College of Liberal Arts

The College of Liberal Arts, UTEP’s largest college, consists of more than 20 undergraduate degree departments and programs in the three broad areas of the humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and fine and performing arts. The College has been built on a long tradition of excellence. Many College of Liberal Arts faculty are internationally recognized scholars and leaders in their academic disciplines; they draw on their research findings, scholarship, and creative activities to enhance the quality of students’ classroom experiences. Noted for its innovative educational programming that engages students in a variety of creative, scholarly, and service activities, the College of Liberal Arts is dedicated to preparing students for a variety of careers and professions in a rapidly changing global environment.

In addition to its many outstanding degree programs, the College offers students many opportunities to enhance their classroom experiences with special activities that promote learning and achievement outside the classroom. All UTEP students can access a variety of instructional services delivered by faculty, staff, and students in the new UTEP Writing Center managed by the Department of English. Students in the performing arts, for example, regularly perform in concert, recitals, and a variety of theatre productions. The world-class UTEP Dinner Theatre gives musical theatre students the opportunity to gain live performance experience with our long-established and well-respected production company.

College of Liberal Arts students learn from first-rate scholars and teachers, and are able to participate in faculty-directed research projects or join research teams of faculty and other students who are studying important contemporary issues. Among many other research opportunities, Psychology students can participate in studies focused on legal decision-making, the accuracy of eyewitness identification, and the effectiveness of various smoking-cessation techniques. Anthropology students are able to participate in important archeological research excavations. Others work with faculty studying life in border communities, or engage in research intended to find better ways to address a variety of social and community problems. Communication students are afforded the opportunity to produce and develop radio and television programs, to produce documentary films, or to design advertising campaigns. Many History students have worked on public history projects for their communities, while Foreign Language and English students can be found working in schools as specialized instructors and tutors. Additionally, many Liberal Arts students serve the community by volunteering their services to nonprofit organizations. Hundreds of Criminal Justice students have served as interns in state and federal law-enforcement agencies.

The College of Liberal Arts also supports programs that enhance the quality of life for all people living in the El Paso region. The Department of Music, for example, presents more than 80 musical performances and recitals on campus each year. The Art Department operates the Stanlee and Gerald Rubin Center for Contemporary Art which is one of our nation’s finest contemporary art galleries. The Law School Preparation Institute prepares students for the process of law school application and admission and is a highly successful program in law school placement for UTEP students. The Liberal Arts Honors Program provides a compelling curriculum and prepares the best students in the college to excel after they graduate.

Degrees and Majors

Bachelor of Arts

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree are designed to provide an essential unity in the programs of all Liberal Arts students and, at the same time, to offer each student substantial latitude in course selection. The degree consists of a minimum of 120 semester hours, including at least 39 at the advanced (3000-4000) level ** (see exception for foreign language). Twenty-four (24) of the last 30 hours must be taken in residence. When approved by a department,-up to six- credit hours taken to satisfy one degree area requirement (University Core Curriculum, major, or minor) can be used to satisfy any other degree area requirement, except for block electives.

University Core Curriculum (42 hours)

Students should refer to the University Core Curriculum section of this Catalog for a complete description.

Liberal Arts General Education Requirements (24-27 hours)

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
One Modern or Classical Language
Six credits of Foreign Language (all six credits should be in the same language sequence)		6
Blocks
A total of 12 upper-division hours distributed among three blocks.**		12
Fine and Performing Arts
Humanities
Social and Behavioral Sciences

*: (3) hours must be taken in each block. No course to meet this requirement can be taken in the student’s major or minor, with the exception of up to 6 credit hours of foreign language.
**: Foreign language can be 2000 level and count as a block elective under Humanities, if
taken in addition to the 6 credit hours required for Liberal Arts General Education.

Major Field (27-36 hours)

Students complete a major prescribed by an academic department in the College of Liberal Arts (or Science or Business Administration [for the Economics major]) of at least 27 hours, 18 or more of which must be advanced (3000-or 4000-level). Students should refer to the individual departmental listings in this catalog for specific major field requirements.

