Mission Statement

The mission of the College of Liberal Arts and Communication is to provide students and the region with innovative educational opportunities that will enable lifelong learning, professional leadership, and engaged lives.

Encompassing the areas of fine arts, humanities, media and communication, and social sciences, the College of Liberal Arts and Communication aims to:

• Provide excellent instruction to all students in the essential skills of oral communication, writing, critical thinking, and appreciation of their cultural heritage through the general education components of degree requirements;
• Create a dynamic transformative education experience to prepare students for their professional careers or further study and their roles as leaders in a global society;
• Promote an understanding and appreciation of diversity in all its various forms and the ways it can contribute to the enrichment of society;
• Expand diversity and global awareness by encouraging the study of languages and participation in international exchange programs;
• Enhance and promote faculty scholarly, creative, and professional development;
• Encourage interdisciplinary programs and collaborative research;
• Facilitate and develop outreach activities to enrich the minds and hearts of pre-collegiate students, alumni, and diverse communities of the Mississippi Delta Region and greater Arkansas.

The College of Liberal Arts and Communication offers a wide range of undergraduate degree programs including a Bachelor of Arts in Art (emphasis in Art History), Communication Studies (and emphases in Interpersonal, Organizational, and Public Communication), Criminology, English, History, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Sociology, Theatre (and emphases in Acting, Design and Technology, and Musical
Theatre), and World Languages and Cultures (emphases in French, Global Studies, and Spanish); a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art (emphases in Art Education and Studio Art) and Graphic Design (and emphasis in Digital Design); a Bachelor of Music (concentrations in Composition as well as Voice Performance, Jazz Studies, Keyboard Performance, and Instrumental Performance); a Bachelor of Music Education (concentrations in Instrumental and Vocal Music Education); a Bachelor of Science in Creative Media Production
(emphases in Corporate Media, Graphic Communication, Media Ministry and Sports Media), Digital Technology and Design (emphases in Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing and Security Design, Digital Animation, Game Design, Graphic Communications, Information Design, Mobile Application Development, Social Media Management, Software Design and Development, Virtual Reality Production, Web Design, and Web Development), Multimedia Journalism, and Strategic Communication; and a Bachelor of Science in Education in English, Social Science, and World Languages and Cultures (emphases in French and Spanish). Most degree programs offer minors. Minors are also available in the following fields: African-American Studies, Children’s Advocacy Studies, Cognitive Science, Folklore Studies, French, German, History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, Interdisciplinary Family Studies, International Studies, Jazz Studies, Medieval Studies, Religious Studies, Spanish, Women and Gender Studies, and Writing Studies. A minor in Homeland Security and Disaster Preparedness is offered in partnership with the College of Nursing and Health Professions. The College provides an Associate of Applied Science degree in Law Enforcement and certificates in Android Application Development, Data Visualization and Information Design, Digital Humanities, Game Production and Development, Museum Studies, Nonprofit Communication, Social Media Management, Spanish for the Professions, Swift Coding, and Virtual Reality Content Design and Filmmaking. It also provides pre-professional advisement for
law school as part of its Political Science, Philosophy, History, and Criminology majors.

The College of Liberal Arts and Communication grants a full range of masters’ degree (M.A., M.M., M.M.E., M.P.A., and M.S.E.) programs, several Educational Specialist degree (Ed.S.) programs, and an interdisciplinary doctoral degree (Ph.D.) program (Heritage Studies). For further information, see A-State’s Graduate Bulletin.

In addition to its academic programs, the college provides outreach to the community through National Public Radio affiliate KASU, the annual Delta Symposium, exhibitions, plays, concerts, and recitals.

Media and Communication Requirements

In addition to meeting the general requirements, candidates for the Bachelor of Science degree in Multimedia Journalism and Strategic Communication must complete the following:

1. Earn no more than three hours of internship credit towards the 120 hours required for graduation.
2. Take a senior exit exam on the study day prior to final exams of his or her last semester of enrollment.
3. Complete an exit survey and submit a resume prior to graduation.

Creative Media Production Degree Requirements

In addition to meeting the general requirements, candidates for the Bachelor of Science degree in Creative Media Production must complete the following:

1. Complete a program evaluation survey and submit a resume prior to graduation.
2. Present for faculty and advisory board review a portfolio website that meets specified requirements.

Foreign Language Requirement

In addition to general and program-specific requirements, candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Art, Criminology, English, History, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, and Sociology must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language. This may be done in either of the following ways.

1. By completing the second semester of the intermediate year of foreign language at the college level. Students with no foreign language experience must enroll in the first semester of the elementary year and complete 12 hours of a single language. Students with some experience and proficiency should consult with a member of the language faculty about their readiness for more advanced courses. (No credit will be awarded for courses waived.)
2. By passing an examination acceptable to the foreign language faculty as proof of proficiency equivalent to completion of the second semester of the intermediate year of a foreign language at the college level.

Bachelor of Science in Education Graduation Requirements

In addition to meeting the University Requirements for all Baccalaureate Degrees as presented by the University, and the Teacher Education Program Requirements as presented by the College of Education and Behavioral Science, all candidates for a Bachelor of Science in Education degree in the College of Liberal Arts and Communication must also have a grade point average of 2.70 in the major area. This must be maintained through graduation. (However, all students admitted prior to August 24, 2015 are required to maintain a 2.50 overall and for the major area.)