has been prejudiced or capricious.  If all attempts at informal resolution fail, a student may file a formal written grade appeal with the appropriate department chair or program administrator within the first four weeks of the next regular semester.[1]  If either a student or an instructor wishes to appeal a department or program grade appeal decision, the student or instructor may file a formal appeal with the College. The College appeal is the final level of grade appeal. 
 

I. Department or Program-level Procedure

1. A student wishing to contest a grade should first consult the instructor for the course to make certain that the disputed grade is not the result of simple error or misunderstanding. It is recommended that the student contact the instructor immediately after the final course grade is posted.  If the instructor is unavailable, the student should contact the department chair or program administrator.

2. If the student and instructor are unable to resolve the conflict informally, the student should contact the department chair or program administrator who may attempt informal mediation. It is recommended that all informal consultations be concluded within the first two to three weeks of the next regular semester.  Timeline

3. If attempts at informal resolution fail, a student may file a formal written appeal with the department chair or program administrator within the first four weeks of the next regular semester. The written appeal must include explanation and evidence of prejudice or caprice in grading and an explicit statement regarding the outcome the student seeks.  Evidence should include pertinent course materials, such as the course outline or syllabus, written instructions for assignments, and graded student work. The chair or administrator will form a grade appeal committee and provide a copy of the written appeal to the instructor.

4. Following receipt of the written appeal, the instructor has up to one week to provide a written response to the appeal to the department or program committee.

5. The department or program appeal committee must conclude appeal deliberations and communicate a decision to the student and instructor within two weeks of receipt of the instructor’s response. The appeal committee must be composed of at least three faculty and at least one student.  If the committee finds that prejudice or caprice affected the final grade, the department chair or program administrator will change the student’s grade.

6. The department or program committee must submit a report to the associate dean of undergraduate education for the College of Arts & Sciences. Submissions may be sent to the Dean's Office at unocasdean@unomaha.edu or Arts & Sciences Hall, Room #280 within one week of its final decision. The report must include the following:

   • the student appeal
   • the instructor response
   • a list of all grade appeal committee members
   • copies of any documents consulted in developing the final grade appeal decision
   • a statement from the chair, administrator, or grade appeal committee chair including an explanation of how the department’s procedures were followed, a timeline of the appeals process, a rationale for the final decision, and an explanation of how the final course grade was calculated.

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[1] Regular semesters are fall and spring semesters.  To appeal a grade from a fall course, the student must file a written appeal within the first four weeks of the next spring semester.  To appeal a grade from a spring course, the student must file a written appeal within the first four weeks of the next fall semester. To appeal a grade from a summer course, the student must file a written appeal within the first four weeks of the next fall semester.

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Grade Appeal Policy

1. The College of Arts & Sciences will set grade appeal policies and procedures that operate within the University of Nebraska Board of Regents Bylaws and Policies

   Bylaws of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents Chapter V--(January 25, 2018) 5.3 Academic Evaluation.

   
   “Each College or school shall provide for a faculty-student appeals committee for students who believe that evaluation of their academic progress has been prejudiced or capricious.  Such procedure shall provide for changing a student’s evaluation upon the committee’s finding that an academic evaluation by a member of a faculty has been improper.”

   University of Nebraska Board of Regents Policies Chapter 5.-- (October 3, 2018) Instructional and Grading Procedures 2b.

   
   “….The faculty of each department, school, or equivalent unit shall provide a committee to consider the appeal of those cases in which a student feels the performance evaluation was unfair. Colleges shall provide standing committees to consider cases in which the student or faculty member chooses to appeal the initial decision. Any of these committees shall have the authority to direct changes in the grade based upon its findings.”

2. The College of Arts & Sciences will maintain department and program grade appeal policies and procedures that operate within the University of Nebraska at Omaha Graduate Office grade appeal policies and procedures so that, at the department/program level, there is one procedure for both undergraduate and graduate appeals.

3. The College of Arts & Sciences will operate within the parameters set by the Board of Regents and the Graduate Office but will set additional requirements and deadlines.

4. The College of Arts & Sciences will set deadlines and procedures for grade appeals that will allow resolution of both the department/program appeal and the undergraduate college appeal within the first ten weeks of regular semesters, allowing students filing appeals to make informed decisions for early registration and to move forward with their academic careers.