Nine (9) of the advanced hours in the major must be completed in residence within three years of the date of graduation. No course taken on a Pass/Fail basis can be counted for the major, even if the student changes majors after having taken the course. A completed degree plan must include a minimum grade point average (GPA) of C (2.0) in the major. Up to two courses taken to fulfill the major field requirements can be used to fulfill minor or College of Education field requirements, however, the hours will count only once toward the degree's credit hour requirement.

Electives

Students complete electives as needed to bring the total semester hours of credit to at least 120. In most cases students will need to complete 6 credit hours of electives. Elective credit cannot also be used in meeting any other degree requirement. Electives of advanced (3000-4000) level can, however, be applied toward satisfaction of the requirement of 39 advanced hours.

A student who fulfills the specified requirements for two different majors under a single degree from the same college, simultaneously, completes a double major. Students may double major in the same department with the approval of the academic dean. For example, a student may simultaneously complete a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science - both B.A. degrees from different departments in the College of Liberal Arts - and earn a double major.

The student must complete a minimum additional 24 credit hours beyond the degree plan with the greater required credit hours and also complete all degree requirements for both degrees. A minimum of 144 total semester credit hours is required for completion of a double major.

The graduation term must be the same for both majors. When applying for graduation, a student should note on the application that he/she will be completing an additional major. One diploma is issued and both majors are recorded on a student's transcript and diploma.

The student must earn a minimum GPA of C (2.0) in both majors. Credit for courses taken to fulfill the major field requirements in one major cannot also be counted to satisfy requirements in the other major field.

Dual Degree

A student who fulfills the specified requirements for two different majors from different degrees simultaneously, or who fulfills the specified requirements for two degrees in different colleges simultaneously, will earn dual degrees. For example, a student may simultaneously complete a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, both in the College of Liberal Arts, and earn dual degrees. A student may also simultaneously complete a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the College of Liberal Arts and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the College of Science, and earn dual degrees.

The student must complete a minimum additional 24 credit hours beyond the degree plan with the greater required credit hours and also complete all degree requirements for both degrees. No one course can be counted in the semester credit hours in more than one major. In the event that a single course is listed in the degree requirements for both degrees, a student may receive approval from his/her academic advisor to complete another course to fulfill the semester credit hour requirement of the second degree. A minimum of 144 total semester credit hours is required for completion of dual degrees.

The graduation term must be the same for both degrees. Upon graduation, the student must complete two graduation applications (one application for each degree). Upon graduation a student can attend multiple commencement ceremonies if the majors span across different colleges.

Bachelor of Science in Psychology

The Psychology Department offers the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree. Please see the Department of Psychology section of this catalog for complete information.

Bachelor of Fine Arts

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) is a professional degree offered in three fields: Art, Dance, and Music Theatre. The Art degree is offered with the following areas of specialization:

Concentrations: Ceramics, Drawing, Graphic Design, Metals, Painting, Printmaking, and Sculpture.
Minors: Art History, Ceramics, Drawing, Graphic Design, Metals, Painting, Printmaking, and Sculpture.

For specific requirements, students should refer to the Art Department section of this catalog.

The BFA in Dance is offered by the Department of Theatre and Dance. For specific requirements, students should refer to the Theatre and Dance Department section of this catalog.

Bachelor of Music

Students can pursue this professional Music degree in one of four areas:

General Music; choral and instrumental (All-Levels Teaching Program).
Performance; orchestra and band instruments, guitar, keyboard instruments, or voice.
Theory and Composition.
Commercial Music

For specific requirements, students should refer to the Music Department section of this catalog.

Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies

A Bachelor or Multidisciplinary Studies (BMS) degree is administered by the Dean’s Office. For specific information about the BMS, please see the Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies section of this catalog.

Minor Field (18 hours)

Students will complete a minor of at least 18 or more hours, nine of which must be advanced (3000-or 4000-level). The minor field must be selected from a discipline different from that of the major field. Up to six credit for courses taken to fulfill the minor field requirements can also be counted to satisfy major field requirements; however, they will not be double-counted towards the total credit hours requirement. No course taken on a Pass/Fail basis can be counted for the minor, even though the student changes minors after having taken the course. A completed degree plan must include a minimum GPA of C (2.0) in the minor. Students should refer to the individual departmental listings in this catalog for specific minor requirements.

Liberal Arts minor fields are available in Anthropology, Art, Art History, Communication, Creative Writing, Criminal Justice, Dance, English and American Literature, Film Studies, French, German, History, Linguistics, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Professional Writing and Rhetoric, Psychology, Sociology, Spanish, and Theatre Arts. Students should refer to the departmental listings for requirements.

Interdisciplinary minors are also available. However, no more than six (6) hours from a student's major field can be used to meet a minor's requirement. Courses that are used to meet two fields will count only once toward the degree's credit hour requirement. In addition, no more than nine (9) hours from any one discipline will be counted as part of such a minor. Students electing an interdisciplinary major cannot elect an interdisciplinary minor. The following are approved interdisciplinary minors: African American Studies, Asian Studies, Border Studies, Chicano Studies, Humanities, Latin American Studies, Military Science, Museum Studies, Religious Studies, Russian and Post-Communist Studies, Translation (Spanish/English), Urban Studies, and Women's Studies. (Students should refer to the section below on Interdisciplinary Minors for requirements.)

Minors can also be selected from the following approved disciplines in other colleges:

Accounting Minor: Please see the College of Business Administration section of this catalog for requirements.
Economics Minor: Please see the College of Business Administration section of this catalog for requirements.
General Business Minor: Please see the College of Business Administration section of this catalog for requirements.
Management Minor: Please see the College of Business Administration section of this catalog for requirements.
Speech-Language Pathology Minor for Bachelor of Arts (Liberal Arts) Students: For students pursuing admission to the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, the SPLO course(s) not selected as part of the minor (totaling 3-4 hours) can be used as elective credit in the Linguistics major. These students are advised jointly by the Linguistics and Speech-Language Pathology departments.
Science Minors are available in Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, and Physics. Students should refer to the College of Science departmental listings for details.

In Liberal Arts degree plans where a minor is required, students are allowed to select minors from other approved disciplines, in other colleges. If a student selects a 12-hour minor, they must complete two additional courses (6 credit hours) to satisfy the College's minor requirement of 18 credit hours. The additional six hours will be fulfilled by selecting a course from each of the two sections below:

Electives A (Select one of the following): LEAD 1300, LEAD 2300, LEAD 4350, PHIL 2306, POLS 3350, POLS 3351, POLS 4356, CHIC 4307

Electives B (Select one of the following): Any Community Engagement & Leadership designated course (CEL).

By adding six credit hours in those two fields, Liberal Arts students will satisfy the minor requirement that aligns with the objectives of a Liberal Arts education, among them: a)"...understand(ing) the importance of social change , social justice, and community engagement, and the value of individual responsibility in a society of diverse needs;", and b) "...embark(ing) on lives and careers that advance their personal and professional goals, while representing the values of a democratic, free, diverse, and tolerant society."

Interdisciplinary Minors

The College offers several interdisciplinary programs of study that can be pursued in conjunction with any major (except an interdisciplinary major). These minors require the completion of a minimum of 18 semester hours.

African American Studies

The African American Studies Program offers students an interdisciplinary opportunity to examine the African American experience in detail. Specific requirements are listed under African American Studies.

Asian Studies

The Asian Studies Program focuses on Asia’s societies and cultures as well as Asian American communities, and builds knowledge and skills important for success in globalizing and diverse contexts. Specific requirements are listed under the Minor in Asian Studies section of this catalog.

Chicano Studies

The Chicano Studies minor offers students four options: Social Science, Humanities, Fine Arts, or Interdisciplinary. Specific requirements can be found under the Latin-Us Linguistics section of this catalog.

Humanities

The minor in Humanities is offered through the Humanities Program. Specific requirements are listed under the Minor in Humanities section of this catalog.