5. Departments and programs within the College of Arts & Sciences will maintain grade appeal policies and procedures that operate within the College of Arts & Sciences Grade Appeal Policies and Procedures for Departments and Programs.

Academic Amnesty

Academic Amnesty provides relief from a poor academic record acquired within the University of Nebraska system by excluding substandard coursework with a final grade of “D” or “F” from a student’s cumulative grade point average (GPA) calculation. Academic Amnesty will not remove course(s) or grade(s) from the transcript but once granted, will not count as part of the overall GPA.  

To be eligible for Academic Amnesty, students must:   

• Have been out of the Nebraska system for at least one calendar year (12-month period). 
• Have substandard coursework (“F” or “D” grades) earned within the University of Nebraska system (UNO, UNL, UNK, UNMC) prior to the year out (substandard grades earned after the year out will not be included in the Academic Amnesty contract). 
• Be admitted as a degree-seeking student at the University of Nebraska. 

Amnesty Requirements:

• Academic Amnesty will begin with the first course(s) taken upon return to UNO. 

• Students may apply for Academic Amnesty at any time after taking the one-year break. 
• After returning from the one-year break, demonstrate academic success in new UNO coursework. 
• Academic success may be demonstrated by one of the following: 

• Completing at least 12 semester hours (simultaneous or sequential) with a minimum of 3.0 cumulative GPA, 
• Completing at least 24 semester hours (simultaneous or sequential) with a minimum of 2.5 cumulative GPA. 

• Students must maintain continuous enrollment (at least six (6) semester hours completed within any 12-month period). 
• Students will work with their academic advisor to select the coursework to be amnestied. 
• Students must inform an academic advisor when the Academic Amnesty requirements are met. 

Notes:  

• All amnestied coursework will remain on the student’s academic record (transcript); however, the courses will not be included in calculation of the student’s grade point average. Courses will be annotated “Academic Amnesty Excluded from GPA” on the transcript.  
• Once Academic Amnesty is granted, students will not be eligible for honors at graduation. Students are still eligible for Dean’s List and Chancellor’s List honors.  

• While demonstrating academic success, no changes are made to the student’s academic record. If a student’s cumulative GPA is still below standard, the students will continue to be reported as “continued on probation.” Should the student revert to substandard academic performance while working on Academic Amnesty, the student can still be suspended. Academic Amnesty is intended to provide relief from the past without providing immunity from future substandard academic performance.  
• Students must still meet all university and college requirements to graduate.  

This policy will be in effect in the College of Arts and Sciences beginning with the 2022-2023 academic year.

Academic Probation and Suspension

https://nextcatalog.unomaha.edu/undergraduate/grades/

Reinstatement Policy Following Academic Suspension

https://nextcatalog.unomaha.edu/undergraduate/grades/

Academic Advising

Advising in the College of Arts and Sciences is structured through a combination of professional and faculty advisors in advising centers and departments.

Current students will find academic advisor contact information on their MavLINK homepage within the "Contact My Advisor" section.

Incoming first-year students for the fall semesters generally enroll with professional advisors on an in-person Enrollment Day during the summer months. The First-Year Student Orientation webpage is an excellent resource for further instructions.

Transfer students for all degree-granting majors in the College of Arts and Sciences are assisted by the A&S Advising Center for advising and enrollment coordination.

All students interested in pursuing a career in healthcare have access to professional advisors in the Health Careers Resource Center for career and enrollment advising. Pre-dental hygiene, pre-medical imaging, and pre-nursing students should contact the HCRC as their primary advising resource. Pre-health students earning a bachelor's degree (some examples include pre-dental, pre-medicine, pre-physician assistant, and pre-occupational therapy) can visit the HCRC for pre-health-specific guidance at any time throughout their academic career at UNO. 

Advising Holds

https://nextcatalog.unomaha.edu/undergraduate/enrollment/enrollment/

Student Holds

https://nextcatalog.unomaha.edu/undergraduate/enrollment/enrollment/

Senior Check

After completing 91 credit hours of coursework, students must request a Senior Check/Graduation Check from the Arts & Sciences Advising Center. Provided that the student follows the guidance on the form and assuming satisfactory completion of all approved courses, this process will ensure the student’s graduation date. Should this procedure not be followed, responsibility for meeting graduation requirements falls on the student; if errors are made, they can prevent graduation at the anticipated date. Multiple options exist for Senior Checks to be conducted, and are outlined on the Arts and Sciences Advising Center website.