Latin American and Border Studies

The Latin American and Border Studies Minor provides students in other majors the opportunity to take advantage of the University’s rich resources in these areas. Specific requirements are listed in the Minor in Latin American and Border Studies section.

North American Studies

The North American Studies Program educates students in the politics, economics, and societies of Canada, Mexico, and the United States with the primary goals of understanding and explaining interactions in the areas of security, migration, and development. Students will also develop an understanding of the prospects for further continental integration. Specific requirements are listed under Minor in North American Studies.

Religious Studies

The Religious Studies minor is designed to provide an interdisciplinary framework within which students can take courses that explore the nature of religion and its impact on human culture, past and present. Courses are academic and non-sectarian in nature. Specific course listings and requirements can be found under Minor in Religious Studies.

Translation and Interpretation (Spanish/English)

The Translation and Interpretation Program is designed to provide qualified students the opportunity to acquire skills in these fields. Translation Certificates in either Spanish or English or both will be awarded to those who pass professional-level competency examinations. Consultation with the Program Coordinator is necessary for students to be admitted into the program. Details of the program are listed in the Languages and Linguistics section of this catalog.

Women’s Studies

The Women's Studies Program provides a broad, interdisciplinary minor in which students can take course work to specialize in issues of gender and/or women. Specific requirements are listed under the Minor in Women's Studies section of this Catalog.

Teacher Certification

Educator Preparation Program. Secondary and All-level Education minors.

Degree plans leading to certification for teaching in secondary schools (grades 7-12) are available in the following content areas: Creative Writing, Dance, English Language Arts, English and American Literature, History, Journalism, Social Studies, and Speech. Degree plans leading to certification for teaching in All-Level Education (EC-12) are available in the following content areas: Art, Languages Other Than English (LOTE) French, Languages Other Than English (LOTE) Spanish, Music, and Theatre.

All majors leading to teacher certification, Secondary and All-Level Education, require a minor in Secondary Education and All-Level Education respectively. To declare a minor in Secondary Education or All-Level Education, College of Liberal Arts students must apply to the Educator Preparation Program (EPP) after having satisfied the following requirements: 1) completion of the University Core Curriculum; 2) completion of 60 semester credit hours; 3) a minimum 2.75 Grade Point Average; 4) a degree evaluation signed by a Secondary Teacher Education Program advisor in the College of Liberal Arts or an advisor in the College of Liberal Arts Student Success (CLASS) Center; 5) Complete TSI, and/or TSI exempt requirements. TSI scores mut adhere to the State College Readiness Standards. The College of Education may add other requirements for admission into the Educator Preparation Program (EPP)

Students seeking to take the UTEP History Content Qualifying exam should have completed the following courses: HIST 2301 World History to 1500, HIST 2302 World History since 1500, and HIST 3317 History of Texas since 1821. Furthermore, they should have either completed or be enrolled in another 3300 level HIST course and HIST 4330: Teaching History/Social Studies. Students should have Cs or better in these courses.

For students seeking to take the UTEP Social Studies Content Qualifying Test, they should have completed the following courses: HIST 2301 World History to 1500, HIST 2302 World History since 1500, and HIST 3317 History of Texas since 1821. Furthermore, they should have either completed or be enrolled in ECON 2303 Principles of Economics or ECON 2304 Principles of Economics and HIST 4330 Teaching History/Social Studies. Students should have Cs or better in these courses.

For students seeking to take the UTEP English Language Arts and Reading Qualifying test, they should have completed at least two of the following courses: ENGL 3349 Multimodal & Hybrid Forms in ELA, ENGL 3350 English Laboratory, ENGL 3351 The Dynamics of Language, ENGL 3352 Reading & Writing Non-Fiction, and ENGL 3353 Reading & Responding to Literature. Students should have Cs or better in these courses.

After accumulating 90 credit hours, students must successfully pass the UTEP Content Qualifying Test within three attempts. Permission to take the Content Qualifying Exam is granted by the department academic advisor and/or the Secondary Teacher Education Program in the College of Liberal Arts. For all other fields of study, students should consult with the departmental advisor and/or the Secondary Teacher Education Program in the College of Liberal Arts.

Admission to the Educator Preparation Program

Students may apply for admission into the Educator Preparation Program (EPP) with the College of Education upon successful completion of the above-mentioned conditions, approval from the Secondary Teacher Education Program in the College of Liberal Arts, or a College of liberal Arts Student Success Center (CLASS) advisor, as well as other requirements set by the College of Education.

Upon admission into the Educator Preparation Program, students will receive academic advising on all courses and requirements related to the minor in Secondary Education at the Center for Student Success in the College of Education.

Graduate Studies

Graduate degrees are offered in most Liberal Arts disciplines, including Art, Communication, English, History, Interdisciplinary Studies, Linguistics, Music, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Spanish, Teaching English, and Theatre Arts. Details of graduate programs are contained in the Graduate Catalog and are available from individual departments and the Graduate School.

Special Programs

Liberal Arts Honors Program

The Liberal Arts Honors Program [LAHP] offers students a curriculum that is engaging and challenging, and works to prepare students to excel at their next steps, whether applying to graduate school or entering a profession. It also fosters a sense of community among the best students in the College of Liberal Arts. Students complete an 18 hour Honors minor. This minor features both courses designed specifically for and restricted to LAHP students, taught by the best faculty in the college, and courses drawn from existing outstanding offerings in Liberal Arts. Students can also accrue hours through internships taken for course credit and study abroad courses. The minor is designed so that a student should not have to add any additional courses to their degree plan to complete it. The Honors minor upon completion appears on student transcripts. The LAHP offers other benefits as well. The honors projects required of LAHP students enable them to work closely with outstanding Liberal Arts faculty, and their finished projects enhance their applications to graduate school or their job applications. The lectures the LAHP sponsors introduce students to leading intellectuals and professionals, and enable its students to meet and network with these visitors to campus in small gatherings only for LAHP members. For additional information refer to the Liberal Arts Honors Program website

Military Science

Military Science courses are designed to afford the student an opportunity to become a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army. These courses provide leadership training and military-skills training required of an Army officer. Army ROTC is open to all students in all academic majors leading to a bachelor's degree. Graduate students can also participate in ROTC; however, it is highly recommended that graduate student prospects speak with the Military Science

Pre-Law

UTEP is an excellent place to prepare for law school. Law schools seek well-trained graduates from all disciplines, including sciences, math, languages, social sciences, health sciences, business, education, and liberal arts. In selecting students, law schools are less interested in a student’s major than in evidence that the student has well-developed analytical skills, writing skills, and skills in critical-reading skills. Any course or major that helps students acquire these skills is appropriate for Pre-Law students. For more information, students should contact a Pre-Law advisor.

Proficiency Level Waiver

In addition to credit for non-traditional educational experiences ( http://catalog.utep.edu/admissions/undergraduate/credit-by-examination/ ), students can request a proficiency level waiver for up to three upper-level credits (43XX or 33XX), and six lower-level credits for undergraduate degree programs to fulfill major and minor requirements in their degree plan. Assessment of proficiency level will take place through written test, oral examination, and performance or portfolio as determined by a department committee integrated by faculty with expertise in the field. The committee will submit proper documentation of the assessment for state auditing, explain how he expected learning outcomes were verified. Once the Department Chair and Dean accept the committee recommendation, the CLASS Center will process the approved proficiency waiver and enter in into the student record. Requirements earned through this process do not contribute to the UTEP degree requirement for completion of 30 semester hours in residence and are not included in the grade point average (GPA) calculation since they earn 0 credit hours.

*Please note: the proficiency waiver(s) does not count toward the minimum 120 credit hours required for degree completion; additional hours may be required to fulfill hours granted by waiver(s). Contact your academic advisor to determine if any additional hours are required.

Dean

Dr. Anadeli Bencomo

Associate Dean

Dr. Maria Cristina Morales

Dr. Charles Boehmer

Dr. Selfa A. Chew Melendez

Academic Catalog